Honestly? We love the energy. So here's our unsolicited — but fiscally sound — guide to making the most of this beautiful, maddening city.

First, the money talk. San Francisco will try to separate you from your cash at every turn. A $7 coffee here, a $19 cocktail there, and suddenly you're wondering where your paycheck went. Set a budget early, automate your savings, and learn to love the free stuff — and there's a lot of it. Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, Fort Point, the Coastal Trail. This city's best experiences don't cost a dime.

Second, get out of the Marina. Not permanently — Chestnut Street is great, and you're a stone's throw from some of the best running paths in the country along Crissy Field. But San Francisco is a patchwork of wildly different neighborhoods, each with its own personality. Explore the Sunset's quiet charm, the Mission's food scene, the Richmond's hidden gems. Don't become someone who thinks SF is just a six-block radius.

Third, brace yourself for the bureaucracy. You'll encounter city government eventually — parking permits, bizarre recycling rules, taxes you didn't know existed. San Francisco collects an enormous amount of revenue per capita and still somehow can't keep the streets clean in half its neighborhoods. Don't let it make you cynical. Let it make you informed. Show up to a Board of Supervisors meeting at least once. You'll either become a civic activist or get great material for group chats.

Fourth, the Seattle-to-SF adjustment is real. You'll have more sunshine, fewer gray months, and significantly more aggressive drivers. Muni is not the Link Light Rail — manage your expectations accordingly.

Finally, say yes to things. Join a running club, try a random neighborhood bar on a Tuesday, talk to strangers. San Francisco rewards the curious. It punishes the passive.

Welcome to the city. Now go make it worth the rent.