“Go Frugal in New York City”

Guide represents first installment of  “Go Frugal In….” series on popular Go Frugal blog

[Ft. Collins, CO] – Ah, New York, New York. The city that never sleeps. New York City is one of the world’s most visited destinations, but if you’re not careful, The Big Apple will take a bite out of your pocketbook. To help tourists and New York City residents alike, FreeShipping.org’s Go Frugal blog has introduced “Go Frugal in New York City,” which is the first installment of the site’s “Go Frugal In….” series.

The Go Frugal blog was created by FreeShipping.org founder Luke and Maisie Knowles last March. The blog offers valuable tips and money-saving ideas from the web's foremost deal-hunters, savvy shoppers and cost-conscious bloggers. Luke and Maisie introduced FreeShipping.org, which is a one-stop destination for online shoppers to find free shipping deals offered by more than 1,500 online retailers, in December 2007.

“The objective of FreeShipping.org and the Go Frugal blog is to offer consumers forums where they can learn how to save money and enjoy the frugal lifestyle,” Luke Knowles said. “We started the ‘Go Frugal In….’ series to help readers thoroughly enjoy destinations while spending less money. We plan to post a new guide in the ‘Go Frugal In….’ series every two weeks, and we will cover every major city in the United States.”

As the title suggests, “Go Frugal in New York City” provides readers with insights and suggestions on how to save money whether you are visiting or living in the city.

Visitors will especially be interested in recommendations for cost savings on travel, lodging, entertainment and attractions. For example:

Hotels
Visit www.lastminute.com for hotel deals and discounts in New York, so you can save on higher-end hotels. Many places offer family packages, and companies such as the W Hotels offer deals to buy two nights, get the third free through September 2009.
 
Hostels and other traveler options
Dorm beds start at $28 at the hip Central Park Hostel on the Upper West Side, and YMCA hostels at various locations in the city are long-standing options for low-budget accommodation. For the bravest of the cheap, couch surfing is becoming ever more popular worldwide and in New York. Participants list their place as available for free to guests on www.couchsurfing.com.

Visit New York’s museums for free
The Museum of Modern Art is free on Friday evenings, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a pay-what-you-can-afford policy. The New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx are free on Saturday mornings and Wednesdays, and the New York Public Library, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Grand Central Station are all breathtaking buildings with no cost and plenty of good people-watching.

Residents who are striving to save money will like the information about finding a home, transportation. For example:

Recommended neighborhoods
The silver lining of the economic moment’s storm cloud is that rents are falling across the city. Inwood, at the northernmost tip of Manhattan, is one of the city’s best-kept secrets, providing affordable real estate in a great neighborhood that’s suitable for families and full of young people. For lowest budgets, far uptown (Washington Heights and Harlem) has options ranging from new co-ops to cheap shared rooms, and areas of Brooklyn such as Park Slope feature luxury living on the next block from reasonable apartments.

Buy a weekly subway pass
Avoid taking pricey taxis. A subway map and unlimited pass card will get you anywhere you want to go in the city for cheap. Cards can be purchased in subway stations all over the city, and you can visit the MTA website for maps and timetables. You can buy a monthly, weekly or daily pass and use it on all the city buses as well. Public transportation is easier and more convenient than renting a car and dealing with high parking prices. And if it’s late at night and you’d rather not take the subway at four a.m. (although there will be plenty of company), there’s no shortage of yellow taxis available at all hours, all conveniently fitted to accept credit cards.

Farmer’s markets
Find a listing of great farmer’s markets at http://www.cenyc.org/ourmarkets so you can make sure to hit one up no matter what part of the city you’re in. One of the most well-known is the Union Square farmer’s market, open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays year round. Score fresh poultry, vegetables, “rooftop honey” made in NYC, and flowers and sit on the steps of the square watching skateboarders, artists and the occasional political demonstration while you sample your wares.

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