Post: #1

I've got a good lead on a gig in NYC - Manhattan (~Flatiron). The opportunity is strong, but the money is not (by NY standards). My baseline concern from which all my others flow is location and cost of housing, and the tradeoff between lower rent and spending more time on the subway/transit to get to work and other places.

I have no need to live in a normals-approved "cool area" and I'm not going to make the $ to live a souped-up Manhattan lifestyle, and I've built a long habit of being happy being frugal...but I don't want to rent a place in a black-hole neighborhood out of ignorance and be stuck there for a year and have people say "shit you live there?"

Curious what RVFers think about good options here - not just in gaming advantages, but with regard to parks, libraries, affordable grocers, decent gyms, where other interesting people live, any other hints on cutting cost of living, should I give up on owning a car at all, etc?

Post: #2

Post: #3

(01-12-2015 01:05 AM)BadgerHut Wrote:  Curious what RVFers think about good options here - not just in gaming advantages, but with regard to parks, libraries, affordable grocers, decent gyms, where other interesting people live, any other hints on cutting cost of living, should I give up on owning a car at all, etc?

I say queens and keep your car Glendale/Ridgewood neighborhood. these are bluecollar hood lots of firefighters/police officers and emt workers live there. Rent is good safe and clean, If you like FOB EE chicks fresh pond road is filled with them, If you like FOB DR chicks Myrtle Ave is filled with those . Local bars are shit but its about 10-15 mins by car to williamsburg and close to great new bushwhick lounges. Drive your car in the morning to bushwhick about 5 mins away and take the L train into Manhattan. If you have to be at work at 9 leave your house at 8 you will be ok.

oh Gym wise retro fitness in Glendale is cool 20 bucks a month and you can go to the one in williamsburg.

Post: #4

I'd also suggest somewhere in Queens that's closer to Manhattan, but has good subway access. Woodside, Sunnyside, and Forest Hills come to mind for me since they're better for commute but aren't being hit as hard by increasing real estate prices (like Astoria and Long Island City).

Post: #5

South Brooklyn.

Sheepsheadbay, Bensonhurst and if you can spring it Bay Ridge. But from the other areas you can drive to Bay ridge within 10 minutes(took me 8 minutes from Sheepsheadbay).

All these areas have direct trains to Manhattan.

Bensonhurst is a bit dead this decade, not the clubs they were known for back in the Mafia days! Still Asians, Jews, Russians(icludes other FSU.

Bay Ridge. Trendy area with lots of bars and lounges and the odd disco or 2 opening and closing. Similar populaton as Above but more liberal type girls like you will see in lower Manhattan /downtown Brooklyn.

Sheepshead bay (includes Homecrest&Graves send) Same as above but less liberals and the Russian capital. More live in Sheepshead than next door Brighton beach. Also the second Brooklyn China town resides in the zip code.
Train is express to manhattan. Not much nightlife accept lounges that cater to Russian Americans who are close knit. A few old man irish pubs.

But a big choice of ethnic cuisine. Everything from Italian, Russian, Turkish , Georgian, Uzbek, Azeri, Kosher, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, etc. We are talking about the restaurants that cater to their own and serves the non Americanized version of the dishes.


Express train to 14 st area near flatiron is about 35 minutes if nothing happens. Forest hills to that area I think is about the same give or take 5 minutes.

Woodside might be faster. No 1st hand experience. When looking at subway map count stops. If a short distance and a lot of stops it will usually be local.

Post: #6

Sell your car, and roll your car expenses into what you should pay for rent

WIA

Post: #7

Sell the car and find a tiny studio in Manhattan.

Try just outside of prime Harlem (say, 130th and lower, west of Lenox), or maybe an "up and coming" part of E. Harlem (116th and lower, east of Lex).

What's your budget like? I've even seen studios (with barely-a-kitchen) for ~< $2k close to Flatiron.

Or try for small studios in near-prime WillyB.

While the areas in car-friendly Queens do have their benefits, I feel like one must already be acclimated into the city in order to properly "utilize" those areas: an established social circle, a familiarity of Manhattan/BK nightlife areas you already know.

It may be worth sacrificing to be in/near the center of the action for your first year(s) in the city -- then you will be better poised to move further out once you know the lay of the land and the scene.

(Addendum: cars are an expense, parking is a hassle even in easy-parking neighbs, and if you live far away, you WILL end up spending on cabs. You won't want to drunk drive, and you will justify it as "buying sleep", and that money could have just gone to rent in a more central spot.)

Post: #8

I'm in a similar boat. I'm moving to New York soon for a job that pays 80k or so, which I think should leave me around 50k after Uncle Sam takes his cut. Not rich by NY means but I'll have some money left over.

I have a buddy that's going to room with me once his lease is over, so I went this Saturday to look at places to sublet for about 6 months in the mean time. Ended up putting a deposit down on a place in the Hamilton Heights area. Rent is about 1k a month after factoring in utilities. My initial impressions of the area were that it's a little far from the action and night life, but the apartment was clean and it's only an 18 minute subway ride to work. Room mates were very chill also which is a huge plus and can be a priceless addition to where you live.

If it turns out that girls' pussies dry up the second they hear I live above 110th street, then I have the option to move further down south in a couple months after I'm done subleasing.

What really drove my decision not to live south of Midtown was that I'm working in consulting, and often times I'll be traveling Monday morning through Thursday evening. I just didn't see the point in paying $1500+ in rent when I won't even be using the apartment all of the time.

Post: #9

(01-12-2015 03:30 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  Sell your car, and roll your car expenses into what you should pay for rent

WIA

He save about maybe 200 a month but have to pay 1k more a month possibly. That might not serve his goals.

Plus is 1000k a month worth shagging 1-2 girls more a month?

That being said if his job offers overtime often he might be able work that extra 1 hour per day saved in not commuting and spend it on rent.

Also realize living in Manhattan makes grocery shopping more expensive also. Hell the dollar menu is 1.50 lol.

Post: #10

A free car is still 200/mo at least (Queens garages), or say 60/mo (1 ticket per month on the street?), plus insurance (expensive in the boros), gas, maintenance, and potential for getting snowed / plowed-in. So we're talking possibly 4-600/mo savings, plus less headache.

Add to that the occasional nightlife->outerboro cab ride and that could be another 1-200/mo.

So 5-700/month total savings from ditching the car, which can go to rent.

Plus 20-40 hours per month of saved time.

Definitely food for thought.

Then peep Zipcar for the occasional trip to a large, cheaper grocery store outside of Manhattan.

Post: #11

No idea why guys are saying Queens or Forest Hills area. My cousin lives there, it is ugly as sin. When I walked around the chicks weren't anything to write home about either and it is a bit of a trek into Manhattan even if you live close to the F train.

Post: #12

Random but how do people get away with crazy parties and bumping music in NYC if every one is stuffed liked sardines in apartments?

Post: #13

redacted

Post: #14

I posted this in another thread. If you wanna live in lower Manhattan with great logistics on a budget, rent a relatively inexpensive 2br apt for yourself and airbnb the 2nd bedroom 5-20x a month at $100-125 a night... You do lose a little privacy and have to keep the place clean but in exchange you get a net rent that is affordable or even $0.

Most of the people who rent the extra room out are girls and are only around the apt to sleep at night. Sometimes you won't even see them for days.

/thread-38236-...#pid927622

Post: #15

WIA is right. Car expenses add up. Groceries cheap in Chinatown. Cooking your own food and eating in is a good way to save money and eat healthier. The commute times and late night taxis add up when you live far away from the action.

Post: #16

Apartment living is a compromise in any city. Being able to blast music depends on the thickness of the walls and floors, how cool the roommates and neighbors and landlords are, and your own tolerance for how much noise others make.

Generally I can have more people over for drinks and music on weekends but am more considerate and quiet to neighbors on the weeknights.

Apts can be small here so unless you've got one with a nice size, you don't be able to throw a party anyways.

(01-12-2015 05:32 PM)Brian Shima Wrote:  Random but how do people get away with crazy parties and bumping music in NYC if every one is stuffed liked sardines in apartments?

Post: #17

delete

Post: #18

i'd move to the upper east side/yorkville as a starter apartment then move to whatever hip neighborhood after you get your NYC bearings dialed down.

PROS: it's cheap (cheaper than Brooklyn's BoCoCa/Wburg), and taxi accessible (a lot of cabbies won't drive out to queens/brooklyn)

CONS: the 4/5/6 train is crowded as shit, and most of the restaurants/bars are bland.

Post: #19

Another place you should check out is right across the Hudson in Jersey. Hoboken has some nice places to hang out or game at and you can get across to the city via the PATH trains, ferries, or NJ Transit buses via the Lincoln tunnel. Weehawken and to a lesser extent, Union City and West New York are strictly for the rent as they don't have much in the way of what you are probably looking for.

Jersey City in the Newport area is also a nice place worth checking out.

Post: #20

I second upper east side, 6 can get you along the east side nightlife venues (East Village, Lower East Side). Rent is fairly priced and plenty of cute girls live up here despite the stroller army you will see out on weekend mornings. I currently have 2 girl room mates and pay 1400 for a doorman building on E 72nd.

Post: #21

(01-12-2015 11:40 PM)Brahman Wrote:  CONS: the 4/5/6 train is crowded as shit, and most of the restaurants/bars are bland.

Whenever they finish that 2nd Ave. line, this should be much less of a problem, but until they do that Lexington line will continue to be overtaxed.

Post: #22

First thing is to give up that car. It will take some getting used to, but trust me you won't need it if you live in the City. i'm going to assume you have a rental budget of <$1400. You should def choose somewhere downtown, Lower East Side, East Village, even China town. You'll have multiple trains and everything you'll need will be within a 15 min train ride (including your job).

In regards to gaming, there are cute girls in every part of the city, but when it comes to sealing the deal you'll need to have tight logistics and there is no tighter logistics than lower manhattan. It can't be stressed enough how much it will help you by saving dating time and money (you can almost always SNL if you run decent game).

Let us know how it goes man and possibly welcome to the best most annoying city in the world.

Post: #23

I do like those neighborhoods to hang out in, but the selection is def over-priced for the quality of apartments available relative to other areas (chelsea, gramercy, murray hill)

FYI: Used to live in Nolita…fun place to visit, horrible neighborhood to live in

Post: #24

(01-14-2015 02:05 PM)Goldfinger Wrote:  First thing is to give up that car. It will take some getting used to, but trust me you won't need it if you live in the City. i'm going to assume you have a rental budget of <$1400. You should def choose somewhere downtown, Lower East Side, East Village, even China town. You'll have multiple trains and everything you'll need will be within a 15 min train ride (including your job).

In regards to gaming, there are cute girls in every part of the city, but when it comes to sealing the deal you'll need to have tight logistics and there is no tighter logistics than lower manhattan. It can't be stressed enough how much it will help you by saving dating time and money (you can almost always SNL if you run decent game).

Let us know how it goes man and possibly welcome to the best most annoying city in the world.

$1400 down there, really? All the chatter I'm hearing IRL (without having scouted any apts) is that I'm looking at $3-4k...

"and possibly welcome to the best most annoying city in the world."

Haha, yeah, I'm looking at this as an adventure and an opportunity, so even though I really value convenience and orderliness in lifestyle I'm willing to go outside the comfort zone. Compared to where I've lived before and my lifestyle (mostly young-single-suburbia type of places) I'm viewing it almost like I am expatriating. Worst case if I don't like it I do a year there and GTFO.

Post: #25

(01-15-2015 02:04 AM)BadgerHut Wrote:  

(01-14-2015 02:05 PM)Goldfinger Wrote:  First thing is to give up that car. It will take some getting used to, but trust me you won't need it if you live in the City. i'm going to assume you have a rental budget of <$1400. You should def choose somewhere downtown, Lower East Side, East Village, even China town. You'll have multiple trains and everything you'll need will be within a 15 min train ride (including your job).

In regards to gaming, there are cute girls in every part of the city, but when it comes to sealing the deal you'll need to have tight logistics and there is no tighter logistics than lower manhattan. It can't be stressed enough how much it will help you by saving dating time and money (you can almost always SNL if you run decent game).

Let us know how it goes man and possibly welcome to the best most annoying city in the world.

$1400 down there, really? All the chatter I'm hearing IRL (without having scouted any apts) is that I'm looking at $3-4k...

"and possibly welcome to the best most annoying city in the world."

Haha, yeah, I'm looking at this as an adventure and an opportunity, so even though I really value convenience and orderliness in lifestyle I'm willing to go outside the comfort zone. Compared to where I've lived before and my lifestyle (mostly young-single-suburbia type of places) I'm viewing it almost like I am expatriating. Worst case if I don't like it I do a year there and GTFO.

I should have been more specific, $1400 is with you sharing a 2br with the Clint idea (Airbnb the 2nd room), or get a roommate. You can't even get a 1br in Bedstuy brooklyn let alone LES.