Student Blog: How to Survive New York City as a Broke College Student

As a broke college student, it IS possible to explore and experience the magic of New York City for a reasonable price, you just have to know where to look! Here are my top five budget-friendly adventures to go on in New York City.

Free Stand Up

If you've ever walked down Macdougal Street at night, I'm sure some comedian has tried to convince you to come to their show for $20+ but sometimes we don't have any money to spare. However, every Wednesday night, The Juke Bar (196 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003) hosts free stand up comedy. If you just suffered through boring lectures all day, this is a great way to unwind, and get in a good laugh. They have a new lineup every week with a huge variety of comedians (sometimes even women, it's crazy) so you'll always be entertained. Check out their instagram @thevillageidiot to see the comedians performing weekly. There is no drink or food minimum requirement, it's completely free! If you're a stand up lover, you have to check out The Juke Bar.

Thrifting

If you change your aesthetic every month like I do, thrifting is a must. It's a sustainable and fun way to revamp your closet. You can shop guilt free while saving the environment and also stay on trend. My personal favorite spots include: Goodwill Bins (47-47 Van Dam St, Queens, NY 11101), Goodwill (1704 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128), L Train Vintage (204 1st Ave., New York, NY 10009), Urban Jungle (118 Knickerbocker Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237) and East Village Thrift Shop (186 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003). Goodwill Bins is the most wallet friendly as everything is priced based on how much it weighs. So the cute y2k slip top you snatch up would be less than $1! That's a steal.

Little Island

Little Island at Pier 55 is the perfect place to have a date or fun night out with friends. It's right on the Hudson River, and has a great view of the city skyline. Plus, it's totally free! There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the city in peace. New York City can be a very overwhelming place, so having a spot to detox is a necessity. This is one of my favorite places in New York City and if you haven't been, you should definitely make your way down to Hudson River Park.

Too Good To Go

This is an app that fights food waste! You can get a "surprise bag" of unsold excess food for under $6 from restaurants and bakeries near you. The first time I tried it, my friends and I went on a food crawl and tried a few different places. We had a feast of miscellaneous foods including croissants, pizza, coffee cake, and an assortment of pastries. My roommate(shoutout to Caroline, you're the best) likes to get the surprise bag from Bagel Bobs and always comes back home with over a dozen bagels. It's always fun to try new restaurants and get a surprise, so download the app for some cheap eats!

Broadway Lottery Tickets

I love watching live theater, but it can get so expensive. A great option to see shows is to enter lotteries. Most tickets are around $30, though some are less, and all lottery tickets are under $64, which is a total bargain. It's online, accessible, and it's super easy. You can enter for specific performances and you'll hear about the results a few hours before the show. You can also get rush or standing room tickets but you'll have to get up early to wait in a long line for multiple hours, and there is no guarantee you'll get a ticket. With lotteries, you can get one or two tickets, so you and a friend can take a trip to Midtown and see a show for a reasonable price.

So no matter what your fun budget is - there is always an adventure to fit your wallet in NYC.