How To Move With Little To No Money

When I was figuring out how to move out with no money, finding a place to live seemed like an impossible puzzle. With my J$143.27, traditional rental deposits were laughably out of reach.

Yet within three weeks of arriving, I had a roof over my head – and not just a temporary one. Here’s how I managed it, and how you can too.

Start with Your Network (Even If You Think You Don’t Have One):

The first thing I did when planning was swallow my pride and post on social media. It felt mortifying at the time, but that post led me to a friend of a friend who needed a house-sitter for six weeks.

This gave me precious time to find my feet in London without immediate housing costs.

Temporary Solutions That Buy You Time:

While learning how to move out without money, I discovered several creative housing solutions:

My first week was spent on my friend’s sofa, but I’ve known others who found temporary shelter through:

• House-sitting websites (I later used these myself)
• Live-in caretaker positions
• Work-exchange programmes offering accommodation for part-time work
• Room-sharing with other newcomers to split costs
• Emergency housing through local charities

Finding Long-Term Solutions:

By week four of relocating, I needed a more permanent solution. Here’s what actually worked:

I found a house-share where the landlord agreed to split my deposit into three monthly payments after I showed him my job offer letter. This arrangement gave me breathing room while starting my new job without draining my limited funds immediately.

Unconventional Options Worth Considering:

When you’re working out where to move with no money, consider these lesser-known options I discovered during my search:

• Property guardian schemes (I nearly took one of these positions)
• Rent-a-room schemes with elderly homeowners
• University summer accommodation (available to non-students in many cities)
• Housing cooperatives that offer reduced rent for community participation

Working with Local Services:

Something I wish I’d known earlier when figuring out how to move without money is that many cities have housing assistance programmes. While I was too proud to use them initially, I later learned they can:

• Help negotiate with landlords
• Provide emergency housing assistance
• Offer deposit guarantee schemes
• Connect you with affordable housing options

Finding accommodation when relocating with no money isn’t about finding the perfect solution immediately. It’s about finding a good-enough solution that gives you time to build something better.

My six weeks of house-sitting led to three months in a house-share, which eventually led to my own flat. Sometimes, the path isn’t straight, but it always leads somewhere if you keep moving forward.

How do I Handle Job Hunting when Relocating without Money?

When I was planning how to move out with no money, I quickly realised that securing employment wasn’t just about income. It was also my ticket to convincing landlords, maintaining stability, and building a new life.

But how do you convince employers to take a chance on someone who hasn’t even moved to the city yet? Here’s what I learned through trial and error.

Remote Job Hunting Was My Pre-Move Strategy:

Before relocating, I spent six weeks applying for jobs whilst still in Kingston. I learned to be strategic about it:

• I used my friend’s address on applications (with permission, of course)
• Set up another phone number
• Scheduled video interviews during my lunch breaks
• Created a compelling story about my planned move that made sense to employers

The Two-Week Plan That Actually Worked:

When figuring out how to move without money, I discovered timing was everything. Two weeks before my planned move, I:

• Applied for temporary work through agencies
• Contacted gig economy platforms to set up accounts
• Reached out to hospitality venues about immediate start positions
• Connected with recruitment agencies specialising in my field

Immediate Income Solutions:

The reality of relocating with no money meant I needed cash flow immediately. While searching for my ideal role, I:

• Signed up for food delivery services
• Registered with cleaning agencies
• Applied for evening bar work
• Found data entry jobs I could do from anywhere

The “Bridge Job” Approach:

When working out where to move with no money, I learned about “bridge jobs“. These are temporary positions that keep you afloat while pursuing better opportunities.

My bridge job at a gas station:

• Provided immediate income
• Offered flexible hours for interviews
• Introduced me to locals who knew about job openings
• Gave me a legitimate work reference

Making Long-Distance Applications Work:

For those wondering how to relocate whilst job hunting, here’s what helped me land interviews:

• Being upfront about my moving date in cover letters
• Offering to start immediately if hired
• Suggesting trial periods to prove my commitment
• Highlighting my ability to arrange my own accommodation

Leveraging the Gig Economy:

The gig economy became my safety net when moving out without money. It provided:

• Immediate earning potential
• Flexible hours around interviews
• No long-term commitment
• The ability to work in multiple roles simultaneously

When you’re relocating with no money, your job search strategy needs to be both immediate and long-term. My coffee shop position kept me afloat for eight weeks while I interviewed for roles in my field.

The key isn’t finding the perfect job immediately. It’s finding ways to earn while you search for it.

How to Move Without Money (Or Little Money)?

So after all was said and done, how did I end up moving with little to no money? I had to get creative really quickly. Let me explain:

House-Hopping Through Pet-Sitting:

One of my cleverest strategies when figuring out how to move with no money was creating a ‘moving timeline‘ through pet-sitting gigs. I lined up three different pet-sitting jobs, each lasting two weeks, in progressively closer neighbourhoods to my target area.

This gave me six weeks of free accommodation while I moved towards my desired location, plus I earned a bit of money and had time to job hunt.

Do A Skills Exchange:

While working out how to move out without money, I discovered a brilliant way to handle moving costs. I offered my writing skills to a removal van owner – I rewrote his website content in exchange for helping me move.

This led me to create a whole network of skill exchanges. I designed logos for a landlord who then gave me a break on the deposit, and edited a property manager’s business letters in exchange for them being my rental reference.

Become a Live-In Market Researcher:

When relocating, I stumbled upon companies that hire people to live in new build properties and report on their experience. They needed feedback on everything from water pressure to community integration.

This provided free accommodation for three months, plus a small stipend. It wasn’t permanent, but it gave me a professional address while job hunting.

Gradually Move:

Instead of relocating in one go, I created what I called a ‘staging post’ system. I moved my belongings gradually over several weeks using cheap tickets and a friend’s garage as a halfway house.

This spread the cost and meant I never needed to hire an expensive removal service.

Join Hotel Staff Training Programmes:

While researching how to move out with no money, I discovered that some hotel chains offer staff training programmes that include accommodation.

They especially need people during peak seasons, and although it’s temporary, it provides immediate housing, income, and valuable hospitality experience that opens doors to other opportunities.

Create a Pop-Up Business:

When planning how to relocate, I used my photography skills to create a portable business. I offered headshots to other young professionals in my new place where I could use a simple backdrop and natural lighting in parks.

This provided immediate cash flow without needing a permanent space, and I met loads of helpful people in the process.

Use University Connections:

Wondering where to move, I discovered universities often need summer wardens for their halls of residence.

They provide free accommodation in exchange for basic supervisory duties, perfect timing if you’re moving during summer months. Plus, you get access to university facilities and networking opportunities.

The “Moving Circle” Strategy:

When figuring out where I could move to, I created what I called a ‘moving circle‘. I found five other people who were all moving to different cities within the same month.

We created a support network, sharing resources, contacts, and even storage space. This meant we each had a contact in different cities, making future moves easier too.

Seasonal Work Progression:

Moving out without money became easier when I planned around seasonal work opportunities. I started with autumn university cleaning work (which included temporary staff accommodation), progressed to Christmas retail (with staff discount on essentials), and then found spring tourism work.

Each role provided different benefits that helped establish myself in the new city.

Local Authority Housing Schemes:

The most surprising discovery was finding local authorities that help key workers relocate. I registered as a part-time carer, which gave me access to emergency housing support and deposit assistance schemes.

Even working just a few hours weekly in this role opened doors to housing help I didn’t know existed.

 

Final Thoughts

 

 

 

 

 

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More On Organisation:

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Thank you for being part of this journey! Happy reading!