Valuable Tips for Anyone Moving to Los Angeles
Listen to this articleThere’s little wonder as to why Los Angeles is among the country’s fastest growing cities. In addition to having year-round gorgeous weather and plenty to do, the City of Angels has abundant career opportunities in a variety of fields. Furthermore, if you’re hoping to break into show business in any capacity, L.A. is the place to be. However, for people who have never spent time in Los Angeles, moving to the city can be a huge transition. Soon-to-be L.A. residents on the hunt for valuable moving tips would be wise to heed the following pointers.
Get a Car
Moving to Los Angeles without a car generally isn’t a good idea. Like any other large city, L.A. does have a fairly robust public transit system, but the city itself isn’t nearly as public transport-friendly as other major metropolises. Unlike other big cities, Los Angeles was essentially designed to be traversed in automobiles. Instead of constantly taking buses or riding trains, you could use cabs or ride-share services, but depending on how often you need to be driven somewhere, this can get expensive. If you want to get anywhere in anything approaching a timely manner in L.A., you’ll need your own vehicle. If you come to the city without one, be prepared to acquire one at your earliest possible convenience.
Anticipate Traffic Delays
As any Angelino can attest, calling the traffic in L.A. congested would be an understatement. Since most Los Angeles residents own vehicles, it isn’t hard to see why the streets, roads and freeways are always hopelessly backed up. In fact, depending on the time and/or day, seemingly mundane errands can take hours to complete. L.A. may be an amazing place to live, but it’s home to some of the worst traffic in the country.
With this in mind, make a point of anticipating traffic delays whenever you go out. For example, if your place of business is particularly strict about punctuality, give yourself some extra time in the morning. Leaving early may not always be necessary, but when it comes to L.A. traffic, one should always assume the worst. Additionally, in the interest of avoiding a thoroughly nightmarish commute, try to find a home located within easy driving distance of where you work.
Have Some Money in the Bank
In addition to being one of the most popular cities in the world, Los Angeles is among the most expensive cities in the U.S. So, unless you have a high-paying job lined up, it’s recommended that you have a decent amount of money in the bank before heading to the City of Angels. This may mean postponing your move for a bit, but after arriving in L.A., you’ll be glad you took the time to build your savings. Few things are more depressing or frustrating than running out of money in the immediate wake of a big move, and a little bit of financial planning can help prevent this from coming to pass.
If you’re not a fan of taking risks or you have trouble adjusting to new places, you should have a minimum of $10,000 saved up in advance of your big move. Even if you’re not particularly risk-averse, you shouldn’t move to Los Angeles with less than $5,000 in the bank.
Find Outside Storage Solutions
Like many densely-populated big cities, Los Angeles isn’t exactly brimming with free space. Furthermore, many of the starter apartments you’ll find may be unable to accommodate all of your belongings. Should you find yourself in this situation, don’t hesitate to look into outside storage solutions. Fortunately, when it comes to storage Los Angeles, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
It’s easy to see why transplants from all over the world flock to Los Angeles. One of the largest metropolises in the U.S., the City of Angels features beautiful weather, picturesque scenery, eye-catching architecture, and an abundance of leisure activities. Not only is L.A. the showbiz capital of the world, it’s also home to countless job opportunities for both young adults and older members of the workforce. Still, when moving to a new city, one can never be too prepared. So, before packing your bags and charting a course for L.A., take care to review the tips discussed above.
Feature Image by David Mark from Pixabay
