Making do in such a small space is incredibly challenging, but some creativity & letting go of a lot of stuff let us make the space as comfy as possible.
Watch Our NYC Apartment Tour on Youtube!
Our NYC Apartment Tour
We found our NYC apartment several months ago, what an adjustment! Still, it's totally worth the sacrifice to live in such an amazing city. Between the hustle & bustle, sounds, ease of transportation, and totally amazing things to do, we wouldn't have it any other way!
Making do in such a small space is incredibly challenging, but some creativity & letting go of a lot of stuff let us make the space as comfy as possible.
Watch Our NYC Apartment Tour on Youtube!
Making do in such a small space is incredibly challenging, but some creativity & letting go of a lot of stuff let us make the space as comfy as possible.
Watch Our NYC Apartment Tour on Youtube!
Tips for Moving to NYC (or any big city!)
We had a lot of people asking for some 'moving to the city' tips after recently relocating from Atlanta to NYC, so we thought we would put together a top 10 list! We learned a LOT during the process, and hope they're helpful to you, should you ever decide to take the leap to a big city!
#1 PLAN AHEAD!
Moving to a big city can be expensive!! You should really try to plan as much as feasible before actually relocating into a city like NYC. This includes trying to line up work prior, leverage contacts or friends that may know the areas, etc. The more you can do before the move, the less expensive the move will be!
#2 Know your Budget
Remember we said big cities can be expensive? RENT IS RIDICULOUS! Know your budget for rent that you can afford each month that will still allow you to eat, pay bills, and save some money on the side. The good news is that rent drops dramatically the further out you go from a metropolis, and NYC has a pretty darn good transit system (for being 100 years old)! Get to know the good neighborhoods and start talking to agents! You will need at bare minimum, first month's rent + 1 month security deposit (this is for excellent credit). Additional months security deposit will likely be required. When in doubt, plan for the worst & hope for the best. This is the most stressful part of the move!
#3 Try the "DIY" Apartment Hunt
Great sites are www.triplemint.com (formerly suitey.com), www.renthop.com , & www.nakedapartments.com . Utilize these sites, but if you're in the city, visit the neighborhoods and look for fliers that could be posted for available apartments!
#4 Job Hunting
As soon as you possibly can, get out there and start looking for work! Sometimes you can snag a job in the city prior to moving, but that wasn't the case for us. Once we landed, we quickly started focusing solely on landing interviews. This is also a stressful time, it will often be difficult to find the company that you really want to work at. Sure, you can take the first job offer that you get, but only when you've finally found the right 'fit' will you really love your job.
#5 Know your Transit
Important to know how you're going to get around! Do the math on a weekly metro pass, and see if it makes sense to buy vs. the per-ride fare. Learn the subway lines, stops, and which are the most convenient to the places you'll be commuting to and from each day. This was really important for us when looking for apartments. Convenience is key!
#6 DOWNSIZE!
You're moving to a city where, unless you're a millionaire, square footage is SMALL! Before the move, go through your entire wardrobe, furniture, gadgets, and toys and determine what you really can't live without. Use Craigslist, eBay, local salvage shops, & friends to try and earn some money before your move. Believe us, you will be so glad you did! In situations where you just can't part with some of the items, plan on obtaining a storage unit when you get to the city. It was a shock to us just how expensive these storage units can be, and learned that prices are usually based on season and demand. Summer & fall are ridiculously priced, so think hard about what you really want to bring!
#7 Control your Food Spending!
Ah, how convenient. Food on every corner, many places open well into the morning hours. What's the problem with that? Well, for one, it adds up rather quickly. Restaurants in the city are quite pricey, averaging $20-$30 a plate and higher for pretty basic food (when compared to what it gets you in the suburbs). This is a quick way to run out of money, and have nothing to even show for it! You will do your wallet a huge favor by being savvy about where you buy groceries, and religiously cooking as many meals as you possibly can. We love cooking a huge meal because we know we'll have lunches for the following day, maybe even dinner again.
Adding even more to the tab are drinks, where a domestic beer will run you $7-$8. Mixed drinks? Get outta here! PRE-GAME, you'll be glad you did ;)
#8 Become a HUSTLER
If you came to the city & think you can sit back and coast for a bit, you're dead wrong. We learned first-hand on many occasions just how expensive (often unexpected expenses) the city can be, even if you've planned everything. Don't be above any job, if you need the money. Roll up the sleeves and serve some tables, tend bar, or get creative with bringing in money (keep it legal though lol). Don't go into debt when you can avoid it! The great thing about NYC is that there are so many people in their own 'hustle' that it almost feels unnatural to sit around. Make friends, make money, and make more friends. You'll never know when you need them!
#9 Explore the City
You moved here for adventure, right? Well get out and seize the day! Although big cities can get expensive quickly, there are TONS of free or discounted things to get into. From concerts, window shopping (be careful), checking out the landmarks, or just strolling the streets, be sure you take time each week to go out and live a little. It's a beautiful place, get out there & enjoy!
#10 Have a Plan B..... C..... D..... E
We're not referring to subway lines! ALWAYS plan for something to go wrong, because you may be surprised how you sometimes simply don't have control over every situation. Definitely have an emergency fund, but also line up possible alternatives for almost every big thing you take on. Moving? Something will happen that wasn't in your plans. Apartment hunting? Be ready for a hunt & some stress. Same goes for the job hunt. It doesn't hurt to become a bit more pessimistic than you were in your last town.... not negative... but don't take anyone's word on anything until they come through. You'll save yourself the disappointment, and you'll have a backup plan ready to go!
#1 PLAN AHEAD!
Moving to a big city can be expensive!! You should really try to plan as much as feasible before actually relocating into a city like NYC. This includes trying to line up work prior, leverage contacts or friends that may know the areas, etc. The more you can do before the move, the less expensive the move will be!
#2 Know your Budget
Remember we said big cities can be expensive? RENT IS RIDICULOUS! Know your budget for rent that you can afford each month that will still allow you to eat, pay bills, and save some money on the side. The good news is that rent drops dramatically the further out you go from a metropolis, and NYC has a pretty darn good transit system (for being 100 years old)! Get to know the good neighborhoods and start talking to agents! You will need at bare minimum, first month's rent + 1 month security deposit (this is for excellent credit). Additional months security deposit will likely be required. When in doubt, plan for the worst & hope for the best. This is the most stressful part of the move!
#3 Try the "DIY" Apartment Hunt
Great sites are www.triplemint.com (formerly suitey.com), www.renthop.com , & www.nakedapartments.com . Utilize these sites, but if you're in the city, visit the neighborhoods and look for fliers that could be posted for available apartments!
#4 Job Hunting
As soon as you possibly can, get out there and start looking for work! Sometimes you can snag a job in the city prior to moving, but that wasn't the case for us. Once we landed, we quickly started focusing solely on landing interviews. This is also a stressful time, it will often be difficult to find the company that you really want to work at. Sure, you can take the first job offer that you get, but only when you've finally found the right 'fit' will you really love your job.
#5 Know your Transit
Important to know how you're going to get around! Do the math on a weekly metro pass, and see if it makes sense to buy vs. the per-ride fare. Learn the subway lines, stops, and which are the most convenient to the places you'll be commuting to and from each day. This was really important for us when looking for apartments. Convenience is key!
#6 DOWNSIZE!
You're moving to a city where, unless you're a millionaire, square footage is SMALL! Before the move, go through your entire wardrobe, furniture, gadgets, and toys and determine what you really can't live without. Use Craigslist, eBay, local salvage shops, & friends to try and earn some money before your move. Believe us, you will be so glad you did! In situations where you just can't part with some of the items, plan on obtaining a storage unit when you get to the city. It was a shock to us just how expensive these storage units can be, and learned that prices are usually based on season and demand. Summer & fall are ridiculously priced, so think hard about what you really want to bring!
#7 Control your Food Spending!
Ah, how convenient. Food on every corner, many places open well into the morning hours. What's the problem with that? Well, for one, it adds up rather quickly. Restaurants in the city are quite pricey, averaging $20-$30 a plate and higher for pretty basic food (when compared to what it gets you in the suburbs). This is a quick way to run out of money, and have nothing to even show for it! You will do your wallet a huge favor by being savvy about where you buy groceries, and religiously cooking as many meals as you possibly can. We love cooking a huge meal because we know we'll have lunches for the following day, maybe even dinner again.
Adding even more to the tab are drinks, where a domestic beer will run you $7-$8. Mixed drinks? Get outta here! PRE-GAME, you'll be glad you did ;)
#8 Become a HUSTLER
If you came to the city & think you can sit back and coast for a bit, you're dead wrong. We learned first-hand on many occasions just how expensive (often unexpected expenses) the city can be, even if you've planned everything. Don't be above any job, if you need the money. Roll up the sleeves and serve some tables, tend bar, or get creative with bringing in money (keep it legal though lol). Don't go into debt when you can avoid it! The great thing about NYC is that there are so many people in their own 'hustle' that it almost feels unnatural to sit around. Make friends, make money, and make more friends. You'll never know when you need them!
#9 Explore the City
You moved here for adventure, right? Well get out and seize the day! Although big cities can get expensive quickly, there are TONS of free or discounted things to get into. From concerts, window shopping (be careful), checking out the landmarks, or just strolling the streets, be sure you take time each week to go out and live a little. It's a beautiful place, get out there & enjoy!
#10 Have a Plan B..... C..... D..... E
We're not referring to subway lines! ALWAYS plan for something to go wrong, because you may be surprised how you sometimes simply don't have control over every situation. Definitely have an emergency fund, but also line up possible alternatives for almost every big thing you take on. Moving? Something will happen that wasn't in your plans. Apartment hunting? Be ready for a hunt & some stress. Same goes for the job hunt. It doesn't hurt to become a bit more pessimistic than you were in your last town.... not negative... but don't take anyone's word on anything until they come through. You'll save yourself the disappointment, and you'll have a backup plan ready to go!
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