Living Cheaply but Richly in a Big City

Now that I’ve been in New York City for two weeks, I’ve had a chance to begin exploring this incredible place, but I’ve also taken quite a hard hit on my bank account. Being a broke college student, I have a very tight budget when it comes to personal luxuries, but I still want to enjoy what the city has to offer, from exotic dining to cultural sites.

As far as eating out goes, I’ll have to tighten my belt a little; I’ve already eaten in a few great places, but I’m keeping my eye on cheap places. Here are a few tips I’ve learned so far about living affordably in ANY city for the summer:

• Always look for a student rate at museums. The Met and other major museums will always have student rates, so bring your college ID; you’ll be able to enjoy a taste of culture at about half price.

• Cook for yourself. It’s great to try new places to eat, but you can’t eat out every day. Restaurants will be a serious blow to your finances, so if you have access to a kitchen, use it! Find your closest grocery store and stock up on easy-to-prepare foods like pasta. Liven up your meals by getting a recipe book and stocking up on fresh vegetables. A friend of mine and I made a fabulous meal just by throwing a few vegetables in a saucepan with garlic and olive oil and putting the concoction on top of some pasta. Magnifique, and it made enough to last us for multiple meals.

• Avoid tourist spots. Sure, Times Square is exciting, but if you’re living in the city for the summer, this is your opportunity to explore the lesser-known spots. If you’re in New York, try exploring Chinatown, the village, or SoHo; everything is more affordable, and you’ll feel great for discovering something a little off the beaten track.

• Get a Netflix account. If you’ve ever tried seeing a movie in Times Square, you’ve probably experienced the coronary-inducing price of movie tickets there. Movie tickets are another big drain on finances for college students, so if you have a permanent mailing address, consider getting a very affordable Netflix account to enjoy your movies. For $8 a month, you can see unlimited movies; compare that to a $12 Times Square movie ticket for just one flick.