Tips for Adjusting to Life in Los Angeles
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It isn’t hard to see why the City of Angels is constantly gaining new residents. With an abundance of gorgeous weather, local culture, and career opportunities in creative fields, it can’t be denied that Los Angeles is among the country’s most happening cities. However, as is the case with most major cities, many transplants are liable to experience a period of adjustment after relocating. While there are a lot of good things about life in L.A., Dodger City takes some getting used to – especially if you’ve never spent time there in the past. Whether you’ve recently taken the plunge and moved to L.A. or soon will be, the following pointers are sure to come in handy.
Find Outside Storage Solutions
While not as pricey as NYC or San Francisco, Los Angeles has much higher rental rates and housing costs than many other parts of the country. So, when searching for a starter residence in Dodger City, there’s a strong possibility that you’ll have to go smaller than you’d prefer. To help ensure that you don’t wind up living in cramped, uncomfortable conditions, seek out outside storage for excess possessions for which you have no immediate need. Fortunately, when it comes to storage Los Angeles, your options are anything but limited. Firing up your favorite search engine should produce a bevy of affordable results, so if your L.A. pad is too small to comfortably accommodate certain furnishings or personal items, outside storage may be a worthwhile investment.
Give Yourself Extra Time When Driving Anywhere
One thing many transplants notice immediately about Los Angeles is its perpetually congested traffic. In fact, it should come as no surprise to anyone who’s spent in L.A. that the City of Angels is home to some of the worst traffic in the country. Further complicating matters is the fact that you basically need a vehicle to get anywhere in anything resembling a timely manner. Regardless of where you’re going in L.A., it’s generally a safe bet that traffic is going to be a problem. That being the case, you’d be wise to take traffic into account when working out your schedule. For example, leaving for work 30 minutes earlier than usual is likely to increase your chances of arriving on time. The amount of extra time you give yourself should depend on how far you live from your destination, how important it is that you arrive on time and how cumbersome traffic conditions generally are throughout this particular journey.
Take Commute Times into Account
As previously stated, the traffic in Los Angeles is some of the worst you’ll find in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, this can have a substantial impact on your daily commute. If you’re not keen on the idea of spending hours a day getting to and from work, take commute times into account when job hunting and house hunting. If you’re moving to L.A. with a job lined up, look for a home within reasonable driving distance of your place of business. If you find a place to live before finding a job, try limiting your job hunt to areas that are relatively close to your new residence.
Move with Money
There’s no denying that Los Angeles is expensive. While not the priciest city in the U.S., it’s certainly among them. As such, it’s recommended that you have a decent amount of money saved up in advance of your big move. If you have a high-paying job waiting for you in L.A., this step may not be necessary, but barring this, you should take the time to build your savings before charting a course for Los Angeles. At the bare minimum, you should have $5,000 saved up before heading to L.A. Furthermore, risk-averse individuals should have at least $10,000.
There’s little wonder as to why Los Angeles holds so much appeal for prospective residents. After all, who wouldn’t want to enjoy year-round beautiful weather, take in some of the best scenery in the country, and explore the entertainment capital or the world? Of course, this isn’t to say that new residents aren’t going to experience an adjustment phase. Even if you’ve lived in other major cities, life in L.A. will take some getting used to. New and future L.A. residents looking to expedite their adjustment periods will be well-served by the tips discussed above.
