So far in my life I have ran several 5k’s, 10k’s, 15k’s, 1 half marathon and 2 mud race obstacle courses; Warrior Dash (3 miles) & Tough Mudder (12 mles).

All of these things cost money. Half/Marathons and the mud races all cost ~$100, for an experience of course. Paying for competition. Paying for a challenge. Often times because we need that to push ourselves, for additional motivation. Or because it is a challenge we, ourselves, cannot recreate.

Warrior Dash

Simply put, the Warrior Dash, a 3 mile long obstacle course, is a party. It is something silly for a group of friends to do on a weekend. It is not all that challenging so even if you are not physically fit, you will not have a problem. The obstacles will make you feel like a kid again, climbing in tunnels, through mud, playing with fire and over rope nets.

But some of the obstacles aren’t really. Like walking along the shore in a lake for an eighth of a mile. Sure, it’s tiring, but it is not physically challenging. This “dash” is meant to be fun. Crawling through the mud is fun. Jumping over fire is fun. It is not difficult – all of that is just hype.

As someone who is physically fit, I would not pay $65 again to run this race alone. With a group of friends, maybe, but still it is a pretty high price tag for what comes out to be a 5k with a few speedbumps.

Fun Rating: 8 – good times!
Difficulty Rating: Mental & Physical – 3 – easy peasy
Cost: $$$ – $50-$100

Tough Mudder

The Tough Mudder is a 12 mile long obstacle course. The obstacles are not necessarily physically challenging, however, the course takes a lot of endurance and mental stamina to keep going. You may overcome a fear or two (like jumping off a 15′ platform or crawling through underground tunnels).

Really though, it is just long. If you are physically fit, the “obstacles” will not be a problem for you. But you will get tired. The energy it takes to run 12 miles plus throw your body over an 8′ wall, across a cargo net, on the ground, trudge through muddy water, etc, is a tremendous amount.

Was it fun? Not really. Am I glad I did it? Yes. Did I feel a sense of accomplishment after? Nah. Again, I feel like this would be more significant to a group of friends who aren’t the most physically fit folks and want to do a crazy insane challenge together.

Fun Rating: 2 – hell!
Difficulty Rating: Mental – 8 – overcome your fears; Physical – 5 – easy obstacles, just so many of them
Cost: $$$$ – $100-$126

Readers…

Can you justify paying for unenjoyable-at-the-time experiences/challenges that you know will be worth it later?

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The Brooklyn Book Festival takes place this Sunday the 18th in downtown Brooklyn around Borough Hall. All events are free, some require (free) tickets, and this all takes place from 10a-6p.

Just a few of the plethora of events:

• The Phantom Tollbooth at 50: From the fantastic imagination of Norton Juster and the unforgettable sketch of Jules Feiffer, the classic children’s story The Phantom Tollbooth was created 50 years ago in Brooklyn Heights. Join the famed author/ illustrator pair in a conversation with Leonard Marcus.
  12p. – St. Francis Auditorium (180 Remsen Street) (tickets required)
• Comedy in Comics: Join and laugh with four artists of comics that are surreal, political, and hilarious: Eisner-nominated and cult-favorite Michael Kupperman (Mark Twain’s Autobiography: 1910-2010); Harvey, Glyph, and Inkpot Award-winning Keith Knight (The Knight Life: Chivalry Ain’t Dead); web-comics phenomenon Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant); and newcomer Jennifer Hayden (Underwire). Moderated by Heidi MacDonald of The Beat and Publishers Weekly Comics World.
  1p – St. Francis Screening Room (180 Remsen Street)
• Moving Pictures: From B Movies to the Art House, film is possibly the most powerful broadcast medium of the past century—taking us on flights of fancy as often as it brings us face-to-face with the more unpleasant nature of the contemporary world. J. Hoberman (Army of Phantoms), Jason Zinoman (Shock Value), and Roberta Seret (World Affairs in Foreign Films) discuss the role of movies in understanding our world and ourselves. Moderated by film critic and Light Industry founder, Ed Halter.
  5p – St. Francis Screening Room (180 Remsen Street)
• Media Representations and Reality The debate continues over whether the media reflects reality or has a hand in shaping it. Like Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, the act of presenting the news can very often alter it. No one knows this better than Brooke Gladstone of “On the Media,” whose new book The Influencing Machine with Josh Neufeld examines the role of the media in American society. Patrice Evans, (Negropedia), examines media representations of African-Americans, and Jennifer Pozner (Reality Bites Back) looks at the completely unreal world of reality television. Moderated by Juan Gonzalez (News for All the People).
  5p – Brooklyn Historical Society Main Hall (128 Pierrepont Street)

View All the festival events!

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I knew that groceries would be expensive in Manhattan. They were expensive in NJ so thought the difference would be negligible. It was not.

Here’s my first shopping trip on the upper west side:

Grated parm: $3.91
Grapes @ $2.69/lb: $5.33
100% whole grain bread: $3.99
Jarred Pesto: $3.59
Unsalted butter: $4.39
Cottage Cheese: $3.79
Strawberries: $3.99
Nellie’s Natural Eggs: $2.69
Chicken breasts: $6.01

Now, let’s compare this to the prices of some of these at a central New Jersey Wegman’s super market:

Cottage Cheese: $2.99
Unsalted Butter: $2.79
Strawberries: $2.49
Eggs: $3.69
Grapes @ $2.49/lb
Pesto: $2.49
Bread: $2.69

Shopping Around

Now, I am sure that the prices are cheaper in the outer boroughs and plan to experiment with that at some point. There might also be cheaper grocery stores 20-30 blocks away, but then convenience and time becomes a factor as well.

Because of these prices, I have been a bit deterred from cooking at home. I did make a vodka sauce last week but the can of stewed tomatoes (14 oz) was $1.99.

Also, remember that storage space is extremely limited. Even if I could carry home a month’s worth of groceries, I have no place to put them! For this reason, I have begun buying groceries by meal, which creates added costs as well.

I have yet to figure out the most cost effective method of eating (groceries vs take out) and will have to visit some more near by markets for a better cost comparison.

Readers…

How have you handled higher-than-expected grocery costs?

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I have been living in Manhattan for officially a month now and have been out of the frugal loop lately. Every time I catch up on fellow frugal blogs and articles, I just don’t find anything I can relate to.

Urban Living

I no longer have a car so I don’t need gas saving tips. I have no storage space, so I can’t buy in bulk. I have access to a plethora of free events, so I don’t need ideas on cheap dates. I rent an apartment, so I don’t need homeowner’s tips. I live with roommates, so I don’t need information on co-habitation budgets. I have to carry my groceries home, so I can’t stock up on sale items. I don’t do my own laundry, so I don’t need homemade detergent. Groceries are exorbitantly expensive and eating out can be really really cheap.

Staying Frugal

However, even though I may not be doing all of these essential money-saving tips that don’t apply to my lifestyle, I am still saving money.

I am tracking my spending and keeping an eye on my monthly budget. I balance between free, cheap & expensive-but-worth it activities. And most importantly, I buy less.

I buy less because:

1. I don’t have space
2. Things are heavy
3. There are so many activities to do that I never go shopping because I’m “bored”.

Saving money might seem difficult living in an expensive city, but it really is balanced out by being forced to live a more minimalist lifestyle.

Readers…

How well does your life relate to essential frugal advice?

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With summer closing in, weekends are full of free events in NYC. Here are a few fun things to do this weekend, without spending a dime!

Free Cab Ride

Thursday May 26, 4p-6p
To celebrate some show moving to a new time, all cabs with a Dr. Oz promo on top will be free! These cabs will begin at major Manhattan destinations (Grand Central, Penn Station, etc) but once they drop off their initial passengers, they are free to anyone until 6p!

Free Movie on the Intrepid

Friday May 27, 7:30p at Pier 86
Ever wanted to watch a movie on an aircraft carrier? On Fridays throughout the summer, free movies are offered on the Intrepid! This Friday they are screening Top Gun! Doors open at 7:30p but space is limited so get there early.

Free Wine Tasting

Saturday May 28, 1p-7p in Union Square
Union Square’s Anniversary Hyper Tasting is this Saturday and will feature nearly 100 wine’s for you to taste free! No RSVP required.

Readers, how often do you take advantage of local free activities?

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Since incomes are relative, my recaps are in percentages instead of dollar amounts.

Income

I received an income tax refund but also had to pay some taxes, however the refund did make for some nice extra income this month. This is fortunate since I forgot to factor it into April’s budget.

Fixed Expenses

I am still adjusting to the new apartment utility expenses which are, thankfully, much cheaper than at the last apartment.

Total April Fixed Expenses: Budgeted – 44%; Actual – 35%

Variable Expenses

I became a bit too excited about updating my summer wardrobe and spent far too much on clothes. Also, I did my annual hair highlights and should have factored that into my budget from the beginning. Thankfully my tax refund helped to balance out this over spending.

This was the first month I tracked my alcohol expenses individually. My estimate wasn’t too far off but I was surprised by just how much I spent on alcohol alone. Really, it is more the cost of socializing with friends, but I would like to cut this down next month.

This was also my first full month of commuting from Jersey City into Manhattan. The commute was far less than I expected with a total of $63 for the entire month! I separate MTA (nyc subway) because that is for my own leisure purposes and is not related to my commute.

Total April Variable Expenses: Budgeted – 32%; Actual – 22%

Savings

Last month, I took money from my emergency savings to cover the security deposit of my new apartment. I made sure to replace that this month.

Total April Savings: Budgeted – 17%; Actual – 15%

Still need a budget?

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Readers…

How did your April budget look? What unexpected expenses did you have?

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Often when grocery shopping we only focus on prices, discounts, sales and coupons. The best deal often means buying in bulk or multiples of an item (buy one get one free). However, shopping in this way is only possible if you have 1) a lot of storage space and 2) an easy way to get all this home.

If you own a car, purchasing large amounts of groceries at one time is not a problem. You can bring them all out to your car in a cart then make multiple trips from the car to your house once home.

Next time you are grocery shopping, imagine you have to walk home from the store; at least a 10 minute walk. How would you shop differently?

Quantity Over Price

Since I no longer own a car, I have found myself buying a lot less groceries! Quantity/size has been my priority over price. I know that the bulk peanut butter is cheaper but I cannot carry that in addition to a 5lb bag of flour. While I would like to purchase the cans of tomatoes that are on sale, I do not need them and they will only make my bags heavier to carry.

Purchasing Necessities

I now focus on the necessities and items I will need soon instead of stocking up on items simply because they are on sale. While the actual price may not be cheaper, in the long run, buying less will always result in saving money.

Readers…

Would you have to make adjustments to your grocery shopping style if you were restricted to only what you could carry?

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I am putting together a moving guide to chronicle my most recent move to a new apartment. The guide will include finding a new apartment, moving cheaply & efficiently, and adapting to a new lifestyle.

How To Move In A Week

1. Create a new budget
2. Find subleaser
3. Sell car
4. Purge belongings

I will highlight each of these in future blog posts. Let’s start with the first.

Create A New Budget

My first post in the “Guide to Moving” series was determining what you can afford. This involves planning. Thinking ahead to where you will be moving to, what the rents are like in the area and creating a perspective budget. But sometimes, moves happen faster than we expect.

When I was looking ahead at these NYC budgets, I knew my lease did not end until May. I was merely planning ahead but did not want to get too ahead of myself. However, at the end of February, I received an email from a friend.

Her roommate had moved out unexpectedly and they needed someone to take the room. The apartment was an hour closer to work and the same exact rent as my current one in central New Jersey. I would not need a car and the cost and time of commuting would decrease drastically with absolutely no change in rent!

Even though I had no desire to live in that part of New Jersey and was not planning on moving until the spring, I simply could not pass up the idea of saving an extra $500 a month.

Proposed Budget

I was able to take out all my auto expenses, cut the commuting costs in more than half and not have to change much else! Although the thought of a spontaneous move was daunting, to be able to save a considerable amount of money each month was certainly an unexpected opportunity I was very happy about!

So readers…

Would you consider a fast move if it meant an increase in monthly income/savings? How much time do you need to prepare to move?

Subscribe to my feed to read about the second step as soon as its posted!

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Since incomes are relative, my recaps are in percentages instead of dollar amounts.

Moved!

This was a weird month because I unexpectedly moved to a new apartment. Throughout the month, I incorporated moving expenses (and profits) into my budget and made decreases in other categories to offset the unplanned spending.

Income

I sold my car, received my apt security deposit, received an auto insurance credit and sold various pieces of furniture this month. This resulted in an additional $2,000 to my monthly income. For this reason, the percentages are not a direct comparison but still useful to know.

Fixed Expenses

I cancelled my auto insurance when I sold my car and received a refund for what I had already paid. I went over on my texting again, however, I have decided to increase my monthly plan by $5. I have the room in my budget to do this and it makes more sense than paying the overcharges every month.

Total January Fixed Expenses: Budgeted – 62%; Actual – 35%

Variable Expenses

When I learned I was moving, I immediately added an “apt/move” category to my budget and made adjustments in other categories accordingly. Thankfully, I over-estimated my moving expenses!

Total January Variable Expenses: Budgeted – 62%; Actual – 50%

Savings

This month I set-up categories for multiple saving funds in my budget. Instead of only adding to my emergency savings, I want to be able to add a little bit to an entertainment fund (races, concerts, etc) and a travel fund each month I included them in my budget to start a routine of adding to them.

I took money from my emergency savings to cover the security deposit of the new apartment. When I receive the check from the old place, it will immediately go into the emergency fund.

Total January Savings: Budgeted – 8%; Actual – 5%

Still need a budget?

Download my 2011 Budget Template!

Readers…

How did your March budget look? What unexpected expenses did you have?

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I am putting together a moving guide to chronicle my most recent move to a new apartment. The guide will include finding a new apartment, moving cheaply & efficiently, and adapting to a new lifestyle.

Before you can start looking for a new place to live, you need to determine what you can afford. You may desire to live in a certain part of town, style of apt, or have your own place, but before you can even get started looking, you should make a realistic budget to keep you within your means.

Signing the lease on an apartment then realizing the rent makes your comfort of living tighter than you’d like, is a recipe for credit card debt.

Yes, this entire guide will involve apartments – I’m just not ready for mortgages yet.

The 30% Rule

Take your current budget, or create a new one if you don’t already have one (but you should!) and start plugging in a few increased rent numbers. It helps if your budget can show you the percentage of your income.

The “golden rule” is that your rent should be no more than 30% of your monthly income. Start with that.

Put in a rent amount that equals 30% of your income into the budget. Now look at the rent prices for your desired living situation and see how that matches up. Higher? Lower?

Keep in mind that your lifestyle may change as well. If you move to an area with a lot entertainment options, restaurants, or 24 hour places, you may find yourself spending more on eating out than you are used to. Try to factor this into your budget!

Moving to a Higher Cost of Living

I have been working in New York City for the past year commuting an hour and twenty minutes from central New Jersey paying 13% of my income on commuting.

I decided in the beginning of the year that I wanted to move closer to or directly to the city. However, I also knew that there would be a huge difference in rent.

I immediately began toying around with numbers on spreadsheets, comparing living on my own to living with roommates.

Living Sans Car

The most important factor I had to keep in mind with this type of move, is that I would not need a car. So, the first change I made was to take my current budget (from January) and add up my car expenses.

EZ Pass: $25 (not monthly)
Car Gas: $120
Insurance: $154

That alone is almost $300 without factoring in any car repair/maintenance. That extra money can go towards my rent without noticing much of a difference.

Moving closer to work means commuting will be cheaper. Moving into the city will reduce my commuting cost by at least $200.

That is $500/month saved simply by moving closer to work and selling my car.

Living With Roommates

In January, my rent was $535/month. Putting all of the car savings into this means I can easily afford $1,000/month rent. This is a reasonable rent price in nyc with roommates.

Even though it brings my rent percentage to 37% of my monthly income, it allows me to put over 10% into my emergency fund and meet my goals of adding to a travel and entertainment fund as well.

Living On My Own

Playing with the numbers some more, let’s see if I could comfortably afford my own apartment.

Jumping up to $1,500 rent (55%) of my income puts me into the red by $150. If I really wanted to try to make it work I have a few options: stop going to therapy, don’t put any money into savings, or stop paying my student loan (I am paid ahead).

Really though, that might be a bit unrealistic. I would worry about cutting into my savings when going over my entertainment budget or buying clothes. Also, this does not allow for any travel fund savings.

  

   

  
 

Now let’s try another 1BR option, a little bit cheaper to put me right at 50% and just barely above the line with $2.00 left at the end of the month. This includes putting 5% into the emergency fund every month, and not into any other saving fund. This is do-able though would not leave much wiggle room. However, privacy is definitely a worthy bonus.   

   

   

   

   

   

 

Go Get Started

Now that you have mocked up some budgets, you have an idea of what price range you can and cannot afford for rents. This will keep your apartment hunting in the realistic realm.

Readers, what do you think?

How much of your income could you comfortably spend on rent? What types of sacrifices would you make to be in your ideal living situation? To live in a highly desirable area, how much of the 30% rule should be thrown out the window? Would you sacrifice adding money to savings or paying a bill to live in your perfect place?

If you’re curious what I decided, subscribe to my feed so you can read part 2 of my Ultimate Moving Guide as soon as it is posted!

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