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New York is almost like its own planet—there is nowhere any place else that is even remotely like it…and that’s why it’s good for everybody to live there for at least a little while. Deciding to make the move is easy. Actually making the transition is what’s hard.
Culture Shock!
Things in New York are just…different. It’s the one city in the country where having a car is not only not needed, it can be a huge hassle. Still, if you’re used to having a car handy—especially if you plan to travel outside of the city with any sort of regularity–keeping your car nearby is a good idea. So, before you get to the city, do your research to find the best parking in Manhattan and buy your space.
It’s Not the Size That Matters
It’s how you use it! Nowhere is this more true than in Manhattan where the apartments are teeny tiny.
Living in a small space can be a challenge, no matter how easy those pre-fabbed apartments at IKEA make it look. It takes real creativity to make the small apartment work. Spend some time perusing sites like Apartment Therapy for ideas on how to best maximize the space you’re given.
Money Money Money
City living is expensive living. This is true across the country. In New York, however (Manhattan in particular), the cost of living can be downright scary. According to the Village Voice, Manhattan is the most expensive place to live in the country with Brooklyn (once thought to be the cost-effective alternative nirvana to Manhattan’s priceyness) coming in at number two.
Those tiny apartments we mentioned earlier come in at roughly an average of $3k a month. So how do you afford to live there? You’re just starting out!
• Get roommates. It is not unheard of for four roommates to share a studio apartment to make living in New York possible.
• Budgets are your friend. Work with someone at your bank to come up with a spending plan and budget that you can live with and then stick to it.
• Learn to love the free. In addition to being the most expensive place to live in the US, New York has more free entertainment per capita than anywhere else. Take advantage of that! Go to street fairs, learn to love the library, and hang out at any of the free parks in the city on your days off. Free is fun!
New York is a lifestyle that everybody should experience at least once. If you play it smart, you can make it work!
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