Have you recently moved to a new city or country? Meeting people and making friends can feel daunting at first, but there’s heaps of great ways you can get socialising in an easy and cost effective way! Keep reading for five ways to start.

1. Join Facebook Groups

There are tonnes of Facebook groups dedicated to meeting new people and making friends. Joining these can easily connect you to others who have also recently moved or are looking to make new friends, acting as great common ground for new friendships. Get chatting to other members and start making some plans to catch up in real life! Just remember to always meet up in a public place for safety reasons. Simple suggestions such as meeting up for coffee, a drink or simply a casual walk is a great way to approach an initial meet up.

2. Join a Hobby-Related Club

Meet like-minded people by joining a local club, sport or class. Shared interests and hobbies are often a great way to connect with people who love to do what you do. This could be anything from surf/swim clubs, sports, or even classes like yoga, art or cooking. No matter where you live, there’s sure to be ways to get involved in the local community – not to mention it’s a great way to learn from others and improve a hobby!

3. Meet Friends of Friends

If you’re lucky enough to know a few people in the area already, use their connections as a way to meet others and expand your social circle. Organise an easy lunch or dinner with your friends and tell them to invite a few others they know to come along. This can help you meet new people in an easy and fun group setting, in a way that takes the pressure off!

4. Download Social Apps

Believe it or not, there’s heaps of apps you can easily download which will help you connect with others in your area. A Tinder-like swiping system for finding friends is a common approach these days, and also makes it easy to start a casual conversation with comfort and convenience in mind. Apps like Bumble BFF and Hey! VINA can be a good place to start (especially for the ladies), or Meetup, which is an incredibly well-known and popular choice. Just remember to always check and filter by verified members on these apps for safety reasons.

5. Get Friendly with your Neighbours

Another great way to meet new people is by making an effort to meet and connect with those living around you, not just because they’re physically chose by but chances are you’ll be bumping into them a lot day to day! This is especially true if if you live in an apartment building with lots of residents. Getting to know your neighbours and those immediately around you can also help reduce feelings of loneliness, which can often be a common feeling when you’ve recently moved.