A Morning at the Hudson River

Monday morning 8 am. Wake up to the sound of a power drill in the hallway. Remind myself that it's my day off, and that I should just ignore the noises and go back to bed.
8:01 Get out of bed. Decide that listening to power drills is my personal hell on earth. Must leave immediately.
8:15 Teeth brushed, face washed, contacts inserted. Remember that I haven't done laundry in at least two weeks. Manage to find a pair of bright pink gym shorts bought in my last year of middle school. Scold myself for having no choice but to wear these shorts in public. Secretly applaud myself for not spending money on new gym shorts.
8:20 Out the door and debating where to go. Can't spend money. Wearing gym shorts.
8:25 Start walking towards Christopher Street. Head west on Christopher towards the Hudson. Visiting Hudson River Park is free, and peaceful in the mornings. Peek into a few store windows along the way. Linger outside of a restaurant that smells like coffee. Cross West St and narrowly avoid colliding with a bike.

8:35 Reach Hudson. Inhale, exhale. Begin walking south.
8:55 Start to feel inspired, because everyone around me is running. Decide I'll start running too.
9:02 Bad idea. Remember why I don't like running. Determine that walking is equally inspiring.
9:05 Pass by a couple playing tennis in one of the courts. Pass by some dogs running around in a fenced off area. Pass by benches occupied by readers, meditators, and quite a few nappers.
9:15 Try not to look alarmed as I pass by a man who seems to have lost his pants. Note that New York has probably given me a pretty killer poker face.
9:20 Pause by a grassy area and sit down in the shade. Look over at One World Trade Center. Take a moment to imagine how high up those workers must have been when they attached the building's spire. Decide that the Top of the Rock is the highest up that I'd ever like to be, besides airplanes of course.
9:40 Can no longer ignore my stomach's vocal demands for nourishment. Decide to head back.
10:00 Realize I have 35 cents in my pocket. Enough for a $0.25 banana from the food cart by the subway.
10:30 Arrive home, banana in tow, thoroughly ready for some Penny-Pincher's Morning Oatmeal. Thankful for the close proximity of a calm place to walk, a magnificent view, and a budget-friendly place to go when escaping from indoor construction.
10:40 The power drill noises recommence.

Vitamin D via Washington Square

Jumping into the fountain at Washington Square Park is one of the items on my NYC Bucket List. I've yet to cross this task off of my list, however, always blaming my hesitation on the wrong dress, or the wrong shoes. (The truth is, I'm actually scared of all of the children running around inside the fountain. They show no mercy when it comes to splashing!)


Luckily, Washington Square is good for much more than simply taking a dip in the fountain. Spanning Macdougal to Fifth Avenue, and West 4th to to Waverly Pl, this park is home to dancers, musicians, magicians, and chess players alike.

There are plenty of benches in the sun and shade for the taking, as well as open grass (though I'd suggest bringing a blanket, as the grass can be kind of muddy). It's a great place to bring a book, but there's also much to see and to hear. Take Colin Huggins, for example, also known as "the crazy piano guy". Each morning Colin Huggins wheels (or perhaps has a friend wheel, I've never asked) a grand piano into the park, and spends the day playing for visitors. I highly recommend stopping by for a listen if you get the chance. You can also usually find one or two jazz bands performing throughout the day, and sometimes solo drummers as well.

There are a few dance groups that I've seen performing in the park, including a group that executes some pretty amazing acrobatic stunts (check out this photo from Humans of New York of one of these performers). I've seen a few mimes and some very advanced jugglers (although to me, all juggling seems advanced). There have also been yoga classes, parades, and music festivals, and I'm quite sure that I saw someone on a pogo stick the other day.

The northwest corner of the park is always home to expert chess players, waiting for you to join them in a match. I'll let you know that they are extremely familiar with winning. They do, after all, play chess all day, and they are very good at betting you out of your money. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Washington Square is much, much smaller than Central Park, so it boasts a very different vibe. While you can find isolated spots in Central Park to nap or picnic, Washington Square is less private and a little more urban. While school is in session the park is bustling with NYU students, as well as lots and lots of dog walkers. If you are a dog owner yourself, there is a fenced in area where dogs can run loose and, ahem, take care of their business.

The park is also beautiful in the snow!

What this park is great for:

• children
• picnics
• listening to live music
• reading
• sunbathing
• people watching
• (getting beaten at) chess

What this park is not great for:

• going for a run
• total peace and quiet
• escaping into the wilderness
• biking
• hanging out alone in the wee hours of the morning (unless you know karate, in which case, go for it.)

P.S. The park is free! It's a great spot to bring your friends, so you can feel free to skip out on the expensive dinners without sacrificing your social life. 

Growing Your Savings

Saving money is hard. Especially when saving money means vaguely reminding yourself to spend less, so that there's more money left over at the end of the month. Goals like 'save more' and 'spend less' are only effective if there are numbers attached to them, and today I'm going to share with you a way to find these numbers.

This morning I was reading an article on the website The Everygirl, called "Easy Ways to Start Saving More Money." The article's author, Brittney Castro, points out that spending what we'd like and saving what's left over doesn't work. She suggests a new method of saving called "Pay Yourself First".

With the Pay Yourself First plan, you calculate your income after taxes, and then subtract from that the money that you pay on bills, and the money that you'd like for your savings. The money that is left over is now the money that you can spend freely, and not the money that you try —or in my case fail— to save.

So how do you decide how much to save? If you have specific goals in mind (i.e. travel to Spain in September, buy a new car in March, etc.), a site like Mint is great for helping you calculate how much you need to save a month in order to reach these goals (check out my post on Mint). If your goals are less specific and you're looking instead to simply grow your savings, Castro suggests saving 10-20% of your income. She recommends starting small and working your way up to these percentages, if at first they seem too high.

I'm currently saving up for a trip to Brazil in December, to visit a friend. Using Mint I've calculated how much money I need to be subtracting from my income each month, in order to raise enough funds for the trip. I think that I'll begin next month by taking out in cash the amount of money that I have to spend freely; that way I won't be tempted to use the card and cut into my travel savings!

Please leave comments here if you have other strategies for growing your savings, or reaching your financial goals.

Chatting with Kelly Buwalda- Eating Well on a Budget

When you're living on a tight budget, one dollar pizza might seem like the solution to all of your financial problems; it's food, it's cheap, and it's fast. But how long can we survive off of cheap pizza, cheap hot dogs, etc., before we start to feel the affects of these less-than-healthy meals? Does eating affordably have to mean eating poorly?

Not according to Certified Health Coach, contemporary dancer, and healthy-eating-on-a-budget expert Kelly Buwalda.

Image provided by Kelly Buwalda

This weekend I had the pleasure of conducting an interview with Buwalda, in which she shared her experience living in NYC as a dancer, health coach, and teacher of both dance and nutrition. 

1. How long have you been living as an artist in NYC? A dozen years and counting! 

2. What do you love most about living in the city? I love the diversity of the people and the concentration of artists and art.

3. When you first moved here, what was it like trying to buy and prepare food on a smaller budget? Do you recognize now the things that you could have done differently in those initial years of eating in the city? When I first moved here I would do anything to survive (which included making a little nest on the floor instead of buying a mattress for over a year!). Survival for me meant rent and money for dance class. I remember one specific day where I realized I had enough money for class OR lunch—and I figured out a way to have both by making lunch one banana so I could take class. I give myself an A+ for survival and the pursuit of art, but a C- in nutrition. I survived too much on protein bars and the cheap coffee and bagels from the street vendors. "No sugar, please," I'd say. "Oh, sweet enough already!" they'd reply with a wink. At least flirting was free.

Though I wasn't getting the best nutrition I did make some good choices; I cut out processed food like cookies and chips because I knew it was waste of money and wouldn't nourish me. I spent money on real food instead. I also drank mostly water, cutting out soda and drinks that were expensive (no lattes, just regular cup of joe). Because "necessity is the mother of invention" I learned to cook a lot at home and combined my pantry leftovers in new ways.  

I did neglect myself at times and remember eyeing, but not buying, the salad greens which I thought were too pricey—I regret those days. The days of not listening to what my body was crying out for—I indulge more now that I take those messages seriously, whether it be buying a nice organic salad, wild fish rather than farmed, or local berries at the farmer's market. Needless to say, those vendors haven't seen me in a while. :)

4. What habits have you developed throughout your time living here that have made cooking and eating a pleasurable experience, and not a Penny-Pinching nightmare?

Image from The Kitchn

Be resourceful.  I would use my salsa jars as glasses when I was in my first apartment. They were free and didn't break like the cheap ones from Ikea. I still have clothes from high school that I mix up with new pieces—rocking my high school cut-off jean shorts allows me to spend more on food.  I've always thought that if you feel good in your own skin you look great in anything.  Being resourceful is like anything else—a muscle that gets stronger with practice, so think outside the box!  

"Cook once, eat twice."  This was a big mantra at my nutrition school, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Make a pot of rice for the week and continue to mix up different veggies and proteins each day, saving you time and energy.  

Prioritize.  While you can't go out for dinner every night, you should still enjoy sitting down now and then and experiencing the culinary pleasures New York has to offer with a friend. So budget in a weekly or monthly night out. Mine used to be Sunday brunch where I would enjoy a larger-than-normal meal amongst shared stories and laughter with my friends.  

Being healthy is only partially about food—it's also about feeding your soul. There is SOOO much to do and see in NYC without spending a lot of money. The summer is jam-packed with events like Shakespeare in the Park, Celebrate Brooklyn and Summerstage. Here are some more year-round ideas:

•                Galleries—enjoy a day of art for free by checking out galleries in Chelsea, Soho, or Williamsburg or visit MoMA for Target Fridays. [Penny-Pincher's note: See my post on MoMA.]

•                No need for a gym membership—make the outdoors your gym and enjoy running on the west side path, biking all over town, bouldering in Central Park, or skipping the subway for a long walk home. [Penny-Pincher's note: These are great ways to avoid paying for overpriced gym memberships. If you'd still prefer to work out in a gym, check out my post on the affordable Blink Fitness.]

•                Usher for events at your favorite venues (mine is BAM) or consider volunteering for companies you love. In my early days I interned for Doug Varone and Dancers and truly enjoyed being a part of their events, even if it just meant helping sell t-shirts in the lobby of the Joyce Theater. Seeing the company and getting to know new people was invaluable.

•                Watch the sunset—anywhere. This always fills me with gratitude, gives me peace amongst the stress of the city, and makes me feel abundant.

5. We often hear that eating healthy is ‘too expensive’, and that fast food places like McDonalds or Wendy’s are much more affordable. Do you feel that this is the case?

When you look at your life over the course of a long time and not just now, you see that while the meal is cheap, the cost to your health is really expensive. It's definitely a harder thing to do when you're a teenager or have a feeling of invincibility, but if you are recovering from being sick, from an injury, or noticing your body changing as you age, it's a more immediate connection. If you are an artist living without health insurance (which I was for nearly 10 years in NYC), you know that the cost of going to a doctor or having a medical condition will quickly squash the money you saved going to McDonald's instead of choosing a healthier option. 

When I'm in pinch, I hit up Pret (their hard-boiled eggs and spinach is only $1.99), grab a 2 for $5 salad, sesame tofu or quinoa pot at Whole Foods, or spot a mix like apricot and almonds at a deli. I still abide by my banana-in-a-bind snack, though I eat more than just that for lunch! This is my version of fast food.

6. Do you have a favorite grocery store that has both affordable and nutritious options? My work takes me all over Manhattan and back to Brooklyn so I can't just mention one! So here it goes:

WholeFoods is a solid choice. I prefer it to Trader Joe's because more of the produce is whole and fresh (meaning it hasn't been cut into pieces already or is frozen or canned). If you're on a budget look for their 365 brand.  

When I am teaching near Joffrey Ballet School, I go to LifeThyme to get energizing "green champagne" which is a blend of greens and ginger. Their "chunks of energy" also go a long way - they have several varieties including cacao with spirulina and as I recognize ALL of the ingredients I know these are more nutritious than most protein bars on the market.  

When I am in my own neighborhood, Williamsburg, I like to shop across the street—at KeyFoods. This might come as a surprise to most, but the KeyFoods in my neighborhood has great choices including organic lacitano kale, oatmeal that is usually on sale, and a great variety of organic beans, soups, and local fruit—I bought Jersey blueberries this week for under $3. 

7. Can you give us your top three tips on shopping and preparing healthy food, without breaking the bank?

 1. Rice and beans! They are so inexpensive and packed with nutrition (hello amino acids, fiber, and protein!)—just add in some fresh goodies so you don't feel like you're being cheap with yourself. With black beans and rice I add cilantro and avocado; with chickpeas I add curry, cumin or some spicy harissa or hot sauce. An easy and nutritious combination to remember is bean, green, and grain. There are so many combinations of these if you just add your own creative spirit, spice and sauce (turmeric tahini is a favorite of mine) you'll feel your kitchen is a 4-star restaurant.

2.  Shop in the bulk section of Whole Foods—no, I do not mean getting huge packages if "bulk" to you means getting large amounts (I'm from the midwest where our bulk products mean for a family of 10 and there is no room in NYC apartments for such supplies). I mean the aisle where you can get exactly how much rice, grain, trail mix, lentils, etc., you want. You weigh it by pound and eliminate paying for packaging so it's better for the environment and you're not swayed by marketing. It's great for beginners in the kitchen too—start with a small amount of oats or quinoa to experiment in small doses.

Image provided by Kelly Buwalda

3.  Shop at your local Greenmarket. Yes, some of the prices will blow your mind but I guarantee if you buy quality foods you will not waste one bite. Rather than buying salad in those plastic boxes and having half already be rotten, you can choose exactly how much you want. The farmers are often generous too, allowing you to sample, telling you how you can prepare what you are buying, and nearing the end of the market day there are often great deals as they want to sell the produce while it is fresh. 

8. Do you have a favorite budget-friendly recipe that you could share with us? Here are two of my favorites below- this salad is simple and delicious, anyone can make it. I have shared this stir-fry with clients and in a cooking class and there was not one bite of leftovers, even from someone who said he had never liked cabbage before he tasted this dish. For more recipes and tips, please join my Facebook page, Kelly Buwalda Nutrition & Wellness 

Favorite Simple Salad

Ingredients:  Arugula, Olive Oil (to your liking), a squeeze of lemon, a dash of high-quality salt and pine nuts

Directions:  Simply place arugula in a bowl and add olive oil and lemon.  Mix salad and sprinkle with a dash of salt and pine nuts.  

Ginger Tempeh Stir Fry (my very own recipe!)

Prep: 5 min             Cook: 7 min

 Ingredients: Package of tempeh, 1-2” of ginger, 3-4 carrots, 1 small head purple/red cabbage (or half of a larger cabbage), safflower/sunflower/sesame oil, tamari

Optional: bok choy, tumeric

1.     Wash all vegetables and chop carrots and cabbage into small pieces.

2.     Slice tempeh into rectangular pieces.

3.     Peel ginger and slice into fine strips.

4.     Place all ingredients in a bowl and combine 1 TBSP oil and stir (if you are adding tumeric, do so here).

5.     Heat pan on med-hi and place all ingredients in pan, ensuring the tempeh pieces are laying flat on the surface. If needed, add more oil to pan (or water).

6.     After a couple minutes, stir vegetables and flip tempeh to other side.

7.     When carrots and cabbage are slightly softened and tempeh is brown on both sides add a splash of tamari and remove from heat. Serve in a bowl.

9. What do you enjoy most about your line of work? My work is a melange of teaching, creating, and performing—but in all of it I love witnessing transformation. As a Teaching Artist for National Dance Institute I see young people become dancers that have never danced before—I love seeing the spark when they achieve a new step. As a Certified Health Coach, I get really excited when a client achieves a goal like quitting smoking, losing weight, or loving how they feel in their own skin. This summer I've been inspired by the dancers at Joffrey Ballet School whom I've been teaching "Nutrition for Dancers." Some have reduced coffee, soda and energy drinks and have been feeling much more energy as a result. As a dancer myself, I love feeling connected and strong in my body and enjoy the transformation that comes with each performance experience.

Image provided by Kelly Buwalda

A big thank you to Kelly for this thorough advice on taking care of yourself and your wallet! Check out her Facebook and website for more information on eating well and caring for your body. 

Kelly Buwalda is a Certified Health Coach (American Association of Drugless Practitioners), Nutrition Teacher (Joffrey Ballet School), Teaching Artist (National Dance Institute) and contemporary dancer. She combines her knowledge from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Hope College (B.A.'s Dance & Psychology), and her personal experiences as an artist and athlete to support dancers, clients, friends, and family. 

DIY Reusable Grocery Bags

There are many reasons why bringing your own bags to the grocery store is beneficial; they are good for the environment, easier to carry than plastic bags, and often allow you to save a few pennies (several stores, like Whole Foods, offer discounts to customers who bring their own bags). The other day I stumbled upon an entry in the blog Delia Creates, explaining how to make your own reusable bags. The process is easy and cheap (the bag is made out of an old T-shirt), and produces machine-washable bags that are perfect for produce. The design was inspired by the cotton tote bags that you may have seen sold at select grocery stores.

How To Make Your Own Produce Bag

You'll need:

scissors

old T-shirt

needle and thread

sharpie

ruler 

1. Lay out the T-shirt, and outline the shape of your bag with a sharpie.

2. Cut along the outline.

3. Sew the bottom and sides to create seams. I used a basic needle and thread so mine doesn't look very pretty, but a sewing machine would probably do a better job!

4. Trace the lines for where your holes will be, as well as a rectangle for the handle. Note: I made my handle too big, so I recommend starting smaller!

5. Cut out the holes and handle. 

6. Stretch out the bag to make sure the holes are to your liking. Then you're done!

Testing out the bag with bananas

You can play with different sizes and colors. If you don't have any old T-shirts, you can visit your nearest Goodwill (don't forget to show your student ID for a discount) and buy a $1 or $2 T-shirt. The price of a used T-shirt is certainly cheaper than the price of a brand new bag!

Would You Like Fries With That?

If you live in New York, you've probably been there. If you haven't been there, you've at least heard of it. If you haven't heard of it, Hollywood certainly has.

From the movie Something Borrowed

Shake Shack's lines are long for a reason. If you're looking for a burger that doesn't break the bank, but also doesn't come with a side of hormones and antibiotics, this is the place to go. The burgers are delicious, the fries are delicious, the shakes are delicious, and the fact that you can have dinner for ten dollars is even more delicious.

Last night I went to the outdoor Shake Shack in Madison Square Park with a friend. This location is my favorite in the city, since waiting in line in the park is much more pleasant than waiting in line in by Times Square, for example. I ordered the Shack Burger ($4.60), my vegetarian friend ordered the 'Shroom Burger ($6.75), and then we ordered a side of fries ($2.70) to share. Oh, and we couldn't resist splitting a Chocolate-Strawberry Shake ($5.00). Thanks to the shared sides, my meal came out to be around $10, which I found very reasonable.

In addition to serving vegetarian-fed and hormone-free beef, the company also constructs each location from recycled materials. "Stand for Something Good" is their motto, which speaks to their green efforts, food safety efforts, etc.

A few things you should know about Shake Shack:

1. There is always a line. Shake Shack is delicious, inexpensive, and popular, so a crowd is unavoidable. Non-meal times will of course be less crowded, but if you plan to go during lunch or dinner time, then know that the line will be long. Don't worry though, it's worth it. 
2. The 'Shroom Burger is vegetarian, and really good. It's a fried portobello mushroom filled with cheese, and though it's not exactly the healthiest vegetarian dish ever, it's worth the occasional indulgence.
3. The Madison Square Park location is the original Shake Shack, but there are lots of other locations in the city. Shake Shack is also located in Connecticut, Florida, Washington DC, Massachussetes, Pennsylvania,  the UK, and the Middle East. Although if you're in the Middle East, I'd probably recommend eating something a little more native...
4. Shake Shack is also known for its hot dogs (though I've never tried one) and concretes (frozen custard). Check out the full menu on their website.

We chose a very hot evening to visit Shake Shack. Despite having to battle a few rather aggressive mosquitos, though, the wait in the heat was worth the meal. Plus the Madison Square location looks really pretty at night. 

Returning to Wikipedia

About a month ago I posted an entry about Strand Bookstore, and it's affordable book collections. I wrote that my favorite part of the bookstore was its outdoor used book collections, that features books priced between $1 and $3. Since I did not see a mention of these discounted books on the store's Wikipedia page, I decided to edit the page and add a blurb about the outdoor merchandise.

Today I checked back on the page just for fun, to see if my edits had stuck. Unfortunately, my addition was removed.

I suppose someone felt that the used books were not worth mentioning. I will continue to insist, however, that one should not underestimate these outdoor bookshelves! This Penny-Pincher finds these $1-$3 bargains most certainly worth mentioning, and I highly recommend checking them out when you have the chance.

A Sunday of Fleas

If you find yourself in New York City with some free time, an empty wallet, and an inkling to see something unique, I'd highly recommend a day at the flea market. Not a day shopping at the flea market (that sort of thing can make a dent in your wallet), but a day exploring and admiring the craftsmanship of NYC's dedicated flea vendors.

The city is home to many flea markets, where customers can find anything from necklaces made of excavated pottery to glasses frames made of bamboo leaves. This Sunday I visited two of my favorite markets, The Market NYC on Bleecker Street, and the Williamsburg Flea in Brooklyn.

Williamsburg Flea

The thing about going to flea markets is that window shopping is just as satisfying as actually buying. Since the products sold by the various vendors are almost exclusively handmade, they tend to be a little pricey. For this reason I treat the markets almost like I treat museums, as places with a lot to see and admire. Having said that, flea markets are a great place to find a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special.

The Market NYC is located at 159 Bleecker Street, between Thomspon and Sullivan. It is an indoor market open Wednesdays through Sundays (you can check the market's hours here), that houses vendors selling clothes, jewelry, glasses, prints, and more. The website includes a few images of what sorts of things customers are bound to see, but you should expect to see much more in person than what is featured online. The Market NYC does have air conditioning, making it a great spot to duck in when the sun has made outdoor markets unbearable.

The Williamsburg Flea occurs every Sunday from 10am-5pm, at the East River State Park (90 Kent Ave at North 7th Street). This is undoubtedly the most scenic of NYC's flea markets, as it is situated right by the East River. Since this market is outdoors, you'll want to be sure to choose a nice day; it can be hard to find shade, so if you burn as easily as I do then I'd highly recommend wearing sunscreen!

View from the East River State Park

You can read about the vendors of the Williamsburg Flea on the market's website. In addition to art, records, jewelry, dresses, t-shirts and other sorts of retail merchandise, the flea market contains plenty of food vendors. Yesterday we found a vendor making vegan beet burgers, another selling dark chocolate, and yet another preparing and selling some all too tempting frozen slushies.

After we finished at the market, we planted ourselves on some grass (in the tiniest shadow of a bush) near the water. The park boasts a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline, which we were content to enjoy while the weather was nice.

East River State Park

Some other market locations in the city include:

• GreenFlea on Columbus at 76th St
• Artists & Fleas in Chelsea and Williamsburg
• The Antiques Garage in Hell's Kitchen on 25th St
• Fort Greene Flea  on 176 Lafayette Avenue

This is by no means a complete list of NYC markets. Leave a comment here if your favorite flea isn't on this list; I'd love to hear recommendations for new markets to check out. 

Put Down the Candy Bar, the Packet of Gum, and the Copy of US Weekly

Even the most dedicated of Penny-Pinchers can find themselves succumbing to the magnetic pull of impulse purchases. The magazine shelves by the check-out line in Whole Foods? A problem. The chocolate on display right before the registers in Trader Joe's? A bigger problem. Let's not even mention those sale items that seem to come home with you after a day of 'window shopping'...

I recently stumbled upon a blog post by Meg Favreau, a senior editor and blogger for the website wisebread.com, about resisting these impulse purchases.

In her post 9 Simple Ways to Stop Impulse Buying, Favreau points out the reasons why these spur-of-the-moment purchases are so tempting, and how to best avoid them. I have listed her nine tips below.

1. "Follow the Time Rule" 
2. "Don't Shop When Upset"
3. "Consider Changing How and Where You Shop"
4. "Don't Shop With the Wrong People"
5. "Give Yourself a Splurge Budget"
6. "Only Buy Things You Can Return"
7. "Remember to Not Be Fooled by Sales"
8. "Keep a List of Things You Really Want or Need"
9. "Don't Give Yourself Access to Your Money"

Favreau goes into more detail about each tip on her post, but I'll discuss a few that I like to keep in mind. For starters, I've found that the "Time Rule" really affects whether or not I buy those shoes that 'would go so great with that one dress'. The idea behind this rule is that you set a minimum time frame for yourself between when you decide you like the item, and when you decide to buy the item. If I am still obsessing over those shoes a week or two later, then I'll go back and take a second look. Usually when I wait to buy something, though, I end up realizing that I don't want or need that item after all. 

"Remember to Not Be Fooled by Sales" is another important one for me. Sales are a tempting time to buy something that you don't need, simply because it's on sale. Favreau distinguishes between things that you've always wanted (that finally go on sale) and things that you think you could find useful (because they're on sale). Stay away from the latter! Sales are an opportunity for us to get what we need for cheaper, not a chance to be tricked into spending more money. 

"Don't Give Yourself Access to Your Money" is the ninth tip, in which Favreau suggests leaving your credit cards at home, or keeping only a small amount of cash in your wallet. If you don't have money with you, it's pretty much guaranteed that you won't spend it. I know that I spend far less money when I take out cash at the beginning of each week, and allow myself to only spend as much as I have in my wallet. I prefer to pay with cash because I can see exactly how much money I have, and I can feel (literally) when my wallet's been emptied. If I plan to spend the day window shopping, then I bring nothing more than seven dollars (for a subway card, just in case). 

Wise Bread is a great resource for readers trying to get the most out of a tiny budget. The site's  'Frugal Living' section offers countless articles about managing your income, cooking cheaper recipes, clothing deals, etc. Various writers contribute to the blog, making the site a self-described "community of bloggers here to hep you live large on a small budget." Wise Bread does not revolve around a particular city, but instead provides general information for Penny-Pinchers nationwide. For those of you looking for specific NYC deals, that's what I'm here for. 

Don't worry, I've got your back. 

It's Time to Finally Get That Library Card

A few weeks ago I published a post about finding affordable books at Strand Bookstore. Today I'm going to talk about another Penny-Pinching staple for book-lovers in the city. Beyond those who like to read, this spot is great for writers, researchers, dance-lovers, music-lovers, drama-lovers, and New Yorkers in need of free wifi and some quiet space.

Allow me to introduce the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

This library has much more to offer than just books and magazines. Located at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, the Performing Arts Library has Circulating Collections of musical scores, songbooks, CDs, and audiocassettes, as well as books and DVDS about music, dance, drama, etc.

What is truly special about this library is its Research Collections. These collections are divided into the Billy Rose Theatre Division, the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, the Music Division, the Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, and the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive. Information about all of these collections can be accessed through the Research Collections link above, but for today I am going to focus on my personal favorite division, the Dance division.

The division's webpage describes itself as follows:

The Jerome Robbins Dance Division of The New York Public Library is the largest and most comprehensive archive in the world devoted to the documentation of dance. Chronicling the art of dance in all its manifestations - ballet, ethnic, modern, social, and folk - the division is much more than a library in the usual sense of the word. It is part museum, part film production center, and part consulting service to the professional dance community. It preserves the history of dance by gathering diverse written, visual, and aural resources, and it works to ensure the art form's continuity through an active documentation program.

Resources such as original manuscripts (think choreographer notes), posters, newspaper clippings, and photographs are all available to researchers. What is also available, and unique to the Performing Arts Library, are video archives of ballets, Broadway musicals, and all other types of dance performances. Videos that are hard to come by on Youtube are available for viewing at the library. I like to come to the library to watch full-length works choreographed by George Balanchine, since The George Balanchine Trust prevents his ballets from being recorded and replicated without permission.

If you wish to view some of the dance or theatre video archives that the library has to offer, it is recommended that you call ahead. Walk-in appointments are an option, but they are not guaranteed as there are a limited number of screens available. Before entering the screening room you will be required to leave your possessions in a secure holding room, to ensure that no material is secretly being recorded. You must also provide a reason for wishing to view the materials (i.e. student, research project, independent study, etc.) Basically, they want to make sure you aren't there to illegally record and replicate a copyrighted performance.

In order to view the video archives or check out materials, you must have a library card. These are easy to acquire, so long as you can provide a document that proves your New York City residence. I brought a postcard from a friend that was sent to my New York address, for example. With your library card, you can also set up a username and password on the NYPL website, and then check up on which books you've checked out, which books you've put on hold, etc.

The Performing Arts Library is open Mondays and Thursdays from 12-8 PM, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12-6 PM. While Lincoln Center is the only Performing Arts Library location, there are plenty of other New York Public Libraries located throughout the city.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that everything about the library is entirely free? Seeing a performance on a screen is not the same as seeing it live, but on a day when you've had no luck with student rush tickets, this can be the next best thing.

Murder Ballad

Musicals in the city are not cheap. For the first eighteen months that I lived here, I did not see a single one. Eighty dollars for a ticket? One hundred and twenty dollars for a ticket? No thank you!

But this year I discovered that many musicals provide rush tickets. Depending on the show, these tickets are either student rush, or general rush, or sometimes (as in the case for Wicked) lottery rush.

Yesterday my friend and I went to see the show Murder Ballad, a non-traditional rock musical playing at the Union Square Theatre. Rush tickets are $31 dollars for everyone under 30 (kind of an odd requirement), but $49 tickets are also available online with a code that's listed on the website. Regular tickets are around $80 to $90. We bought our rush tickets right when the box office opened (3 pm on Saturdays, 1 pm on Sundays, and 1 pm on Tuesdays through Fridays), but I think you could probably afford to go a little later and still get tickets. Bring your ID and cash, as the rush sales are cash only.

Immediately when you walk into the theatre, you know that this is not not your standard Broadway musical. The space is set up like a club, with audience members sitting at tables amongst the set, or along the sides in auditorium-style seating.

Those sitting at the tables were right in the middle of the action; more than once, the actors climbed up on these audience members' tables, knocked over nearby chairs, etc. I was pretty convinced that someone was going to get kicked in the head, but I guess the actors know the space well enough to avoid these kinds of collisions!

There is a bar along one side of the theatre, where audience members can order drinks before the show starts. This bar then becomes part of the set, serving as the bar in a club downtown. The set-up also features a pool table, a baseball bat, and a raised stage for the band members.

I was very impressed by the show itself. Although the plot was simple and rather predictable, the music, the set, and the talented cast of four made for an entertaining evening. The two women especially had incredible control over their voices, and effectively delivered both comedic and tragic moments. While most musicals involve speaking in addition to singing, this show was eighty minutes of continuous song. I can't imagine the stamina required of these actors to maintain their voices throughout the show, while running around the set and jumping on and off of tables.

Below is a sneak peek of the musical. This clip gives you a feel for the atmosphere (and also demonstrates that there were one too many 'hand-running-through-my-hair' moments on the part of the angsty bartender), and a feel for the music. There is no nudity in the show, but it's definitely a little promiscuous, so I would not bring along children.

All in all it was an enjoyable evening. The atmosphere and the music made up for what the plot lacked, and the $31 ticket price was very agreeable. Murder Ballad is closing July 21st, so if you're interested in seeing the show you still have a few more weeks. 

A Little Light Reading

These days lots of newspapers, magazine articles, and general journal writings can be accessed online for free. For the nostalgic New Yorker who still prefers paper over screen, however, the city's got you covered.

Take a look around and you're bound to find one of the city's many newsstands that boast free news sources. I'm referring to those mailbox-like containers that we often pass by, that are filled with free access to writer's workshops, restaurant guides, and crosswords galore.

These are only some of the free publications available at a news hub by my apartment. I went to grab more but a nearby NYPD officer was starting to give me funny looks...

 These publications span across many genres, and hopefully have something to offer to everyone. Let's take a closer look at a few of these reading materials.

The Village Voice: Below is an excerpt from the Voice's website, describing the publication:

 [T]he Voice has earned a reputation for its groundbreaking investigations of New York City politics, and as the premier expert on New York's cultural scene. Writing and reporting on local and national politics, with opinionated arts, culture, music, dance, film and theater reviews, daily web dispatches and comprehensive entertainment listings, the Voice is the authoritative source on all that New York has to offer.

The Voice has a great section towards the end of each issue listing events happening in the city (music concerts, club events, movie listings, etc.) The issue I picked up features a restaurant guide that I will definitely be investigating (and reporting back with any good deals), as well as reviews of the movies Despicable Me and The Lone Ranger.

Metro: To be honest I've always been turned off by the Metro, simply because I cannot escape someone shoving the paper in my face as I attempt to enter the subway station for my morning commute. Do not, however, allow my content-unrelated bias to sway your own opinion of the paper! Check out its website to see what the newspaper has to offer. My roommate and I have some serious plans to tackle this issue's crossword puzzle.

Chopsticks NY: Now this was a publication that I had not heard of. "Experience Japan in New York City" is what the cover of the issue reads, and it does certainly seem to be the source for all things Japanese. The July issue features a list of recommended Japanese restaurants, an interview with the founder of a Japanese vegetable farm, and a Japanese-Style Tomato Salsa recipe. Check out the website if this is something you'd be interested in.

Other free publications include amNewYork, Manhattan Family (maybe not so applicable for the average college student), Gay City News and more.

It was fun to sit down and flip through these different publications. If I were to go back again I'd probably only pick up the Village Voice, but spending a few hours expanding my horizons (who knew that making a hole in a pacifier can help end your baby's pacifier phase) lead to some pretty entertaining discoveries. If anything, these newsstands are a good place to stop by if you have a long subway ride to undergo, and you've accidentally left your copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at home (it happens to the best of us).

A Very Heated Game of Trivial Pursuit

I've always had a thing for board games. Ever since I can remember, family gatherings at my grandmother's have consisted of eating, arguing about (or avoiding the subject of) politics, and competitive board gaming. My friends from high school were also notoriously serious about board games. You'd be surprised how much debate can occur throughout a game of Scattegories...

Needless to say, board games hold a special place in my heart. Thus, I was thrilled to discover that Molly's Cupcakes, a nearby bakery, boasts a shelf full of games for customers to use. For the price of a cupcake, cappuchino, or cup of tea, you can spend the afternoon playing Scrabble, Pictionary, and more.

Looking for some evening entertainment that was cheaper than the price of a nighttime movie, my roommate and I headed to Molly's. We arrived at 6:45 and left at closing (10pm), cursing ourselves for being unable to complete a game of Trivial Pursuit.

Did you know that the Yankees used to be called the Highlanders? Or that Bob Dylan was once considered a security threat because he accidentally left his ID on a tour bus? These questions cost me two pie pieces, and I don't think I'll ever forget the answers.

I spent about $4.00 (with tax) on a flourless chocolate cupcake which, though a little too rich for my taste, was not a bad price to pay for three hours worth of entertainment. I think next time I'll probably stick to a cup of tea, although my roommate thoroughly enjoyed her Oreo-topped cupcake.

Molly's is located at 228 Bleecker Street, right near 6th avenue. The atmosphere is fun and the workers were friendly; they were kind enough not to give us a hard time for trying in vain to finish our game one minute before closing.

I highly recommend stopping by Molly's if you're looking for an inexpensive way to spend a few hours with friends. Grabbing dinner and drinks doesn't make for a bad time, but never underestimate the power of some good old-fashioned board gaming.