Moving to New York?

Postcard-perfect opportunities like these are actually free!

DAY 24

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

I've always given the same advice to friends and aquaintances who approach me for advice on moving to NYC. And, everytime, I say the exact same thing:
Go for it.

Your experience will be different from mine. The setbacks I've encountered in the process of moving and settling in do not necessarily apply to your situation. As for the recession and the economy, these factors shouldn't deter you from moving anyway. Whether or not you pack up and leave, there's nothing you can do to single-handedly improve or worsen the economy, so might as well give it a shot. Plus, you never know when you're exactly at the right place, at the right time, in the right moment, and you're exactly what a company is looking for.

As for money...that is probably the trickiest variable and it's what paralyzes many when it comes to making a big decision like moving overseas. I touched on this in my "Take the Plunge" post. Again, money will always be an issue…only if you make it so. I've recounted this time and again—when I first moved to New York, I didn't have that much money. Heck, I barely had enough cash to buy a single mattress.

While it's ideal to wait and save up until you have a lumpsum before comitting to a major move, you're bound to come up with excuses one after the other and truthfully, it's never going to be enough (unless you're dipping into a trust fund). You might as well just take the plunge, settle right in, and make a living. That's how it works.

So come on down!

First lunch is on me :)