I'm simultaneously playing online Scrabble with angelislington.livejournal.com and checking out apartments in Portland, OR. Additionally, I was checking flight + hotel prices for myself were I to go on a weekend, 3 night visit. $312!! Totally do-able, especially since I should be getting that check from the government any day now. I'm not booking anything until after my trip to Georgia at the end of this month is well paid off, however, as Nevvie said, it's good to know a bit beforehand a general price of the place one wishes to visit.
My eyes went o.0 when I perused the various apartments for rent on Portland's Craigslist. For what I pay for my half of the rent right now, I could get my very own one (or in some areas, 2!) bedroom apartment and many of the places had such amenities: fridge, washer and dryer, balcony, larger kitchen than what I currently have, lovely grounds, swimming pools, gym, visitor parking, and my kitty is welcomed and the security deposits aren't astronomical like they are here.
MEEP.
Something to seriously consider.
I have crap credit, but I've always paid my rent on time. And as for a job, temp agency? Hmmm...
At anyrate, I definitely believe that I need to get out of LA, if not for always, for a bit. I cannot. CANNOT save money here and I'm flipping tired of the outrageous heat in the summers.