5 ms·
A few items: - The US system of credit cards is really weird. If you do not happen to have an American Express (which does cross-border), you should try to ope
by elmalto 5y ago
A few items:
- The US system of credit cards is really weird. If you do not happen to have an American Express (which does cross-border), you should try to open up a credit card as soon as possible. Most likely with the bank that you use for checking accounts. Do not pay off the balance before it is due. Wait until the bill is finalized, then pay it within a day or two. Look up “credit score” and “how to build credit”
- Rental agreements are on a 12 months basis (at least in NYC). You might need a guarantor to get an apartment or proof you have enough money to pay the bill for the 6 months or so since you don’t have a credit score
- health insurance is really funky. They are employment based (employers decide your plan provider). Nobody understands their health plans. There is health, vision and dental insurance as the main ones. Expect to pay a lot of money out of pocket and to never know what you will pay in advance
- as you said tipping is mandatory. 18% is the lower limit.
- drinking in public places is usually prohibited
- if you get caught drinking under 21, it is a misdemeanour and you can get arrested
- I hate to say this but: cops are not your friend. Know your rights
- ethbr0 5y agoPS: Unless you have specific needs, probably skip on vision insurance, and just use Walmart or Costco. It's "insurance" in the same way paying someone not to burn down your business is "insurance." Simpler and often cheaper to pay out of pocket. > drinking in public places is usually prohibited Unless you're in New Orleans.
- sloaken 5y agoVision and dental insurance is typically not worth it. If you have a LOT of issues, you might break even. Often schools will have a health plan / HMO style office to address common issues. I would recommend paying into the school health plan if it is offered and it is reasonable.
- jnwatson 5y agoRegarding health insurance, there's usually a university student plan he can sign up for.
- giantg2 5y agoIf it's an exchange program, they usually include it by default.
- zeroego 5y ago> as you said tipping is mandatory. 18% is the lower limit. Just out of curiosity, where do you live? I've worked front of house at many different restaurants in an expensive city on the west coast, though this was 6 or 7 years ago. I was under the impression 10% was bare minimum, 15% was the next step up, and 20% was generous.
- elmalto 5y agoNYC - could very well be a New York thing. Lived in Vancouver before where it was 15% so I assumed it was roughly the same everywhere
- zeroego 5y agoThanks for the response! It is interesting how it differs in different parts of the country. Personally when I'm at a sit down restaurant I usually do 20% as the math is easier.
- P_I_Staker 5y agoLess than 20% is a soft slap in the face in many places. More so, if it's less than 15%. Some people use other "systems" though, so they might not even be paying based on the number on the check. If the bill is overpriced that's often a reason people use to skimp on the "percentage".
- zeroego 5y agoInteresting. I know in some states servers are not guaranteed minimum wage. They can make as little as 4 or 5 bucks an hour, so if you don't tip them they make very very little money. If I was in a state like that I don't think I'd ever go below 20%.
- happypenguin 5y agoThis actually isn't true. Servers makr minimum wage, if all night they were tipped $0 then the resturant is required to pay them more hourly to hit minimum wage. Their combined pay from tips and the restaurant's pay must meet minimum wage. That is a federal law so it applies to all states. States can increase the minimum wage but cannot decrease it.