I’ve been getting emails lately from people looking to move here from out of state so I thought I’d share some practical tips from my own experience that may help your transition as well

1.) Saving Money is the most important thing to do when moving anywhere new.  I would recommend saving at least $4,000 in addition to the cost of the flight.  I had about that much coming out here after graduating college knowing I would need to hustle fast or move back home.  To be somewhat comfortable I would say $7- $10,000 is sufficient but I know that isn’t always possible.  Work as much as you can before making the move.  Get a second or third job if need be.  After college I had a 9-5  job and worked at a bookstore evenings and weekends.  Generally I think California is a bit pricier than other places to live.  Gas, sales tax, food, and going out $ is higher and can add up.  Your best bet is to move to the valley (Van Nuys or North Hollywood) if you’re on a budget.  Its one of the cheaper places to live that is still considered in the Los Angeles area.

2.) Finding a place to live.  I would recommend using West Side Rentals in your search for a new apartment, house, room, etc.  For a 2 month membership you pay $60 and get unlimited access to their huge database of available places.  If you happen to find something before your membership is up you can try and sell it online to someone else who may want it for the remainder of the time.  Just make sure that you use a generic name and password, something you wouldn’t mind giving away.  I spent a lot of my time at their offices near Melrose, they have computers and helpful staff.  Across the street on Sundays there’s even a farmers market if you need a break to chill out and of course Melrose if you have the budget to do some shopping. If you are in need of moving assistance check out: moving companies Los Angeles

3.) Buying a car was my second priority when moving here.  I rented a car for about a week to take me to dealerships which ran me somewhere around $500.  If you don’t have a job already set up it is usually pretty tough to get a loan.  If you definitely need a car (it is pretty tough to get around on public transit) and have a low interest rate  credit card, use it to purchase a reliable cheap car in the meantime.  I spent $5,500 after taxes and bought a used car between 2 cards.. Plus, if paying off your credit card isn’t enough motivation to kick your butt into gear and find a job fast I don’t know what is, lol.

4.) Finding a job should be next on your list.  If you’re a coffee drinker find a nearby Panera, they have free refills, unlimited wifi after 2pm, and comfy booths to spread out in Craigslist from my experience has been the best route in getting responses from potential employers.  If you’re afraid of sending your resume info out to who knows, I would block out your home address and maybe last name.  That way they can still see your experience and skills just your personal info is censored just in case its on the off chance its not a real employer (wire cash to nigeria anyone?)  If you want something in the entertainment industry I’ve had friends who have had luck with entertainmentcareers.net.  It took me about a month and a half to find something really worth while in marketing.

5.) Finding a job II. If you have minimal funds, and no one to help you back home it is essential to find something straight away.  Learn the art of hustle.  Send your resume out to everyone, set a daily goal of applications and stick to it.. mine was 7-10.  Cold call, follow up, send resumes, write compelling cover letters, attend career fairs, and network as much as possible.  Your first job ideally would be something you want but if not, find anything that will just pay the bills in the meantime.  I gave myself a deadline that if I didn’t have something I wanted, I would take anything.

6.) Making new friends.  Now for the fun part!  Nowadays there are sites like Meetup and Yelp that are perfect for making new friends.  Find events that interest you and make time to check them out.  I was lucky enough to have a few acquaintances that introduced me to everyone and their mom (literally!).  Utilize your resources as much as possible.  My then acquaintance is now one of my closest friends out here in la la land.  It is very important to network yourself, not only to make friends but there may be opportunities that may arise from those new relationships that you would not have otherwise been given- whether its career related or something else.

7.) Dating. Nowadays everything can be done online..even talking to singles and setting up possible dates.  The stigma with online dating is long gone in my eyes and it has become more and more acceptable to join dating sites.  It’s not just for people who need to go online because they are hopeless in real life but also for people who are just simply too busy in their day to day or are meeting the same kinds of people.  I’ve talked to and met many interesting people from all walks of life including an illustrator for the Simpsons, a professional dating coach (The Game, mtv), pharmacists, real estate developers, comedians, business owners and everything in between.  If you’re a woman, not only can you pick and choose based on your preferences but you can also see how compatible you are before even meeting.  If you’re curious about speed dating and are interested in meeting a ton of local singles, I would recommend Speed LA Dating.  Take a few girlfriends and make a night of it

8.) Get to know your new home. Hopefully you love your new neighborhood and want to explore your new hometown.  I had a list of places I wanted to possibly move to but ended up in a town that I didn’t love right off the bat.  Even so, it was important to feel more at home and part of that process for me was to explore what it had to offer.  Go to your local coffee shops, go to events, join groups near your home, make friends close by (more important than what you think until you move here, everything is very spread out!).  A friend mentioned she used to have weekly movie nights and block parties which I think is a great idea to meet people nearby.

9.) Fitness. Join a nearby gym and learn about other areas where you can work out such as parks and hiking trails.  It is fairly warm year round so outdoor exercise, if you’re into that is great here.  Moving to a new place can be very exciting but stressful at the same time, working out was something that really helped relieve that stress for me.  Also a good way to meet people especially if you join a class that you enjoy.

10.) Create a support system. Remind yourself of why you moved out here in the first place.  I brought old journal entries and notes that friends wrote me before I moved that helped.  I also knew that I had friends at home for emergency calls and acquaintances here to talk to.  It’s tough but instead of calling your friends from home try making an effort to instead call new friends here.  It is so important to make real connections out here to be happy with the place you live.

I moved out to Los Angeles almost 3 years ago from the east coast. One of the best decisions I’ve made!  Here’s hoping you love it here as much as I do xo
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