family of 5 moving to NYC (New York, Poughkeepsie: transplants, 2013, neighborhoods)

[ShirlMastic Beach]

For $1500 you should be able to find a 2 bedroom railroad apartment on a subway line in Queens. Same for Brooklyn but the nabe will have higher crime rates and crap schools that suck more than the ones your used to now.

[joeymags]

So you get $35k from gov't, $25k from your online thing and will have $~60k in savings. You could set you and your family up with a decent life if you moved somewhere else. Maybe south, the Carolina's, etc. but choosing to raise three kids in a 2br apartment in Brooklyn, especially when you have no ties to the area? What are you thinking? Bc you like museums??

[brooklyn4down]

Listen we are all trying to put this in the nicest way as possible with you're dumb*** idea but b*** don't you get it that you're not helping you're family by doing this you're most likely going to hurt them if you move here with that income and 3 kids you're only going to end up in a bad neighborhood that you're kids are going to be living in are you stupid or something face the facts that you're not going to end up anywhere nice if you move here either you're going to end up in the South Bronx or crappy parts of Brooklyn , Queens and Manhattan or even Staten Island do you're family a favor and stay where you are right now and listen to these ACTUAL NEW YORKERS and stop being so ignorant

[NYChic67]

I'm still stuck on the fact that she legitimately said that they are moving here to NYC because of the arts. Umm....WHAT??? Wow...this plan seems to have A LOT of issues. I feel almost as if this is a longtime dream that you're desperately trying to live out. This may sound all good and fabulous in your head but this idea is just BAD in every way! There is NO WAY you're going to make it here with a plan like that! Trust me, if you make that move (which it seems like you're pretty dead set on it) you're in for a RUDE AWAKENING. New York is NOT what you think it is. It's already hard enough for the people born and raised here to make it and you think that you'll just pick up where you left off in Indiana (I think that's where you said you're from) that is FAR from what will happen..you know, unless you have your stash of millions that you forgot to mention..

[NYChic67]

Originally Posted by madixmom03

I already have 6 months saved up for an apartment and will have more saved up by the time we move which will be in June of next year. We are also selling our house which will almost all be profit since it is almost paid off. I will be doing all my online stuff at the public library and Wi-Fi hotspots! I only need the computer to actually list things. That I can do once a week. E-mail I will have on my phone. My 17 year old will be working and her expenses are becoming almost all her own. ( she already buys her own clothes, phone, etc)

You have 6 months saved up?? That six months will be gone in TWO MONTHS here...IF that! Wow...for someone who seems to be a grown up with 3 kids to take of, doesn't seem to have her family in mind with this dumb stupid idea. You really should take the advice from the NATIVE New Yorkers. Yes, most of it is harsh, but it's the hard TRUTH. If you make that move you are facing so many unknowns REGARDLESS of how you see it. You don't know what you're getting into. You may make it but with the resources you mentioned, you BETTER believe that it will be VERY HARD!

[Rare727]

Yeah, sometimes I feel the people on this forum exaggerate who can and can't make it in NYC, but this is really kind of a terrible idea.

Generally people will say "try the suburbs" to those who can't afford the city but $35,000 with 5 kids won't get you far there, either.

Have you considered a less expensive metro area? Upstate NY is not a bad suggestion. Maybe Pennsylvania?

[livingsinglenyc]

Have you considered escorting. Because that's what it will come down to if you plan on making it here. Your poor children in several seances...

[canudigit]

If your daughter is a talented artist, then why not have her apply for art schools in large cities, such as Chicago, NYC, Philadelphia, or Boston? Coming from a family of five with your income, she should be able to get all kinds of grants and scholarships.

As far as your other two kids, if they are settled where they are, why not just take them into Chicago from time to time for exposure to the arts? Even in places like NYC people don't spend their entire lives in museums and galleries, because they are busy making a living and doing those mundane things that constitute day to day living.

I have been following this thread for some reason, and, while I sort of admire your desire to give your kids what you want them to have, I can't believe that you think this would be doable without a lot of problems and eventual regret. Just BEING in NYC, even for a visit, is super expensive, and living there on a day to day basis would be outrageous. I don't know how the natives do it, but my hat is off to them.

The NYC natives here are telling you that you would end up in a less than desirable area, which equates to: dangerous. Please listen to them, they truly do have your best interest at heart. Who wants to end up in an area where you have to be afraid to leave your apartment, especially when you have kids to protect?

[madixmom03]

I live in Rockford,Il look it up and you will see how bad this city is. I also don't like being called a B word either because I am sick and tired of living in a city that was number one on the list of most depressed cities by Forbes magazine. I am not moving "Just for the arts" I am moving because I am sick and tired of having to drive 2 hours to Chicago when my family has seen and did everything in Chicago since we lived there for 10 years. I am looking at different areas however I NEED an area that I don't have to have a car at all. Just look up ROCKFORD,IL and you will understand that saying we will be in a bad area in New York would be a step up for us!

[madixmom03]

Rockford, Ill. - In Photos: America's Most Dangerous Cities - Forbes