Tips for Newbies Relocating to Manhattan

Thinking about relocating to Manhattan? Great idea! Manhattan has so much to offer residents and tourists alike, that it’s no surprise that many people are making the transition and deciding to call Manhattan home! Before you call up your NYC movers and fully commit to living in Manhattan, there are a few things that you should know so you don’t stick out as a Manhattan newbie!

Public Transportation Is Your Best Friend

NYC, Manhattan especially, is known for its public transportation. From the famous yellow NYC taxi cabs, to buses and, of course, the subway, you won’t have any trouble getting to and from any destination. Due to the high volume of people in NYC, driving, particularly in Manhattan, is extremely difficult, not to mention expensive. On the off-chance that you do luck out to find a decent parking spot on the street, enjoy it while it lasts, as you’ll have to move your car the next day to comply with the alternate side of the street regulations for street-cleaning purposes. If you do decide to keep your car, your best, most affordable option is to rent an affordable vehicle storage unit.

Know How Much Your Budget Will Get You

It is no mystery that Manhattan is an expensive city to live in. Especially if you are not accustomed to just how expensive rent can be in Manhattan, you are going to be in for a surprise. In Manhattan, the top three biggest expenses are housing, child care, and insurance. Newcomers to Manhattan are going to need to be prepared to adjust their budget accordingly, when they find how just how much, or how little, their budget will actually get them.

Plan For a Different Type of Shopping Trip

Manhattan is a city that is made for walking, so even simple trips to the grocery store are going to require some getting used to. Without a car, it is difficult to stock up on a week’s worth of groceries during one trip. Many Manhattanites make frequent trips to the store, purchasing just enough food for a few meals. Now that you’ll be walking pretty much everywhere you go, you’ll have to get used to purchasing only what you can carry home with you in a single trip.

Be Realistic About How You’ll be Eating

For many Manhattan residents, eating out is just one of the many perks of living in the city. For those who are new to Manhattan, eating out all the time might take some getting used to. Consider your current habits and how they will fit into your new, New York City lifestyle. If you currently reside in a suburb, where you eat most your meals at home, and cart a bagged lunch to work every day, this lifestyle might not be ideal when living in the city. Taking lunch to work with you every day will require you to take it on the subway or carry it the whole way to work. Also, consider the grocery shopping challenge, as was previously mentioned. That alone makes the idea of eating out more attractive!

Learn the Lingo

If you want to blend in as a local quickly and not draw attention to yourself as being an outsider, it’d be best to learn the lingo quickly. New York, but most especially Manhattan, has a certain lingo that indicates you are a Manhattanite. While you might be used to using North and South as directions, forget that in New York! You’re either going “uptown” or “downtown”. The Brooklyn Bridge, as it is known to tourists, is simply known as “the bridge” for those who call New York home. Quickly learn all of the lingo that the locals use, and you’ll feel like a native before you know it!

Pick Up The Pace

New York is known as the city that never sleeps, and the city that never slows down! In fact, Manhattanites have some of the lowest obesity rates in the country, simply due to the fact that they walk everywhere, and generally at a faster pace. This is no city for standing still or leisurely making your way anywhere. New York City is a city that is always moving, and in a hurry! If you enjoy a slower pace of life, NYC might not be the place for you. But, if you are determined to make NYC your home, pick up the pace and you’ll fit right in.

Downsize your Possessions

Real estate is extremely expensive and valuable in Manhattan. The easiest way to save money on rent is to downsize to as few belongings as possible. Anything that you are not deeply attached to, or only use on occasion, can be donated. Only keep the essentials in the little square space that you have available to you. One thing that you will quickly learn is that Manhattanites are efficient at maximizing and using what little space they have available to them. For items that you just can’t seem to part with, but don’t have room in your tiny apartment to store, a low-cost solution is to find a personal storage unit to store those items.

Before you Commit, Get To Know The City

Before you commit to moving to Manhattan, spend a few weeks and get to know the city, especially if you are not familiar with Manhattan and the surrounding areas. Thoroughly explore Manhattan and its neighborhoods to find the area where you want to live. The last thing you want to do is be locked into a rental contract in an area that doesn’t work for you.

Know What You Are Willing to Forego

Living in Manhattan has many advantages, but many that also come at the cost of other amenities that you might be accustomed to. Many New Yorkers go without the convenience of having a dishwasher or elevator. There are very few apartments that have their own personal green space at their disposal. If you are accustomed to an apartment that is full of amenities, you might want to consider staying where you are, or looking for an apartment outside of Manhattan.

If you are ready to stop dreaming of living in the city, and make the move to Manhattan a reality, it’s time to immerse yourself in the vibrant and fast-paced lifestyle that is Manhattan. This is where we come in. NYC movers like us, American Movers, can help to make your dream of living in the big city a reality! Contact us today to see how we can help you have a smooth transition to living in the Big Apple!