Speaking of a hundred bucks, it seems that is about the cost of leaving my apartment in New York. Admittedly, I am a bit stressed about finances right now, given that my condo in Atlanta has not had one single offer in five months on the market, and I just made my first New York apartment rent payment. It seems that I have about the same odds selling a condo in Atlanta right now as I do winning the big one in Vegas. So it comes as no surprise that I am trying to watch my spending. Not an easy task to do in New York, especially when you also are trying to meet new people, put yourself out there, etc. It is hard to meet new people when you are heating up a Lean Cuisine at home.
So you get creative: skip the meal, meet for drinks? Drinks are $7 to 15/each, so it is still not always cheap option, especially if your friends want to check out the latest hot spot. How about a no-cost stroll through Central Park? Not when it is 15 degrees outside. Movies? More affordable option (still $12), so that moves up the list. Cooking a dinner at home? Not many people do that here, and given I have not acquired all the basics (e.g., spices, etc.), I first have to buy all the basics, then order the food three days in advance (from Fresh Direct...unless I have time to make three trips to the grocery store), and, adding a few bottles of wine, that can easily top $200.
Certainly I am not complaining. Ok, just a little. I am just observing that this is a town that takes money from your pocket at every turn, whether getting to dinner ($7 taxi, or $2 subway), taking off your coat ($2 to the coat check), opening the door (year end tipping to the doorman), to simply working here (the 6% city tax out of your paycheck). When moving here, I thought about all the savings: no car! no gasoline! But you quickly make up for those savings in a thousand little New York expenses.
I may feel like I am going broke right now, but I still wouldn't trade it for the world.
The New York magazine had an issue over Christmas about all the reasons to love New York now, and I agreed with almost all of them. The magazine featured a series of quotes from readers about why they loved New York. This weekend, as I reviewed my rather large AmEx bill and my surprisingly small bank account, frustrated with the cost of the city but thrilled with being here, I thought about, and related to, one of my favorite quotes in that issue:
“I love New York. I refer to the city as my abusive boyfriend.
It slaps me around a lot, but I know I’ll never leave it.”
—Gillian Kocher
True words, Gillian. We should meet for a drink....You know, I heard about this great new hot spot....
