Making ends meet in NYC

U.S.A. New York

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hey everyone

so..my question to you all is....how do you make ends meet?

i moved here recently from CA...the SF Bay area...and knew there was a massive paycut and increase in cost of living.....but didnt think it so severe!

I mean..lets be real...rent (way the heck outside of manhattan) ...loans )hey, had to get that education somehow)...food shopping(we're talkig trade fair generic brands)...doesnt leave much to play (or shop or go out) with. and trust me..i'm not high maintenance, but it'd be nice to buy something asides food-shopping or more toothpaste every now and then.

so my ques is...what do you all do? am i missing something?

is it an OT thing?

or a per diem elsewhere thing?

or a loan forgiveness thing?

or a loan repayment program (asides that one popular one..health service corps) im not in the know about?

help!

thanks :o)

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.

So, you made MORE money in San Fran than NYC? Do tell!

I lived in NYC for five years and I am applying to graduate school there. You CAN live in NYC as a nurse AND have a good quality of life. First off, do you want to live in Manhattan? If so, that will eat up a large portion of your income. Consider living in one of the boroughs. You can find a decent one-bedroom apartment in Astoria, Queens, for $1,500. That same apartment would probably cost you another $1,000 in Manhattan. The Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens is located in Long Island City nearby. Plus, it's a hop, skip, and a jump from Bloomingdale's! I am considering moving to one of the Bronx's decent neighborhoods, spending less on rent, and having more discretionary income. That makes even MORE sense if you can get a position at one of the few decent hospitals in that borough AND make the same amount as you would working in Manhattan. Also consider Woodside, Sunnyside, and Forest Hills, Queens. Because I have a new car, I am considering relocating to Westchester and commuting into the city to work.

To make your move even MORE worthwhile, consider attending graduate school part-time and shop around for the hospital with the BEST tuition benefits. As a part-time student, you can defer your student loans. Once you've finished your degree, consider applying to a program with loan repayment opportunities (i.e. the Indian Health Service).

I am expecting to earn between $72 and 75K as a night nurse in NYC. I imagine working another twelve-hour shift or two per month will increase that to close to $80K. Don't forget, there is ALWAYS agency work!

Good luck!

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wow..thanks for ur reply...

i have the 'borough' life covered...i live in queens in the cheapest apt i could find ;o)

could u recommend some agencies?? what sort of work environment would it entail?

thanks!

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I'm sharing a 2 BR apt in Manhattan for $900/mo including utilities. I gave up complete privacy for an affordable apt. I get $12,000 a year tuition reimbursement for grad school. I take the subway into the Bronx to shop at Target and Stop & Shop, and make decent money at work.

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CA does pay better than NY but both places are expensive. I can't wait to get out of here in a few years. I'll always be at work and have no family/social life because NY will be for the rich soon.

Check this thread out.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f164/how-much-do-you-get-after-taxes-293696.html

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Specializes in emergency, trauma, homecare/community.

if you're working in manhattan and want to live in manhattan, you could consider uptown neighborhoods - harlem, washington heights & inwood - it is definitely possible to share a 2br for 800-1000, and if you are willing to go to 3 i've heard of people having rents as low as $500 (not many of these -- the starving musician types seem to be the ones that ferret them out!) good luck!

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Specializes in L&D, QI, Public Health.

As for as groceries, go into more modest neighborhoods for food shopping. You'd be amazed at the price differences. These neighborhoods tend to be Asian (i.e. your closest 'Chinatown'), Latino or West Indian.

With clothes, you can get really great deals if you wait for the sales at Bloomies, or stores like Century 21.

You sound like you may be paying a reasonable rent where you live. Other than that, you should be able to do fine.

The big difference between NYC and Cali is that you get more for your money (housewise), but the expenses are pretty much the same. Of course, the experience you get out of living in NYC doesn't compare with anywhere in the planet, so take advantage of it.:)

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One other thing to consider is that in California you really need to have a car...not the case with Manhattan. That alone can save you the cost of a car payment, insurance, maintenance and fuel. That being said, don't have a car in NY as you will have to add on the cost of parking if you don't want to deal with the hassle of parking on the street and alternate side of the street parking.

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