How to Survive your first days in New York City

Perhaps you just came to New York City and have limited resources. No friends, no money, no place to stay, well it is possible, you just have to play up your resources...safely.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cell Phone
• Computer Access
• Food
• Water
• Bravery
• Initiative

1. Find a safe place to sleep.
   Depending on how much money you have, you may have the option to go for a nice or not so nice place.
   Craigslist.com offers numerous roommate opportunities, yet most will expect you to be able to provide atleast one month's rent, if not two and security. To find a renter willing to take only one month's rent, would be nearly impossible. However, some renters would be willing to take payments on a security deposit, and this is most possible by being honest about your situation and meeting with those renters trying to rent out a room.
   If you are coming to New York with very little funds, then you should consider living in rooms that are rented weekly. More likely, these rooms will be in undesirable areas, so outside the hardships of the commute to the city, you should take into consideration if the neighborhood is safe enough to actually inhabit.
   However, there are several options for rooms rented weekly that are in neighborhoods that are liveable, and the best option for finding these is to look through all temporary and roommate ads on craigslist.
   Basically, you will find links to agencies that are the middlemen for furnished rooms in buildings. Generally, they will ask you for two weeks rent. Usually this is between 130 and 250 a week, plus a fee. What you pay more for is the ability to pay by week, rather than monthly.
   Subletting an apartment can be a good option, if you come with a lump sum of money. A lot of New Yorkers have apartments that they do not want to let go of, due to a various number of reasons, mainly controlled rent. Yet, a lot of New Yorkers have reasons to leave the area (an internship, trips, personal reasons). However, renters with an already established space have the right to be selective in who they entrust that space to.
   With all of these situations, and regardless of yours, having a face to face conversation is your best bet in coming to a deal that will be beneficial to both parties.
   Lastly, if you do come with some amount of loot under your belt, and want to seek out an apartment of your own, you have to be careful.
   If you want to go into a deal with one or more like minded New Yorkers such as yourself, I would suggest placing an ad with your budget monthly and (if any) ideas of where you might want to live on Craigslist. Once again, face to face with those looking for the same as you is the best. Utilize the "owners only" area of apartments on craigslist and be wary of brokers.

2. Get an Unlimited Metro Card.
   If you have fifty dollars to your name, and no job or place, an unlimited metro card is essential to securing your survival. Currently, they are twenty four dollars.
   If you are doing anything from job hunting to apartment hunting, having a metro card should be your first line of opportunity and defense against a harsh city. Get that first, and starve later.

3. Get a job.
   Depending on your funds, you may need to get a job now or have the ability to get settled first.
   Whatever the case, or whatever your experience, having internet and a valid contact number and e-mail is essential.
   Pick up a Village Voice every Wednesday on every Manhattan street corner.
   Commit yourself to spending the majority of your time on Craigslist, if you need something quick. Start your day with e-mailing those jobs that require only e-mail responses, then select those that require you to directly go there, and do just that. Go home, and start all over again. Never stop moving, as New York does not, and soon you will be working and surviving. Most importantly, if you are out of sorts in the money department, do not be choosey about your first jobs. Take whatever money that you can, while learning about the city and getting on your feet, and be grateful. Go for anything and everything, and rejoice when you can actually buy toilet paper!

4. Talk to people.
   Do Not talk to people that make you feel uncomfortable. Trust your intuition. Talk to people that you become acquainted with in your neighborhood, job, or in any safe place. The beauty of New York City is that everybody has knowledge to give. It may not be useful right away, but quite possibly, it may help you get acquainted with someone who has an apartment they have been wanting to rent or a friend who needs an employee, but it will get you in the game. Don't be shy. These are your people now!