Illustration by Ana Laura Perez
Young, broke, and on the move
Issue #36
Navigating new turf with no dough
By Amy Westervelt
Published: June 1st, 2008 | 2:28pm
Whether you’ve just graduated from college and moved to a new town, are starting a job in a new city, or are just hoping new surroundings will bring new opportunities, navigating a move on the cheap can be difficult. Finding an apartment and a job are tough enough, but how do you find friends without extra cash to burn on being sociable? Fortunately, Venus Zine staffers have loads of collective experience in this regard, and we’re only too happy to share a few lessons learned with our broke and mobile readers.
When in debt, volunteer
It may sound strange, especially if you’re broke and looking for a job, but volunteering is a great first step when landing in a new city. For instance, venuszine.com Music Features Editor Sheba White volunteered for a thrift store when she moved to Chicago and scored access to cheap and free furniture and clothes. She says volunteering can provide ways to meet people and generate job leads. If thrift stores aren’t your bag, find a local organization working in an area that interests you — say, the environment, health, education, or the arts — and offer your services.
Chances are that in addition to the good karma and sense of well-being that comes from sharing your resources with others, you’ll meet like-minded people who will help you feel at home in your new city, and you may just find a new job in the meantime.
Befriend a broker
Brokers aren’t just for financially stable, employed people looking to buy a house. They’re an excellent resource for anyone moving to a city — they know which neighborhoods have a lot of rentals and where the “up-and-coming” areas with cheaper rents are located. If calling a broker seems daunting, there are plenty of online real-estate resources at your disposal. Zillow.com, a real-estate listing Web site and blog, has created a quarterly report that identifies developing neighborhoods in American cities.
BusinessWeek ran a list of the top 10 up-and-coming communities from the Zillow.com list, but the site’s quarterly reports offer up-to-the-minute information on dozens of cities throughout the country. The office of economic development in most cities is another great resource if you’re trying to find an affordable neighborhood. These folks know what’s going on with zoning, development, and real estate long before anyone else and are usually happy to share their knowledge.
To make sure you end up in a neighborhood that’s improving rather than depressing, Arsiak Raffaelli, real estate agent for Century 21 Sussex & Reilly in Chicago, recommends analyzing the neighborhood. Look for perks such as a nearby coffee shop, grocery store, and public transportation source. “You also want to look for new construction and rehabbed apartments in the area. It could be just a few buildings, not the whole block,” she says, adding that you should be on the lookout for “coming soon” signs for new businesses and developments. “If you see a Starbucks on your block, it’s too late — the neighborhood is already there!”
Good to go
If you’re moving to a new city and you’ve got a car but are short on cash, consider selling your car and joining a car-sharing service instead. Car-sharing services sprouted up in a few cities and college campuses almost 10 years ago, and in the last two years they’ve become downright commonplace. Non-profits such as I-Go in Chicago or City Car Share in San Francisco and for-profits such as ZipCar offer drivers cars when they need them without the cost of dealing with a down payment, gas, insurance, and maintenance on your own.
Buy local
Although farmers markets can sometimes be more expensive than conventional supermarkets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs still offer individuals the chance to buy farm-fresh produce at reasonable prices.
CSAs essentially allow local residents to sign up for “subscriptions” with local farms, which will deliver a variety of fruits and vegetables (and sometimes cheeses and meats depending on where you live) weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. To find a CSA in your new city, visit localharvest.org/csa and search for your zip code. You’ll be feeling like a local in no time.
The Information Superhighway
It seems obvious, but even modern, savvy urbanites forget how useful the Internet can be, particularly when moving to a new city. Sites like craigslist.org host listings for everything from jobs to apartments to second-hand couches and friends, while industry or interest-specific sites can be a good way to make friends or get advice in a new town.
When I moved to Detroit from San Francisco a couple of years ago, I knew no one, and I was busy working from home, so meeting people and acclimating to the city was a challenge. Through a media industry Web site (mediabistro.com), though, I made a local writer friend, got contacts for local magazines, and found out about a couple of free local events that greatly helped my transition.
Some of America’s most affordable-yet-attractive neighborhoods
BusinessWeek and Zillow.com’s top 10 up-and-coming neighborhoods in the U.S.:
- Dorchester, Boston
- East Garfield Park, Chicago
- Civic Center, Denver
- Pico Union, Los Angeles
- Little River, Miami
- Kingsbridge Heights, the Bronx, New York
- Cashion, Phoenix
- Mission Bay, San Francisco
- University District, Seattle
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