[Screwston]

I am curious about NYC and trying to get a better understanding of how the city works for a guy whos bringing in ok money. Im attempting to see everything one should know before landing on the ground.

How large is the medical field? Plenty of jobs or is it tough to break into? Im talking about 2 year degree jobs and things of that nature.

How much is rent on average for a decent apartment (decent to me is something not in the ghetto or where youre worried about people breaking in when you leave)?

Is it pretty much a necessity to have roommates unless youre making real good money? Do you have to just cross your fingers and hope theyre decent?

No point in having a car?

How the hell do people survive on minimum wage if everything is so expensive?

I think you can see with what Im getting at.

[travolta]

You probably need a 4 year degree or masters to get a decent job, unless you want to work in the ghetto. THere's lots of competition for jobs. I'm not sure about this though.

Average rent for a decent apartment in Manhattan will be an absolute minimum of $1500/month, and you'll have a room mate. A friend of mine lives in Williamsburg, BK and pays about $1,000/month. He has 4 other room mates, most of them are shitty.

Don't even think about the idea of living on your own unless you have a lot of money for rent or want to live in a shitty area.

No point in having a car.

People don't survive on minimum wage and live a decent lifestyle.. they either work 2 or 3 jobs, are on welfare, or live in the ghetto.

I wouldn't consider NYC unless you have a decent amount of money to blow or don't mind living in a shitty part of Brooklyn and commuting to Manhattan. Manhattan really is the place to be, but I suppose Brooklyn is okay if you're on a budget.

[Screwston]

Another poster said i should go for Queens or Bronx since i want to be around Latinas. I dont think i would really fuck with Manhattan to much from the way it sounds.

Rent plus a subway card is equal to owning a car here plus rent. It sounds like the hardest thing is jobs.

[Vaun]

a lot of this "you need some magical expensive degrees to get a job and make money" is pretty much all bullshit. Dont limit your life by the lies people tell themselves to live unremarkable lives.

I have a GED, a bachelors degree from what is essentially a community college, and through almost 12 years of hard work ended up at two of the largest and most successful companies in the world. Its set me up to be out on my own running my own company here.

Other lies people tell themselves is, "oh, its too expensive here, you'll never do it, its just not possible, its just so expensive, thats why Scranton is better for you, dont even think about it, dont follow your dreams, get a sensible job at Enterprise Rent-a-Car, tuck in your shirt, you'll never live on your own......." Thats just not my experience.

All of this stuff takes work, you will work harder here, its not as easy as typical living in the US. I have a $1500 apartment in the middle of a good neighborhood in Manhattan. Its a one bedroom, I used a broker, I looked at 20 apartments, and I live by myself. I haven't lived with a roommate since college. My career has given me a rich life. Jobs are more abundant here than anywhere else in the US, anyone that says different is not trying hard enough. To me there is absolutely no reason to live here if you move here and live in Brooklyn or Queens or Jersey. You can get that in Austin or DC or SF or Seattle.

[Mojorisin808]

(10-02-2013 10:53 PM)houston Wrote:  

Another poster said i should go for Queens or Bronx since i want to be around Latinas. I dont think i would really fuck with Manhattan to much from the way it sounds.

Rent plus a subway card is equal to owning a car here plus rent. It sounds like the hardest thing is jobs.

Astoria is a nice place to live. My friend rents a place there for 1200/mo, short commute to the city, plus you'll be around neighborhoods with plenty of latinas.

[mr_lucky]

(10-02-2013 10:53 PM)houston Wrote:  

Another poster said i should go for Queens or Bronx since i want to be around Latinas. I dont think i would really fuck with Manhattan to much from the way it sounds.

Rent plus a subway card is equal to owning a car here plus rent. It sounds like the hardest thing is jobs.

There are plenty of Latinas in Manhattan in a neighborhood known as Washington Heights. North of 168th St, about 90% of residents are Dominicans.

Edit: then again, that is far the fuck away from normal Manhattan, but certainly closer than the Bronx (you need the article, it is "The Bronx") or most of Queens.

[mr_lucky]

Oh, and if you see the street named after you downtown, pronouce it HOUSE-ton, not like the city in TX.

[playa_with_a_passport]

(10-02-2013 12:57 AM)houston Wrote:  

I am curious about NYC and trying to get a better understanding of how the city works for a guy whos bringing in ok money. Im attempting to see everything one should know before landing on the ground.

How large is the medical field? Plenty of jobs or is it tough to break into? Im talking about 2 year degree jobs and things of that nature.

The medical field might be one of the largest in the nation. You used to be able to get put on per diem as a nurse with just an AA but now you aren't getting hired without a bachelor. However, there is still some two years or less health care careers path you can take. Off the top of my head I am thinking LPN nurse, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, xray tech, pharmacy tech. Check out some of the CUNY community schools for more information. A lot of those jobs pay in the 30k-40k range which is not a lot in NYC.

Quote:

How much is rent on average for a decent apartment (decent to me is something not in the ghetto or where youre worried about people breaking in when you leave)?

Even apartments in the guetto you are paying at least $1,200 nowadays for a 1bd. Burglary is not really a crime you have to worry about in NYC imo. Thinking about it, I don't think I have ever met one person who has been burglarized.

Quote:

Is it pretty much a necessity to have roommates unless youre making real good money? Do you have to just cross your fingers and hope theyre decent?

Roommates, You might not even be able to get an apartment at all unless you making decent bank. NYC probably has the most tenant friendly housing country in the entire world. This is no hyperbole, it can take from 6 months to never to get someone evicted. Because of this landlords are very strict about paystubs and length of employment. You can also get a co-signer if you want to go that route.

Quote:

No point in having a car?

Manhattan-no.
Queens-depends where but more likely yes.
Brooklyn-probably not.
Bronx-no.

Quote:

How the hell do people survive on minimum wage if everything is so expensive?

They don't. You can't afford to live independently in NYC at minimum wage or even at twice the minimum wage. NYC has a very generous welfare state for single mothers at least. If you work for minimum wage and have at least one kid, you qualify sec 8, medicaid, food stamps, child care and the list goes on. At the end of the year you'll get at least $8k in the form of the Earned Income Tax Credit. Others, you either living with ya mama, live 6 deep in a one bedroom apartment or swallow your pride and play step-dad to a big girl's bastard spawn in Public Housing....

Quote:

I have a $1500 apartment in the middle of a good neighborhood in Manhattan.

You are very very lucky, you should play the lotto daily.

Personally Houston, I don't think New York is all that's cracked up to be. I would never discourage anybody from coming here but you should know the bad with the good so you can make an informed decision. Also, just because you work like a dog doesn't necessary mean that you are going to "make it." That's what's ass backwards about this place. Also, I disagree with puckman that jobs are abundant here unless we taking about mixing paint at Home Depot for 7 bucks an hour. I do agree with him that expensive degrees are a waste of money. Most of the good paying jobs in NYC, you don't need a degree or education at all but those jobs you get them thru nepotism not merit.

[Distant Light]

I'm not sure about "jobs" but rent will be the biggest killer to your pockets...

Best bet is simply having ROOMMATES in either manhattan or brooklyn (williamsburg area), anywhere else is really NOT WORTH IT. I have a friend who lives with 5 other people deep out in bushwick, nice apartment BUT a bitch to get there and it's liike a few hops away from what used to be one of the worst neighborhoods in brooklyn. (although I doubt things spill over)

There is alot of ways to get around spending too much money, your biggest mistake is to NOT fly in spending all this cash on your living situation. I've seen TOO MANY chicks fly into NY and a few months later going back home because they didn't expect things to be like this. #1 priority is "living situation" I used to have an FB who paid about $200 a month rooming with 2 other people in HOBOKEN, she was about 5-6 blocks from the path train, overall 15mins to get to manhattan. (Solid Deal) Thing is, if your a dude who goes out at night, path can sometimes be a bitch.

All in all...
- Don't live in a place you can't afford BUT aim for manhattan or brooklyn
- Get a roomie (save money to actually experience NY)

I lived in a hotel for 3 days a few weeks ago, WAS SO MUCH BETTER to simply hop in a taxi back home and have an after party. I forgot I actually had a home since it was so amazing just chilling in the lobby drinking coffee. In terms of "logistics" the mere fact that you don't have to take a train can do WONDERS. I remember walking by this apartment and spotting someone I knew, just like that were at an after party since he lives RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CLUB.

P.S...Don't live in washington heights, that is a hood too, while nothing will really happen to you (NY is really safe compared to when I was young growing up in the hood) the overall VIBE isn't motivating/inspiring and quality is not the quality your looking for hahahaha. If your in the better parts of manhattan or brooklyn then you'll come across the latin chicks who aren't caught up in all that hood mentality BS. I know it took the "high end" scene for me to realize the gorgeous black women that were out there in the world.