Are there certain things you do when starting a new game?

Well I find my sims some kind of job or way to make money - build a basic house, and have them watch the cooking channel through their first few easy meals in the house to keep them from disasters until they can afford a sprinkler system to not burn their house down.

Toward the end of their first week in their house I generally have had them walk around the neighborhood and meet a few sims they might like - maybe pick a few plants to start a small garden, and just check out the area they live in.