If you have a keen sense of adventure, settling in a new city presents limitless opportunities for new experiences, and moving away for college is no exception. If you’re enrolling at UCLA, University of Southern California, or one of the many other schools in Los Angeles next fall, then you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime! L.A. is a vibrant city with a diverse culture and endless entertainment. Here are a few things you should expect when moving to La La Land:
You’ll Meet Interesting and (Sometimes) Friendly L.A Residents
What better way to know your way around than to meet new people and share some beautiful moments together? Chances are, they’ve been around for a while, and you could learn a few tips from their stay; probably learn from some of their mistakes too.
Yes, You’ll Probably Need a Car
While L.A. does have public transportation options offered by Metro (light rail, subway, and buses), it’s known for not being the most reliable, so you’ll probably still want to bring a car to school with you. Navigating the city will be much easier if you can drive yourself from lectures to your apartment, to run errands, or to dash between entertainment hot spots. Make sure you put aside a minimum of $100 a month for gas and a similar amount for insurance.
Getting through the Mad L.A traffic
Sitting in Los Angeles traffic, especially during the peak time between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. can be excruciating. However, if you happen to be in a rush during such times, you’ll need to be street smart if you intend to elude the traffic. Over time, you’ll learn tricks like driving through the Sepulveda Pass to save you from the morning and after work evening rush.
Don’t Miss the Weekly Parking Swipes
Pay attention to the parking signs! Most importantly, feed the meter to ensure you can park all through the week, as some spots are monitored both day and night.
Keep Fit With Routine Exercise
Gym sessions and early morning jogs are an excellent way to start off your day and stay in shape. LA experiences 300+ days of sunny weather in a year, which is great for outdoor activities. Gym membership from LA Fitness, 24hr Fitness, and the YMCA are a good place to start.
You can also try hiking; Runyon Canyon will do for starters. Runyon Canyon is a popular hiking trail for celebrities and residents, with incredible scenic views of LA. Who knows, you might bump into one of your idols and learn a few Hollywood secrets.
Learn to Stick to a Budget When Renting
Securing an apartment in Los Angeles can be really expensive, depending on the location. Studio apartments average $1,000 per month, so by paying an additional security deposit and the last month’s rent, you might need at least $3000 at the time of signing. One and two-bedrooms rent for even more, so be prepared. It’s wise to save money before your move to cover the cost of rent/deposit, furnishings, internet, and other living necessities.
Go Apartment Hunting in “The Valley”
During your first few days stay in LA, you’ll hear this expression a lot. “The Valley” refers to the San Fernando – North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Studio City and Burbank. The Valley has some of the cheapest apartments around, so this is a great place for students to find more reasonable housing.
There’s a catch, though; you will have to deal with high temperatures, which are usually ten degrees greater than the west side of Los Angeles on any given day. If you want to save some cash and can handle the searing heat, it’s a good start for finding some inexpensive, decent apartments.
You Might Want Help Moving In
Whether you choose to live on-campus your first year or you opt for an apartment down in the Valley, getting settled into your first home away from home might be stressful. If you need the help of professionals to lift your boxes and furniture you’re bringing, you might want to check out http://www.cheapmoverslax.com. This site allows you to browse local, licensed Los Angeles moving companies and compare rates so you can stick to your L.A. budget.