nytraveler

A further thought -

Based on friends and relatives there are really 3 ways to start on in NYC with a low-salary job:

Roommates - many women share a small 2-bdroom with 3 or 4 others to keep the rent down to $700/$800 per month and still stay in Manhattan

Parental allowance - this is becoming much more common with the kids we're hiring for starter jobs (the parents seem to regard paying for 1 or 2 more years as part of the college package) - until the kids can support at least a tiny apartment

Second job - not as popular as it used to be - I, and a lot of my friends, got a scond job (usually waitressing/bartending) for the first couple of years we lived in the city - since we too were paying back school loans

The last may be the most appealing - if you can manage the time.

LoveItaly

A second job, oh yes, that is what a lot of younger family members in my family are doing. Mom and Dad paid for University. Now the graduates need to learn to live within their means. So if they want the big city life, and of course the understandably do, they work 2 jobs to support themselves.

Raindrop, am sure with your desire to live in NYC you will find a way to make this happen. Good luck with your new venture!

gail

Since it is a post-doc position, I know you are not a student. But since it is at a University the school may be able to assist in some way - they may have grad student housing for which you are eligible, they may maintain a room-mate list. I would check with both human resources office of University (Personnel) and some form of Student Services office.

Italiano

You may want to try and looking north of NYC lots of nice little towns right of the metro north line along the Hudson river short ride on the train to the city and safe, Quiet neighborhoods .and lower rents .

suzanne

You wouldn't save any money by living up in Westchester, because you would need a car, and the cost of riding Metro North every day is $100+ per month. Stick with something on a subway line.

KikiLee

I have lived in NY for the past 3.5 years - and for the first two I did it on $40K a year. Yes, it is possible (hey, many people raise entire families on less than that) but it is hard. You will have to have roommates (we lived with 4 people in a gorgeous apartment on 94th and 3rd for less than $1000 each - check craiglist.org for an idea of what is out there), you will be priced out of some neighborhoods, you won't be able to save, and you will eat ramen for the last week of every month because you blew too much money on beer on the day after payday. That said, you will have the time of your life. There's something very exciting about being young and in New York and trying to figure out the best way to stretch $60 over the next 10 days. (And you do have the advantage of being female. Fair or not, life is a lot cheaper when you aren't expected to pay for dates.)

However, your situation seems a bit different. You can arguably blow off dental insurance for a year or so if you have OK teeth, but you MUST have medical insurance, and programs such as COBRA are very expensive. Are you sure that the University offers nothing? Also, paying $600 in loans off the bat will drown you. Is there any way to consolidate/defer them? (Yes, I know that deferring them is not the most responsible decision. But you are only young once.)

Also, no one has mentioned the substantial amount it costs simply to acquire an apt in NY. You will have to pay at least a month's security deposit along with first (and possibly last) month's rent. (And you will have to have a guarantor for sure.) If you pay a broker (which I don't recommend in your case - since you are going to have to live with roommates anyway, you might as well find roommates who have already gone through the trouble of finding an apartment.) So unless you have some savings, or have someone who can give you a loan/gift (thansk dad!) I am not sure how you would get an apt in the first place.

Good luck, and please let me know if you have further questions for one who has been there...

KikiLee

Sorry, meant to say, "if you have to pay a broker, expect to pay another 15% of a year's rent..."

GoTravel

This must be a temporary 'grant' type position with a University if it doesn't include health insurance. If that is the case, raindrop may be responsible for paying her own taxes.

You can purchase a short term major medical policy fairly cheap. They are good for 60-90 days, can be renewable a couple of times, have a huge deductible but will cover you in case of a catstrophic illness. DO NOT even think about not getting this.

Get a part time job two nights a week. Who in the hell wants to live in New York City and suffer through ramen noodles when you could make some extra cash bartending or waiting tables?

I had to laugh about the "allowance" thing from mom and dad. That's funny. Ha. Ha.

joan

GoTravel, I hope our kids aren't reading this...they may get an idea...

tonianyc

Hi,

On that salary, living in Manhattan, even if you were to share, is impossible. Your best best is to live in the outer boroughs, such as Brooklyn where I live. You will pay about $800 month for a decently sized studio apartment in areas such as Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst (slightly less if you can in on an illegal rental, usually the ground floor of a private home, which oftentimes can be the cleanest, safest bests if the family is nice). The only catch is that by living in these neighborhoods where the rent is cheaper, you will have about a 50 minute or so commute to Manhattan everyday, and won't be able to enjoy the citylife as much because you have to get yourself home eventually. I am a p/t grad student so those late nights getting back home after evening classes are tough and cabs rides after doing a late night socializing run about $30 r/t. It depends on how much of Manhattan you feel you need to soak up. If you want the "city life," then try to get a consulting job. This is the dilemma that most middle-class, educated professional NYers such as myself have! Best of luck to you.

ltt

i was in a similar situation living in san diego. i sure enjoyed the city/area while i was there but after a couple of years moved cause i was tired of NEVER having any money exept for rent, bills & food. i have no regrets though, it was a great experience. so if living in new york is worth living with several roomates, go for it and enjoy the experience while it lasts.