What Not to Forget When Budgeting For A Trip Abroad

I recently took a trip to India. Per my usual modus operandi, I approached it from a standpoint of frugality. I booked a tour and flight through Student Universe, an organization that offers budget travel arrangements for students and young adults.

The tour and flight were relatively inexpensive, totaling about $1600.  I knew I'd have to budget some additional money for food and activities while abroad, but I didn't take into account some of the other costs associated with traveling.

Don't get me wrong, my trip was well worth every dollar I spent but as I plan for my next adventure abroad, I'll be sure to take the following expenses into account. If you're planning a trip in the near future, read on for a list of things you should be prepared to pay for...

1. Passport and Visa Fees- If you do not already have a passport, you'll need to apply for one. It'll cost you $110 plus an execution fee. The execution fee varies depending on where you apply. If you go to a nearby Passport Agency, you'll need to pay $60. If you choose to apply at an authorized acceptance facility (usually a post office, library, or municipal building) it's only $25. And don't forget that you'll need a passport photo. CVS, Walgreens, and Duane Reade all provide this service at about $10 per photo.

Visa fees depend on the country you are visiting but generally do not cost more than $50. ProjectVisa.com provides a searchable database of visa requirements and costs.

2. Transportation to and from the airport- Planning on taking a cab or renting an Uber? Budget enough money so that you're not stranded at the airport on your return. My suggestion is to take public transportation on your way to the airport and splurge on a taxi on the way back.

3. Vaccines-If you're going to a remote destination, take into consideration that you will need to be properly vaccinated against infectious diseases prevalent in the country you'll be visiting. Most health insurance plans do not cover travel-related vaccinations so be prepared to pay out of pocket. The CDC provides destination-specific information on required and suggested vaccines.

4. Travel Insurance- On the topic of insurance, travel insurance is an optional expense that may be a prudent option. Most plans are between $20 and $100 depending on how extensive your coverage is. It's a wise option if you're traveling out of the country for an extended period of time.

5. Pet Care-If you're a pet owner, this can be a hefty expense. I would suggest having a friend check-in on your furry friend as this is probably the most cost-effective option. If you're looking for a professional service, I personally recommend Throw Me a Bone. They are a fabulous pet care company that works throughout Manhattan. Just let them know the Penniless Prima Donna referred you!

Shop Affordable and Ethical Products at Hearts.com

As a young New Yorker on a budget, I am always looking for bargains, especially when it comes to clothing. So I'm a real sucker for fast fashion.

But recently I've become aware of the unethical practices used in the apparel industry. Some of my favorite retailers have been caught up in scandals involving sweatshops, pollution, and unfair labor practices. Check out the shocking list here. I was appalled! After learning more about these issues, I am making a conscious effort to support retailers who are socially responsible. However, I've found it difficult because firstly, it's hard to find brands who are transparent about their sourcing procedure and secondly, most of the products I was finding were at a price point out of my budget.

So I was thrilled when I discovered Hearts.com, an e-commerce website that curates hundreds of
ethically made products from vendors around the world, many of which are quite affordable. I love browsing through the different items and learning the stories of the people who created them. And as an added bonus, when you sign up for their newsletter, you get $10 off your first purchase! Score! Read on to see some of my top picks from Heart.com for those on a budget...

Free Sightseeing NYC: Roosevelt Island Tram

Good views in New York City are pricey! Tourists will pay about thirty dollars just to view the skyline from the top of Rockefeller Center and it costs over forty bucks to see the cityscape from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building. But there are other somewhat less impressive ways to view the infamous skyline for a fraction of the cost! How? The Roosevelt Island Tram. After a photographer friend showed me some breathtaking shots he had taken while aboard, I was convinced to check it out myself.

The Roosevelt Island Tram operates seven days a week and provides transportation between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. For one metro-card swipe, you can board the tram in Manhattan at 2nd Avenue and 60th St and enjoy the panoramic view that the three and half minute ride offers. The Chrystler Building, United Nations, and entire East Side are visible as you leisurely travel above the East River. The rain today ruined many of my pictures but Yelpers have posted tons of photos of the view including the ones below.

Once off of the tram, you can board a bus for $.25 that will take you around the perimeter of the two mile island. The parks at either end of Roosevelt Island, conveniently called Northpoint and Southpoint, also offer great views of Manhattan. I imagine on a sunny, warm day that picnicking would be a great idea! 

Granted, the view from the tippy top of a skyscraper is probably more impressive but if you're just looking to gape for a few minutes at the wonder of the man-made effort that is the NYC grid, the Roosevelt Island Tram is a great option!

If you're jonesing for another way to see the city skyline without paying an arm and a leg, check out my post about the Staten Island Ferry! 

How to Keep Your Tab Small When Dining with Friends

Let's be honest, having a social life and being on a budget is really hard sometimes. It seems like every time I hang out with my friends I end up spending money, especially on dining out. It's a tough situation because I don't want to miss out on spending time with my friends but I also know that I only have so much disposable income to spend on eating out.  When there's a get together at a restaurant that's a little out of my price range or if I've already spent the bulk of my "going out" money, I follow a few simple tricks to keep my dinner bill small so I don't have to miss out on the fun.

Enjoying a low-cost meal with friends...notice the bowl of soup!

1. Stick with water- That Sprite or Coke just tacks on an extra $2 to the price of your meal. You could buy a whole liter of the stuff for the same price!

2. Order an appetizer as your entree- Appetizers are almost always less expensive than entrees. Look for ones that are meant to be shared by the table like calamari or a pizzetta. You'll get an ample amount of food without breaking the bank.

or 

3. Order the soup!- I am a huge fan of ordering soup as my entree. Substantially cheaper than an entree, most restaurants feature a soup of the day that usually come in a hearty portion with a side of bread. 

4. Opt for dessert elsewhere- Yes, that cheesecake looks amazing, but is it really worth $5 dollars? Probably not. If I really need a sugar fix after dining out, I buy a candy bar on my way home. It's a much cheaper way to satisfy my sweet tooth.

There you have it, by following these tips you can enjoy the time you're spending with friends instead of worrying about how much it's costing you. And remember, don't over-restrict yourself. If you're dying to try a signature big-ticket dish at a new restaurant or heard rave reviews about a dessert on the menu, go for it!  Use these tips for those times when the food is less of a priority than the people you're with. 

How I Resist Impulse Buying and Love It!

Temptation to impulse buy is everywhere in New York City. Just walking home from work I have to resist the urge to buy those cute boots on sale at Zara's or a sweet-smelling cupcake from the bakery on the corner or that quirky lamp at the flea market that would look perfect in my room. Sure, impulse buying makes you feel great in the moment, but those purchases add up and ultimately leave you feeling depleted and depressed. To curb my impulse spending, I devised a system.  Each week I budget myself:

• $35 for groceries. I gave myself a grocery budget because I realized a lot of my impulse buying was happening at the supermarket. (It's hard to resist Trader Joe's Cranberry Almond Dunkers, am I right?)
• $30 for spending money- this goes towards eating out with my friends, attending events, clothing, accessories- anything not essential

I keep a piece of paper in my purse and jot down my purchases as I make them for each category (pictured above).  Then at the end of the week, I add up my purchases and whatever amount is left over, I withdraw from the bank. I then put the cash into a box I keep in my room so I can use it in the future. I've been doing this for the past month and have already saved so much. Seeing the actual cash accruing is really rewarding. And it motivates me to save. For example, this week I decided to use up a lot of the food in my cupboards and freezer. I ended up only spending $4 on groceries for fresh produce! The other $31 went into my Dinobox (it's the cute little metal box I use to store the money for future use).  I'm planning on using what I save to buy a new camera (or maybe a smartphone!). I can also dip into it when I have a sporadic expense like a haircut or when I need to get my shoes re-soled. Having the extra cash gives me a lot of piece of mind.

What works for me may not work for you but it's worth a try.  Curbing impulse spending frees up some cash that you can use to buy things you really want. I'd love to hear how you all resist the everyday temptations in New York!

Cheapest Places to Food Shop in NYC

Supermarket prices rise an astonishing 6% each year. And in New York City the cost of rent for large super markets drive prices up even further. As a frugal New Yorker, I've found that the best way to cut costs on groceries is to frequent several different food providers instead of one large super market. Here are my go-to spots:

1. Trader Joe's- Though technically a super market, Trader Joe's is unrivaled in value and quality. Almost everything in the store is produced under their own brand, cutting out the middle man and hence cutting costs. Where else in the city can you buy a pound of almonds for $5 or cereal for $2?  Trader Joes continually introduces new, tasty products. One of my recent favorites was their sweet honey apple butter which goes great on biscuits! But buyer beware, stores are usually crowded and lines long, especially in the evenings. It's not uncommon to see a line of customers just waiting to get into the store at the Union Square location. I recommend going on a weekday morning before the rush; shelves will be well stocked and you can forgo the hassle of shopping in a crowd.

2. Jack's 99 Cent Store- Call me crazy for grocery shopping at a dollar store but Jack's never disappoints. By purchasing excess inventory from other grocers, this off-price giant is able to offer a varying selection of food for just pennies. Their stock changes frequently and you literally never know what you'll find. The refrigerated section usually has some sort of unusually flavored hummus or cream cheese (I assume the flavors that manufacturers have a hard time marketing and are subsequently left over...like horeseradish cream cheese!). They have a mix of products from well-known as well as obscure brands . I once scored a jar of Biscoff spread (priced at $5.99 at Whole Foods) for just a buck! Again, lines are long and aisles tight, so come prepared to elbow your way for the deals.

3. Produce Carts- There are thousands of fruit carts in Manhattan. Vendors get the fruit from wholesale markets in neighboring boroughs so it is usually pretty fresh. Because vendors do not have to pay the overhead of rent, they are able to offer produce at a very low cost. Just yesterday, I stopped by one on 1st Avenue and 16th St and bought apples for 50 cents each. Carts are inspected at least once a year by the Health Department and are also subject to random inspection so sanitation should not be a concern (although resist the urge to eat your fruit right away...produce should always be washed before consumed regardless of where it comes from). An added bonus is you can always ask the vendor for a better price if you're buying in bulk or are a repeat customer.

4. Chinatown- Supermarkets in Chinatown offer great deals on exotic fish, spices, and produce. It's always a bit of an adventure braving the hoards of customers who frequent the market. It's equally as challenging communicating with the shop owners who rarely speak English. Even so, picking up a pound of fish for well-under the market value is nothing to turn your nose up at. And in the process you may even end up trying something new.

And there you have it! Food shopping that's fun and frugal. Do you know of any other places in the city that carry cheap groceries? I'm always on the look out!

Cheap Gyms in New York City

Asser Levy Recreation Center

Gyms, like so many things in New York City, are overpriced. A monthly membership to New York Sports Club or 24 Hour Fitness is $90, Crunch charges $100, and Equinox will run you close to $200. And that's not including initiation fees, personal training sessions, or the expensive fitness gear you'll need to buy to fit in. If you're like me, that's way out of your budget. Luckily, the New York Department of Parks and Recreation offers fit and frugal city dwellers a solution to this problem. Their 49 government sponsored recreation centers are scattered throughout the five boroughs and provide weight rooms, cardio centers, gymnasiums, and dance studios to the public. Some even include indoor pools!

 What's even more amazing is the price. At only $150 per year you gain access to all 49 facilities. And, as of 2015, they're offering a "Young Adult" membership option. If you're between 18 and 24 years old, annual membership is just $25. That's $2 per month!

Not every recreation center is created equal, I've found. I've been trying out a couple since signing up in September. The first one I checked out was dingy and small. The equipment was a bit outdated and to my chagrin, they only had one elliptical.

My favorite thus far has been the Chelsea Rec Center. They've got a wide variety of cardio equipment including treadmills, stair climbers, and ellipticals. They also have a separate spinning room where members can spin independently or drop in for a class. And the pool is huge! It is usually not too crowded and there is a certain community feeling amongst the members that I didn't feel when working out in some of those bigger name gyms. I would highly recommend exploring some of these facilities if you're searching for an affordable way to work out, especially now that temperatures are dropping. Here's a full list of locations. Let me know how you stay fit on a budget or if you know of any other cheap gyms in New York City.

The Pool @ Chelsea Rec Center

A Yoga Class in Session @ Chelsea Rec Center

Cardio Room @ Chelsea Rec Center