First of all, congratulations on graduating college, with relatively little debt (only $2000 more than me, and I graduated a LOT longer ago than you.) I love your can-do attitude and I am sorry your family isn't in a position to help you more.
Now I am going to put on my "crotchety aunt" hat and argue against some of the other posters who are suggesting you get married quickly for various financial advantages. If you were my niece, I would say to you that a young man who listens to his parents more than you, isn't interested in options that are different than his vision of life, is stalling on getting married because he wants to get "settled down" first (sounds like his preferred timeline is even farther out than a year) is just not ready to get married yet. In fact, I would encourage you to keep looking for any options that would give you housing and let you accumulate a little nest egg so that you can move in with BF when it's the right choice for both of you, not the least bad for you. I will keep thinking about it...summer camps? Position at a boarding school? Live-in nanny? It doesn't have to be for long...just enough to get started.
Hey there plasticblue64. I'm with Noodle (mostly, at least).
In deciding whether to move in together, look at it this way: pretend you have a decent job lined up in the same geographical area (you can afford shared housing). Would you move in together then? If yes, you're probably fine--that's how your relationship would naturally evolve. If not...take pause. Someone shared this a while back and I think it's applicable to your situation.
https://thebillfold.com/a-story-of-a-fuck-off-fund-648401263659#.dhler7e5b Not casting aspersions on your bf! Just that relationships can take turns, and you don't want to have to stay in a relationship you no longer want to (even if it's just lack of love, not abuse) because of financial reasons. And you don't want his change of heart to leave you on the street... (I know, it's weird double-think like that when you're in a steady relationship...but relationships do take turns, so you have to consider "We don't plan to break up, but if we did...")
Additionally, I don't think it's quite clear from your post if you have talked through this moving-in-together plan with your bf. Is he really down to have you live with him rent-free, or paying proportional-rent? Is he ok with providing the food and other necessities at least until you find a job? Will these things be gifts or loans (i.e. he expects the value paid back once you're employed)? This has to be spelled out crystal-clear, explicitly between you. Moving in can be a stumbling block for couples in the best of times. It's wonderful, too, of course! But the first months, figuring out the new arrangement, can be a little rough, so the more you have pre-determined as "this is ok, this is not ok" the better. Ours went something like this: split rent, groceries, utilities, and such 50-50. Live at my (grad student) standard of living--I set the price range on apartments (1000-1500 1BR in the LA area). He buys the car but we share gas/insurance/maintenance and he lets me borrow it when needed (rarely). But then, we both had a reasonable income, though his was/is twice mine.
As far as jobs: I know at least one person who did substitute teaching after college before finding a job--it got him by but I think he lived at home; another that dropped out and was a teacher's assistant. I worked at a YMCA summer camp between college and grad school (I wanted to see some sun!). It was a fun job, I made pennies and banked most of them, and I would totally recommend except they hired in March/early April IIRC. Can't hurt to look (around the country) to see if any positions are still open, it's just likely going to be...scant. [Sidebar: go to
http://www.acacamps.org/staff-professionals/job-center and apply for everything <1mo old RIGHT NOW! But also seek out local day camps, etc.] I also had a friend who tried a similar tack to yours: applying to private schools. It didn't end up working for him; in spite of tutoring experience at Kumon during high school. He ended up going to chiropractor school and joining his dad's practice (not a bad path, but probably not an option for you!) Another friend moved from another country, invalidating teacher credentials, and worked in afterschool care for several years (before staying home with Baby). Try all of the above! And everything else: care.com/nannying/babysitting, tutoring (online and in person), lab work, retail, food service, etc. One thing someone else on MMM has suggested that I would likely not have considered after college: job hunt on Craigslist. Apparently applicants who can format an email with proper punctuation, grammar, and manners are fairly rare. At this point, you just need something to get your foot in the door. And it's hard! My sis graduated last year from a very reputable institution and had a hard time finding anything for months; eventually landed a very nice entry-level temporary (1yr) job, made better by the fact she can live at home.
One thing LA might have going for it is they have an alternative credentialing teacher internship program.
http://achieve.lausd.net/districtinternprogram IIRC from looking at it months ago, you're actually in the classroom and paid, at least during the school year (there are also some courses and tests that you may have to do first...). I realize this has numerous problems (no real family support, hard on relationship) so I mostly offer this as a demonstration of what's out there and that it's worth to look in PA and neighboring states(/major cities) for similar programs. But maybe it interests you, I don't know.
Best of luck! I really hope things go well for you, the relationship works out, a job comes forth and becomes a career, and so forth.
Oh, as far as minimizing costs...if bf is the primary earner most choices like furnishings, etc are primarily his to make; I'd avoid forcing any issues while depending on him... but if he's open to it:
-> Make do with what you have, at least for a while. Don't rush into getting everything at once.
-> Consider alternatives; maybe you don't need chairs, or a couch. Or at least, not right away. Sit on the floor. Watch Netflix from/on the bed.
-> CL or thrift for household goods you do need; I haven't had much luck looking for very specific things, it was more like we did the rounds every week or two at first and saw things that filled certain gaps--plates, bowls, french press, spice rack. We got a coffee table but didn't have any luck with chairs for many weeks. 2-3 months in we got some from Costco at $30/pop. [Note: we were starting out with some stuff from previous apartments with roommates.]
-> Cook. This might fall mostly on you if he's the only one working. Accept it.
Basically I like theotherelise's suggestion: "sort your life choices by "Price: Lowest to Highest"" Honestly, the only way to ever minimize costs! Just much more critical early on.
I have to catch a bus (LA Metro btw!) so I'm going to stop rambling.