Is ten thousand dollars enough money to have saved up before a move to NYC? (New York: apartments)

[Jim1234]

I'm thinking of moving to NYC.I don't drive and don't want to have to depend on family members for rides everywhere,I want to save up ten thousand dollars first, then move. My question is, do you guys feel that ten thousand dollars is enough money to have saved up before the move?Is that enough money to cover expenses until I find a job?Or perhaps I should live in a hotel in New York or Atlantic city and just work in NYC?

[nyccs]

Originally Posted by Jim1234

I'm thinking of moving to NYC.I don't drive and don't want to have to depend on family members for rides everywhere,I want to save up ten thousand dollars first, then move. My question is, do you guys feel that ten thousand dollars is enough money to have saved up before the move?Is that enough money to cover expenses until I find a job?Or perhaps I should live in a hotel in New York or Atlantic city and just work in NYC?

Should last you a few months...too many variables for anyone here to answer you correctly.

[nightcrawler]

it wont last long.

[Shaolin Shadowboxing]

Originally Posted by Jim1234

I'm thinking of moving to NYC.I don't drive and don't want to have to depend on family members for rides everywhere,I want to save up ten thousand dollars first, then move. My question is, do you guys feel that ten thousand dollars is enough money to have saved up before the move?Is that enough money to cover expenses until I find a job?Or perhaps I should live in a hotel in New York or Atlantic city and just work in NYC?

you've done 0 research.

[Cida]

Possibly, IF you're organized, prepared, and are pretty sure you can get a job (i.e. you're adequately educated and adequately skilled).

[Wells5]

Before you do anything, rent, stream or buy a DVD of the 1969 movie, "Midnight Cowboy" about a naive Texas stud who travels to NYC with very little money and a dream about how he'll prosper. That was made in an era when you could live in Manhattan on a very modest income. $10,000 today is the inflation adjusted equivalent of $1,565 in 1969

[bumberbob]

Remember, it isn't a tv show like Sex in the City or Seinfeld where the main characters have these insane apartments and virtually have no high paying jobs. They then go into the city and live the glam life too.

It's shoeboxes that cost 1000+ with roommates. If you can handle that, then you would probably really love the city.

The living in a hotel and mentioning Atlantic City is also a dead giveaway that you have plenty more to learn about the area before you make any sort of decision.

[Employable]

Originally Posted by nyccs

Should last you a few months...too many variables for anyone here to answer you correctly.

I agree. Too many variables. What I'm going to type will appear condescending, but it's honestly not.

Let's assume you:
--Have all the correct work- and cold-weather clothes you need.
--Have all the "apartment stuff" you need.
--You know someone here (that's what it sounded like).
--Won't need to spend a dime on moving costs. Wait... won't need to spend a solitary penny.
--Can spend enough time in the city looking for an apartment.
--Can find a $1,500 studio.

Are you familiar with the soul-crushing evil that surrounds the NYC apartment-rental market? Do you need a co-signer? If you're even lucky enough to find someone willing to rent you the above-mentioned studio, you're looking at a minimum of $5,000 before you even get your keys. (Someone back me up here.)

Read this:
//www.city-data.com/forum/new-y...oull-need.html

Do you realize how tough it can be getting a job in this market? Do you have contacts? Have you ever been extremely qualified to work as even the lowliest of restaurant servers and have management roll their eyes at you? Allow yourself at least another month without unemployment. Now you're at $6,500. Then you have to wait at least a week or two for your first paycheck.

Do you know how much more food costs here? I hope you live near a Trader Joe's, which has a nationwide pricing policy. If not, that box of cereal will cost you 6 bucks. Forget restaurant food for a while. Probably cart food, too.

How about transportation? Unless you can get by solely on the subway or train, you might end up shoveling money at cab drivers. And do you even know the intricacies of dealing with cabbies and black-car drivers? If you live outside the city, do you know commute times? Do you realize how many places outside the boroughs have a similar cost of living?

Insurance? Cell phone bill? Electric and gas bills?

Those people I assume you know here... can you crash with them if things go south? And are you prepared for the financial ramifications of breaking your lease?

I guess what I'm saying is... no way. I would never move here with only 10 grand. My wife and I switched apartments a couple years ago, and that's the exact about of cash we needed. I kept the receipts and almost framed them.

[Tough-love statement]: You haven't read enough. You haven't done enough math. Revisit this when you have at least $20,000 and a job already locked down.