New York City is known for many things: world-famous shopping, delicious eateries, Central Park, Broadway, miniscule, overpriced apartments, and obscenely expensive everything. A couple days ago I returned from a trip to NYC to visit my sister, Rachel, and I came to my own Oprah-inspired aha! moment: You can spend an ass-load of money there. Next time I return, I intend to pinch some pennies using my own list of goof-proof cash-saving tactics. If you plan on visiting this green-guzzling town, pay heed to the following tips:
Culture
1. Visit the museums! Most of the galleries’ admissions are suggested, and will take whatever donation you give them. Ignore the sneering ticket box lady when she condescendingly asks, “Oh, is this what you’re giving me?” when you hand her $4 instead of the suggested $20. Don’t feel too bad – just look around and realize the thousands of people at the Met probably did the same thing.
2. Go to the Park! Central Park comprises 6% of Manhattan Island, and there are a bazillion things to do there. Take a walking tour, visit the Central Park Zoo, ride the carousel, or sunbathe in Sheep’s Meadow.
3. Wander the street fairs! There’s always some wacky bizarre or neighborhood festival going on almost every summer day in the Big Apple. Eat cheap street food and laugh at the weirdo performers guaranteed at every fair doing God-knows-what.
Nightlife
1. Hit on lonely cougars or dorky chaps! Why pay for your own drinks when some poor sucker would be glad to? Alcohol at the swanky clubs in NYC is notoriously expensive and all it takes is a little strategy (look for the cougars dripping in jewels and the loners with bottle service they’re dying to share) and chitchatting to score some drinks. If your significant other would be less than thrilled with you flirting for free booze, skip to tip number two.
2. Take advantage of club promoters! Club promoters get paid for rounding up hotties to the clubs so they will seem constantly packed and popular. The promoters provide free bottle service for all their minions in exchange for their attendance. You can usually find the promoters schmoozing outside the club, trying to entice good-looking people to come in the club with them. If you are neither attractive nor young, skip to tip number three.
3. Pre-game! If you don’t feel like working losers for your drinks or being hassled by weasel-y club promoters, but still don’t want to pay for booze that costs three arms and a leg, just make some cocktails at home and get schnockered before you hit the bars! You won’t have to worry about standing in lines at the bar, you’ll still be able to pay rent, and you can tell off every creep that hits on you because you don’t need them to get you drunk!
Shopping
1. Hit the sample sales! There are many designer-duds to be scored at sample sales, all at slashed prices. Check out dailycandy.com for weekend sample sale lineups. Warning: Crazy broads might tear out chunks of your hair for the discounted Chanel flats in your grasp at these shopping free-for-alls, so watch your back.
2. Scour the vintage stores! There are tons of funky vintage shops around town, and all it takes is a little persistence and a good eye to find some unique get-ups. My faves: Screaming Mimi’s, New York Vintage, and What Comes Around Goes Around.
3. Visit during sale season! Awesome stores like Barneys, Intermix, and Bergdorf Goodman have their biggest sales when they are trying to get rid of last season’s clothes so if you visit July through August or March through April, be prepared for some serious bargain shopping!
In above photo: Colleen to club promoter guy, "Haha! Thanks for helping me drink for free!"
