My conscience says I should warn you about this article.

Don’t read past this line if you’re looking for an easy, comfortable way to live off 20 dollars a day. This article is only for you if:

How to Live Cheaply in New York City

I’ve been in New York now for close to 3 months.

I’ve learned a lot about the city and my Self. The journey here started as what I thought would be a 30 day trial to land a job with an agency that I could truly love and pour myself into (click to read about couchsurfing New York City and what it’s like to be homeless.)

The adventures I’ve had, people I’ve met, and peace that I’ve found has been more than worth 3 months of occasional discomfort.

It is, however, crucial that if you decide to experience something like this, plan accordingly, especially in New York.

New York is one of the 10 cities with the highest cost of living, so you’re going to need a very strong reason to be here. You need a burning “why.” Get your why set in stone. Write it down. Say it daily (whatever your goals are.) Burn it into your will power and soul.

This won’t be easy.

You’ll also need a game plan.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

What good is it to live frugally if you are unhappy?

Meditation has taught me that mankind can, as Viktor Frankl put it, “make a heaven out of hell or a hell out of heaven.”

I include Maslow’s pyramid because living frugally is about using money in the most efficient way possible; it’s not about having a tight butt and loving the way pennies feel between your cheeks. Keep in mind: you could make 100 thousand dollars this year and be just as miserable as someone making $20,000 a year. Disregard it if you’d like, but basing your life on Maslow’s pyramid, and counting your blessings based on what you have, will make you better.

Appreciate what you have now, starting with shelter, food, and water.

Cheap Rent in New York City

Are you the type that burns through money like cigarettes? Maybe you’re not. Regardless, would you like to save an extra- oh I don’t know-700 dollars in rent while you’re on vacation?

Couchsurfing

Use Couchsurfing.org

With approximately 1 million active members, you’re likely to find a couch to crash on.

Couch surfing isn’t just a means of accommodation; it is an entirely new way to travel. You get to see the world through local residents, not hotel concierges or guidebooks. But what is most profound about the whole experience is the trust. –Time

Best of all — it’s completely, utterly, gynecologically FREE.

If you don’t have friends where you are traveling to, then take advantage of this amazing tool. I have friends that have stayed in Asia, Central America, and in the US through this awesome resource.

Slam, bam, thank you Betty White… you just saved 700 dollars or more on rent. Obviously,  plan and message hosts before you set out on your expedition.

(Bonus: if someone cancels last minute, an alternative to a hotel is to book through Airbnb. It’s way cheaper than a hotel.)

Next alternative after those two? I’d say either prostitution or sleeping in the park.

Don’t judge.

A gentleman doesn’t sleep around and then run off and tell everyone about it.

How to Eat for Cheap in New York City

New York is pricey, but the food doesn’t have to be.

The resources I’ve used most during my first two months in NYC are the food trucks. They are everywhere, and delicious. 5 dollars for enough food to eat two or three meals: chicken and rice, world-famous hot dogs, chocolate muffins, crack-cocaine-coffee, and more. You can spend 10 dollars a day on food, if you plan meticulously.

You can even eat better if you shop for it. I’m not going to tell you how to shop. You are more than able to take care of that one.

Sick of food trucks?

• Eat at 2 Bros pizza or any of those other 1 dollar pizza joints.
• Have a thick, smoky breakfast sandwich for 3.50 at almost any bodega (corner store.)
• Get it right, get it tight at Subway (2 meals in one for 5 dollars.)

(Bonus: use apps. I highly recommend “Urban Spoon.” It’s one of the best ways to find cheap restaurants, or new restaurants, for dates and adventures. You can categorize by price, location, or genre of food.)

Now that We’ve Covered the Basics

You don’t want to spend your time unhappy, do you? As growing human beings, we must also focus on that which brings us joy!

• Making new friends and being a positive influence for them.
• Finding peace within ourselves and self-respect.
• Sexual Intimacy
• Creativity, self-expression, problem solving, etc.

Through years spent struggling to be at peace, I’ve learned that you can’t have the above if you have an unstable base to your pyramid. It’s not easy, but it’s worth every new habit and inch of progress that you will make.

The pain of regret is far worse than the pain of discipline.

I will be writing more about these higher needs as I experience growth on my journey and as I make more time to write articles. [PART 2 is coming right up.]

At this point, I’ve acclimated to New York, Atlanta, Tallahassee, Palm Beach, and areas of Central America. I’ve moved, made awesome friends, dated different types of girls, and…well- I’m having a blast! I think you should be too.

I’ll show you how to make friends in a new city and also how to cultivate a positive attitude.

Soon…

Most of it will be in PART 2, feel free to subscribe, follow me on Twitter, or wait for me to hit you up on your pager. Trust.

Remember:

Never give up. You are just a few habits away from being a better man or woman. Nothing can stop you except procrastination and chosen-ignorance.

The remedy for failure is consciousness.

On Being Happy and Cheap

It’s within your grasp. Save money. Have fun. Grow as a person. Make new relationships. Have your inner peace.

I’m hard-pressed to come up with any other ingredients for a happy life. If I’m missing something or you want to add to it, feel free to do so in the comments. We are all on this journey. Let’s do it together.

-Juda A. Borrayo

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” -Emerson

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