Some more tips on moving to NYC...

I got some questions recently. Here are answers!

1) How much money should you have saved before moving?
Obviously, the more the better! I didn't do things the typical way though, and I hadn't saved up much. I would say to bring at least $4000. Most apartments are at least $1500/month in the city -- and that is sharing with one or more people (so you'd have your own bedroom and share the kitchen, bathroom, and any common areas if you're lucky to have that much space.

If you want a studio or one bedroom the rent is crazy expensive. Often at least $2000 or $3000 a month. Plus utilities, cable, internet, etc.

They often require a first month's rent and deposit = $3000. Some require a last month's rent as well. $1450 total just to move in! And of course it's an expensive place, so if you want to buy some food, extra cash may be a good idea.

However, if you can quickly make more money -- for instance, if you already have a job here, or can get one quickly such as a waitress job, etc., then it might not be as important to have $10,000 saved. Many people scrape by on less here.

Another option is to live far from the city and commute in (up to an hour is doable if you're young), and you might be able to pay only $700 in rent. Take into account safety, however. Will you want to ride the subway late night on weekends if you go out? Still, splurging on cabs on the weekends might be worth it to save overall -- a few $30-$40 cab rides home is still less than paying $1500 a month.

If you want to commute, consider Jersey City, Hoboken, NJ, safe parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

Or maybe you have a friend or relative in the area you can stay with? Most people, unlike me, do know a person or two before they move. If they are busy at work, you can offer to do housework or even cook or do laundry to make it easier on them to have you stay. But look for work quickly, as these apartments are small and you don't want to annoy your friends and family!

Another option is to bring the minimum in cash, and be okay with getting into some debt for the short term. Do this only if you're really chasing a dream that you think you can make happen. You want to balance avoiding debt with not forgetting to live your life and go after your dreams -- remember that time is more valuable than money. You can always make more money or pay off a small amount of debt. You can't get the years back you may waste. That said, don't dig a hole too big than you can handle. Debt is stressful. Think of the amount of money you'll expect to be making in a year when you are settled with steady work, and don't spend more than you think you can handle at that point.

Of course, you can also try to secure a great job before moving, to ensure money won't be a problem. Many jobs pay much better here than in other parts of the country, because the cost of living is so high. So you might check out some online job boards like monster, or ask around your network to see if you can't find a great job in your field. For instance, you can sometimes make $100,000 in NYC as a writer, where as in Arizona you'd only make $40,000 or $50,000.

There are many dreams in NYC that are time sensitive. Modeling, acting, arts, business, and anything you feel a burning passion to do NOW. Will that burning passion still be there in 10 years after you have 2 years of rent all saved up? Maybe. Maybe not. Only you know the amount of risk you are comfortable with. That includes the risk of not moving, the risk of delaying your dream, and the risk of long-term debt -- all would be stressful. Which would be most stressful to you?

So in conclusion, bring as much cash as possible. Look for cheap apartments farther from the city. Ask friends or family to stay with them if possible. Look for well paying jobs. Allow yourself to get into debt if necessary. But most importantly, find a way to chase your dream. Don't let it die!