How much do you need to live in NYC?

“UNO!”

I said, as I was dropping my last card from the deck. I was looking out the window from my friend’s 2 bedroom unit. At 12 am in the morning, I felt quirky, when I was recalling the ways he was fighting to cope. I was looking at his treadmill, which was the result of frugal living in NYC. By the time he was done battling with jobs and standing his grounds, he realized how much he needs to live in NYC.

Spare the Upper West Side and Yuppies.

Rental costs has dropped

 Decent living with a bit of privacy given up, renters could live fairly in the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Queens, Bronx and Williams Bridge spending approximately around $1,400 for accommodation. Rental expense could be brought down a bit, when shared with roommates/housemates.

Coming to high-end living in Upper West side figures have turned out to be nightmares. It’s such a fright in the eyes of an average renter. Localities like Greenwich Village demands up to $4,017 as monthly rent.

Eat-to-live, no cuisine dinner

Drop the idea of lux dinner every Saturday. People have had the shock of their lives, when well-known lousy cooks in their circle surprised them with an immaculate home-cooked lunch and dinner. My friend learnt to shop for groceries on coupon (I’m contagious in a way ;)!!)  

Craving for fresh food in NYC? Then you might consider overnight threats to big names! He buys his favorite drink for $4.37 per gallon – MILK. He hardly thinks about having pot-roasted beef. He rather prefers poultry. He could afford an ample amount of chicken breast at $5.52 per lb.

Like I said, I’m contagious he grows his sweet kitchen garden and balcony garden. Inexpensive home vegetable garden at $100.

Also, he visits ‘The Lobster Place’ often these days. Buying fishes are a bit cheaper in the fish markets of New York City.

Cellphone bills

Only figure that doesn’t scare him to death. With concession and planning he pays about $75 per month. Why to spend on phone conversation, when he could do it longer on internet?

Utility bills

He gets shaky during summer – It’s extremely hot from mid-May – Mid September.

He jitters during winter – Snow is piled up everywhere; thermostat and heaters demands his attention.

Spring and fall – he’s totally at peace.

(Pictures courtesy: WWW)