Bloggy, I'm a 23 year old guy living in podunk middle of nowhere. I grew up here and I hate it, so I'm thinking of packing a bag and getting out of here for a better place to live. The problem is, I don't have much money. With the economy how it is today, I'm not sure it would be a good idea to try to start over some place else. Should I just bite the bullet and go, or should I lay low and wait for things to get better? Lou

You're right, Lou. Moving is expensive.

Depending on how far you go and the method of travel you take to get there, transit alone can put you back a nice chunk of change. Heck, getting a place to live usually involves screening fees, first and last months rent, and setting up new utilities accounts. If you're on your way to a big city, expect the price tag on all those things to be pretty steep.

Does this mean you shouldn't go? Not necessarily, Lou. Let's put things into perspective: During the Great Depression, the unemployment rate in the United States peaked at 25%. That's ridiculously high, bad enough to cripple the economies of several nations. All the same, that still means three out of every four work-eligible people in America had jobs. Great jobs? No, but they were surviving.

Our country is facing some rough times, that's for sure, but it's not as bad as it was in the 1930's. So, here's what you should do, Lou. If you can, spend the next few months saving as much dough as possible. If you can, have enough in the bank that you could survive unemployed for up to three months.

Next, pick a city. Here's where things get interesting. There are a lot of alluring cities in America, especially on the coasts. These are the most expensive cities in the country and close to being the most expensive in the world. If you want a more vibrant, big-city life but you haven't set your heart on a specific locale, consider some of the urban developments of the Midwest. What you pay for a tiny apartment in New York could get you a decent sized house in places like Iowa. As for the work situation, it's high time we Americans stopped looking down on the concept of honest labor. When people say that "the job market is bad" they're usually just talking about white collar business.

So, yes, if you're aiming for a slick position at a marketing firm, you'll probably be sending off a hundred resumes a week for the next year. But if you're willing to get your hands dirty, you can make a living. Not a great one, but still a living. Making sandwiches or mopping floors may not be among your lifelong goals, Lou, but it's better than starving, physically or emotionally. There are a lot of people living on very little in this country. If the life you have now in your current place of residence makes you miserable, then leaving for some other place is exactly what you should do. Just make sure that you go about this leaving in a smart way. Know your expenses, know the skills you have to offer in the workplace, learn to live lean. Most importantly, stick it out as long as you can. Starting a new life takes time. You may be looking at several months of inertia, but don't despair. Given time and effort, you can make a decent life for yourself.