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It's moving away from New York, isn't it?
Learning to cook
Eat & drink at home. Go to a ‘Lot Less’ and buy you household stuff, shop for clothes on canal street and never take a taxi or Uber.
Essentially watch a movie about a young, broke professional living in nyc and follow as a guide (it just looks more glamorous).
I would highly recommend not buying shitty clothes especially if you want to save money. If you can afford, buy some nice and very good clothes that would be good for years and years. I'm not talking about extremely overpriced designer garbage. You'll be surprised when you will make a lot more money and realize that you're still wearing the jacket you bought when you were broke and it's like new.
Cheap clothes break easily and you will spend more time and money this way.
Other than this, I totally with everything written above.
When I was single and living in the city, I had to stop eating out so much. And I cut off cable and picked a streaming service.
I also found if I pregamed at home, I was less likely to buy 4 and 5 drinks while out. I could max out at a drink or two.
I buy consignment clothing.
Any favourite stores?
Free events with free food
It all depends on how motivated you are to not go into debt. My first 2 years working I cooked almost every meal, brought lunch and kept a French press at my desk. Food and drinking is the biggest culprit of random spending.
Write a list of the top ten things that make you happy on a weekly basis. Then write the list of the top ten things you’re spending money on. Do they line up? Often times they don’t, and often times you learn you can spend less and maintain the same level of happiness and that alone is enough to curb the spending.
YNAB. (Google it)
Depositing $100/check and putting the cash in a wallet I don’t use anymore in my closet. Out of site out of mind works for me
Don’t pay for an apartment. “Work late” all the time and sleep in the good conference room. If you play it right, always look like first one there and last one to leave. Use your savings for a local gym membership and shower there.
... this started as a joke but is sounding increasingly more practical as I write it
My former CCO did this. He was very bad with money and thought no one knew. We all did.
Not ideal, but if you need to further supplement your income and you have the energy/time you can try picking up small freelance projects. When I was starting out I used to manage the social channels for a local bar on the side for extra cash, which was low effort on my part and I could do it anywhere (even at work lol)
This was quite revealing from all the replies on how to survive financially. Thanks for sharing. As a young professional in advertising, whether consumer or healthcare, define “broke”. What is the average salary? At what salary does it become manageable to have things like cable or use Uber? What is your rent? Where are you living? Are you paying student loans? Are you mostly working at agencies that are part of big networks? Here’s to your advancements in your careers. Thank you.
I keep Tupperware in my desk and when there's leftovers from meetings up for grabs, I take it home for dinner
Preach! I've started talk to my friends about being disciplined about saving money and what I am saving for.
You'll be shocked at how many people are also also having money challenges. Even when you make more, you have to have good habits about saving it and blowing money in NYC is sooo easy.
You look driven and disciplined, your friends stop asking you to do big meals and stuff that's expensive, and it helps my friends realize they need to be conscious if they are ever going to pay off their credit card debt or whatever.
Square cash card boosts especially the $1 off coffee shops
automatically deposit a portion of your income into savings
Lunch share? Eg go in with others in the office to buy salad or sandwich supplies for the week
On and for fun attend free Meetup events or local bookstore/cooking clubs. Basically booze free nights out that dont rack up $$$
Look at the meeting bookings during lunchtime in your agency. If a client will be in the meeting there will be guaranteed food left over from it. Make nice with the admin/receptionist on the floor. They'll give you a heads up when the mtg breaks out so you can get some grub before anyone else shows up.