New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world. But that doesn’t deter New Yorkers from living here. A user asked frugal New Yorkers on Reddit, What are your frugal hacks unique to the Ney York City?
Here are some of the best money-saving hacks frugal New Yorkers came up with.
RIDE CITIBIKE BIKES TO EMPTY STATIONS
“My monthly transportation “expense” is literally negative after Citibike pays me for riding its bikes to empty stations.”
JOIN THEATER SEAL FILLER CLUBS
“$99 per year gives you access to get tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, concerts, sporting events, comedy shows, etc., where you only pay a small fee per ticket ($5) that allows them to pay their staff a salary, wait in the heat/cold to distribute tickets, etc.”
BUY FRESH BAGELS AND USE YOUR OWN SPREADS
“Even before inflation, I would just buy a fresh bagel each morning (usually for maybe $1 or so) and use my own spreads. Saves a LOT for bagel addicts like myself who eat multiple bagels weekly.”
TAKE THE TRAIN CLOSEST TO YOUR DESTINATION
“Taxis, Ubers, and food delivery are the fastest way to suck up your budget. So if you “need” to take a cab or Uber, at least take the train closer to your destination and take an Uber or cab for the final stretch.”
SNEAK IN NIPS TO THE BAR
“If the rooftop bar drinks are weak, there is no shame in sneaking in nips to fill them up. I did this a lot when I was making less money and still had just as much drunken fun as my friend, who could afford all the drinks.”
USE AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER OR BICYCLE/ E-BIKE
“I highly recommend either an electric scooter or bicycle/e-bike. It feels pretty liberating to get free transportation to anywhere in the city, even if the subway doesn’t go there.
The electric part also means I do it longer every year than I would if I was peddling because peddling in the cold is pretty unpleasant. So, I don’t pay for transportation around the city for ten months per year.”
TAKE A SUBWAY ONE WAY AND BUS THE WAY BACK
“Take the subway one way and the bus the way back. It counts as a free transfer if it’s under 2 hours.”
TAKE SPECTACLE THEATRE MEMBERSHIP
“Spectacle Theater has a membership. $5 a month, unlimited movies except for event showings which I believe are only 5 with the membership. I’m pretty sure there’s no other theater with such a wide-ranging and niche-diving selection in the English-speaking world.”
JOIN A BUY-NOTHING GROUP
“Join a “buy nothing” FB group specific to your neighborhood. Not only do people regularly post things they’re giving away (furniture, decor, kitchenware, clothes, etc.) you can also put out a request if you’re in search of something. People get requests fulfilled looking for tools, appliances, moving supplies, etc.”
ENJOY A BOAT DAY ON THE FERRY FOR $2.75
“If you want a boat day, buy a ticket for the ferry for $2.75, and you can ride it for as long as you want. Bring snacks, or buy booze/snacks on board.”
VISIT BROOKLYN MUSEUM FOR FREE ON THE FIRST SATURDAY
“The Brooklyn Museum has free admission on the first Saturday of every month. There’s usually entertainment/music, food, etc. as well.”
ENJOY OUTDOOR MOVIES IN THE PARK
“Outdoor movies in the parks during summer are great. Get there early, bring a picnic, wait for the sun to set, and watch a movie.”
TAKE THE PARKS AND REC GYM MEMBERSHIP
“The Parks and Rec gym membership can’t be beaten. Citywide access to rec centers (gym, classes, billiards, ping pong, etc.) with pool access is $150 per year. It’s even cheaper without pool access.”
BE SMART ABOUT GROCERIES
“Gotta be smart with groceries too! I do COSTCO for bulk stuff that I regularly use (chicken, fish, cleaning supplies), then Target or Trader joes or any local produce store for fruits and vegetables. Don’t give in to gentrified overpriced “organic” groceries unless you’re about that life.”
JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MOMALLY GROUP
“If you have kids, join your neighborhood “Momally” (or similar) group on Facebook. We’ve scored so much cheap kid stuff that was high quality. Everyone wants the bouncers, toys, clothes, etc. out of their apartment asap when their kid outgrows it.”
TRY YOUR LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS
“Try out your local food trucks. While some can be pricey if it is to your taste, the local Indian truck’s chicken and rice or chicken biryani is filling and costs $8-9.”
MORE FROM WHATANIKASAYS
People tend to believe conspiracy theories when they feel they have lost control or are afraid or anxious. Evidence and facts over the years have debunked several widely accepted conspiracies. However, there are many more conspiracies that people still believe.
15 CRAZY CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT ARE WIDELY BELIEVED. DID YOU TOO?
15 THINGS YOU’RE TOO OLD TO BE DOING ANYMORE
As we grow older, many changes occur within us, both physically and emotionally. Dealing with the aging process can be stressful, and there’re few things that you’ll not feel like doing anymore. Read about a few of them here!
15 THINGS YOU’RE TOO OLD TO BE DOING ANYMORE
10 OUTDATED TECHNOLOGIES THAT MANY STILL PREFER TO USE NOW. DO YOU TOO?
In a fast-paced digital age, where technological advancements constantly push us towards the latest and greatest, some of us still find comfort and satisfaction in holding onto the past & outdated technologies over their newer, more advanced counterparts.
10 OUTDATED TECHNOLOGIES THAT MANY STILL PREFER TO USE NOW. DO YOU TOO?
16 STUPID THINGS PEOPLE LOVE TO BRAG ABOUT. ARE YOU GUILTY OF ANY?
We have all met people who love to talk about themselves and their achievements. No one likes to listen to these people, but getting a braggart to stop is tough. And the worst part is that these people will brag about the silliest things.
16 STUPID THINGS PEOPLE LOVE TO BRAG ABOUT. ARE YOU GUILTY OF ANY?
16 FACTS THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE FALSE, BUT ARE ACTUALLY TRUE
There is no point in denying the facts. However, many facts are 100% true, but people reject them. Here are a few of them.
16 FACTS THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE FALSE, BUT ARE ACTUALLY TRUE
Anika Jindal
Anika is a CPA and founder of What Anika Says. She shares simple and actionable frugal living, money management and money-saving tips to live a debt-free financially independent life. She has been featured on popular websites like Bankrate, Forbes, Mint ,and Authority Magazine. Byline: MSN