How to Make San Francisco Affordable

If you have your heart set on moving to San Francisco, then you don’t need another top ten list of things to love about living here. What you really need is some advice on how to make San Francisco affordable. According to The Huffington Post, The City by the Bay is the worst city in the country for saving money. Before you make a permanent home here, consider the following tips on keeping your cash.

Take Apartment Shopping Seriously

Another dubious honor this city has is being one of the most expensive places to live in the country. The main reason for this is the high cost of finding a place to live in the first place. Without a doubt, the biggest part of your budget will go to rent. This is why you need to take your time finding the right one. Ideally, shop in October, when there is less turnover and overall competition. This will help you save money on comfortable accommodations. Also, spend lots of time getting to know the market. What seems like a great deal may end up becoming a burden and an especially frustrating one when you learn how much more affordable your home could have been if you had gotten used to the apartment market in this town.

Work Out for Free

Gym memberships can be fairly costly too and you won’t find any exceptions here in San Francisco, where people take fitness seriously. The good news, though, is that if you’re creative, you can come across plenty of opportunities to get a great workout in here without spending a lot of money. San Francisco is home to countless parks and all kinds of hills for those who like to go for a jog. You’ll have no problem finding people doing Tai Chi or looking for teammates for their intramural league too.

Use Public Transportation

Most people who drive in San Francisco are from Oakland. This city isn’t actually that big to begin with, which is yet another reason rent here is so expensive. At just under 48 square miles, you really don’t need a car to get around. Aside from the iconic trolleys here, the city also has a number of options for public transportation, most of which provide passengers way to save money by paying ahead. Owning a car here is almost always a big mistake when you consider how much you’d have to spend on gas alone just trying to get through its many crowded streets. Then add to that the insurance costs of living in a place with so many other people. Of course, there’s also the monthly car note to pay. Save that money for something more productive.

Get to Know Your Neighborhood

With close to 100 different neighborhoods, finding the right one will make all the difference when it comes to being comfortable here. Again, this is why you need to take apartment shopping seriously. However, be sure you take plenty of time really getting to know your neighborhood. Chances are that just about anything you want to do is available nearby, giving you yet another way to cut down on your costs. Also, think about looking for a second job around where you live. Doing so will not only give you extra money, but could be how you make friends in your neighborhood.

Get Secondhand Furniture

Unless you already have your own, consider padding your budget by going with secondhand furniture. San Francisco has a number of great shops that sell all kinds of furniture that have been refurbished at discounted prices. Take a look around and you’ll probably find some really great pieces that will be more than worth the effort. Living in San Francisco won’t be cheap, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t move here. Just apply the above tips to help manage your costs. Sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/buck-wargo/worst-cities-for-saving-money_b_6796544.html http://www.examiner.com/article/22-ways-to-save-money-san-francisco-part-1 http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/rent-a-property