Let’s be honest—New York City isn’t exactly the poster child for “cheap living.” The rent is insane, the coffee is overpriced, and even blinking feels like it costs money. But when life threw me a curveball and I found myself jobless in one of the most expensive cities in the world, I had two choices: give up or get creative. I chose the second.
Over the next 90 days, I managed to save $1,253—without a full-time job. No gimmicks. No sugar-coating. Just resourcefulness, sacrifice, and a few lucky breaks. If you’re struggling financially in the city (or anywhere else), here’s how I made it work—and how you might be able to do the same.
1. Cutting the Fluff: Lifestyle Downgrade ≠ Life Downgrade
The first step was tough: I had to let go of a lot of comforts.
I moved out of my studio apartment in Crown Heights and crashed with a friend in Queens. We worked out a deal where I helped with groceries and cleaned the apartment in exchange for rent. Not everyone can do this, but if you can find someone you trust, shared housing can be a game-changer.
I also paused all subscriptions—Netflix, Spotify, meal kits—you name it. Instead, I rediscovered the joy of public libraries, YouTube documentaries, and $1 pizza slices.
Savings: ~$650/month
2. Part-Time & Gig Work: Small Streams Add Up
Even though I didn’t have a full-time job, I wasn’t idle.
I did freelance copywriting on sites like Upwork and Fiverr. I charged low at first—$10 for a blog post—but as I built reviews, I gradually increased my rate. In 3 months, I made about $600.
I also picked up shifts on TaskRabbit—mainly furniture assembly and moving help. Some weekends I made up to $120/day just putting together IKEA stuff.
Finally, I signed up for UserTesting and did website reviews, which brought in an easy $100/month.
Total gig income over 90 days: ~$1,000
3. Hacking NYC for Free Stuff
This is where it gets fun: NYC has a ton of free resources if you know where to look.
- Free food from food pantries: I visited a couple in Brooklyn and Manhattan. No shame. They helped a lot, especially with basics like rice, canned goods, and even vegetables.
- Community fridges: These are scattered around the city and often have surprising goodies—fruits, pasta, even homemade meals.
- Free clothes & essentials: Check out popup swap events, local churches, and even Reddit groups like r/NYC or Facebook groups where people give away stuff for free.
Estimated savings: $250–300 in 90 days
4. Cashback & Reward Apps
You’d be surprised how fast these add up when you actually use them:
- Fetch Rewards: I scanned every receipt and earned about $25 in gift cards.
- Ibotta: Got about $30 back on groceries.
- CoinOut: A few extra bucks.
- Surveys on Swagbucks & InboxDollars: Earned ~$50 in 3 months.
I used most of these rewards for groceries or toiletries. It’s not life-changing money, but when you’re counting pennies, every dollar counts.
Total from apps: ~$100
5. Transportation: Cutting the MetroCard
This was hard, but worth it. I didn’t reload my monthly MetroCard ($132). Instead, I:
- Walked whenever I could.
- Biked using Citi Bike’s reduced fare program.
- Took buses occasionally, paying per ride.
It forced me to plan better, but I also got fitter. Bonus.
Savings: ~$250 over 3 months
6. Mindset Shift: Learning to Say “No”
The hardest part of this journey wasn’t skipping out on Starbucks or not having Netflix. It was saying “no” to my friends.
“No, I can’t go out tonight.”
“No, I can’t chip in on the birthday gift.”
“No, I don’t need a drink. Water is fine.”
It sucked. But real friends understood. And eventually, I found ways to hang out for free—picnics in Prospect Park, free events at museums, walking the High Line.
You don’t realize how much social pressure can drain your wallet until you step back.
Estimated savings from reduced outings: ~$300
The Breakdown
| Strategy | Estimated Savings/Income |
|---|---|
| Rent/Subscriptions Cut | $650 |
| Gig Work | $1,000 |
| Free Food/Resources | $250 |
| Reward Apps | $100 |
| Transportation Savings | $250 |
| Reduced Social Spending | $300 |
| Total | $2,550 |
But here’s the thing: I still had to spend money on essentials—phone bill, basic groceries, toiletries, etc. After subtracting expenses, I was able to bank around $1,253 in actual savings.
What I Learned
- NYC isn’t cheap, but it’s full of hidden support.
- You can survive (even thrive) without a 9-to-5, if you’re scrappy.
- Being broke isn’t the end—sometimes it’s the beginning.
I now have a part-time remote job and still use many of the strategies above. The biggest change wasn’t in my wallet—it was in my mindset.
If you’re in a tight spot, don’t give up. Start small, stay consistent, and be kind to yourself. You’ll be surprised how far you can stretch a dollar in the city that never sleeps.
