The west coast hasn’t been treating me too well. I’ve got no job, no money, in a few days I’ll have no place to live. So I’ve decided to pack my bags and leave. Since I can’t go to California to be a movie star, I’m heading to New York instead.
How many people have wanted to just leave and go someplace new? Well thats what I’m going to do. I’ve never even been to New York!
If things go right, I’ll move in on August 1st. I’ll have a cheap ($400.00 a month in a not-too-too-bad neighborhood) until September, and by then I’ve got to have a job and a place to live. This could be my new life, or it could end up one long cheap vacation. But however it turns out I can’t wait!
Any tips for a laid back sun loving small town Californian?
May I be the first to suggest a more-affordable apt.-search in Brooklyn or New Jersey? I have a large, lovely apt. in NJ for half of what I’d pay in NYC, and my commute is only 30 minutes.
Good luck. No advice for moving to NYC, just best wishes. A year ago I gave up on California and drove across the country to Ann Arbor, Michigan. I had a place to live, but no job and not a lot of money, and no friends. But I did okay! I’m a little tired of Ann Arbor, though, so in a couple weeks I’m packing up and moving to Chicago. I did it once, I can do it again, and so can you.
Young girl, no money, no job, NYC. What could go wrong? Sounds like a bad 70’s movie in the making. I don’t want to discourage you, but make sure you have enough resources and friends to get out of Dodge if need be. Start looking for a job and place to live now.
I’ll add another New York welcome. We’ll have to throw a get-together in your honor when you arrive.
Also, a bunch of New York dopers may have connections for jobs, places to live, or other necessities. Tell us what you’re interested in doing (and/or qualified to do), where you want to live, and all of that other info.
Good luck! I’m an NYU alum, and one of my old buddies used to run a sound stage at the Tisch School of the Arts there after we graduated (he’s an NYU film school grad; a lot of my friends were. We had a creative writing class together freshman year, and were fast friends for the rest of college, but sort of went our separate ways afterward). For all I know, he’s still there, but I haven’t heard from him in years. I’ll see if I can dig him up…if I can, would you be interested in some of advice on at least semi-film related job searching?
If you have any spare cash, well, you MUST go to the Kiev, my favorite all-night Ukrainian diner on 2nd Ave. and something like 6th Street, at 3 a.m. and eat blueberry blintzes. And don’t forget Mahmoun’s Falafel. Cheap and yummy!
I’m sure you’ll be able to find SOME kind of job, but it’s awfully difficult in NY, especially with housing prices what they are. I can’t imagine where you found a place for $400. I hope you’re roomates aren’t rat. Literally.
WEll as some one who would love to find a place for 4 bills a month, call me jealous. Also call me availibile if you need any advice on getting free crap, or how to have fun in the city on no cash. Feel free to email me, I love to help my fellow man
ok I don;t but I’m slightly buzzed and in a good mood. but email me anyway
Go sven! New York is my favorite city in the universe. Not that I’ve been to many, but still. I’m astounded and impressed that you’ve found a place to live for four hundred, and happy that you have a Thing You Will Do instead of all that recent-grad uncertainty and dread you were trading punches with recently. Also, the New York-area dopers are the bee’s knees. Very exciting, young jedi.
So, you know how it goes - e-mail if you need anything.
Congratulations on being able to ge a cheap place. Incidentally, you’ll be paying the exact same amount we are. Do you know what neighborhood you’re in?
While the job market is not spectacular, I suspect it’s better than where you’re coming from. The best way to get a job is through connections, so ask everyone and ask often.
Here’s a tip: train or bus fare is $2.00 a ride. A fun pass (unlimited rides for a day) is $7.00. WTF is that?! You need to take more than three rides in one day to make it pay off. You’re better off getting a 30-day unlimited ($70), or a one-week unlimited ($21).
I’ll be living with my best friend in the whole world and another good friend in a one bedroom apartment. I live in one of the most expensive cities on the west coast, so $400.00 will be much much cheaper than I am used to paying. Heck, I’ve payed $400.00 a month to live in a triple room in an apartment with 8 people in it! I’m not sure what neighborhood it is in, but I am told that it is on a street where a very bad neighborhood meets a very good neighborhood, which is also what I’m used to living in. I’m a pretty worldly girl, and I’m not at all worried about my ability to stay out of trouble. “Sheltered” is the last word I’d ever use to describe myself.
As for jobs, well any job scene has to be better than California. I’m qualified to work in video production, or in an entry level publishing job. I’ve been spending a lot of time on job boards, and there are about ten times more of these jobs availble in NYC than San Francisco and Los Angeles. Even if I don’t get a job in my field, it seems like there are a lot more waitressing jobs and the like then there are here. Don’t underestimate the terrible economy in California. I know people who have been looking for work for over a year who are just now finding part time nearly minimum wage jobs. Anything has to be better than this.
But if anyone has any connections to…well just about anything a fresh college graduate can do…I’m the one to do it. I’m a pretty talented editor and I have my own camera setup. Other than that, I have cash register experience, and have worked as an editor’s assistant at a newspaper. I’m bright and hard working.
If things work out here, I might not go. But I don’t hold much hope for this place. I can’t wait to leave. I’ll let you guys know once I get a plane ticket, because I’m dieing to meet you all. I’m so excited!
