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I am looking to move to Brooklyn the first of March and need some advice. I am from Ohio orginally and up and moved to the D.C area 1yr and 1/2 ago. Great City, but I figured why not try New York cause I am not thourouly impressed, n since that is where I always wanted to live. I am a 32yr old female not afraid of hard work and a littlle struggle. I am currently working as full time waitress at a ridiculously busy chain restaurant. but I am also a (i havent used it since I moved) licensed youth prevention specialist (my license can be transferred to any state). what are some hurdles that I may face with apartment hunting, job hunting, and over all being a mid western girl alone in the city?
I will say that I am doing just fine in DC as a waitress. I did not know anyone or anything about this area before I moved here. I use to travel to NY alot when I was in college (no degree) in ohio, but I still dont know the NY area well and I horrible with the subways in NY. I use public transportation full time here and I am planning to catch the megabus to NY on a regular basis to get more aquainted with some things (i started doing this last week). Any advice or information would be helpful.
I am looking to move to Brooklyn the first of March and need some advice. I am from Ohio orginally and up and moved to the D.C area 1yr and 1/2 ago. Great City, but I figured why not try New York cause I am not thourouly impressed, n since that is where I always wanted to live. I am a 32yr old female not afraid of hard work and a littlle struggle. I am currently working as full time waitress at a ridiculously busy chain restaurant. but I am also a (i havent used it since I moved) licensed youth prevention specialist (my license can be transferred to any state). what are some hurdles that I may face with apartment hunting, job hunting, and over all being a mid western girl alone in the city?
I will say that I am doing just fine in DC as a waitress. I did not know anyone or anything about this area before I moved here. I use to travel to NY alot when I was in college (no degree) in ohio, but I still dont know the NY area well and I horrible with the subways in NY. I use public transportation full time here and I am planning to catch the megabus to NY on a regular basis to get more aquainted with some things (i started doing this last week). Any advice or information would be helpful.
Well, your first and most important issue? MONEY!!
Neither of your professions will pay enough in NYC to live on your own and afford an apartment.
How much do you think you will earn, doing what? How much do you expect to pay in rent?
Are you up for multiple roommates, which will like be a permanent circumstance?
While my experience may be a bit subjective, I found several things a bit startling when moving to New York. I would never trade the experience for anything, but when friends ask what living in New York is like, these are the things I mentioned;
- Apartment hunting can be a drag. At least in Manhattan (though from what I've heard, other boroughs, too). There is no shortage of apartments, though the rents are significantly higher than most anywhere else in the country, and you have to deal with broker situations. Some/most apartments you find online require you pay a broker, which is frequently a fee of 15% the annual rent. Some apartments do not, but it's the luck of the draw. Additionally, a lot of people tend to be frightened off by this absurd requirement that you make 40x the monthly rent to be accepted into the apartment (if you have a family member/friend/person who will be a guarantor sign on the lease with you, then this is usually waived).
- Transportation here is easy. Getting to know the subways is a bit cumbersome at first, but once you realize that (at least in Manhattan) there is basically a line for every avenue, it becomes pretty easy to figure out. Being able to get around as easily as you can here, plus with all the buses, makes living here a very enjoyable and accessible experience.
- Things are small, crowded, and dirty. Undeniably, apartments are super tiny. The city is not exactly clean, and there are far too many people than can reasonably fit here. That means wait times for restaurants, movies, shows are often long, trains are often crowded, and you have a high chance of seeing pesky little vermin running around.
- There is no place like this city, though. The history here is incredible, and everything from the food, to shopping, to entertainment, is incredible in New York. Sure, it's more expensive than most places, and even basic things like toiletries are more expensive than you'd imagine, but I found that with a cost-of-living increase from my job when I moved here, I basically net about the same every month, even though I'm spending more.
Hope my opinion helps, and I too am curious to hear what others may input as their experience.
While my experience may be a bit subjective, I found several things a bit startling when moving to New York. I would never trade the experience for anything, but when friends ask what living in New York is like, these are the things I mentioned;
- Apartment hunting can be a drag. At least in Manhattan (though from what I've heard, other boroughs, too). There is no shortage of apartments, though the rents are significantly higher than most anywhere else in the country, and you have to deal with broker situations. Some/most apartments you find online require you pay a broker, which is frequently a fee of 15% the annual rent. Some apartments do not, but it's the luck of the draw. Additionally, a lot of people tend to be frightened off by this absurd requirement that you make 40x the monthly rent to be accepted into the apartment (if you have a family member/friend/person who will be a guarantor sign on the lease with you, then this is usually waived).
- Transportation here is easy. Getting to know the subways is a bit cumbersome at first, but once you realize that (at least in Manhattan) there is basically a line for every avenue, it becomes pretty easy to figure out. Being able to get around as easily as you can here, plus with all the buses, makes living here a very enjoyable and accessible experience.
- Things are small, crowded, and dirty. Undeniably, apartments are super tiny. The city is not exactly clean, and there are far too many people than can reasonably fit here. That means wait times for restaurants, movies, shows are often long, trains are often crowded, and you have a high chance of seeing pesky little vermin running around.
- There is no place like this city, though. The history here is incredible, and everything from the food, to shopping, to entertainment, is incredible in New York. Sure, it's more expensive than most places, and even basic things like toiletries are more expensive than you'd imagine, but I found that with a cost-of-living increase from my job when I moved here, I basically net about the same every month, even though I'm spending more.
Hope my opinion helps, and I too am curious to hear what others may input as their experience.
I am a native---------------------ho, hum.....yawn
The ignorance and arrogance is hilarious (I love NY) lol... I like Brooklyn, but queens is also an option. I say those two because the cost of living is much more affordable than the city, but still eclectic/artsy safe in most areas for me. I am state tested and certified prevention specialist (internationally credentialed) I the cool lady in your kids middle school that they send all the troubled kids too or helped you out when you where being bullied (im certified in a specialized bullying program as well as a few other things that I have nocied a few orgs. Are having a hard time recruiting for) and ask to sit in the meeting with their parent because the principle is really afraid.
I understand I will need a rooommate or 2, thats not an issue for me. My old manager was a waitress in the city and she assures me I could totally make with just waitressing (she worked at b.b. kings) but I will most likely work 2jobs. Waitressing at night or weekends n some office or social service day job.
How difficult is it to get a waitressing job in the city? How much is an unlimites pass for the train? What neighborhoods should I avoid (I grew up 45minutes from detroit which I am sure is the most dangerous city in america and provided home counseling services in SE D.C so im gonna need more than black people live there as a reason to stay away)? What was your broker experience like? What r so me good non fine dining rest. To work in tge city? Are there any nice SROs that exist? What is your exp. With finding a place on craigslist?
Oh n my goal is to pay no more than $600 a month in both rent n utilities with one or 2 roomates (this is also why brooklyn looks appealing. I pay more than that now plus hang out, eat out, and go out a few times a week...so I figure I could swing it *shoulder shrug*
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