Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) is the most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines and moving into the metropolis can be both exciting and daunting. Newcomers may experience culture shock due to a different culture and way of life. Long and burdensome commutes, fast-paced lifestyle, and high cost of living are just some of them.
On the other hand, living in Metro Manila offers greater opportunities for personal and professional growth, endless options to entertainment at any time during the day or night, and cultural diversity to expand your horizons.
Here is our guide when moving to Metro Manila.
1. Beat Long Commutes With Condo Living
Rising traffic congestion is a major problem among large and growing metropolitan areas like Metro Manila. Commuting for long hours on a daily basis can be exhausting and a time waster. One way to counter this problem is to find the nearest living space that you can afford. Consider renting a condo unit that is strategically located near transport networks, schools, and business districts.
You might want to avoid renting a condo right beside your university or office since their rental fees can be very expensive. You can choose a condo that is walking distance away from the train station or major highways. This way, your travel time and expenses will decrease.
2. Plan Your Daily Trips
Before you start driving or commuting to home, work, or other places, plan your trip and see useful info. This way, you can know when to leave, what traffic to expect, and which route to take. Explore all transportation options to your school or office. Find out if there are alternative routes that you can use in cases of severe traffic congestion and flood. Ask people to help you find the best route to reach your destination.
3. Be Mindful Of Your Spending Habits
Since Metro Manila is the center for fashion, gastronomic delights, and entertainment, you might be tempted to spend more than you can afford. Therefore, it is important to create a budget and sticking to it if you want to have a sustainable life in the metropolis. You can keep a ledger to track your expenses, salary/profits, and other financial matters.
4. Cook Your Own Food
Dining out is expensive and most of these fast food items are not beneficial to one’s health. It is better to buy and cook your own food since you can be sure that it is clean and healthy.
If you opt to live in a condo unit in Metro Manila, your commuting time will be shorter thus allowing you to do other activities such as household tasks, going to the wet market, and cooking meals. You can cook dishes in advance, place them in microwavable containers, and store them in your fridge. For snacks, cut fruits and boiled vegetable into cubes and place them in small plastic containers.
5. Consider Living With A Housemate
Renting a condo unit by yourself can be a burden; however, you can share the expenses with a trusted housemate. Having company can also help you learn the ropes of independent living in the city.
6. Be Aware Of Distractions
If you have moved to the metropolis to pursue higher education, then, by all means, finish it on time. You must focus on your academic goal and steer clear of distractions. These can be a different lifestyle, a new hobby, job offer, or certain people. New experiences can be good for your growth, but you should be limitations.
7. Choose The Right People
For those who have chosen to move to Metro Manila to find work, it is good to find the right people in your office who can help you move forward in your career. Avoid constant complainers, gossipers, and happy-go-lucky people. Find yourself a trusted mentor in the office or have close friends with whom you can have wholesome fun.
8. Find Time To Exercise
Being busy with school or work is not an excuse to neglect your fitness needs. At Alpina Heights, attending to your exercise regimen is a lot easier because of the availability of fitness amenities. You can hit the gym early in the morning. You can also do some laps in the swimming pool, jog around the area, or play basketball.
9. Live Near Green Spaces
Living in a big city can make you feel exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically. Traffic congestion, pollution, and workplace stress will have undesirable effects on your body and mind. Health experts recommend living near green spaces, which can have a positive impact on your mood and overall health.
Condo developers such as Alpina Heights Properties Corporation (AHPC) recognizes the need for a healthy and green environment in urban areas that is why they have built landscaped gardens and large open spaces within their condos to promote wellness.
If you are planning to move to a big metropolitan area like Metro Manila, consider living in Alpina Heights Condominium. It is designed to make your urban life more comfortable with its spacious condo units and state-of-the-art amenities at an affordable price.