Top 5 Money-Saving Hacks I Learned After 7 Years in NYC
Been in the U.S. for almost 9 years, and NYC blew my mind not just with its skyscrapers but also its sky-high prices. Slowly, we cracked the code on some serious money-saving hacks. Here are the top 5 worth sharing with y'all:
Fair Fare Half-Price Metro Tickets: $2.90 for a subway ride? Come on, in Shanghai it’s just 3 yuan! But in NYC, it’s all about the subway; driving here is a nightmare. Just hit up nyc.gov/fairfares to apply! You gotta be 1️⃣18 or older, 2️⃣ living in one of the five boroughs, 3️⃣broke enough,4️⃣ be able to prove it. No income? Just put down a big fat zero and follow the steps to get your half-price metrocard! Plus, subway to bus transfers are totally free!
Culture Pass: Another sweet deal in NYC! Looking for a Free MoMA entry? Checking out Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s cherry blossoms without forking over cash? Score tickets to NYC’s top museums right here! All you need is a library card from any of the five boroughs (no card? Bring a photo ID and proof of address to the library to get one). Log in to culturepass.nyc, pick your museum, and book your visit date.
Pay What You Wish: Can’t snag tickets for big-name museums like the Met or Whitney on Culture Pass? No worries! If you’ve got a NYC Driver’s License or State ID, just roll up to the ticket booth, flash your ID, and Pay What You Wish! Yup, even $1 or a penny works! The Met is game every day, Whitney’s free on Friday nights, and MoMA lets Columbia, NYU, CUNY, etc. students in for free!
TGTG: Too Good To Go, an app you need in your life! Restaurants offer mystery food boxes every night, usually for $5-6, and the portions are generous! We’ve heard you can snag 3 bubble teas from Happiness Lab for $3.99 and a dessert box from Meet Fresh for $4.99!
Facebook Marketplace + Buy Nothing Group: NYC has tons of local Buy Nothing Groups; check them out on Facebook. Score free second-hand furniture, books, and more. Marketplace has killer deals too, and you can haggle! Words had it that someone nabbed a 65-inch LG TV and a Gotrax scooter for just $375 total!
Hope these hacks help you NYC newbies. Stay tuned, there’ll be more life hacks and pro tips coming for the city that never sleeps!
8 July, 2024
by Wanpeng Meng
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