If you’re reading this, you probably already know that living in Hawaii is one of the most magical experiences a person can have on this Earth. It’s also one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S., and if you’re a millennial on a budget, perhaps even more so. In addition to having one of the highest costs of living in general, it’s difficult for millennials who aren’t making six figures or more to find affordable housing options with reasonable rent prices and lease terms. Something as simple as renting an apartment can be nearly impossible without the right support system or financial backing. How, then, can an almost broke millennial hope to afford to live in Hawaii? The answer is: with lots of planning and sacrifice. Let’s take a look at how exactly you can move to Hawaii with no money at all!
How To Move To Hawaii With No Money?
Step 1: Get A Job
The first step in this process is to get a job. The more money you make, the less money you’ll need in order to move out of your parent’s house, save up for a plane ticket and purchase a one-way ticket to Hawaii. A job is the most important thing when it comes to saving up enough money for a plane ticket, but it’s also very important when it comes to living in Hawaii! Once you have that job, you can then save up for at least six months (the amount of time it takes for the average person to get a visa) before buying your plane ticket. For many millennials who don’t live with their parents, this is not an option. So if that’s the case for you, I recommend getting your own place and saving up as much of your monthly income as possible!
Step 2: Save Up Six Months
Once you have a job and have saved up six months’ worth of expenses (the average amount of time it takes most people to get their visa), then you can buy your plane ticket! It doesn’t matter if this means living at home or living on your own; what matters is that once you have saved enough money to buy a one-way ticket, you can do so! You don’t necessarily need all six months’ worth of expenses right away; even just two months will suffice. However, the point here is that once you’ve saved up enough money to buy a plane ticket, you can do so!
Step 3: Apply For A Visa
After you buy your plane ticket (or even before if you want), then you’ll need to apply for your visa. The application process is a little different depending on where you’re going, but they all involve filling out paperwork and taking some tests. Once that’s done, the visa will be sent to your chosen country’s embassy and once it’s there, you’ll have to wait in line for it! So don’t wait until the last minute!
Step 4: Fly To Hawaii
Once you get your visa, then it’s time to fly! If everything has gone according to plan (and if your airline is still in business), then once you arrive in Hawaii, get yourself a cheap rental car and start exploring the island! There’s nothing quite like waking up on a tropical beach every morning as the sun rises over the horizon. It doesn’t matter if this is just something that happens on vacation or something that becomes a regular part of your life; what matters is that moving out of your parent’s house will change everything about how easy it is for you to live a happy and fulfilled life.
Some Tips For Moving To Hawaii On A Budget?
Move to Hawaii ASAP
If you’re really set on moving to Hawaii, you might want to consider some of the costs associated with living there before you even move. For example, if you’re interested in moving to Honolulu, Hilo, or Kahului, you might want to start researching flights now, at least a year in advance, to see when the best time to fly would be (taking into consideration things like price, time of year, etc). Airfare to Hawaii might be much cheaper if you can plan in advance, so you’ll want to get your ticket as soon as you can. Moving to Hawaii is also a good way to ensure you’ll be able to find a job when you get there, so if you can start looking for positions even before you’re able to move, that’s even better.
Stay with friends and family
If you’re able to stay with friends or family in Hawaii for a few months while you get settled in and find a job, that’s going to be a big help to you financially. If you have the option, you might be able to stay with friends or family who’ve already moved to Hawaii and are living there comfortably. If not, you might want to consider staying with someone who’s planning to move to Hawaii in the near future, or someone who’s planning to move somewhere else on a temporary basis. If you’re able to stay with friends or family while you get your finances in order, that’s going to be a big help to you financially. Not only will you save money on rent and utilities, but you’ll also have someone to help you get settled in and find a job, too.
Apply for affordable housing programs
If you’re really broke and you want to move to Hawaii, you should definitely look into affordable housing programs in the state. There are a number of affordable housing programs in Hawaii, and some of them are even available nationwide. You can apply for affordable housing programs through the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, or you can check out the Hawaii Affordable Housing website for more information about the different programs and how to apply for them. If you’re lucky enough to get accepted into one of the affordable housing programs in Hawaii, you’ll be able to live in a furnished apartment completely free of charge while you get settled in and find a job. And even after you’ve got a job and are able to start paying your own rent, the cost of your rent will still be significantly lower than it would be on the open market. Affordable housing programs in Hawaii have waiting lists, so you’ll want to apply as soon as possible if you’re interested.
Save up for a down payment
If you’re set on moving to Hawaii, but you don’t want to spend a year or even two years living with friends and family, you’ll probably want to save up for a down payment on a house or an apartment in the state. You can find rental properties in Hawaii, but buying property might be a better investment if you’re looking to make long-term financial decisions. On the other hand, if you’re not sure if you’ll want to stay in Hawaii long-term, or you’re just looking for a temporary move to the island, then renting might be the better option for you. Whatever housing option you choose, you’ll want to save up for a down payment as soon as possible, because this will help lower your loan interest and make it easier to secure a mortgage. You can save up for a down payment in any number of ways, such as saving money on every paycheck, saving up a portion of your tax return, setting up a savings account, or applying for a loan.
Smart ways to cut your costs while you save
One of the best ways to save money while moving to Hawaii is to look for ways to cut your costs. You can start by downsizing your living space, cutting your monthly expenses, and making other small sacrifices in order to save up for a down payment on a house or an apartment. If you’re still struggling to cut your costs, you can always get a part-time job or freelance work to help boost your savings. The sooner you can save up for a down payment, the sooner you can start living the relaxed, Hawaiian lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of. If you’re not sure where to start cutting costs, you can always start with things like your internet and cable bills, your cell phone plan, your food costs and groceries, your car insurance, your gas expenses, and any other unnecessary expenses in your budget. You can also try getting creative with side hustles that can help you bring in extra money to help lower your monthly expenses.
Conclusion
Hawaii is one of the most unique and beautiful places on the planet. It’s also one of the most expensive places to live, especially if you’re a millennial who doesn’t have a high-paying job. If you’re broke and want to move to Hawaii, there are a few steps you can take to make it happen. It’s best to start saving up for a down payment as soon as possible, and you can do this by downsizing your living space, cutting your monthly expenses, and making a few sacrifices. Once you’ve saved up for a down payment, you can apply for affordable housing programs or save up for a down payment on a house or an apartment, whichever option works best for you.
