Tips for moving to New York City

[Ziggy]

I've heard that everyone is always in a hurry and that I should mistake being firm for being mean. And while I am a bit sensitive, I'm also much more hardskinned that you'd think.

Did you mean to say that you should'NT mistake being firm for being mean? I'd have to say that it's true, for the most part. But let me warn you, a lot of New Yorkers are straight up MEAN and very inconsiderate. Not all of them, but there are a lot. Plenty of people are polite, but don't expect them to be. A lot of people have "I hate my life" written on their face.


Seriously though, it sounds like you're willing to make a huge sacrifice with your food. I do understand being on a tight budget, trust me, I understand that. But it sounds like a very bad diet. You can't eat Ramen every night perpetually. I mean, you can and will stay alive. But your health will suffer.

About the weather conditions... NYC will get the best of every season. Summers can be very hot, and VERY humid. It's already been in the 80's and humid, and it's still only June. You should expect 80-90 all summer long. Expect heat waves during July and August that break 100. Again, it get VERY humid during the summer. I remember telling some one that moved from Germany that the summers were hot and humid. They were like, "Oh yeah, how bad could it be?" The realized after the first summer that it is indeed very humid during the summer.

Winters are the very opposite. It'll get very cold. 10-20 degrees, some times single digits during the peak of winter. Some bad winters will even go below 0. I remember the winter before last was extremely cold and there were a few weeks it was below 0 during the mornings. I had a coworker at the time that recently moved up from Florida, he was like "I didn't even know it could go below 0!" Expect snow as well. Last winter was particularly bad with snow. We had a lot of storms that dumped a LOT of snow. Sometimes 1-2 feet at a time. The city got a lot of shit because the first bad storm right after Christmas, they really fucked up with plowing.

I'm assuming you wont have a car, so be prepared for the winters. It's easy to wear shorts and a t-shirt in the summer and deal with the heat, but make sure you got enough clothes for the winter if you're planning to walk places.

You can say that again Zig and there's some pretty dman good bagel places too! Let's not forget the driving either! Nice to see another LI'er on here man!

I don't know too much about NYC because I have only visited there a bunch of times (which can be expensive as shit just doing that) and since I'm a suburban man but NY is just plain expensive in general. Just make sure you are prepared which it seems like you have done your homework. Good luck! I hope it works out!

LOL, yeah the driving. Oh, don't get me started! People don't know how to drive on the island! But yeah, same here, man. I live in Suffolk County. I go into the city every once in a while, but I wouldn't say often. Did you see that Newsday commercial? "You know if you're a New Yorker if you can pronounce 'Hauppauge'. "

Nah, say what you want about New York, I love it. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

edit: Definitely glad to see other NY'ers on the forum, especially from Long Island!

[Evildeadmanwalking77]

Yes I did see that Newsday commercial, wasn't it on News 12 or something? Yeah, I went to NYC last November to visit the Met for my Art history class at SCCC and just dicked around for a bit. It was cool but the walk from Penn Station to the Met sucked! I'm not much of a city guy though, just go for concerts mostly and the occassional visit. Looks like there's 3 of us on here from LI, I just noticed fvgazi is a fellow native. Lol.
Yeah, despite the expenses, you really can't beat it here! If you'll excuse me I'm off to Jones Beach but I'll hit the Smithhaven mall 1st for some over priced bathing trunks and sunglasses at pacific sunwear! LOL!!

[fvgazi]

I've heard that everyone is always in a hurry and that I should mistake being firm for being mean. And while I am a bit sensitive, I'm also much more hardskinned that you'd think.

Did you mean to say that you should'NT mistake being firm for being mean? I'd have to say that it's true, for the most part. But let me warn you, a lot of New Yorkers are straight up MEAN and very inconsiderate. Not all of them, but there are a lot. Plenty of people are polite, but don't expect them to be. A lot of people have "I hate my life" written on their face.


Seriously though, it sounds like you're willing to make a huge sacrifice with your food. I do understand being on a tight budget, trust me, I understand that. But it sounds like a very bad diet. You can't eat Ramen every night perpetually. I mean, you can and will stay alive. But your health will suffer.

About the weather conditions... NYC will get the best of every season. Summers can be very hot, and VERY humid. It's already been in the 80's and humid, and it's still only June. You should expect 80-90 all summer long. Expect heat waves during July and August that break 100. Again, it get VERY humid during the summer. I remember telling some one that moved from Germany that the summers were hot and humid. They were like, "Oh yeah, how bad could it be?" The realized after the first summer that it is indeed very humid during the summer.

Winters are the very opposite. It'll get very cold. 10-20 degrees, some times single digits during the peak of winter. Some bad winters will even go below 0. I remember the winter before last was extremely cold and there were a few weeks it was below 0 during the mornings. I had a coworker at the time that recently moved up from Florida, he was like "I didn't even know it could go below 0!" Expect snow as well. Last winter was particularly bad with snow. We had a lot of storms that dumped a LOT of snow. Sometimes 1-2 feet at a time. The city got a lot of shit because the first bad storm right after Christmas, they really fucked up with plowing.

I'm assuming you wont have a car, so be prepared for the winters. It's easy to wear shorts and a t-shirt in the summer and deal with the heat, but make sure you got enough clothes for the winter if you're planning to walk places.

You can say that again Zig and there's some pretty dman good bagel places too! Let's not forget the driving either! Nice to see another LI'er on here man!

I don't know too much about NYC because I have only visited there a bunch of times (which can be expensive as shit just doing that) and since I'm a suburban man but NY is just plain expensive in general. Just make sure you are prepared which it seems like you have done your homework. Good luck! I hope it works out!

LOL, yeah the driving. Oh, don't get me started! People don't know how to drive on the island! But yeah, same here, man. I live in Suffolk County. I go into the city every once in a while, but I wouldn't say often. Did you see that Newsday commercial? "You know if you're a New Yorker if you can pronounce 'Hauppauge'. "

Nah, say what you want about New York, I love it. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

edit: Definitely glad to see other NY'ers on the forum, especially from Long Island!

I currently live in Hauppauge (had an apartment in huntington station for 2 years), but I grew up in North Massapequa.

[gtmtnbiker]

Seriously though, it sounds like you're willing to make a huge sacrifice with your food. I do understand being on a tight budget, trust me, I understand that. But it sounds like a very bad diet. You can't eat Ramen every night perpetually. I mean, you can and will stay alive. But your health will suffer.

That was my first reaction when I read his post. I encourage him to make a point of getting fresh fruit/vegetables in his diet. There's a reason why cheap food is cheap, it's bad for you.

[REPO Man]

Did you mean to say that you should'NT mistake being firm for being mean? I'd have to say that it's true, for the most part. But let me warn you, a lot of New Yorkers are straight up MEAN and very inconsiderate. Not all of them, but there are a lot. Plenty of people are polite, but don't expect them to be. A lot of people have "I hate my life" written on their face.

I did mean shouldN'T. And it's nice to know that some are mean and inconsiderate, so that I don't expect something I shouldn't.

Seriously though, it sounds like you're willing to make a huge sacrifice with your food. I do understand being on a tight budget, trust me, I understand that. But it sounds like a very bad diet. You can't eat Ramen every night perpetually. I mean, you can and will stay alive. But your health will suffer.

The first year is pretty much about surviving. You typically cannot afford to eat healthy, and just eating is more relevant than whether or not your meals are "healthy". And besides, you burn off calories walking everywhere. I also plan on getting a bike for places that are too far to walk and too close to take the bus or subway.

And it won't be ramen every night. Some nights, I'll switch over to something else but still cheap. Take-out may just be 1-4 times a month. And then there's attending the Holy Church of PB&J.

Another few staples of my grocery list include:

* Hot Pockets - usually about 1 each ($12 for a dozen), or less if they're on sale ($10 for a doz)
* Smart Option (Food Lion store brand) Pizzas - 99cents each (2 for dinner = 1.98)
* Michellina's Entrees (2 for lunch) - as low as $1 or 2/$3

Can anyone vouch for Associated Supermarket, preferably with Food Lion as a basis for comparison?

About the weather conditions... NYC will get the best of every season. Summers can be very hot, and VERY humid. It's already been in the 80's and humid, and it's still only June. You should expect 80-90 all summer long. Expect heat waves during July and August that break 100. Again, it get VERY humid during the summer. I remember telling some one that moved from Germany that the summers were hot and humid. They were like, "Oh yeah, how bad could it be?" The realized after the first summer that it is indeed very humid during the summer.

Where I live, it's hot and humid as well. We're also on a smaller landmass and surrounded by both the Pamlico Sound and Atlantic Ocean. And I work in a job that puts me in humid 80-90 with heat waves at least 5-6 hours a day, plus I walk and bike ride in said weather.

Winters are the very opposite. It'll get very cold. 10-20 degrees, some times single digits during the peak of winter. Some bad winters will even go below 0. I remember the winter before last was extremely cold and there were a few weeks it was below 0 during the mornings. I had a coworker at the time that recently moved up from Florida, he was like "I didn't even know it could go below 0!" Expect snow as well. Last winter was particularly bad with snow. We had a lot of storms that dumped a LOT of snow. Sometimes 1-2 feet at a time. The city got a lot of shit because the first bad storm right after Christmas, they really fucked up with plowing.

It's hardly that cold down here. I'm not very acclimated to that kinda weather, but I can try. I remember reading about how buying longjohns should be a major to-do.

I'm assuming you wont have a car, so be prepared for the winters. It's easy to wear shorts and a t-shirt in the summer and deal with the heat, but make sure you got enough clothes for the winter if you're planning to walk places.

I won't be having a car.

And I plan on it.

I don't know too much about NYC because I have only visited there a bunch of times (which can be expensive as shit just doing that) and since I'm a suburban man but NY is just plain expensive in general. Just make sure you are prepared which it seems like you have done your homework. Good luck! I hope it works out!

I have, though my family often mocks me, and my brother has this recurring gag to where when I say something, he says "Would Ben approve of that", referencing Ben Popken, who wrote the article from The Consumerist that I put in my first post. And even when I talked about learning self-defense, he just laughed and said that I'd need a gun!

And whatever I say to my mom, she'll do one of two things:

1) Offer a counterpoint that basically just makes me feel stupid
2) Realizing she has no logical response, just says "Fine, go! Just don't expect me to visit". And that makes me feel stupid.

That's why I instituted the "no negativity" ruling.

[fvgazi]

You will be able to find cheap food. Shop at bodegas and fresh food stands on the street. Farmers markets are pretty abundant in bklyn and some areas of queens.

[REPO Man]

Seriously though, it sounds like you're willing to make a huge sacrifice with your food. I do understand being on a tight budget, trust me, I understand that. But it sounds like a very bad diet. You can't eat Ramen every night perpetually. I mean, you can and will stay alive. But your health will suffer.

That was my first reaction when I read his post. I encourage him to make a point of getting fresh fruit/vegetables in his diet. There's a reason why cheap food is cheap, it's bad for you.

Sadly, it's not about healthy. I mean, would I rather spend more to eat healthy, or spend less to eat a full three meals?

I mean, fruits and veggies are expensive. And they don't fill you up as much. It's all about being full.

And it's just like college, where stress, lack of time, and various factors cause you to eat unhealthily and the result gives you noticeable weight-gain.

But unlike college, you're always on the move and hardly have the time to sit down. As a result, you burn food off, so you don't gain as much weight.

And I'm just repeating myself, but cheaper means more food. More food means being full more often. And that's better than skipping meals just for the sake of only eating healthy.

You will be able to find cheap food. Shop at bodegas and fresh food stands on the street. Farmers markets are pretty abundant in bklyn and some areas of queens.

Got it.

[benderx]

And what's the crime like? I know that it's actually safer than in any of the other major metropolitan areas, particularly LA and Miami.

Watch out for hustlers in the city, they want your money in exchange for a crappy rap songs that are bootleg. One time I saw a black dude run out of the store in a rush, then employee was looking for the thief at night. I saw a drunken person getting off the subway train and collapsed onto the floor. Watch for religious freaks and homeless on the subway. One time after new years some dude face was covered in blood, he was crazy even if help was around for him. watch out for chinatown hustlers.

[Ziggy]

And besides, you burn off calories walking everywhere. I also plan on getting a bike for places that are too far to walk and too close to take the bus or subway.

Well I wasn't talking about unhealthy food in regards to gaining weight. I just meant that a lack of proper nutrition will make you unhealthy. Ramen and shit like that isn't real food.

You will be able to find cheap food. Shop at bodegas and fresh food stands on the street. Farmers markets are pretty abundant in bklyn and some areas of queens.

Even if you have Ramen every night, eat a vegetable with it. For example, $1 for a cucumber would be an expensive price. You'd pay more like $0.79 at a super market for one, and usually even less at a bodega or food stand. You can get 2lbs of carrots for $2 or less, and that would last you a few meals. A stalk of celery would be $3 or less, and again, would last you a few meals as well. Just some examples off the top of my head. You don't even have to cook them, just wash and eat them raw while your waiting for the Ramen to boil. Or dice them up and throw them in with the pot with the Romen, if that's your fancy.

My nutritionist just told me this today, actually. He makes me keep a log of everything I eat, and I had a box of macaroni and cheese one night (less than a dollar a box - yeah I have no money). He told me if I HAVE to eat that, have a vegetable with it. The mac and cheese is still shit food, but at least a vegetable will help you digest it better AND will have some nutrients that the mac and cheese is lacking. It's still lacking protein though.

Not trying to be negative here, just looking out. But seriously, if you do move here, I wish you luck.

PB&J isn't a bad meal at all. Peanut butter has a lot of protein.

I remember reading about how buying longjohns should be a major to-do.

I find that the best way to stay warm in the harsh cold is more about layers than anything else. I would highly recommend long-johns under pants. I have a nice heavy pair of flannel-lined jeans that I wear all winter long (which is pretty much like wearing two pairs of pants). I usually wear a long sleeve under a short sleeve t-shirt, with a sweatshirt over that all winter long. It is especially effective if you tuck in the under t-shirt. When the temperature drops below 10, I consider putting on an additional t-shirt and another pair of socks. Though I wouldn't recommend the additional layers unless you have to be in the cold for long periods (it's a pain in the ass once you're inside). I just happen to work in 34~36 degree inside temperatures year round, plus whatever it is outside, which is definitely not nice in the winter. lol

[REPO Man]

Well I wasn't talking about unhealthy food in regards to gaining weight. I just meant that a lack of proper nutrition will make you unhealthy. Ramen and shit like that isn't real food.

It's filling.

Even if you have Ramen every night, eat a vegetable with it. For example, $1 for a cucumber would be an expensive price. You'd pay more like $0.79 at a super market for one, and usually even less at a bodega or food stand. You can get 2lbs of carrots for $2 or less, and that would last you a few meals. A stalk of celery would be $3 or less, and again, would last you a few meals as well. Just some examples off the top of my head. You don't even have to cook them, just wash and eat them raw while your waiting for the Ramen to boil. Or dice them up and throw them in with the pot with the Romen, if that's your fancy.

I actually detest the taste of vegetables. And it's bad enough that potatoes don't technically count. But I heard that if you have a juicer, throw in some veggies in with the fruit and the fruit hides the veggie taste. I guess I can add V8 Fusion to my list.

He makes me keep a log of everything I eat, and I had a box of macaroni and cheese one night (less than a dollar a box - yeah I have no money). He told me if I HAVE to eat that, have a vegetable with it. The mac and cheese is still shit food, but at least a vegetable will help you digest it better AND will have some nutrients that the mac and cheese is lacking. It's still lacking protein though.

Strange that something that technically is part of the dairy and grain groups would be "shit food". As for protein, I tend to add crumpled bacon and, while not that healthy, crushed-up Garden Salsa flavored Sun Chips (which is better than any breadcrumb topping).

Not trying to be negative here, just looking out. But seriously, if you do move here, I wish you luck.

Thanks.

PB&J isn't a bad meal at all. Peanut butter has a lot of protein.

I just wish I had it in me to eat whole grain bread. It's just that there's a texture and foods with funny textures feel funny on my tongue. I sometimes make my own peanut butter. One time, I added chili powder (cuz spicy foods help rev up the metabolism), but I didn't taste it . One time, added melted chocolate and it was like a melted Mr. Good Bar went through the food processor (and FYI, it was enough peanuts to make 8oz and two melted Hershey bars, but my Magic Bullet apparently sucks at making more than 4oz worth, so it wasn't smooth or chunky, just in-between.

But homemade peanut butter isn't as cheap as store-bought. And aside from Jif (my preferred brand), there's this flavor made by NYC-based The Peanut Butter Co. which has white chocolate in it.


FUCK, I'M RAMBLING!

I remember reading about how buying longjohns should be a major to-do.

I find that the best way to stay warm in the harsh cold is more about layers than anything else. I would highly recommend long-johns under pants. I have a nice heavy pair of flannel-lined jeans that I wear all winter long (which is pretty much like wearing two pairs of pants). I usually wear a long sleeve under a short sleeve t-shirt, with a sweatshirt over that all winter long. It is especially effective if you tuck in the under t-shirt. When the temperature drops below 10, I consider putting on an additional t-shirt and another pair of socks. Though I wouldn't recommend the additional layers unless you have to be in the cold for long periods (it's a pain in the ass once you're inside). I just happen to work in 34~36 degree temperatures year round, which is definitely not nice in the winter. lol

Good to know. And sorry about your winter weather work woes. I won't trade you my summer weather work woes, though, cuz I wouldn't wish that on anyone.