Moving from a small town or suburb to a large city can be an intimidating proposition. Here are a few tips to help make your move as painless as possible.
Research before you move. Itās important to understand the culture youāre joining. Do research online and find out about school systems, neighborhoods, parking, weather, public transportation, and laws that are native to that area. If you can, visit a city before moving and connect with someone whoās lived there before.
Have a plan. There are a lot of steps to go through before you start packing the moving truck. Find housing before you leave, or at least know where youāll stay while you look for a home. Never sign a lease on an apartment that you havenāt seen. If you canāt get there, find a friend or an employer to check for you. Have a job waiting for you, or if thatās not possible, know what youāll do for money in the first few weeks of living there. Try to line up things like driverās licenses, car insurance, renterās insurance, and parking passes ahead of time as well.
Get involved. Meeting people in a big city can be daunting. Donāt expect the neighbors to knock your door down with a casserole when you arrive: city life is often too noisy and hectic. Take the initiative. If there are things you liked to do in your town, find ways to do those things in the city. Try new things. Volunteer. Big cities offer so many opportunities to engage other people, so find what you like.
Mind your wallet. City life is expensive. Everything costs more: food, insurance, clothes, rent. There are also a lot more ways to get ripped off, whether legally or criminally. Be careful how you spend, and know where your money is going.