At first glance I thought it was Bezos lol.

It's really easy to overspend. Also, convenience of deliveries can be very enticing. Grocery delivery, booze delivery, take out delivery, snacks delivery, same-day or 1 day prime. It can be easy to fall into those delivery traps. The charges add up fast.

That said, I do recommend once a week or every two weeks, you budget and try a new restaurant/cuisine. I've had amazing Thai, Afghani, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Indian, and more, since moving to DC.

Personally, I enjoy the city and have slowly been making friends over the course of two years (granted I didn't have school. Only work when I first moved here).

Also, there's a lot of free activities, take advantage of that!

I found bulk buying meat at Costco saves me so much money. It lasts me 3 ish months. Mainly chicken and ground turkey. Just make sure you have enough freezer space lol.

First off -- there definitely was a better way to word the title and the whole post.

Second -- Just use common sense. Well-light areas, etc.

Third -- Coming from the midwest, I'd recommend bringing ear plugs it's loud at night compared to the country.

Fourth -- Mind your own business. And don't ask locals about "all the shootings".

Fifth -- for you, just stay in the tourist trap areas. You'll be fine.

• If walking at metro station with a group don't all line up and take up the whole platform (someone wants to get around you).
• If you get motion sickness make sure you are sitting on the metro with the seats facing the way you are going.
• If you see someone not pay for bus or metro, don't say anything, don't stare. Just mind your business.
• Let those in wheelchairs get on bus first since the bus will likely have to lower the ramp and stuff.
• When waiting for bus or metro don't stand too close to anyone else if it can be helped.

But anyway, FAR certs are easy enough to get as a civilian if you meet the requirements and your supervisor wants you to have it. It takes a year after you get your COR I to get your COR II (at least for my agency)

Honestly I don't know. It really depends on your supervisor. Do you mean FAR? FERS is the retirement plan.

By the time you hit GS-7 you can transfer jobs with a different ladder. Also, I would look into Schedule-A disability hiring authority. Makes it easier for the employer to hire you.

get in with the 0300. After you prove yourself for a few months let your supervisor know you have procurement experience and are willing to get COR training (if you have a COR level 1 get COR 2). I know a few people who started out as GS-5s and worked their way up (granted it took decades) to a GS-13 step 10.

Roommates for sure. But also, when you move here make sure to register with WMATA that you have a disability. My coworker has a disability and they provide them a metro shuttle van to get them to and from work. (They have to schedule in advance but it's free!)

Opinion: No. WFH is an incentive to stay in feds and not go private. (We got a 4.6% pay raise. Inflation was 9.1%.)

My apartment sent out a long email to residents saying to make sure not to let anyone into the building we don't know. Apparently, the police or someone was contacting businesses letting them know that it could get out of hand.

Nah, DC is awesome place to live especially young adults (moved here after grad school). It was a bit of sticker shock to me (from mid-west) but the public transportation, the amount of stuff going on, the great food, and everything. Yeah, definitely worth the price.

What type of poker? 5 card or texas hold'em? Either way I'd be interested. While not in Navy Yard it's a quick metro ride away.

I'll be there too! Tickets are only $20 (at least when I bought mine in the beginning of the month). Hope to see you there OP!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Washington.D.C.Housing.Rooms.Apartments.Sublet/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/308419009523676/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/741131989604553/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/arlingtonfairfaxrentals/

Back when my friend and I were having summer internships in DC we found a place to rent on zillow. Looked like professional photos, but the price seemed almost too good to be true. We talked to the guy he sent us a form to fill out and wanted one month's rent as a deposit.

I googled the address and found the real, realtor. Contacted him and he said the rental price was double what the guy was saying. That that guy is a fake and to be careful.

So, all that to say, be careful with Zillow. I would ask for a virtual tour (via zoom) or something to make sure you can see the apartment/room before giving any money.

Also if you have Facebook, there are a few facebook pages for DC roommates, etc.