By Dallas Kali
Moving away from home can be amazingly exciting, especially when you’re headed to college. However, you may also feel a little worried. After all, you’re moving to a new area. If you’d like some advice on this subject, here are three tips for USC students moving to LA.
1. Focus on Living Spaces
Finding a living space in LA can be difficult, especially for newcomers. Therefore, you’ll want to spend a lot of time finding a suitable residence. If you decide to avoid student housing, you may end up looking for apartments. Other than cost, an important factor to consider during this search is location. Since you’re a student, you’ll probably want to look at apartments near USC. You may also want a space that’s near a lot of shops. The less time you have to spend on shopping, the better. If you’re unable to afford an off-campus apartment, you can usually find a roommate or two to split the cost with. Search for USC off campus housing and try to find someone that’s subletting space.
2. Make a Budget
LA is a busy city with a wide array of things to try. Unfortunately, this can become a problem for your wallet. In order to minimize your spending, it’s wise to create a personal budget. Start by determining your income. Since you’re a college student, this may not be a lot. It’s also important to add in any money your parents will send. Next, you’ll need to write down your fixed expenses. These are payments that generally can’t be avoided, such as your rent or grocery bills. After that, you’ll want to determine your variable expenses. This refers to payments that could change, such as gas and restaurant bills. Once you have your expenses and income, you’ll want to compare the two. If your expenses are higher than your income, you may need to make some changes to the budget.
3. Get a Car and Travel
LA is a large city that can be difficult to get around. Unfortunately, the public transportation available isn’t always sufficient, especially for those on a tight schedule. Since you’re a college student, you’re likely to have such a schedule. Therefore, it may be a good idea to bring a car. Be sure that your car can withstand long periods of time on the road. LA traffic can get backed up, so you may be driving a lot. Once you have a durable car, you’ll want to explore the area. While you may want to cover all the landmarks, don’t avoid regular areas. As a new resident of LA, you should get familiar with the more mundane spaces. Try to find new favorite restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, salons, clothing stores, and groceries. This can make you feel more at home.
LA is a vibrant and exciting city. While it can be difficult to navigate, doing so is often well worth the effort. Remain thorough, do your research, and enjoy living as an adult.
