There are hard-working and goal-oriented people who manage to overcome all the difficulties and achieve success in Los Angeles with a couple of hundred bucks in the pocket. If you want to be one of such lucky guys, you should learn how to behave moving to LA alone and these tips can be very useful for a start.
It is not a secret that large metropolitan areas attract people like magnets, especially if they are located on the oceanic coast and have a mild warm climate. There are more opportunities and ways to entertain, so every second American thinks about relocating to such a place. Los Angeles is one of those dream destinations that draw people from different states, but it is not that easy to move to LA alone. According to statistics, many residents of the Bay Area have decided to leave and head south due to the incredibly high cost of living. the most popular route for relocating from San Francisco to Los Angeles. This is a huge distance and the best solution would be to use the services of a moving company. This city is famous for its incredibly expensive housing and cost of living, so it might be challenging to survive there on one salary. At the same time, there are hard-working and goal-oriented people who manage to overcome all the difficulties and achieve success in Los Angeles with a couple of hundred bucks in the pocket. If you want to be one of such lucky guys, you should learn how to behave moving to LA alone and these tips can be very useful for a start.
1. Find someone to share a flat with
It is not cheap to buy or even rent an apartment in Los Angeles. The median rent price is about $2,000 and half of the average monthly salary is spent on it and utilities together. If you are lucky to get at least a median salary, it is possible to live alone somewhere outside the center, but you can save on rent by sharing a flat with anyone else. By doing so, you will be able to save some money and afford more for the salary earned.
2. Make up a moving expenses checklist
It can be quite difficult to get used to living in LA at the very beginning, so planning your budget thoroughly can help you to meet the ends. First of all, you should understand how much money you spend on markets, clothing, transportation, utilities, healthcare, etc. and compare these amounts to LA average ones. Moreover, you should understand how much money you have at the moment and how long you can live spending them.
3. Save some money for a start
Naturally, it is impossible to survive in a big city without some money saved. Even rental and the cost of long-distance movers Los Angeles will cost you much enough, let alone other essentials. Consequently, it is necessary to prepare for relocation and have some funds in store!
4. Start looking for a job several weeks prior to relocation
A job means money and money is a source to survive. Consequently, you should find a job in LA as fast as possible and there is no sense to postpone the search process for later. It is better to send your resume to several companies a month in advance not to waste time on useless applications and waiting after the relocation. Even if you are invited to an interview, you can schedule it for a suitable time and get a new job fast enough.
5. Use your free time for earning more
Living in LA is quite expensive, so you may need more funds to apply for a mortgage or afford more fun. There is no sense to quit the existing job in search of a higher salary. It is better to use existing skills to your benefit and get more money thanks to that. It is possible to provide some services in your free time or take additional hours to be able to get more income.
6. Minimize the lifestyle you had
If you got used to living big, it is time to cut on your wishes and expenses. Moreover, you should reduce to the minimum not only your desires but also the things you take with. It is better to take only essential belongings and get rid of all the stuff you use rarely. It will save your funds on the first relocation and any next ones that might take place. Experts advise cooking at home rather than eating out and saving on entertainment too.
7. Buy only essentials
It may seem that earning more in LA than you used to in your previous place of living gives you more freedom, but it is not the time to relax. Though you might earn more in LA, your expenses will be much higher too, so it is better to afford only essential things at the very beginning.
8. Take a bike to save on transportation
LA is a rather bike-friendly and walkable city. Despite the fact that public transportation is very developed here too, it is possible to remove this point from your list of expenses by walking around the city or riding a bike. The total bike score in LA is 59 and the walk score is 63.
9. Get social to make new acquaintances
Being alone in a big city can be normal only for some period of time. Therefore, you should start building your circle of communication soon after the relocation. Naturally, you can meet new people at work, but it is not always possible to find common interests with them. Therefore, you should enter groups of interest on different social media platforms and start socializing there to get new acquaintances.
10. Opt for free entertainment for a start
When you relocate to LA, you receive a variety of new opportunities to have fun. However, since you simply can’t afford more expensive types of entertainment, it is possible to get many chances to relax free of charge too.
11. Store your stuff while looking for long-term accommodation
Since finding a property to rent or buy from out-of-state can be rather difficult, it's generally advised to move into a short-term rental while you look at long-term housing options. Whether you're looking to rent or buy, you can store your stuff locally in Los Angeles in a flexible and short-term way by using Neighbor, the Airbnb of storage.
As you can see, moving to LA is possible if you prepare for this process, so follow these tips and your California dreams will come true.
