tips for living in san francisco ?

There is a pool in the Mission that I think is a community pool with reduced fees—i.e. pay a couple bucks per session. You might also consider joining 24 hour fitness which is a pretty cheap gym and they are having a special right now…they have a pool at the one in Potrero Hill. Ask about the policy for just attending one club four days a week—it can be as cheap as $26 per month and it’s always month-to-month so there are no contracts or weird fees. In terms of living without a lot of money, my biggest advice for SF is to try to do your grocery shopping at Trader Joes and don’t eat out too much. If you do want to eat out, there are some incredible cheap burrito places in the mission (search for burritos on Fluther and you’ll see other Fluther-ites’ answers to which places are the best). And some inexpensive restaurants like the Citrus Club (thai) in the Upper Haight. Check out the free concerts/events at Yerba Buena for free entertainment…and all the outdoor concerts in Speedway Meadows at Golden Gate park. In general there is lots of free/cheap music if you don’t mind being outside in the fog. Hope this helps, and welcome to SF!

I know alot of people who love Golden Credit Union, there’s on Larkin near Market. I don’t think they have alot of ATMs but I’ve hears nothing but good things.

Shop for produce at the Farmer’s market, there are several of them through the week, Civic Center, Crocker Galleria Plaza, and the Ferry Building. I buy my produce only at actual produce stores, there’s one in EVERY neighborhood, my favorites are in the outer sunset on Irving Street and on West Portal Avenue. I buy all other stuff on sale at whatever supermarket has it on sale and is convenient for me. I sometimes plan my entire weeks menu around sale items. Stock up on soup at 3 for $5 sales. You can get Safeway to deliver for under 10.00 dollars if you want to take advantage and stock up on sale items for staples like toilet paper, etc. and they’ll send you a free delivary coupon around every other time you order. If you don’t buy a Monthly Fast Pass for the Muni you should combine errands on a daily pass, they have weekly as well. I make dishes and stews weekly with tons of veggies and maybe a ham-hock, or a chicken piece thrown in for flavor. For clothing shop the second hand stores, again, all over the city, or do the seasonal trick, buy at the end of a season when everything’s dirt cheap because the stores have to get rid of it. Garage sales are abundant for things needed around the house. You can go on Craigs’ List for a variety of cheap things to do and get advice from people, they have a Free posting and lots of great stuff is cast off daily there. Golden Gate Park has free concerts and plant shows, etc. Read the Guardian for Free for interesting activities going on. There are at least 4 public pools to swim in with discounts for certain groups. You should check out UCSF and see if you could get a membership there. Books? Great libraries, again, in every neighborhood, or go to Border’s Books and relax and read for free there in one of their comfy chairs. Check out the one at UCSF for the beautiful view over GGPark to GG Bridge. As for eating out I usually eat out at lunch because the entrees are the same size as dinner menu for less price, or do the early bird thing and hang out with the seniors between 5 and 7pm for dinner. Take what you don’t eat home and get creative with combining leftovers with new stuff for snacks and the next days meal. Taking food out means you don’t have to tip so it’s less than dining in the restaurant. Make sure your house or apartment is under rent control before you move in and try to be in control of your utilites so you can conserve, or find a place where they’re paid for you, even better. Whew! Live creatively! Less is more.

Read the Bay Guardian for other activities, there are many poetry readings in cafes in the Mission. Also a very good Dentist has an ad/coupon in there, (he has a cute smile with lots of wavy hair), and if you take that coupon in you’ll get a thorough Dental cleaning for the coupon price, about one-third what you’d pay elsewhere. I’ve worked with him, he’s a nice man who likes to help people out.