So You Just Moved To New York
 

For those about to move to New York, here are some friendly tips.

The monthly MetroCard is your friend. For $71, you get unlimited use of the subways and buses (except the special express ones.) It will make you do silly things, like enter a subway station so that you can walk through it because of the bad weather. Buy a monthly MetroCard, and buy it with your credit or debit card at a machine in a station. Never buy one with cash. Why? If you lose your MetroCard, you can call the MTA, and they will refund you the balance of the month! For all your MTA and MetroCard questions, go to http://MTA.info/

FreshDirect.com is the greatest innovation in food shopping. Its a top flight gourmet food store without the store. They buy everything straight from suppliers (like farmers,) and then distribute it to you. One reviewer commented on how he bought lettuce from them, and after a week in his fridge, it still seemed fresher than regular supermarket lettuce! Their chicken apple sausage is amazing. It smells like apple pie (and I'm thinking pie, not movie.)

Century 21 should be your first place to shop. Don't ask why. Just do it.

For electronics, J&R is a great place to start. However, if you're looking for anything Apple Macintosh related, go to Tekserve. If you're looking for high-end audio or video, the two best places are Innovative and Rhapsody.

Any New Yorkers want to add anything?

I was at Tekserve today getting my computer fixed again.

I went to Century 21 when I was there. It was awesome. I like H&M too...it's cheap and I am broke.

Wow, that Monthly Metro Card sounds awesome!

EXCELLENT tips... keep them coming :)

Stupid question... the monthly metro card can be used all over NYC, right?! Since i'll likely be living in one of the boroughs, i'll be using it daily. Also, does it work in Jersey? Like i said, i have stupid questions :)

I don't think it works in NJ. It works on the buses and the subway in NYC.

It works on MTA buses and trains. It won't work if you ever take the LIRR, won't work on private bus lines (has this changed? I know the City was taking over their lines so it might have already), and won't work in Jersey on the Path trains.

-Rudey

even before some of them merged with NYC Transit most of the Private bus lines took metrocards. I think there is a plan to allow them on Path soon.

Random Questions...

I was going through my proposed personal budget for housting/utilities/expenses (i'm somehwhat anal) and i had a few questions...

Is it necessary to have a "landline" phone in NYC? I currently use my cell phone for almost everything and i have tons of minutes - but is there any reason that it would be absolutely necessary to have an apt phone? Or is it pretty common these days to save money on that expense?

If anyone doesn't mind answering, about how much is it for high speed/dsl internet a month? What about cable tv? The cable TV i can really skip on if it is really expensive, but DSL is seriously a must for me!

Thanks! The New Yorkers are so helpful!!!

I would get only a cell phone and I would also get a wifi card for your laptop because chances are there will be a lot of hotspots around you.

-Rudey

Time Warner Cable rates click here.

Verizon DSL

Time Warner and Road Runner

I know a few people have tried to have only a cell phone, but they eventually get a landline. It depends on how good your reception will be in your apartment. I think that you can try it for a while and eventually get a landline if you want. If the apartment comes with a telephone line, I suggest you keep the connection.

AEPhiSierra is right. I've used my MetroCard on private buslines that operate MTA routes in Queens. Private buses that are not operating MTA routes do NOT take MetroCards. I don't think that you can use a MetroCard with New Jersey's PATH. They use their QuickCard. There has been talk, mainly from the RPA, about integrating the PATH with NYC's subway, but I doubt that anything will happen any time soon.

Utilities
 

Get cable TV with a cable modem (about $90/month for both with Time Warner), and a cell phone. You may not get good reception with your cell phone in your apartment. If that happens, you can add Vonage to your internet service for $14.95/month plus the cost of a router to get a landline.

More random NY moving thoughts:
 

More Stuff:

Hi Mullet. I lived without a land line for quite sometime because I was never home. However, now that has changed and the reception for my cell often sucks in my apartment (I have AT&T) so I got a land line. I pay about $41.00 a month for basic service (no long distance) through AT&T. It makes things much easier then running outside everytime I need to make a call. My work cell works perfectly fine in my apartment though. That is serviced by T-Mobile, however, I try not to use it too much because the minutes are limited and I don't want my agency to say anything. I use AOL Broadband and it is about $65.00 per month. My cable is about $75.00 a month. I would love to save on the cable expense but can't live without HBO and the Lifetime Movie Network;) I also got apartment insurance after 9/11. I think my policy is like $200.00 a year. It may even be less then that. I should be getting the renewal in Sept. so I will let you know. I am not so up on the banks to use in NYC, someone else may be able to help you out with this. I currently use Greenpoint Bank for my checking. If you get direct deposit, they don't charge you to have an account. Since I work for a non-profit, I also use MCU (Municipal Credit Union) for my other savings/checking account. There's not a lot of branches though which makes it a PITA to get to. Have you thought about furniture? I got most of my stuff in a lower end store nearby (don't want really expensive stuff since I am not going to be living here forever) but it is decent. I furnished my entire apartment for about $500.00. Stores like this usually deliver for free and will set up for free, just give the guys a nice tip;) There's a huge Bed, Bath & Beyond on 18th and 6th ave. too, and a Target near the train in Elmhurst, Queens...... I can't think of anything else off-hand right now. Since you don't really know anyone, I suggest thinking of a place you can leave a spare set of keys in case you get locked out of your apartment. My old supervisor holds a set of mine. I'll post more stuff if I can think of anything..............

YEA! I am finally going. I will be going this weekend to check out my new apartment! It is in Tribeca, anbd I am really excited. Any places I should check out over the weekend?