Seattle On The Cheap???

Granted, this was written in 2014 but some of the resources are still valid today. A lot of hard life experiences went into this document so please show some appreciation if you can.

Seattle is a very expensive place to live. I've heard of rent costing between $800-$1200 per month and the sky's the limit. I've been here 3 years and am presenting to you some Seattle gems. For the amount of money you'll save, it'll be worth this document.

Apologies if some of the information is outdated or inaccurate, but it is accurate as of 4th quarter, 2014.

Transferring an out of state driver's licence, last I checked, cost $85. There are places that do official vouchers that skirt around that or possibly reduce that. One place that I know is the Ballard Food Bank in Ballard, WA. This is a northern suburb of Seattle and you can take the #40 bus/northbound from downtown, to get there. They service the general low income public on tues, wed, thur including free no-cook food, free mail services, free misc hygiene items and other information.

You can get a basic lower-cost Washington state id instead (no driving license), if needed. There many be discount or no-fee vouchers for this is as well.

There is a lot of hilly uphill walking in downtown Seattle which makes it hard for immobile folks. The way to get around this via bus is to stop one busstop later, uphill from your stop, and walk downhill.

For the homeless or low-income, there is a place called "dshs" 2106 2nd ave. Any downtown bus stopping close to Lenore and 3rd will take you there w/ a few blocks walk. Bless you folks, you'll make it w/ Seattle's help. There'll be a bit of wait because of the large need of assistance needed, but it'll be worth it.

The metro bus is $2.25/non-peak and $2.50/peak. The metro busdriver will give you a 2-2.5/hour paper transfer. This paper transfer is not good on the SoundTransit bus system.

The Metro bus system accepts cash or orca card or timed transfers and does not provide change.

Washington state id is needed for orca cards which is $3.00 per year for the reduced fare card. $95 per month for regular non-reduced fare orca card, which at a minimum of $5 per two trips a day (paying cash), can save you at least $50 per month.

Very hot tip: if you qualify and have a medicare card, you can pay $27 per month for your monthly orca card fares. That's less than $1 per day on metro, soundtransit, communitytransit, and rapid-ride.

Basically any place that accepts orca card. Orca card does not need timed transfers unless you specifically chose to purchase e-purse fares only, which then puts an electronic 2hour transfer on the orca card.

Make sure you buy the monthly 'pugetpass', not the 'e-purse', on your orca card. you can get orca card information at http://metro.kingcounty.gov/fares/orca/

The yearly payment for the card doesn't pay for any fares, just the card which is good for the year it's purchased.

If you ride into a "2nd zone" on the bus system, you may need to pay some extra cash which the amount would be determined on the orca card. Reduced fare card being less of course. The Seattle bus system is confusing at best but you learn as you go. A maximum of two wheelchairs can fit on a metro bus and there are bike racks at the front of the bus. Seattle's bus customer service number is 206-553-3000

On most, if not all the routes I've ridden, I can use a valid paper transfer going the opposite direction.

Be very careful of the bus titles next to the bus numbers before you board and pay your fare. There are also busstop numbers and small bus schedules posted at the busstop sign (at some busstops) . Be wary of the streetname that the scheduled, timed stop is posted for.

Also some busses change bus numbers onroute to their destination. For example, the #21 bus changes to
the #5 bus and visa-versa. When in doubt, call 206-553-3000 or go to kingcounty. gov/metro.

The link-light-rail system is different insofar that they have a orca card tap on-tap off system. There are yellow standing tap terminals that emit a loud unmistakable beep upon tapping. The link-light-rail system accepts only orca cards or valid timed paper transfers. You cannot tap a paper transfer Don't try to ride for free because they have random checks from the fare-enforcement security, and if found guilty, may cost a $127 fine misdemenor.

The Sounder train system also accepts orca cards but you must put cash on the orca card (which the cash is non-expiring) and depending on the stop may also cost more or less than the initial cost of the fare. The Sounder system also accepts the 1st fare that is pre-paid on the orca card. This is a very highly unusual system and is suggested to contact metro bus system customer service at 206-553-3000 for more information. What's interesting is that you can purchase a monthly puget-pass and and also buy non-expiring e-purse cash on the same orca card.

There is a lot of public bus information at http://metro.kingcounty.gov or http://kingcounty.gov/metro This also includes re-routes, temporarily stopped busses and discontinued routes.

There is an app called "OneBusAway" for android and ios that can help with the Seattle bus system. You can still use GoogleMaps but be very careful of its accuracy of information.

Several of the places mentioned serve homeless/low income folks or if your an ongoing backpacker that needs to live real cheap, etc. some places might require a washington state id.

Every monday at 5:30p, there is a free dinner sponsored by http://communitydinners.com. it's at the pikeplace market senior center. no you don't have to be a senior. No washington state is required.

If you go to http://communitydinners.com, you'll see to weekly free food places

There is a place in ballard called "the bridge", it's by the ballard library on 22nd ave nw. Monthly wait on sleeping bags, referrals to a place called the ballard food bank (needing washington state id)/ besides food, can also provide limited referrals for washington state id and glasses referrals. bus numbers 40 (from downtown) goes there w/ a few blocks walking uphill to "the bridge".

Non-homeless, very inexpensive asian food. every 7pm at an asian market called Uwijamaja (600 5th ave south in downtown Seattle), there is a single item w/rice for $4 at the hot deli! ask for where the $4 specials are. You don't get to choose the single item but they're good and they give a lot in a shrinkwrapped bowl. They serve this $4 special earlier on sundays anywhere between 5:30p-6:30p. busses 7, 14, 36 goes there w/ a 2 block walk.

The best place to buy really good used items is at the very large goodwill off of dearborn and 7th. the address is 1400 s. dearborn. an individual can get their g.e.d. there and its also a jobs training center. the #7 bus gets you there w/ a little bit walking thereafter.

Once an individual gets their foodstamp card via "dshs" services, that person can qualify for free 3month Seattle community college training with current demand-jobs such as a nursing assistant.

Other job resources include the Workforce system, or MillionairesClub or William Booth Center random jobs. William Booth Center has a $5 a day temporary housing program for transitioning into semi-permanent housing and the BreadOfLife program is also $5 per day must must leave at 7am every morning and come back 5:30pm for short church services prior to nightly housing. All info within this paragraph can be acquired via the "dshs" services.

Apologies but all housing services are meant for men only. There are several womens only services via "dshs", one of which is named "mary's place".There are couples housing via the Seattle "tent-city" system. Again, ask "dshs" for more info.

I have come to have known a person that is a very good sand-blaster that is now making a minimum of $35 per hour. He is even on demand for out of state jobs.

Just because your present job training is not in demand for one area is not in demand for another. You may need to relocate though. Also, if worse comes to worse, you can work at several parking services such as Diamond parking and another parttime job, then rent a single room/shared area in the university district for about $400-$450 per month. This is definitely a double/job-because-of-low-wages city.