Ariel51:
Shavua tov.
First of all, please, please, please, start using punctuation and upper case letters in your posts. Your writing is almost impossible to decipher.
I think you’re misunderstanding how the financial aspect of aliyah works. Your absorption basket is money from the government deposited into your bank account for a limited amount of time. The deposit is once a month. It’s not enough to live on; it’s there to help with expenses, not cover them completely. You will get part of your first installment in cash when you arrive at the airport, but again, this is only walking around money.
Assuming you get a grant from NbN, are you aware that if you take the grant and then move back to the U.S. before five years, you have to pay back the grant? Do you also know that financial assistance from NbN is a one time shot?
I assume you’ll be renting when your first get here. You will need money to cover the checks. Your landlord may want a check for a large amount of money – not to cash, but as a deposit should you damage the apartment or decide to skip out without paying. If he doesn’t want the large check, he may demand proof that you can cover the rent. Without a job, how will you do that? What about furniture – an oven, a washing machine, and refrigerator? In most cases (unlike the U.S.), they are NOT supplied with the apartment. You buy them, and take them with you when you leave.
I assume you’re single – please correct me if I’m wrong. will you want to live in a city? If so, the rents will be much higher.
If you’re male – and relatively young – you will be expected to do at least some time in Tzahal. Are you ready for that?
You will get a break on health insurance for several months, then you are responsible for paying into the system, either through payroll deductions from work or paying yourself. Transferring your drivers license will cost several hundred shekel, when all is said and done. You will need money for transportation as well, either for buses or gasoline and insurance for a car. If you want television, you will need cable. Don’t forget that some food items are more expensive here, some are not.
I’m not trying to scare you, but you need to do “due diligence” before you make a commitment to come on aliyah. The more research you do before hand, the better off you will be.