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Perhaps because the Bureau of Labor Statistics site is a bitch to navigate (it's the total webification of what you think government bureaucracy might be), the NY Times looks at the BLS's recent news release on spending in cities, and how NYC has a raw deal. The most distressing thing, amidst statistics like food prices going up 9.3% in NYC, vs. 2.7% nationally, and rental prices going up 8.1% in NYC, vs. 4.1% nationally, is the fact that spending went up 4.3% while inflation increased by 5.5%. And for everyone who doesn't know what that means, including those who majored in econ:
Economists say that when inflation goes up faster than spending, it indicates that consumers find it difficult to keep up with rising prices.Wow. Commissioner Dolfman totally sounds just like Gothamist's parents. And sure, Gothamist understands that paying over $10 for a cocktail (let alone $15) is par for the course when the bar makes sure that you get to rub shoulders with thousands of other interesting people you never speak with. And paying $2+ for a subway ride is not that bad considering it can take you to most anywhere you should be going. But it's those moments when we go to the bodega and find out that a half gallon of milk is $5 that Gothamist wonders if maybe we should go to Starbucks and swipe milk from the cream-and-sugar station.
"Expenditures went up less than inflation because New Yorkers allocated a large percentage of those expenditures on necessities," said Michael L. Dolfman, regional commissioner in the bureau. "Basically, New York is getting too expensive."
What are some essentials that you've found to be expensive?
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My appletini's are almost $13!!!!
I know that all of my weekly 1st dates have to pay more to take me out for dinner.
My rent has gone up, I think, I don't know, my daddy pays it.
Cabs are ridiculous!! My parents won't let me take the subway.
Here's the thing: I don't mind spending $100/plate at a restaurant, because I'd spend one weekend a month on a great dinner and it'd be reasonable. And I don't mind the grocery prices - beef prices are up everywhere, and plus, how much milk do you really need if you're rarely home?
But I think it's outrageous that you can easily pay $7 for a sandwich, a wrap, or some wussified "panini" crap for lunch before you even get to buying a beverage. Or that a decent serving of lo mein and veggies at a lunch buffet can run you over $8. That's what KILLS. Breakfast + Lunch on the go often costs $60 a week in NYC. And, unlike the pizza places or the respectable restaurants, the food is crap. Theme park Mickey Mouse crap. I can get a good dinner cheaper than what I can pay for a bad lunch in Midtown.
Toothbrushes are way too expensive. Why should a little piece of plastic cost $4??
Interesting point on toothbrushes. Is the suggestion that maybe the price of toothbrushes goes up with the price of food and beverages?
Should a bagel with butter and a coffee really cost me $2.55?
I applaud the people before me giving some variety of answers, it makes the comments flavorful, but I think 99% of the people living and breathing in New York know for a fact that the only thing really and truly dangerously over-priced in New York are apartment rents. Everything else, EVERYTHING, I can take with no problem. The rents though...that may very well force me to eventually leave. And I'm FROM New York. WTF??
p.s. I refuse to live to become a 52 year old roommate guy. Oh hell no!
Strip Joints have also raised their prices through the years.
$40 for a Lapdance??
What happened to $20 Weekends??
I agree, lunch in midtown is insanely crappy and expensive. I have begun to push back eating my morning bagel until after 11:00, and skipping lunch altogether. I figure I am now saving up to $200 a month by not eating lunch. Although part of that money goes to the ritalin prescription which allows me to pop a pill in leiu of eating. Ahhh, mom would be so proud...
You know lunches can always be brought from home. Or is that too chavvy for you?
I'm eating my homemade lunch right now. And yes, that saves approximately $150 a month from even a tight fast-food budget.
Yeah, I'm all about the from home lunch. If I'm getting something to take home, though, I usually skip the beverage and have a can of soda or some juice at home. It helps a little.
Haircuts are WAY too expensive in this city. I'm too much of a control freak to go to one of those cheap training days, and you can't even find junior stylists for $50 anymore. No wonder half the professional women I see on the subway have hair past their shoulders.
I like girls with long hair. Nothing wrong with that. By the way, I think that for guys the $12 barbershop haircut is still a deal even though you always look like you've got the latest 50's hair style.
Thank god I live in LES/Chinatown. I never have to worry about overpaying for dinner or grocery. But 23rd St/6th Ave is god awful for lunch. If I could get up early enough in the morning, I would pack lunch.
As for hair cuts, I have two styles - long and shaggy in winter, shaved in the summer. I've paid for 3 haircuts in the last 12 months, I think.
Cable TV is too expensive, especially if you don't have a roommate to split it. I moved out of a 2 bedroom into a studio and my rent went down, but I said bye-bye to a landline phone and cable.
You aren't supposed to sit around and watch TV if you live in NYC anyway right?
It's not worth paying 70$ a month to have digital cable w/ HBO- and frankly cable isn't worth having without HBO is it?
I do have the cable wire running into the back of my TV so I can get broadcast stations and NY1.
I agree with the lunch comment. I try to bring my lunch when I can, but on top of commuting out to Brooklyn to my apartment (because rent is rediculous), it takes a lot of planning ahead and being at home to cook dinner, and have leftovers for lunches. Cant wait till summer rolls around and there's fresh veggies from the Farmers Market.
I wasn't going to comment on the lunch thing- everyone is griping about prices in midtown... I live in midtown- in a cheap walk-up, rent-stab. studio, and groceries in this area are ridic! Whole foods is really the only attractive option- sometimes I go shopping in a friend's 'hood because the stores are better.
Also I am all about heading out to L.I. for "stock-up trips" at places like BJ's wholesale club, and Trader Joe's. I get my toothpaste, toilet paper, light bulbs, brita filters, paper towels, soap, etc. for a year all at once, then I store it all either under my bed, or on this shelf that goes around the top of my kitchen that's like 8 feet off the ground. It's a pain to get out of the city and unload all of this stuff, but it's far better than spending tons of cash at Duane Reade.
Back to the lunch issue - something I have done in the past is buying a plain salad 3.50 at Hale and Hearty and then putting my own chicken or tuna on it. Also I always take advantage of conference room leftovers, you know when someone gets corporate catering and lunch is ordered for 5 people and only 3 show up...
Ok, I'm going to break it down for all of you. you are OVERPAYING, not overspending. Here is how I do it:
Lunch at work (when not brought from home) is at A&B Chinese on Lexington around 40th where NOTHING is over $5 and most dishes are well under $4 (including fried squid). Find a place like this and go there without even looking at Cosi. I know their bread is good, but just take a free sample and keep walking.
Beverages at work - Don't buy single servings. Think about how much you pay for a 20oz pepsi ($1.50?). You can buy a 2 liter at Duane Reade for $0.89 this week and keep it in the fridge. Is that ghetto? Who cares, I don't have to borrow to pay my gas bill.
Haircuts - ok, maybe I'm not picky enough, but men can get any cut in Chinatown for $6 or less(the thrill of knowing that your barber is a front for a bookie is free!). Women are about $13-15. You can get a cut and lunch for less than $20. In fact, Chinatown is the cheapest place for anything, from DJs to plants.
Coffee Breaks - Dunkin Donuts will have as many stores as starbucks in the city soon. They are about 60% the price for coffee drinks. Go to Dunkin Donuts.
Breakfast - You know bagels come by the dozen, right?
Neccessities - Shop online. You can get bulk dry goods, furniture, books, even beauty products etc., most of the time for no tax, no delivery, and with online coupon codes (just google before you buy) you make out like a bandit. I know you you've heard this, but really TRY it instead of running down to Tony's Rip-Off Hardware and Food Odessey on the corner.
NYC can be as cheap as any place, as long as you look for deals and have some self-discipline.
jimbo's got a point. there
You know what's really expensive? Those Gillette blade refills for the Sensor razor. It's something like $14 for a package of 10, almost $1.50 for a razor that last a few shaves at most. I think it's pretty close to highway robbery, but my hands are tied because they're the only ones that work for me.
Stingray,
They don't make generics? I used the CVS version of ATRA for years. That goes for any product at the drug store (including prescriptons) - if there's a generic, BUY IT. You may not be the coolest kid in school taking Wal*Ynol for your headaches or CVS Bizmuth for upset stomach, but so what.
Stingray - those Gillete razors (or any brand razor for that matter) last longer if you keep them in baby oil.
Also, I have a friend who swears by "cryogenically frozen" blades sold on the internet - they're regular Mach 3 blades, but they're frozen and resold. Apparently, the freezing slows down the oxidation.
The thing about the Mach 3 blades - as expensive as they are, it's hard to switch back to other brands once you start using them.
Finally, I can't say enough for Chinatown grocers - it's not exactly farmer's market or Whole Foods, but they make up for the lack of variety with dirt cheap prices. I don't know how they do it - the mob? - but I'll take it.
And real estate...OY VEY...Check out my rant on my real estate search in Brooklyn.
oh...and how about this guy who ranted on Craigslist.
why's noone mentioned WATER?
ya'll are so keen on noting how cheap chinatown is, but our pipes are horrid. drink from the tap--NEVER.
rent and rice are cheap down here, but you have to pay for the ping shui (bottled water).
i need to find a place in chinatown... currently stuck in brooklyn... just wondering how you guys found your place there?
i'm chinese by the way... so searching through the papers is not a problem
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