Making it on a budget in New York is never easy, what with the fun rents, high public transportation costs and that damn $5 beer. But one writer’s been able to survive in Manhattan for $1,000 a month, and she’s willing to share some of her secrets in a tell-all she’s penning about living life on the cheap in the big city.
Amy Hayden moved to New York from Chicago last year, and despite having two Masters degrees and full-time editorial jobs under her belt, she struggled to find a job that paid the rent. So, with $52 in the bank, Hayden crashed on a friend’s futon in Harlem and went to interview after interview. “Everybody thought I was nuts,” she said. “My situation was really grim. There was really nothing here for me except for possibility.” But that possibility was enough for Hayden, and, having already mastered a frugal lifestyle in Chicago as editor and founder of bygone website cheapfreechicago.com, she learned to make do with little cash over here. She networked, and signed up for every focus group and paid gig out there to pay the bills. “I got to the point where I was earning about a thousand dollars a month,” Hayden said.
YES, YOU CAN STILL DO THINGS
But that didn’t stop her from experiencing all that New York had to offer: “The advantage of being in a really big city is that there’s always something going on that you don’t have to pay for,” she said. Her favorite activities? Int he summer, the free movies, “they’re all over the place, in every borough” and kayaking. “In Brooklyn and along the Hudson River, you can kayak for free.” In the winter, instead of hibernating, she hits up free days at the city’s museums, Friday nights at MoMa being a favorite. She also leverages the power or an email address to see movies. “Sign up for free movie screenings, which you can do at sites like the thecinemasource.com, or there are a few Meetup groups that are for free movie screenings. They let you know how to get your name on the list.”
But don’t think she stays in every night counting pennies: like any good brokester, Hayden’s got an active social life. “I’m on a lot of e-mail lists,” she said. “There’s an e-mail list that’s got all sorts of intellectual events going on, I’m on another that’s got concerts, I’m on Twitter all the time, where I follow music venues that sometimes offer free tickets. I tend to seek out events that are free, but I feel like I’ve cultivated a knowledge of the city and I’m on the right e-mail lists that I know what’s going on for free.” A few email lists Hayden recommends are Platform for Pedagogy, which lists free lectures and readings around town, in addition to lists for music sites like Oh My Rockness. Then again, Hayden doesn’t spend all her hard-earned bucks drinking champagne or even the champagne of beers. “Part of what has been important to me is putting things in perspective, and what it means to make it in New York City. To me, being able to go out drinking in New York City every night isn’t what it means to make it.”
YOU CAN ALSO STILL HAVE A ROOF OVER YOUR HOUSE
After living rent-free with friends for a few months, she scored a cheap apartment in Washington Heights for $135 a week. “That includes a furnished room, television, internet, every utility. It’s a really inexpensive living situation I’m in, but it’s not unusual in the city.” Hayden still lives in the apartment on a month-to-month deal and shares the space with her landlord. And though she’s since picked up better paying freelance gigs over the past year, she still maintains that $1,000 budget.
Almost one year later, Hayden’s frugal city style’s going strong, and after a friend suggested she share her experience with other budget-hungry New Yorkers, she decided to pen NYC: Ten Lessons in Frugality and Faith, a part memoir, part how-to guide on getting through life on the cheap. She’ll be self-publishing the book using SoHo bookstore McNally Jackson’s self-publishing software, but she needs a little help financing it: a $5,000 Indiegogo fund set to expire at the end of the month aims to give her the cash to keep it going, so consider making a contribution to keep this important project in the works.
View Comments (33)
Very encouraging story, thank you Amy. You "deserve" to follow your dream, your path just as much as the next. I despise the negativity towards your story, and the sharing of. It is inspiring to know it can be done, and you are making it work for your situation. Thanks again for sharing!
If you plan to make it big, get used to your choices being scrutinized. Stop playing the noncustodial parent card to garner sympathy. If your kids didn't live with their fathers, you could not live off so little.
First off, where'd you get the impression that I want to "make it big?" This is about sharing a message of hope to get through hard times, not fame and fortune. Otherwise I'd have gone a different route than crowd-funding and self-publishing. I also wouldn't be trying to forge partnerships with homelessness prevention groups to teach people life skills that will help them make it through tough times.
Second, of course I wouldn't be able to do this if the boys lived with me. What's your point? I also wouldn't have been able to do it if I didn't have friends to help me out along the way, so is that held against me, too? I'm not the one "playing" any card -- you're the one who seems to care about a domestic situation you know nothing about and that has absolutely zero relevance to this project. I live in Manhattan on $1,000 a month. Period.
That is fantastic. The negativity of some comments is astounding. Sounds like you've found a way to navigate the city with greater financial efficiency.
I live on $1,000/mo in the city, too (Bushwick, BK). I just moved here with nothing, found an apartment and 2 jobs within 2 weeks, and spend little money while still having a great time. It's a shame watching all of these homeless people begging for money when there are so many jobs out there. especially the ones with the dogs, they try for sympathy, but it's really not that hard...
Hi Amy,
I really feel your info works for me. I just moving to NYC because my sister is getting a surgery. It's hard. Finally, after 4 months I get a transfer, ( and I'm working with a company has a lot of office in NY). About rent, Oh My God!!! Harder. So expensive. And like you, I like Washington Heights. I don't know why, but I just prefer that place. Now after all this experience thru your experience I will try found a place to leave. Thanks for take a time to share your experience. And by the way GREG I pay every month my Health Insurance. I just looking for a cheaper place to leave for a Short term.
Clever life style kiddo. You aren't the only Hayden to find an alternative path :) Pittsburgh is a good place to land for over-educated dropouts on budget. At 44 I'm living large on my Army retirement check.
My husband and I also live in Nyc on just $1,000 a month. We always lived here so it is pretty easy to do since we have so many connections. Unfortunately I can't work because I'm disabled and my husband just started a new job. He was laid off so we're basically starting again. Kudos to you for sharing and being honest, even if others decide to be rude about it.
Hello Amy. I love your story. I live Chicago currently wishing I could find an economical way to live in NYC.
you have inspired me and now I will continue to seek out a way to do it based on my own personal strategy. Most of the negative idiots here should really get in touch with what the real Amarican Dream is all about. It comes in different forms and people have a right to choose what works best for them. Some want to bust there asses buy trying to keep up with every one else, while some just want to live peacefully by not having so many attachments. Living in NYS is a dream of mine and you have inspired me to find my own way of doing it economically. Thank you for sharing your story and best wishes to you and every step you make. All the negative idiots can suck it. Lol. Xoxo. YOU ARE AMAZING GIRLFRIEND!!!!
Well I DO live in Brooklyn for several years on $1000-1200 my parents send me each month. I'm 25 and I go in school full time and can't work because of that. I would really like to work but it will screw up my school and a degree is the most important thing for me now. I still have 1.5 years to go on like that and I hope I will make it. I even managed to get into relationships, though it's even harder, but at least I will try to find something for a summer. And I rent a half of the room with my friend in another half, so I only pay around 380 for rent each month.
If there's a will, there's a way. There are loads of free activities you can do even in an expensive place like Manhattan! This article is a very good example that if you have the determination you can definitely find a way out of the situation. Thank you for sharing your story, Amy! I hope you get to explore even more. :)