From countryside to the city: A guide to living alone in an urban environment

In this day and age, where the unemployment rate is high, people are taking risks to find work away from their families and outside their communities. Some go to countries to find the “greener pasture” while some migrate to cities to seek better opportunities.

Growing up in a country where labor is exported, this setup is not new to me. I grew up seeing my uncles and aunts visit us for a couple of days only to go back to the city (or abroad) for work. I remember asking my grandmother about my aunt and why she needs to go back to Manila when she can live in our town. She said there are more jobs available for my aunt outside our province. I was 7 years old then.

17 years later, I found myself in a city to look for work and try to survive. I never thought that I would do what my aunties did when they were young, although they are now more established in terms of how they’re doing. When I first arrived, I didn’t know what to do. I lived with my aunt for a few months while looking for a job. At last, I was able to get one at a start-up company. I was so happy back then because I now have my own money to buy things I like. But then came the time when I have to move out and settle on my own. That’s when reality kicked in.

Now, I’ve been living on my own in a big city for more than a decade. I have moved from one apartment to another until I found a place suitable for me and been staying there for 6 years. This post is inspired by a question posted on Reddit. The following are some tips I followed and continue to follow to survive in the city:

Know your bus/train/jeepney routes. This is the very first thing I did when I first settled in the metro. Having this skill will save you money. Of course, riding a cab is also good, but it’s always not applicable. In some instances, it can be a hassle. The best is to look for a cheap and quick way to commute. Before, I had to write down the routes and streets and try to memorize them when I’m alone.

Nowadays, there are websites and phone apps one can use and helpful in navigating the city. One of them is Sakay, which gives you detailed directions and alternate commuting routes you prefer whenever you visit a specific place. Google Maps is also useful, although Sakay is easier to use. Their database is always updated to give users newer information.

Look for apartments that are close to your workplace. If you are terrified at the thought of being stuck in heavy traffic while counting the minutes left before your shift at work starts, then you should follow this advice. Living near your office gives you lots of advantages. It saves you tons of your time as well. You don’t have to spend long hours on bus rides; you can take a short commute or just walk. My former company is located near my current apartment, and it takes around 20 minutes to get there via jeepney. During weekends, I would walk home together with some of my officemates. It served as an exercise for me.

Always be mindful of the traffic. For folks who grew up in the countryside, encountering traffic could be quite shocking to them. Unfortunately, traffic is part of the package you’ll sign up for once you decide to work and live in the city. It is a horrible and mysterious thing, but one will get used to it over time. In reality, you really cannot avoid traffic if you’re living in the city. But you can do other things to minimize this experience. That is why the first and second tips are very essential.

Going back to what I mentioned earlier, my former office is near my apartment, and getting there only takes 20 minutes via jeepney. But this is not always the case. There are days when traffic is just unbearable. One unforgettable experience is when it took me more than an hour to get to work because of heavy traffic.

Since that day, I took note of the days when traffic is heavy and the days when traffic is light. In my experience, traffic is always heavy on Wednesdays and Fridays, so I make sure to adjust my time and go to work earlier than usual. I never incurred late penalties after doing this workaround.

When I started working for a nonprofit, I had to travel for an hour or two (via bus) from my place because our head office is located in another city. Because commuting time is grueling, I usually take naps, which helped me in terms of productivity. Again, you can’t really avoid traffic in cities, but you can adjust and put it to your advantage.

Be frugal. It’s okay to splurge and treat yourself sometimes, but don’t forget that you live alone. Worst case scenario, what will happen if you get sick or run into an accident? You need to have emergency funds apart from your savings as it is likely that your relatives won’t be able to send help right away. Avoid eating out often and cook your meals instead. Pack lunch at work if possible. Find a cheap place to stay. There are lots of dorms or bed spaces available that you can rent at a relatively lower price compared to apartments and condo units. If you can wash your clothes, do it. If not, look for a laundry shop.

The last and best tip I probably could give is to not work in the city at all. If you can find a job in your town or province, that would be much much better. There’s nothing better than living in the countryside. But in any case that it won’t work, since poverty is prevalent in the countryside, these are the 4 tips I take by heart and continue to follow, and they got me through 10 years. Good luck, and I wish you the best on your new adventure.