What is the best plan of action after graduating from college and not moving back home?

I'm graduating in December from my B.S. in psychology. I have a good amount of work experience. I have around 3000-4000 bucks saved. I sold my car since I go to school in downtown Chicago. I have about 30,000 in school loan debt. This plan shouldn't expect any financial help from my parents.

I need a place to live and probably a car. What would be the best way to handle this?

get some roomates check out your local paper for car as well and job posting or check out monster.com

I was in a similar situation. I graduated a few weeks ago from Bluefield State College in Bluefield, WV. Only difference is I am going to grad school in the fall not looking for employment. However, I am in the situation of not relying on my parents. My advice to you is get started on the job hunt early. I was looking a t the start of my spring semester. I found a place and started working two days after I graduated.

With your job experience you should look for an internship this summer so you have somewhere to work int he fall. You may get lucky and the company hire you as soon as you get your degree. However, don't rely on that. Keep your resume circulating and keep your options open.

You can sign up for places like monster.com and careerbuilder.com and they will email you jobs in your area 2-3 times a week. Trust me if I found a place to work in little old Bluefield, WV you should have no problem in downtown Chicago.

Get a job in a city with good mass transit so you don't need a car. They eat into your finances and you will get fat from driving. While you wait for your dream job, find someting that you can do that pays well. Lawn care, bar tending, anything that makes good money. It may take several years to find a job in your field but don't give up! You will have interesting jobs on your resume and you will have begun to pay down those loans. Chicago has transit doesn't it?

just have fun with friends

first...hey neighbor
ok. go to183 and halsted and buy some china
some folks call this heroin
at any wallgreens they will sell ya some
30 gauge 1 cc syrynges
gotta love illinois
now be carefull not to get hooked
but
yer fixin to get more "hands on" experience
than any brain picken classes el tell ya
oh,
housing
uh,...
just nod out in your car

Find a job as soon as you can. Then find housing by looking for roommates as close to your job as possible, safe, livable and at the very least on or near public transportation.
Then, no matter what the job is, consider it temporary (they will hire you knowing it is your first job out of college so impress them with good work, you'll need the references.) Live below your means and concentrate on making regular payments on your student loan.
Having a roommate situation will save you on housing. Using public transportation just for awhile will save you some money. You can take your time and find a good deal on a used car. Then just work, whittle down that school loan and take a course at night in pyschology. And see if you can do something in the field that approximates your final dream job, no matter how loosely.
For example, if you want to be a therapist, volunteer in some social service area - look at the volunteer jobs that are out there and try to pick one to keep on track with your career.
It's hard to: afford independent living when you are just out of school and in debt and unemployed at first. The less money you spend, the better. I can imagine you spending all of the money you've saved in the first month or two if you absolutely had to have an apartment and a car. Both are luxuries and you're still carrying that school loan.
It's hard to: find your dream job right out of college. You can try but as time passes, just go for the employment thtat is offered to you and be a great employee. You're building a resume. It's good that you already have job experience.
It's hard to: have a really good car right out of college. But public transportation is there so use it if you have to and if you need to fall back on it. You'll be paying for insurance and taxes on the car and gas and other expenses. So do the best you can but buy a good used car, not new.
This is what I would do. It's not what I did, though. You end up doing whatever you can with what you've got and you make dumb mistakes. Everybody does!
While you're paying that student loan, see if you can set aside some money to save. You should have a disaster fund for the unexpected.
Needless to say, when looking at jobs, look at health insurance and 401Ks, dental, etc.
Good luck!

get a job in your major and get a nice home in da suberbs and go out on ur days off so u can find a girl and get ur life on track

Try renting just a room from someone. Usually there are ads in the paper for this kind of rental. Then purchase a simple used car to get you where you need to go. You can rent a room from someone alot cheaper than renting an entire house.

I'de check with room rentals or apartment sharing maybe your school might have recommendations of housing for students.....If not a real estate that handles rentals and can check on a reliable situation for you. Good luck.--
bettyk

If you are staying in a Metro area, a car can be a real burden focus on finding an aparment you can afford, and find some good roommates in the same field, They can be valuable in networking, and even if a little competion develops that will keep you all sharp. Congrats btw.

read thw newspaper and there are numerous jobs waitin for you.

look for and apply to jobs now and also look for apartments now, but im going to stress to look for jobs pre graduation. lots of people do and get hired to start fresh out of school!! With the money you've saved everything else should be cake.
Maybe you can arrange for "tours" of different companies you could see yourself working for.

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