Grocery Shopping in Tel Aviv

New Olim often struggle with the conundrum of where they should buy food when they first move to Tel Aviv.  There are plenty of choices from the corner store to the Carmel Market, and everyone has their own preferences for where they like to buy their groceries.  Here's advice on the best way to find high quality food at the lowest possible cost.

My diet mostly consists of vegetables, lean meats, fish and gluten free whole grains (most of the time).  For me the most important things that I need are good quality meat and good quality produce at an affordable price.  If you too are looking for these things I highly recommend the Carmel Market at the end of King George Street (In Hebrew called "Shuk Ha Carmel").

This market has everything from clothes and Judaica to fresh fish, and I have yet to find produce prices that rival the Shuk in Tel Aviv.  The meat and fish are also fairly priced, and in my opinion better quality than a lot of the meat that you'll find in a super market butcher shop.  Not only does the Shuk provide quality food at low prices, but it's also an experience that reminds me I'm in Israel. Nowhere in America will you find an outdoor bizarre, or market like the Shuk. 

The Shuk is very easy to get to, with tons of bus lines and Shirut Taxis (van taxis that can take 10 people, half a shekel more expensive than the bus.  The 4 or 16 lines go to the Shuk.) that drop you off right there.

Now a few words of caution about the Shuk.  It closes between 5-6 PM  on weekdays, so make sure to get there in the morning if you can (opens at about 9-9:30).  If you can't make it during the week, beware that Fridays there can be painful if you don't like big crowds.  Also make sure that you have a thick skin, as some of the sellers and shoppers can be quite rude.

I've found a couple different vegetable sellers that consistently have good quality veggies and fair prices, and if one of them is out of something I can just go to the others.  There are some guys that I avoid because they're rude, they're scales are off, and they try to scam you by listing their prices in 1/2 kilograms.  If you want specifics on my preferred veggie salesman send me an email, and I'll give you the details.  For meat there are two alleys to the right when you walk down the Shuk from the top.  The first alley is mostly Russian butchers and I don't believe their meat is kosher; I go to the second alley to the first guy on the right.   He's a nice old guy who has fair prices and fine quality meat.

Speaking of meat, if you love it and don't keep kosher then there's an excellent place in Yaffo that has very affordable and high quality meat.  I have yet to go there because Yaffo is a bit far for me, but if I lived in south Tel Aviv I would highly recommend Abu Hilweh.  The place is super clean and the meat is very affordable, especially when you buy in Bulk.

You may be thinking that I've got you covered on meat and veggies, but what about all of the other stuff?  For necessities and dried foods my recommendation is the Victory super market.  Victory has all of the same products as the other big super markets like Shupersal, but everything is cheaper.  Victory even does deliveries if you don't have time to go to the super market, you can simply order everything online, and they'll deliver it to your house.  I did the deliveries a couple of times, and it's not bad for dried, and packaged food and necessities for the house; however, it's inconsistent.  Sometimes if they're out of something the give you a replacement from another brand without telling you.  They usually call and ask if it's ok, but not always.

Victory also has a decent butcher if you are in need of meat, but their produce is often sub-par, so again, go there for your dried food. Of course there are plenty of other super markets in Tel Aviv, and the AMPM and Super Yuda chains that are open 24 hours; however, most of these places carry the exact same products and have them marked up much higher than Victory.  Unless you shop all organic (in which case I recommend Teva Castel), go to Victory and the Shuk for the best price and quality combination for your groceries. 

Buying Furniture in Tel Aviv

At the beginning of the month I moved in with my fiance, and since then we have been working steadily to set up our new home.  I'm sure you've all gone through this when moving into a new place, as you have to arrange it the way you like, plus you have to buy any furniture and household goods that you don't have.

We were pretty set with kitchen stuff, thanks to my family, but since both my fiance and I came from furnished apartments we started off with no furniture.  Most people would say no worries, just go to Ikea where they have everything you'll need (sspecially in Israel, as Israelis love to cheap options).  I know Ikea can be great for certain small things; however, the lack of quality that comes with the low prices pushed me away from making any large purchases at Ikea.  

Now in the states it would be a lot easier for me to find low-cost furniture as there are actual rules and logical principles that point you in the direction of affordable furniture.  In the US there are warehouse type stores and outlets where you can find great quality goods from last season that have been discounted.  Sometimes you can even go to factory stores and by furniture at wholesale prices.  In Israel things at outlets can even still be quite pricey, plus I have yet to hear about affordable outlets for furniture.  In addition, logic would tell you that furniture from a chain store would be cheaper because of the lower markup, whereas in Israel chains can be the most expensive establishments.  

My solution for those of your looking for good quality and affordable furniture in Tel Aviv:  Herzl Street in South Tel Aviv.  Herzl street has everything that you'll need in terms of furniture.  I bought both my mattress and couch from stores on Herzl Street and have been very happy with both purchases.  Whenever I've mentioned prices of both pieces to others I've gotten an overwhelming amount of positive reactions to the prices and products.  

It's really hard for me to explain the great deals on Herzl other than the fact that you have the power to negotiate.  Most of the places on Herzl are small businesses where you're speaking to the business owner, and this gives you wiggle room in terms of price.  Plus, if you pay cash at certain places this can get you an even larger discount.  

A few tips for those of you who are about to make your way down to Herzl Street.  First of all, get anything that you agree to in writing.  I'm talking everything from the model and specs of your furniture down to the delivery date, time and total price.  I know a few people who have been screwed over because things weren't in writing and the sellers went back on the original agreements (I didn't have my delivery date and time for the mattress written down and it almost cost me big time.)  That being said, most of the people there are OK, but when it comes to money you can never fully trust a merchant, so get everything in writing.

Also make sure to never pay for everything up front, especially if you're getting something custom made.  For example, I have an L-Shaped couch that was custom made (I choose the fabric and hardness of the cushion material).  I made sure to pay the guy a small initial deposit, half before the delivery and half on delivery to make sure that everything would be delivered in a timely manner.  I learned from my fiance's co-worker who has waited over two months for her couch because she paid everything up front.  My guy seemed very trustworthy, but still cover yourself and never pay up front for everything.  

Feel free to message me if you're about to buy furniture, and I can recommend a couple of solid places on Herzl.  Good luck with setting up your new home!

Check out my couch and bed below (the bed doesn't look like much, but it's a really nice mattress).

A Gym Lover's Dilemma in Tel Aviv

Back home in Philadelphia I had a gym membership ever since my freshman year in college.  While completing my Bachelor's Degree I attended the University gym, which was by far the nicest and least expensive gym I've ever used (sure it was highly subsidized from alumni donations and because of my tuition, but still an amazing gym.  Was actually like four gyms, but what do you expect when you have a college campus of 40,000+).  My most recent gym back home, Planet Fitness, was also great, as it had everything that I needed for a great workout , was open 24/7 and only cost $10/month! Here's what it looks like on the inside:

If you can just get past the purple and yellow color scheme then you'll see that it's an excellent gym for an amazing price.

And that brings us to Tel Aviv.  I've been inside a number of gyms and Tel Aviv, and haven't been able to find one for less than 200 Shekels/month (equivalent to $50 USD/month!).  Most of these gyms are far smaller and more limiting than the gyms back home, and at a minimum of 200 NIS/month (most of them are closer to 300 NIS/month) it's difficult for me to justify the cost.

In addition, a smaller gym means that it's more crowded, which takes the joy out of exercising because you feel like you have no room to move and breathe.  Plus, most gyms that I've been to are not properly cleaned, which just grosses me out.

My alternative has been the outdoor Tel Aviv Gyms.  Although they don't have all the fancy weight machines or free weights they provide plenty of nice body weight resistance machines and tools that could let anyone get a nice workout.  I primarily go for the pull-up and dip bars for a nice upper body workout.  Check out some of the prime spots in Tel Aviv for these outdoors gyms:

As you can see, these are better than nothing, but still not complete solutions for those of you who like weight training.  I'm not at the point where I'm debating going back to the workouts that gave me my best results ever, which were free weight workouts at home.  In the past when I dabbled with DVD workouts like P90X and Insanity I felt great and had excellent results.

I like the versatility of a gym, and not having to buy and hold my own equipment is also nice, but it's so difficult for me to justify the cost for the tiny and dirty gyms in Tel Aviv.  Yes there are nice ones like the gym next to the Gordon Pool and Holmes Place in Dizengoff Center, and I know that I'll continue to debate this over and over, but for me a gym membership here just isn't worth it.  Hopefully I'll find the creative workout solution for me soon :)  Gym lovers beware, as Tel Aviv gyms will drain your patience and bank accounts.

Apartment Searching In Tel Aviv

I've never experienced anything quite like searching for an apartment in Tel Aviv.  Now when I say Tel Aviv I mean Tel Aviv itself, not Ramat Aviv, Ramat Gan, Givatayim or any other surrounding cities.  It's absolutely nuts in regards to the prices, the quality of the apartments and the demand.  When you go to look for an apartment you have to be prepared to take the place on the spot, or else somebody will likely come in right after you and take it (that is at least if it's a half decent place).

I've lived in Tel Aviv for a two years and four months, and I'm about to move into my fifth apartment. Believe me, I'm not proud of that, and I'm not as fond of change as my track record shows. For a number of different reasons (relationships beginning, relationships ending, mold issues) I've never been in one place for more than a year, and I'm soon hoping to change that. Although I haven't had the best of luck with apartments, my experience in moving and searching has given me some very helpful insight for anyone looking for an apartment in Tel Aviv.

Let's start out with the basics, price.  Now this all depends on where in Tel Aviv you're looking and how simple you're willing to go.  I know a few people who scored super cheap studios (if you can even call them that) for between 2300-3000 NIS.  Now for these studios you won't have a real kitchen, more of a kitchenette, and your shower will basically be on top of your toilet (we're talking 10-20 square meters here).  Hosting will be nearly impossible, so you're basically looking at a space big enough for a bed and a dresser.  I guess that's how it is in some cities in the far east; I know that for me a space like this wouldn't do.

For those of you who insist on living on your own and want a decent studio (30 meters squared and above) you'll likely be looking at something between 4-5000 NIS per month.  This is quite a lot of money, especially with salaries in Israel, so I advise you to weigh heavily how difficult it would be for you to live with a roommate or two.  I have multiple friends with different style studios and any of them that were decent (by American Standards) with all facilities working and somewhat modern would fall into this price range.

If you're looking for something with roommates then you have a lot more wiggle room.  Depending on the area and accommodations you can find a nice room for between 2000-3000 NIS per month (sometimes this includes bills and other times it doesn't).  You're probably thinking that this is a wide range and you're right.  It all depends on how many roommates you'll have (generally the more roommates the less you pay) and the quality of the apartment.  If you want a nice apartment with one roommate then you'll be paying closer to 3k, whereas a decent apartment with 2-3 roommates will bring you closer to 2k.

Now you may be thinking that this post is primarily geared towards single people, so for those couples out there looking fear not, because this is truly my expertise.  When you're a couple looking to move in together I imagine you're looking to build a home, and probably don't want to move every year or less.  From the get go make sure to feel out your landlord and to let them know that you're looking for something permanent for the next few years.  You'll usually be able to figure out if you're both on the same page and if start digging deeper into the place.

With any city location is king, and Tel Aviv is no different.  City center and the Old North boast the highest prices, whereas you can get a nice place at a lesser price if you go further north to Ramat Aviv or across the Ayalon Highway to Ramat Gan or Givatayim (same goes for those of you looking for roommates).

Once you've narrowed down the area it's important to see the must haves for you and your partner.  I for example must have air conditioning in every room, as summers in Tel Aviv can be brutal with all of the humidity (especially July and August).  I also cook on a daily basis and much prefer a gas stove to and electric hotplate.  Beware of weak water pressure in older buildings as well, and don't be embarrassed to check that everything works when you go to see a place.

Other than these basics some other things to consider are double-glassed windows if you live near a busy street or commercial center.  Many people also want a balcony, which in my mind is more of a bonus than anything.  My advice is to have a list with your "must haves" and not to waste time and settle for something that isn't right for you.

At the same time, you've got to stay within your budget, and herein lies the biggest challenge of all.  For a couple you should be able to find something somewhat modern and nice in the center or old north, with all utilities in good working condition for between 5,500-6000 NIS per month.  Again this number can go down if you go to Ramat Aviv, across Ayalon or further into South Tel Aviv, just as long as you don't mind paying far from the center of town.  Of course you can find luxury places for double or triple these prices; however, if you're not rich then these will likely be your price points.

And now a couple of tips to make sure you don't get screwed.  It may cost you a few hundred shekels, but if you don't understand and read Hebrew very well, make sure to take your contract to a lawyer to make sure there's no funny business in there.  So often people sign and don't know what they're signing, so make sure not have someone you trust or employ read the contract over.  I also recommend avoiding places with a realtor, as they take a hefty commission (one month's rent) and you can often find a great place without having to go through one.

And now, I'd like to give you some photos which will separate your expectations vs. reality when looking for an apartment in Tel Aviv at the price points that I mentioned above.

Here are your possible expectations:

And here is the reality of an apartment between 5,500 to 6000 NIS in Tel Aviv.  These are pics from my apartment that I'll soon be leaving.

It's a nice apartment; however, when I see how my friends pay less and get so much more for their money abroad it can be depressing. Then again, you need be realistic and compare rent in Tel Aviv to the cost of rent in NYC.

I'm not telling you this to bring on a bout of depression, but only to warn you that if you want something decent in central TA you have to pay, and if you don't mind being in the center it may be worth your while to move to one of the surrounding areas.

New Year New Resolutions

I've been pretty big on New Year's resolutions in the past, and this year I'm bringing them back.  The only difference here is that I plan on laying out concrete plans to accomplish all of my resolutions.  I've recently found (and written about)n how goals often go go unaccomplished without the proper planning to make them happen.  So here we go:  plans and goals for the next year broken down into different aspects of my life.

Professional Life:

Since the last time I was truly devoted to this blog I made some big time career changes.  When I first moved to Israel I dabbled in the changes I wanted to make, and eventually settled on continuing in the path of education, and even opening up my own school for English tutoring.  I had a business running where I would go from home to home, and it sustained me for a little while.

After a short while I realized that riding my bike from house to house was only a temporary fit, and that for financial and professional fulfillment purposes I had to find a different way.  So I started working at a private English school, and although I found it enjoyable and the students appreciative, the work environment, schedule, and lack or a challenge pushed me in the direction of seeking a change.

And wouldn't you know it; a student of mine offered to help me find a new job by breaking into the field of sales.  Sure I had worked in sales before while in University (I called alumni and attempted to garner donations from them); however, it had been a while and I never saw it turning into a real career for me.  After interviewing and speaking to a few trusted family members and professionals I realized that my preconceptions about sales (that sleazy used car salesman) didn't match up at all with high tech, where sales is both a respected and often lucrative field.

So here we are, a year and change later, and I'm still working as a salesman for a budding high tech startup.  I've worked extremely hard this past year, and I've learned a lot about both the field of web design and about working in an office environment, as the bulk of my work experience to date had been either in retail or in schools.  It's been great, and I've felt a lot of growth; however I refuse to be content.  From here I want to make the jump to a management position and to continue leaning and growing as a professional in the field.

The pursuit of a management position and advancement with my day job is the first of my new year's resolutions.  My concrete plan is to lay out a time plan for meeting with my boss and deadlines for when I need to have my promotion.  It's also important for me to document my production and achievements to have documented reasons for my desired promotion.

In addition to making a career change to sales, I've also partnered up with one of my co-workers to begin working in the field of affiliate marketing.  I'm in charge of the content and we are working on niche-marketing websites that link to Amazon.com, making us amazon affiliates.  My goal with my side business is to continue producing content every week so that our websites can become profitable as soon as possible.  So far I've completed about one article and one blog post per week, and I want to stay at at least that pace if not ramping it up.

Personal Life:
This part of my personal life is just for me. I say that because I have a partner (I'm engaged, what?!) and I also have goals to do with my relationship where I hope to grow.

The first goal is something that I've always done, but have mostly been inconsistent with and that's physical fitness.  Most people would still say I'm generally fit, and often find myself running a couple of times a week, yet I want to make something that's more structured, and I think that starts with a gym membership.  I've been hesitant to subscribe to a gym in Tel Aviv because they're both expensive and small, yet I've come to realize that I greatly miss exercise when I go away from it.

Once I move into my new apartment I'll have to get a gym membership or free weights for the house, as I know that both will greatly pay off for me.  I had the most success with exercising at home combined with running and eating healthy, and I'll have to see if I stick to that routine or go back to a gym.  We'll have to see, as the new apartment may not have ample space for exercise (hoping it will).
In addition I want to continue writing and reading for myself.  I find that I too often waste time watching TV shows and would much rather be exercising my mind with reading and writing.  I've already set myself a goal of one blog post per week as a minimum.  Maybe I should say one book per month?  Ok done, one book per month and one blog post per week, very doable.

Maybe I'll just stick with that for now.  I was thinking about things to do in my relationship, but we'll have enough projects together this coming year.  Besides moving in together and setting up a home, we'll be planning a wedding.  I'm sure that I'll have plenty of sub goals within these two large endeavors; however, I will say that I want to make sure to respect my partners wishes and be completely supportive and team oriented throughout the whole process.  Both looking for an apartment and planning a wedding can be extremely stressful, and I want to make sure that I stay as calm as possible.

In addition I want to make sure that I'm reading at least one new book per month and publishing at least one blog post per week.  These things are just for my own enrichment in regards to my love of reading and writing, and I'd rather spend my free time doing the things that I love as opposed to watching another TV to just fill the time or waste half an hour on Facebook or Instagram.

So there we have it, some concrete resolutions.  Time to  go make them happen! Excuse spelling and/or grammar mistakes; feeling lazy today.