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Living Broke in NYC
- by aubreewyattsmith
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- September 22, 2009
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- 3 discussions
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Do you know how much it costs to "live" in New York City? Well, according to Global Property Guide, in 2009 it costs approximately $1,384.10 PER SQUARE FOOT. This figure may cause statisticians to "ooh" and "ahh" over breakfast, but for the city's 8.36 million residents, the cost can only fully be comprehended in bagels and Metrocards. This is your guide to saving some serious dough; be it white, wheat, or rye. We're talking money, people. Time to focus.
Tracing the Problem - Macro and Micro
As the new administration scrambles to get the U.S. economy back on the express track to recovery, you are making pasta for the fourth night in a row and revisiting episodes of “Twin Peaks” on dvd. How did you arrive here, at the junction of penny pinching and at-home waxing? It could be that like much of the nation, you are in some way affected by the recent downturn. It could also be that you are guilty of living like a child who’s raided their own piggy bank with no parental oversight. In either case, New York City is not a fun or particularly safe place to be when you are low on funds. Don’t wait for Uncle Sam or King Bloomberg to come to your rescue. Avoid the potholes of NYC living and get back on track with a few minor adjustments to your mode de vie.
Bumble and Bumble Model Project
Be a Bumble and Bumble hair model and get that cut on the cheap. You may not have as much control over your precious locks as you would a full-price-paying customer, but a student cut is still preferable to split ends, yes?
Skip NYC Yellow Cabs - Plan your day a little better, friend!
If you’re a person who tends to run late, the New York City taxi is just too tempting. (Traffic depending, of course.) But taking 3 or 4 “emergency” cabs in one month can add up to a full week’s worth of groceries. Start by cutting down on your taxi taking. If you have some control over where you and your friends are hanging out on a Friday or Saturday night, why not campaign for something closer to your subway line? If the difference of one hour means the difference of feeling safe about getting home and feeling unsafe, why are you taking a risk in the first place? Quit the night while you’re ahead, train it, and save that $15 or $20 for your roommate’s play that you know you’ll have to expense regardless. (Even if the play is terrible, you won’t be able to look her in the eye on your way to the kitchen if you don’t go.)
The Bargain Queen
If you’re in the market for a new job, you can’t afford to squander the opportunity crossing your arms because that “best” dress shirt has a permanent coffee stain. Don’t fall victim to Fifth Avenue or Soho. Your best bet is to shop online in the “leantime”.
Beauty in NYC can be elusive
Feeling like a natural beauty these days, and not by choice? Hit up your local discount beauty suppliers, with products from hair dyes and salon-quality nail polish and manicure/pedicure kits, to at-home spa treatments, all for less. This Guidespotter doesn’t promise salon-quality results; that’s all on you. But every girl needs to know the shortcuts to looking decent in office lighting, even if you’re drinking McDonald’s coffee this month.
Borrowing Money in Plain English
Apparently those who borrow money have no face. (And a paper soul?) And what about the lenders? Borrowing money is a slippery slope, Guidespotters. But in a real bind, sometimes it’s the only way. Especially when borrowing, be sure only to borrow what you can pay back. In the meantime, think of other ways to thank your friends. Non-monetary thanks such as making dinner, cleaning, babysitting, or painting are generally much-appreciated.
Guidespotter’s Note: This might not work with your bank.
Save on booze in NYC
Drinking in New York City is expensive with a capital E-gads. NYC bars, clubs and lounges are charging you at least triple the amount you would spend on a bottle of your poison of choice. It’s a lot harder to justify dropping $35 on a bottle of liquor and mixer than to buy a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer, but why is this? Perhaps it makes one feel like more of a “serious” drinker. What will the register guy think? But when the week is up and you’ve dropped $50 or $60 on cosmos plus tips, (not hard to do in NYC), what will your bank account say?
Gene Hackman - Dustin Hoffman - THE INTERVIEW
Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman share stories of much leaner years in NYC as well as Dustin Hoffman’s clever budgeting secret. Yep, Hoffman and Hackman used to be broke like you.
Forget Netflix (For Now)
If you join the New York City Public Library, you can get your books and dvds for free. If you are lazy, it might take a little push to get you there and back, but just think of all of the money you’ll save on entertainment and what you can eventually do with the money you save. That’s the carrot to chase after…
Make your apartment visitor-friendly
This Guidespotter has a few friends who are masters of the “why don’t you just come over?” And because of the brilliant little friend traps they’ve made of their abodes, these guys can actually afford a vacation at the end of the year. Keeping your apartment tidy, stocking up on small edible offerings and affordable booze, and a few board games can make for a perfect night in. Clubs are so crowded; might as well play Twister at home, where the drinks are a helluva lot cheaper and you don’t have to remember your wallet to go to the loo!
"Thanks...
…but no thanks, Bob."
TD Bank NYC Locations
This bank’s name may change again tomorrow, but their Penny Arcade coin counter seems to be a safe feature. Even if you are not a TD bank member you can still head to one of their locations with a giant sack of loose change and turn it into twenty dollar bills. TD Bank: the most fun you can possibly have with quarters since public laundering.
Free Movie Screenings
Just imagine “Annie Hall” if Alvy Singer didn’t have enough ones in his wallet to take Annie to “The Sorrow and the Pity”. New Yorkers will always find away to get their film fix.
NYC Parks are nature's gym
Approximately March-November, there are few excuses not to take advantage of the parks for your daily sweat-a-thon. If running bores you to tears, there’s always biking, rollerblading, long walks, or “hiking” in parks as hilly as Fort Tryon. If you have a dog or human companion, you can make an event of it.
Saving Money on tipping in NYC
This has been a test of your NYC I.Q. Tipping those who need to be tipped in this mad, mad city (waiters, bartenders, drivers, stylists, etc.) is not optional. Tipping is how most of these folks make their living. If you can’t afford to indulge in their services and tip proportionally to the norm and quality of service, then you ought not indulge. Resurface for that manicure when the funds are there.
Free Yoga, No-Cover Jazz & More!
At FreeNYC.net
Cheap tunes for the home office
Chez Vous: Hey, you could spend a small fortune (and yeah, any amount of money you can’t really afford to plunk down is a small fortune) on expanding your iTunes Library, or you could sign up for Pandora. Pandora is the free radio station you create yourself. Perfect for getting you through indoor jumping jacks, doing your taxes, or that sunday cleaning bonanza.
Quit smoking...yes, even south of Houston
With the nation’s highest cigarette tax and a pack of smokes costing you nearly a Hamilton, even those with remedial math skills can surmise that it pays to quit. (Not to mention you will save yourself from future nightmarish medical and dental bills.)
Added bonus: your mother will be oh-so-proud.
Skip Starbucks
It’s time to take a trip to your local grocery store and find that magical bag of beans to go into your Mr. Coffee coffee maker. You do have one, don’t you? A bad Starbucks habit can equal a phone bill by the end of a month…especially if you’re calling home to cry about how broke you are.
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I haven’t thought about Ren and Stimpy in SO long. HAHA I love it!! I would absolutely love to live in NYC, but I think Boston is quite expensive enough for me. And I’ll continue going bankrupt on weekend NYC trips :)
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I cannot imagine living in NYC. It’s a fab place to visit, but I have no clue how I’d survive. Great advice!!
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I feel ya, sista! Just the other day I was thinking to myself, “It’s a good thing I LIKE saltines and cheese for lunch.” Sigh.
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