This complete turnaround might actually make you dizzy if this is your first move after college. Good news... Central Bank is here to offer you some tips to help you get started in a new city and have a financially happy future.
1. Price out the Area. City living can be expensive. It’s important to know if you can afford to live off your salary in the area you’ll be working. However, if you find that actually living in the city limits is out of your price range, don’t immediately admit defeat. The difference that a commute can make on rent price is astounding. Be willing to relocate to an area outside or suburb of where you’ll be working, and commute as a trade-off for more affordable rent. After all, not everybody needs that high-rise apartment in the city.
2. Research Neighborhoods. Once you narrow down to a subdivision or an area near the city you want to live in, be sure to research statistics on neighborhoods within; crime rates being one of the more important things of which to be aware. Other qualities, such as accessibility to public transportation and any school systems in the area, are also worth consideration depending on how long you plan to be there.
3. Finding Friends. Moving to a city where you don’t have your friends or family to rely on can feel much like you’re the new kid on the first day of school; no one to sit with at lunch or to hang out with at recess. Networking as a solution to this issue may not feel conventional in a social setting. You’ll be surprised through friends, family, and acquaintances, how many people you are loosely connected to in the area. Reach out to your existing network for recommendations to help you make connections in your new location. Knowing that you at least have one future friend in your new home can make all the difference. After you make the move, volunteering with local non-profits and organizations, as well as involvement with the local chamber of commerce can be a great way to meet new people.
4. Watching the Weather. Climate in your new city might be a characteristic you put on the back burner. Knowing what to expect and what kind of weather you’ll be dealing with season-to-season, and day-to-day can affect future financial purchases you’ll want to look into making. For instance, if you find yourself moving from Florida to Minnesota, an investment in snow tires and a heavy-duty jacket would be in your future!
5. Meditate on the Move. Before you physically make the move to your new residence be sure to mentally mull over everything that will be involved. What are necessities? What college relics should you leave behind? The more you move, the more money it will cost. So be sure that you take what you need, and leave what you don’t.
Moving can be an exciting, yet stressful time. Make the most of your new city and explore the opportunities. Do your research and network within your new community. Following these tips can help make the transition easier as you work on starting a new chapter of your life, in your new home.
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