"THE LAST STEP OF RELOCATION THRIFT"

Welcome to another Thrifty Gurl post!

Now if you have used your free time to make phone calls...did the legwork...and scored that great rental...which I hope you obtained on a Move-In Special...then its time to move your belongings in on your move-in date. But what if you don't have furniture or maybe not enough to furnish your new place? This is where in many cities the shelter option can really be beneficial. If your city has a Furniture Bank or even offers assistance through the Salvation Army you can get a voucher from the shelter you were in. Check with your city for the protocol. I will tell you that many furniture stores donate their floor models to furniture banks so you can really get great stuff. I didn't know this but I had a very good person who was a God Send that chose the very best stuff for me. God bless her always!  

A word about the Move-In Specials...most rental places are in direct competition for your rental dollars so you will see signs with posted with $99 move-in or 1st month free...etc. To save extra $$$ move in in the middle of the month and save even more because your first month will be pro-rated.

Enjoy your new digs! 

Stay tuned for more thrifty tips from a very Thrifty Gurl in the ATL!

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"THRIFTY...BUT DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME..."

Hello again! In advance...thank you for reading and following my blog "Thrifty Gurl in the ATL!"

Just to follow up on the moving aspect...as I stated before I would post the story of moving after the move. My sister and I were allowed to park the truck with our belongings and my ferret Bosco who was inside...(due to the bag check I could not bring him in as I had intended)...inside of the gated parking lot reserved for the employees. That was great because the last thing you need is for your stuff to be ripped off. Within a few days we had found a storage unit and paid the dollar for the first month. The problem is neither of us had the energy to unload the truck. A couple days later while looking for an apartment, we were tired from all the walking and not one of the apartments we looked at was suitable from the outside. Once again my sis to the rescue. I would NOT recommend doing this EVER. Once she told that she was about to flag down a car I went into panic mode. My dilemma was, I could either stick with her like our mothers told us to do, or stand on a street where I had no clue where I was and no idea how to get back to the shelter. My sister flagged down the first car that stopped at the stop light or stop sign I don't recall. She had said she would look for the first friendly face...hmmm all crazy people have a way of looking friendly right? Like I said I would NOT recommend anyone doing this and I definitely would never do it again. God truly was watching over us...although we didn't know it at the time...John would be a blessing in disguise. By the way... I sat in the backseat because I figured I could always jump out of the car and scrap the whole stick together idea. Call it survival of the fittest or self preservation. John not only gave us a ride back to the shelter, but him and a friend helped us a few days later to unload the truck and put the stuff into storage. He invited us to church and picked us up twice for service. He and his fiancee even invited us to spend the night on Christmas Eve so we wouldn't have to spend Christmas in the shelter. Christmas Day was spent at his future in laws home for a big traditional holiday feast with a houseful of family and friends who all embraced us like we were a part of  them. We even received gifts. As if this all wasn't over and above anything we could have imagined, John, single handedly helped us move into our new apartment. That meant we had to load the truck and unload it again and carry everything up about 14 stairs into our new home. He had even paid for the rental truck! God sent us an angel...without him moving would have been horrible. We used to speak fondly about our friend John quite often, who after a few phone calls of checking on us,communication stopped. We never saw or heard from again. Still when he comes to our minds in all these 7 years we wish him well and say a prayer of blessing for our heaven sent angel.

I dedicate this post to John...may he always be well. We are eternally grateful to you and your family.

  

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"THE PROS AND CONS OF CHOOSING THE SHELTER OPTION" PART 2 "THE PROS"

Today's blog post will show you how the shelter option can work in your favour. If you were a bit put off by the cons....maybe these pro perks will get you to thinking that maybe its not such a bad idea after all.

1. Having to leave the shelter 5 days a week serves a purpose. What is it? MOTIVATION! When you leave MSH you walk 1 block to a day shelter. There you had use of telephones for free and phone books and contacts. This is where you do your apartment searching and phone calls to check availability. Some of us need a push,  and some shelters give you at least 30 days.

2. No need to pay for your meals. You may not always like the food but hey its free and you probably didn't always like what your mother cooked either. 

3. Free stuff. The day shelter had free clothing three days a week. There was a business center for job search. Free computer classes...3 levels., free Marta transportation cards. Help to get your ID, free resume help. Laundry services, showers, magazines and books to read, free lunch. If you were hired at a job you were given free business attire including shoes.

4. At the main shelter...more free stuff. Because it was holiday season we all received Christmas gifts. There were free concerts, great holiday foods and treats. Free toys for the children.

5. In some shelters, once you snag an apartment or rental house, you receive a voucher for free...yes FREE furniture. More on that in another post.

These are some of the many benefits of choosing the shelter option. Did I know this ahead of time? No, but all of this was an added plus for 2 people who really just needed a roof over our heads till we found a place to live. I do not recommend by no means that you take advantage of any shelter. Many do and get "stuck" there for years just because of all the free stuff and carefree living. Don't! Do what's right and move on. If you were dependant on any controlled substance and you are in recovery...there are even more programs within some shelters to help you not only succeed, but get a fresh start.

  

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"THE PROS AND CONS OF CHOOSING THE SHELTER OPTION" PART 1 "THE CONS"

There is always a Ying and a Yang to everything. True also of the pros and cons of choosing to stay in a shelter vs shelling out money for a hotel/motel long term. In any given situation you have to store your belongings which translates in more $$$. Here's a tip...most storage facilities want you to choose them to store your goods. Therefore they may offer the 1st month free or in the case of my sister and I, we had to pay just $1. Actually I splurged and paid it since most of the things were mine. Unloading a truck CAN be as complicated as loading one...but in reverse. I will explain how this was accomplished separately in another post because it was indeed an adventure all on its own. Now back to the topic...pros and cons of choosing a shelter. What may be pros for some may be cons for others and vice versa, so these are my opinions from my perspective. 

Lets start with the Cons...just like meds its always best to get this out the way and eat the cake last...smiles

1. Most shelters will want you to participate in something...no lazing around and watching the telly or snoozing all evening. That means chores, etc

 (see #4)

2. You will probably not be able to eat complete meals whenever or wherever you choose although you may be allowed to have snacks.

3.MSH had a bag check point. A long line often formed but all bags and purses were checked before you could go to your dorm. This is for your own safety so its best. Technically can be considered a plus but many people couldn't stand it.

4. You have to  attend church service every evening at 7.30 pm. The shelter for men had optional Bible study times and bused them to church service if they chose. The women were also bused on Sunday mornings if you chose or you could attend services there. Different churches came to do the services.

5. Five days a week you must get up early...they flash the lights and loudly wake each dorm up. Bad for me because I don't like to be woke up. I used to get up ahead of time on my own, get a shower and start getting dressed.

6. Which brings us to point 6. Get dressed for what? Monday through Friday you have to leave the shelter and stay out until the designated check in time. There is a method to this madness and it is actually a plus as you will see in Part 2 of this post. The great thing about MSH is that you left everything in your dorm and then each one was locked. Just like in the small town shelter I mentioned before.

7. Many shelters require you to take everything you own with you daily when you leave. Not great if you have a lot of things. If you have a storage leave all you can in there. If you have one close by like we did you can actually visit it when you need to.

8. The reason you are required to take your things with you, is because many shelter fill up on a first come first serve basis. MSH gave you a bed for 30 days with a possible extension under certain circumstances. 

These all the cons I could think of at the moment. Some actually are pluses in disguise as you will  learn in Part 2 "THE PROS AND CONS OF CHOOSING THE SHELTER OPTION" "THE PROS"

"HOW THE GURL MOVED TO THE ATL AND LEARNED TO BE THRIFTY PART 3...SHELTER LIFE"

The shelter my sis and I stayed in was called "My Sisters House." I consider it to be an awesome place, all things considering. A couple days after arriving, we watched a special on Oprah featuring "My Sisters House." It was pre-recorded but we couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. FYI...the night my sis and I arrived we just squeaked in because there were only 2 beds left. I definitely consider that God's favour because it was almost 8pm. All shelters are not alike..beware of bugs, thieves, and disturbances. Thank God, except for one minor disagreement there was never any "cat fighting." MSH even has apartments within the shelter for women with children. Living at MSH was much like living in a dorm and aside from the separate wing of the facility that housed the apartments there were 3 dorm rooms. Meals were served cafeteria style in a large room complete with kitchen and snack machines. Food is donated and cooked by volunteers. On weekends and holidays its an exciting time and a special occasion because you may have a restaurant or a church not only cook and serve the food but also bring it in. My sis and I arrived in December and most shelters give out many gifts as well. In addition to cleaning chores which I admit I couldn't stand because I was supposed to vacuum the TV room and straighten it up. Unfortunately it was usually used as a daycare/dumping ground by the women with unruly children. The worst was when I never had the vacuum and had to either wait or sweep the large room. I usually just used the broom. It wasn't a bad chore but we were not allowed to clean until after nightly 7.30-8.30 pm church service in the attached chapel. You had to do both...no exceptions. Another perk is that you can wash your clothes. You have to buy your own soap and pay for it but at least it was on the premises. There was even a "Clothing Closet" where 3 times a week you could go shopping for free. Now I don't suggest you stay in a shelter just to suck up the perks because we didn't know about any of these assets before we came to the shelter. This is just a really good suggestion if you move and don't have housing or if your new home is not ready yet, which can and does happen. If you have limited or no funds...this is a good option.

Stay tuned for "The Pros and Cons of Choosing the Shelter Option"

"HOW THE GURL MOVED TO THE ATL AND LEARNED TO BE THRIFTY PART 2"

So now you have packed your boxes, hired your friends or day workers, and you are on your way to your new location at last. If, like this thrifty gurl, you did not find a place to live before you left this is where it can get a bit tricky if you didn't plan ahead. Thanks to my sis/roommate we had a backup plan that I never would have come up with no matter how hard I tried. Two heads really are better than one! You can go online and find a shelter. Shelters are not just for the homeless...they are actually for people who have nowhere else to go. There are people in shelters that are between homes. This may not be for everyone and usually would not have been something I might do on my own but as you will see...its a great opportunity. First of all...all shelters are not alike. Having traveled to the small town where I was "stranded" the shelter there was small but cozy. I shared a room with 2 other girls and we all became friends. My traveling companion at that time, being male, was in a room down a narrow hallway with other guys. We ate donated pastries in the morning or if u woke up early enough you could have free coffee and cereal or anything of your own that you could keep in the fridge. Sounds like a continental breakfast right? Smiles. Fast forward to shelter experience #2. Being net savvy it was my suggestion to look online to find a "good" shelter before we set off...after all...the first time I ended up in a shelter it was because the family members we went to surprise visit...had traveled back to Pittsburgh for an extended surprise visit of other family members. (True story.) Just don't make the same mistake I did...I found a wonderful shelter. Problem is when we arrived...turns out it was for men only lol. Thank God it had a "sister" shelter nearby just for women and that it was close by.

 Stay tuned for Part 3 of "How The Gurl Moved To The ATL And Learned To Be Thrifty"

"HOW THE GURL MOVED TO THE ATL AND LEARNED TO BE THRIFTY PART1"

I migrated to the ATL in December of 2006 quite by default. The one and only roommate I have ever had and I, wanted to leave the small town that she was born in and I found myself stranded in. That's a totally different story...smiles. We could not agree where to move to...I had long ago wanted to move to Miami...realized I didn't want to live on the tip of anything hanging out in the middle of the ocean like a fish waiting for a tiny "Whale" of a hurricane to come snatch it. Then its was Las Vegas because I don't gamble the weather is great, and you can eat at buffets for 5 or 6 dollars. That plan went out the window because its a bad location for anyone that does gamble. My roommate and I could not agree...I wanted to move to Tempe Arizona and she wanted to move to Texas. Tempe was too far away from her family and I was like..."What's in Texas?" She mentioned Atlanta and I quickly agreed remembering my visits as a teen and how every time I was visiting I left with regret wishing I could stay there forever. We looked at apartments online through Promove and thought we had one all picked out...but we found out that the surrounding area wasn't the best so do your homework! You can actually go online and find out the cost of bread and milk where you want to relocate to. Use a cost of living calculator site such as http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/cost-of-living/. This will give you an idea, but by no means if you are determined to move somewhere, let the numbers deter you...just be prepared. Have a plan and then make a backup plan. As for the move...rent a truck. No matter how expensive it is...it will be 8-10x more costly to hire someone. If you have money to toss...buy boxes...if not gather them from everywhere. No matter what location, most products arrive in boxes. Due to recycling, boxes are often returned to the vendor so you may have to do some searching. Free is always best but if you must buy specialty boxes...do your research and get the best price. When renting a truck...always rent a dolly! You can hire friends, family, or day workers to help you load. $$$ always help the issue and even then..many friends and family who say they will help just plain won't show up, so be prepared. I would personally consider day workers if I ever need to move again. Only you know the reliability of your family and friends. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of How the Gurl Moved to the ATL and Became Thrifty!

"ALL ABOUT THRIFTY GURL"

By American standards I am poor! The great thing is by God's standards...I am a King's kid and I usually feel like one. The Bible says let the poor say they are rich! I may not SAY IT but I do LIVE IT! I always feel if there is a will.... there is a way! The whole purpose of Thrifty Gurl in the ATL is to show you the way as well. Stay tuned for lots of tips and techniques to show you and guide you on ways to live "rich" for less.! After all...what good is knowledge if you never share it right?