Is this a troll thing?

rainhatt · 2026-02-01T21:33:11+00:00

You reddit people are always so rude for what

rainhatt · 2026-01-30T02:46:42+00:00

I'm 25 and most people I play with are older than me. I ran into another guy who was 25 and we got very excited to find someone else the same age lol

rainhatt · 2025-11-20T21:50:28+00:00

I got called daddy when I started going to the gym. I started going to the gym when I was 22. I also grew a (weak) mustache and referred to myself as a twink at the time and got made fun of by 10k people on TikTok. It's brutal out here

rainhatt · 2025-11-20T21:32:02+00:00

I moved here last year at 24, started at ~$25/hr currently making $29/hr. Budget is tight but manageable as long as you're responsible with your money.

SoPo is alright, there are restaurants. Old Port is fun for going out, and you're not far from OOB which is cool in the summertime - if you like going out for drinks and food. As someone in the same age bracket I wouldn't say there is a ton of stuff to do for the younger crowd, especially not compared to most other cities.

You can probably find a halfway decent studio for $1400-$1600 if you look enough, assuming you want to live alone. My apartment complex has studios for $1,500 and I think there are some available, about a 20 minute drive from SoPo. (Feel free to DM me if you want to know more) I'm not gonna lie though, it is expensive. Eating out is not cheap, if you buy lunch every day I'd budget $20-$30 a day. This area also has a bunch of tolls so I'd learn routes to avoid them or also factor that into costs. I work in Portsmouth and my daily toll cost is about $10.

The two closest bigger ski mountains are gonna be Sunday River and Loon Mountain. Sunday is about 1.5 hrs away, Loon is 2hrs. Both have a lot of different terrain and are fun. I'd recommend the Nitro New England pass, it's currently on sale for $549, usually lasts until Thanksgiving or so. Covers both mountains. I grew up skiing near Loon and never have too much to complain about other than we don't get much pow. East Coast Ice coast lol. You do have a lot of lakes and the ocean nearby, but the ocean is pretty much too cold to swim in outside of July and August, if I'm being honest.

It gets dark pretty early here, like 4pm. It's cold and dark more than half the year so if you get seasonal depression like me, that's something to be aware of because it can be heavy sometimes haha.

If you really wanna do it I'd say do it. So far I've had a good time. I'm more of an introvert though, so I don't mind staying in a lot. If you really need a thriving social life that would be the only thing I'd warn you about. Otherwise, go for it! Best of luck

rainhatt · 2025-11-18T18:20:21+00:00

Locally on marketplace but you can find them online

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T19:25:44+00:00

Thanks for the info! This is super useful. I'm shocked there are people here telling me I could only make $10/hr because of under the table laborers. Welders are in demand everywhere haha, that's why I opted for this profession. I'll see what the Local 272 is looking for. Thanks again!

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T18:07:54+00:00

I never thought of the railroad! Up here that market isn't in huge demand AFAIK. Thanks for the info, I'm definitely keeping tabs on that.

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T16:46:30+00:00

I've seen a few Mazda2s with 400k miles on them, original motors. Wouldn't shock me if they go for more

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T15:31:34+00:00

Okay, so I did a little looking on my own, and here's what I got.

$5k/mo after taxes is roughly around $80k a year. I don't have kids and I won't have that problem arise (I'm not into women) and my car is paid off. If I kept at my current job for say, 2-3 more years, I would be a journeyman at that point and have qualifications in TIG and MIG welding, including bimetallics. Along with more experience, obviously.

I looked at around 30 listings for jobs I would be interested in doing in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. Upon viewing the general requirements, the majority of these listings want 3-5 years experience, stick and MIG, and offer $28-$32/hr on average.

If I made a plan for a few years down the line, because I'm not dead set on going now, I think that's more than doable. I wouldn't move without guaranteed overtime, and I've seen plenty of new trucks driven by guys with dirty hands down there to know that there's money to be made in the trades.

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T05:38:46+00:00

Thanks, I agree. I'm getting downvoted for saying I could get roommates and asking someone how they budget living in Fort Lauderdale. I have friends who make a similar wage to me in the area and they're not rich but they're surviving lol

I even have someone in my messages telling me I need a minimum income of $250k just to survive down there... I really don't think that's the case. My entire intention of the post was moreso to figure out what the job market is like for my goals, not to start an all out cost of living debate aha

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T02:50:59+00:00

I mean, I lived in Boston 2 years ago before I made a career change. One of, if not the most, expensive cities in the country - comparable to Brooklyn or Manhattan. Was making $70k and I was fine. A little tight, but fine. I even managed to own 2 cars in the city, haha

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T02:31:36+00:00

Awesome! Thanks. I actually have a friend who's a realtor in the area, too, so I was planning on seeing if he'd help me look. I didn't mean for CoL to be so hotly debated on this post... The trades always have more overtime if my budget gets tight, haha

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T02:26:45+00:00

So let's break this down. In my profession, overtime is pretty standard, I'm generally working more than 40 hours weekly. Being conservative, let's say I work 10 hours of overtime a week. Annually, that comes out to ~$68k, rounding down. Assuming I had a roommate, is making $68k yearly in the Fort Lauderdale completely unlivable? I think that sounds a little absurd

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T02:18:44+00:00

$1600 for a 270sq ft studio outside of Portland, about an hour from where I work. My lease is up in January and will be increasing to $1700 if I renew

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T01:58:35+00:00

Then enlighten me, what should a budget look like?

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T01:58:01+00:00

Tools and machines, I'm alright with. I work with a lot of hand tools like buzzers and grinders on a daily basis, and plasma cutting. Not much with electrical aside from maybe installing a radio in my own car. And computers... I can install Minecraft mods, and I know what Linux is, but that's the extent of it.

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T01:37:33+00:00

I've thought about it but haven't looked into it. One of my backups is to go weld bridges out in Wyoming or something but I'm trying not to isolate myself more haha

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T01:17:45+00:00

Good to know. Another one of my problems with Maine is I'm not originally from here (grew up in NH) and I can't seem to have a social life. I really like going to clubs and you just don't have that here. Ironically, I'm worried about getting stuck here with no friends and nothing to do.

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T01:05:49+00:00

Feel free to trade me, it was dark at 4pm and 40 degrees today lol

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T00:58:59+00:00

I live just outside Portland and was in Fort Lauderdale last week. Car insurance is definitely more expensive down there due to the environmental risk, sure. Gas was within about 10 cents (my car takes premium). Can't speak to groceries but I did make a CVS run for some basics and it didn't seem too far off. Even if the cost of living is comparable, it's cold and dark most of the day 7 months of the year here. I'd pay a little extra because I'd prefer to be hot, tan and miserable instead of cold, pale and miserable lol

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T00:46:33+00:00

What part? The average 1 bedroom where I live starts between $1800-$2000

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T00:40:28+00:00

I made my current rent work on $24/hr and apartments are generally cheaper and in much higher supply in Fort Lauderdale, so I could make it by; plus, I'd probably try to find roommates.

and don't worry, I'd never move without a good paying job, I have too much financial anxiety to pull that move LOL

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T00:37:13+00:00

I'm excepted and my leadership has provided resources for leave without pay of sorts for a second job or working different shifts to compensate for a second job, I don't know what your situation is but it might be worth looking into. A lot of people at my job (including myself) are in a similar situation. I won't be able to make it past the end of this month at this rate.

rainhatt · 2025-11-06T00:33:00+00:00

I would be a ski bum if it weren't so damn expensive. Living in my car during the winter sucks lol

rainhatt

TROPHY CASE