Visiting the Big Apple

When I visited the Big Apple I found that living there is quite expensive and so is visiting there.
If you have a friend or relative you can stay with,  this can save you quite a bit on accomodation. May I suggest that you avoid staying with them too long and that you offer to treat them to lunch or dinner, buy some groceries and help clean up their home.

If you're not favored with having friends or relatives who can put you up, there are other options which can still help you save.
You could try couch-surfing. I've heard a few people have had some success with this. I didn't feel totally comfortable using this but I may risk it in the future.
You could also try a service like Air B n B. This is what I used and it worked out well for me. There has been some conflict about this service recently in the news and legally, so double-check before you book accommodation there.

Warning: I wasn't charged a service charge the first time. But my experience was that they will start charging you a service charge when you return to use it again. Make sure you are very clear about any extra fees you might have to pay to your host(s) such as those for cleaning or taxes.

Hotels are far too expensive for someone traveling on their own. Finding a more economical option means that you have more money to do other things like sightseeing, shopping or dining. Having a place that's clean & safe is very, very important.

If you are planning to do some shopping, know that clothing under $110 in value has no sales tax added at the register.
This is quite a newer rule in New York. In the past, many NYC residents would go to NJ to avoid having to pay sales tax on their purchases. I think that this makes it easier for small businesses to sell locally- made items too such as the ones I found in Chelsea Market.

If you go to Chelsea Market, you'll see that it's also an access point for the Highline Park which used to be an elevated railway. Now it's an elevated green space with trees, plants, pathways, spaces to sit and the occasional leftover bit of old railway. It reminds me a lot of the Couloir Vert in Paris which also used to be an elevated railway.

There are also lots of activities that you can do for free or very little money.

For $29, you can get a Metrocard with 7 days of unlimited travel on the Metro in NYC. This includes the subway and buses. This is one of the best public transit deals I've found in a North American city. Here's a link to the page which gives you more information about the different Metrocards offered.

The Staten Island Ferry is always free. It offers you views of the harbor and you can also see the Statue of Liberty. If you want to actually get closer to it and climb it than you'll have to pay.

Of course if you really like to walk and don't want to go much farther than the area where you're staying, you could walk. When you walk you get to see so many things you might otherwise miss.
There are lots of green spaces in NYC besides Central Park.

Just walking around NYC is very interesting and there are lists of interesting things to see.

First Real Post on Thrift Galore

 

Introduction to Thrift Galore

 

Okay, I created this blog quite a while back but didn't post anything. Sorry, but life off-line took plenty of attention and I already had other existing blogs that required my attention. But now it's time for me to start posting since I'm constantly talking to others about thrift ideas and info.

 

I hope that what I post in this blog will inspire you to live more prosperously and take better care of our Mother Earth at the same time. In this and future posts, I will share tips, ideas, places and events that I've discovered related to Thrift Galore.

 

 

The 3 Rs

 

In the past, it's been suggested to use the 3 Rs - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

 

But there are also other actions you can take and here are some of them. BTW, not all of them start with the letter 'R.' The first one I'm writing about today does start with that letter.

 

Refuse!
You can refuse to buy or use certain items that you don't really need or that are not in line with your values.  Your reasons to refuse can run the gamut from where a product is made to what's in it to what the impacts are from its manufacture or the effects of its use. It can also include issues like the treatment of the workers who make it.

 

Some Examples of things you might consider refusing:

• Pesticides
• Cheaply made items that don't last, break easily and can't be repaired
• That cute little item that you don't need and really doesn't match with any of your wardrobe
• Cleaning products that aren't any more effective than basic cleaners but they're more expensive and might contain harmful ingredients.
• Some cosmetics

 

There's a great little video that you can watch online which is quite thought-provoking and controversial. It's called The Story of Stuff. It's by Annie Leonard.

 

 

 

 

 

She also has a video about Cosmetics called The Story of Cosmetics.

 

 

 

 

Today's Tip: 
Refuse to buy things you don't really need or want. This will help you save you money.

 

Next time you're considering buying something, ask yourself these questions: 

• Do I really need it?
• Do I really want it?
• Where will I keep it?
• Do I already have something similar to this?
• What would I rather have instead of this item?
• Could I find this same item gently used or previously owned for less money or even for free?
• Does someone I know have a similar item that they might loan to me, give to me or trade for something I have that they want?