How To Find the Perfect Place To Live

Moving to a new city brings with it both stress, and excitement. A good bit of anxiety comes with any move, what sort of house should you find for yourself, the type of neighbourhood you may want to move into, transportation, and lifestyle are all important decisions. Major cities in the US can sometimes be very difficult to manoeuvre, and it’s natural to be stricken with anxiety not only with how challenging such a bustling metropolis can be but also, the many varieties and options available. Such factors are especially true for a city as perfect and simultaneously as intimidating as New York.

The best and worst thing about New York City is that people here do not care about what you did with your past life. You could have been a successful entrepreneur, or possibly have had a very difficult life, but people will care more about what you will contribute to your new city and life here. New York is the perfect place for a fresh start.

The Bronx

The Bronx is a borough in New York City, which corresponds with Bronx county. It is one of the fourth-largest areas, fourth-highest population, and the third-highest population density in New York City. Lying North East of Manhattan, across the picturesque Harlem River, the Bronx has an area of 42 miles. It has both high and middle-income neighbourhoods, including Pelham Bay and Pelham Gardens, Riverdale, Fieldston, Morris Park, etc. Studded with parkland (about one-fifth of the total land area) and some astute shopping centres like The Hub, Gateway Centre, and Southern Boulevard. The Bronx is a beautifully aesthetic place to live in. This coupled with excellent connectivity through the New York subway, buses, and major highways, your experience settling down in the Bronx is sure to be nothing short of sublime.

What Are The Things to Look Out For

Research the neighbourhoods

Honestly, the biggest favour you can do for yourself before moving into a new place is to become familiar and aware of the area’s various neighbourhoods. A quick Google search will tell you what neighbourhoods exist in the Bronx, but beyond that, it is advisable to take a day to drive out, spend some time to see if the neighbourhood will fit with your needs and if this is what your budget allows. Every neighbourhood varies with regards to your potential neighbours and the people who live there, accessibility, schools, shopping, affordability, and all that it has to offer.

Selling vs Renting

There are no two ways you can consider when it comes to a new home, renting or buying. Property in New York can cost a fortune, some may not be able to afford to buy a new house, especially, without good credit and a loan. If you’re the kind that doesn’t want to invest in a loan at this time, or if you do not have an intention to buy property, consider renting. Should you decide to purchase or rent a home, be sure to secure good homeowners/renters insurance. No matter where you live, especially in a city like New York, you must be prepared for future storms, theft, and or fires. Be sure to check Homeowners Insurance Made for New Yorkers.

Most landlords will look at your credit score before they consider accepting your rental application. Assuming your credit comes back with a good rating. Be advised, New York requires that you earn around 50 times the rental rate to be accepted to lease. Some landlords may ask for a guarantor, who is able to step in to pay, should you default. A guarantor is required to make 100 times the rent, in order to qualify. Some landlords require the guarantor to live in the same state.

Looking for a House in the Bronx — Via Nelson Mejia Jr. on Flickr

Miscellaneous Details

You may not consider certain details to be as important, but they could come up when you are least expecting. New Yorkers love their pets, and over the years New York has become pet friendly, in all areas from housing to hotels. However, there are still properties who may not be pet-friendly. We’ve heard that landlords may not advise you about their no pet policy, until after you arrive with your pet. Be sure to discuss this upfront before signing any lease. Internet access, be sure to ask which provider is available in the area you have chosen, inquire about water and electricity, are they included in your lease or will you have to provide? We suggest, make a list of all the small things that are essential to you so that you are prepared before renting your property. It’s better to have that checklist on hand.

Food/Dining

Many city dwellers choose to rotate cooking, ordering in, or dining out. So it’s important to know what options are available and nearby. Doing your research before you sign a new lease, on the types of restaurants, delis, their rates, delivery options, dine-in hours, etc., is a good idea. Food delivery services such as UberEats, Seamless, Postmates and Grubhub are New Yorkers go-to delivery options.

Transportation

Living in a city like New York, be sure to factor in transportation. What’s available and where is the closest subway and or bus stop? Unless you choose to have a car, the subway and bus are two of the best ways to get around this great city.

Owning a car, be sure to consider insurance, parking, alternate side parking on city streets, and petrol. There are other options such as Uber, Via and Lyft to get you where you need to go.

Should you consider driving and or taking a car service, be sure to look into road maintenance or rush hour, heavy traffic and possible accidents. Download the NYC subway and or public transportation apps, these are the best way to keep on top of your daily travel. Biking is also a great option, New Yorkers have taken to City Bike and or purchasing their own bikes for city travel. We highly recommend cycling, a great way to get your daily exercise and see the city.

Living in New York or any large city is not always easy, but if you do your homework, educate yourself and prepare, you will be sure to make right decisions for you, there is nothing more exciting, educational, cultural and refreshing than living in New York!

Christmas in Nigeria is a family event – a time to come together and celebrate the special people in our lives. Between the bowls of joloff and the banging of fireworks, one of the ways we show how much we care is by exchanging presents, and there’s nothing worse than worrying that your gifts will seem inadequate once given.

While it’s not all about the presents, it does give us a warm and fuzzy feeling to know we’ve chosen well, but even this cannot offset the worry that comes from going over budget and being concerned about how you’ll cover your costs once Christmas is done.

The trick is to shop savvy; to tread the fine line between giving great presents and not breaking the bank. Here are our three top tips to help you.

Shop around

When it comes to picking out presents, it’s important not to make your purchases without first shopping around, especially at Christmas time when money is tight. This means that you shouldn’t buy gifts from the first place you find them, but should compare a number of different retailers to see who’s offering what you want at the lowest price. You’ll likely be surprised by the variation you discover once you dig a little deeper and begin to search out the superior offers. Even if prices are similar, hold off on buying for a bit and keep an eye out for sales and promotions, as shops often use these as a way of getting ahead of their competitors over the Christmas period.

Review before you buy

Last but not least, be sure to do your research before you buy. The best way to get your hands on presents their recipients will appreciate is to review them prior to purchase, and websites like Trustpilot have been set up for this specific purpose. Not only this but make sure you read the products’ descriptions in detail too. The same rule applies to anything you spend your money on during the holiday season; whether it’s a present for your mother-in-law or indulging in a spot of online shopping or gaming for yourself. This detailed review of the Book of Dead slot at KittyBingo.com, for example, is a great tool for consumers, as it allows you to gain an in-depth understanding of what you’re spending your money on before committing.

Take advantage of the Black Friday sales

While the best sales tend to happen once Christmas is over, there is a particular retail event that could help you to save some serious cash. We’re talking about Black Friday, which has fast become the biggest shopping occasion in the Nigerian calendar. With dozens of different businesses getting on board and slashing their prices, you’ll find there are some truly amazing offers out there, which can help you to get your hands on the presents you want without breaking the bank. The trick is to be clever, so sign up to the mailing lists of your favorite websites in advance to make sure you’re the first to hear about any discounts or promos they’re hosting.

When it comes to buying the perfect Christmas presents without breaking the bank, there are three primary rules to follow: shop around, take advantage of sales, and do your research to gain a better idea of what you’re purchasing. Follow these, and you should find your holiday shopping is a lot less stressful and significantly cheaper too!