RE: adopting a cat, definitely check out the MSPCA located in Jamaica Plain: mspca.org, they are an excellent organization.
And having lived on an Americorps salary in another very expensive location (Hawaii), I'll tell you right now you are going to be living a very frugal lifestyle. Apply for foodstamps, they are basically automatic on an Americorps salary and will help out immensely.
Oh I am FOR SURE applying for food stamps! I know it will be a challenge, but I'm strangely excited for it. How did you like your Americorps experience?
Food stamps are AMAZING, and I didn't apply for them until about 5 months into my term, basically when my savings ran out and I had no other option. I was living on a budget of about $25/week after housing costs. Anyway, I'm glad you are excited for it! What is your job going to be? I was a case worker for homeless veterans with substance abuse problems. It was eye-opening to say the least.
Where are you moving from? I'll echo the praise for craigslist in finding housing, even from a remote location. That's how I secured a place to live when I was moving back from Hawaii, so I did already know Boston fairly well, but I never saw the place before I committed. Basically I just had a really good email relationship with two of the people I was moving in with, and that was more important to me than anything else. Luckily, both the location and house itself were equally awesome, so I'm still here after two and a half years (Jamaica Plain, which is a long-ish commute to Camb/Som unfortunately, otherwise I would recommend it!).
It'll be at an antipoverty agency working with all kinds of issues: undereducation, enemployment, health care, housing. Your job sounds like it was very interesting, and probably pretty stressful. I volunteer at a youth crisis agency at the moment, so I'm excited for the job.
I'm moving from Madison, WI. How long did you find housing on craigslist before moving to Boston? I checked it out last night but all the listings were for January.
I should mention I also found my housing in Hawaii on craigslist, despite the fact that (back then) there were VERY few listings. But I didn't have my apartment until about 2 weeks after being on the island, I stayed with one of my best friend's family in the interim, which was hugely helpful.
Moving back to Boston, I think I started looking in late June/early July for Sept. 1 (which is the most popular time to move here), actually got to Boston on August 1st and put down a deposit, and couch-surfed for a month! Oh, I also secured a sublet in Boston for 2 months while still living in New Zealand...in that situation I sent the guy a deposit before actually arriving in the States and just immediately moved in, but that situation was so short I couldn't really be picky with where I was moving.
My parents would be paying for the cat and it's care as a present, but it's not a sure thing, I would wait to see how my finances were. I've had pets my whole life, I wouldn't get one if I couldn't afford one.
That's really nice your parents are doing that for you! My parents bought my gas as a "present" while I was in Americorps (thankfully you don't need a car here!) - parental support while you are volunteering for 10 months is practically essential, I was so thankful for it.
I know! My parents didn't want me to be completely alone and I've been wanting a cat since I graduated from high school haha. I'm actually living at home right now to save money so I should be ok! I am SO glad I won't need a car! And I agree about the parental support...I know my parents will help me out if I really need help.
A spayed/neutered cat with its shots already done, assuming it is healthy, costs about $150/month, assuming you're buying good food ($25/week), reasonably good litter ($10/week), and the occasional treat/brush/etc ($10/month).
There are. Dry-food only diets tend to result in kidney problems, however, and is a relatively unnatural way of feeding a cat when compared with their natural diet of raw meat.
I think it's dehydration, not necessarily the dry food, that causes the kidney problems - cats stereotypically don't drink enough water, which is when wet food is needed. There's also a lot of debate on rather it's the type of cat food that causes problems. A lot of wet food in their diet leads to teeth issues. Lol, this is a debate I eternally here as a cat rescue volunteer. No one agrees and since cats aren't high priority, I don't think there's much research into it.
I buy my cats Wellnes, high end dry food (no wet for either of them, causes stomach problems for them) and it costs maybe $40/month to feed two cats. Pet Supply Plus is your friend when it comes to the good stuff.
On that note, Kitty Connection is right next door to Cambridge and Medford and has plenty of kitties up for adoption.;) www.kittyconnection.net
And having lived on an Americorps salary in another very expensive location (Hawaii), I'll tell you right now you are going to be living a very frugal lifestyle. Apply for foodstamps, they are basically automatic on an Americorps salary and will help out immensely.
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Where are you moving from? I'll echo the praise for craigslist in finding housing, even from a remote location. That's how I secured a place to live when I was moving back from Hawaii, so I did already know Boston fairly well, but I never saw the place before I committed. Basically I just had a really good email relationship with two of the people I was moving in with, and that was more important to me than anything else. Luckily, both the location and house itself were equally awesome, so I'm still here after two and a half years (Jamaica Plain, which is a long-ish commute to Camb/Som unfortunately, otherwise I would recommend it!).
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I'm moving from Madison, WI. How long did you find housing on craigslist before moving to Boston? I checked it out last night but all the listings were for January.
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Moving back to Boston, I think I started looking in late June/early July for Sept. 1 (which is the most popular time to move here), actually got to Boston on August 1st and put down a deposit, and couch-surfed for a month! Oh, I also secured a sublet in Boston for 2 months while still living in New Zealand...in that situation I sent the guy a deposit before actually arriving in the States and just immediately moved in, but that situation was so short I couldn't really be picky with where I was moving.
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A spayed/neutered cat with its shots already done, assuming it is healthy, costs about $150/month, assuming you're buying good food ($25/week), reasonably good litter ($10/week), and the occasional treat/brush/etc ($10/month).
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I buy my cats Wellnes, high end dry food (no wet for either of them, causes stomach problems for them) and it costs maybe $40/month to feed two cats. Pet Supply Plus is your friend when it comes to the good stuff.
On that note, Kitty Connection is right next door to Cambridge and Medford and has plenty of kitties up for adoption.;) www.kittyconnection.net
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