Living on a Budget
2) What’s it like living on $1200 a month in New York City? Is that some kind of joke?
Courtney Ng - Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
I would describe it as tough, but doable...
I would describe it as tough, but doable. You definitely have to live on a budget, but with food stamps and metrocards provided, your salary can just cover rent and fun activities. It’s not an extravagant lifestyle for sure, but it’s comfortable if you’re willing to be frugal. In a strange way, it also creates a sense of community amongst BETAs, because we all know that we don’t have a lot of money, so we spend a lot of time just hanging out and finding free things to do.
Alexandra DiAddezio - Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
It's definitely possible. Of course, you have to be aware of your spending...
It’s definitely possible. Of course, you have to be aware of your spending and budget appropriately, but with the government pretty much covering my food costs, I really have not found it to be much of a struggle. I even have enough each month to go out to dinner occasionally and do other fun things in the city. It’s also a good lesson in creativity.
Juliana Bailey - Hometown: White Plains, NY
I live outside New York City at my parents house...
I live outside New York City at my parents house, so it is slightly more managable for me than for the rest of the BETAS I believe. Currently my only expense is the $230 that I spend on a monthly Metro North train pass. Unfortunately, my time and sleeping pattern is what suffers instead of my wallet. I wake up at 5:15 each morning to get to school at around 7:00 AM. I take a train, the subway, and a bus each day in the morning and the afternoon. For me it is actually not that bad because I thoroughly enjoy riding public transportation. However, it does eat up a lot of my time.
Sean Kickham - Hometown: Chesterfield, MO
It's definitely possible. Coming out of college...
Haha. It’s definitely possible. Coming out of college, you know how to live on a budget. You’re not living a glamorous lifestyle, but you can find good deals on Craigslist for apartments and furniture. With food stamps, eating’s never a problem and the metrocard Blue Engine provides us allows me to get anywhere in the city for free–and I still have enough left over to go out and shop every once in a while.
Elizabeth Daugherty - Hometown: Norfolk, VA
It's definitely possible, though it forces you to learn how to budget...
It’s definitely possible, though it forces you to learn how to budget. I’ve found it to be easier than living on a college budget.
Sheyna Mikeal - Hometown: Baltimore, MD
If you have other bills besides room and board it is really hard...
If you have other bills besides room and board it is really hard. I currently have a phone bill to cover both me and my father, and credit card bills. These extra bills makes it really hard to live on this budget but having a roommate has really helped this. I just can’t splurge on eating out all the time and etc. BETAs are also eligible for food stamps–that helps out a lot!
Emily Figueroa - Hometown: New York, NY
It can be pretty stressful to live on $1200 a month, but it is definitely feasible...
It can be pretty stressful to live on $1200 a month, but it is definitely feasible. The 30-day unlimited MetroCard is a life saver! Getting food stamps has proven kind of difficult, but for those who have them they really make things a lot better, too. As far as socializing goes, there are always good happy hours to go to, and since most people live in apartments with other young roommates more often than not everyone can just hang out in one spot and save money that way. It’s all about figuring out when and how to spend your money, but the bottom line is that you do have enough of it to survive and have a decently good time doing it.
Willy Golden - Hometown: New York, NY
It is totally doable, you just have to be a little bit more resourceful...
It is totally doable, you just have to be a little bit more resourceful. Get roommates!
Lauren Gleason - Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Living on $1200 a month (really $1000 with taxes FYI) in New York City is not as hard...
Living on $1200 a month (really $1000 with taxes FYI) in New York City is not as hard as I thought it would be. Most of my pay check goes to rent and utilities, but with food stamps I still have a little left over each month for a gym membership and “mad money.” I’m not going to lie–it can be extremely frustrating, but I do not feel deprived of anything. Plus, babysitting and other part-times jobs can help take some of the pressure off.
Alysa Delerme - Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
I'm lucky because I'm from New York and get to live at home...
I’m lucky because I’m from New York and get to live at home, so I don’t have to worry about things like rent. However, I’m still paying back loans and trying to save up some money for the future, so I don’t just spend away all of my checks. I think the most important thing is knowing how to budget your money. If you’re realistic with yourself about how much shopping or going out you can afford, and use your food stamps wisely (to buy food you can lunch with throughout the week, for example), I think living on $1200/month (or around $1000 after taxes) is do-able.
Daniel Horowitz - Hometown: Congleton, UK
It is certainly possible as long as you are careful with budgeting and take advantage...
It is certainly possible as long as you are careful with budgeting and take advantage of good deals in the city (free happy hours). I am still learning to budget appropriately and some months I do end up living outside my means, but I know I can get by on what I make and still be able to enjoy myself. The extra benefits we get are great too. Food stamps cover the cost of nearly all the food I buy, and the metro cards allow us to travel all over the city for free. Luckily, I love what I am doing so I don’t think about the money too much, and the experience is worth much more to me.
Joyden McKiver - Hometown: Lumberton, NC
I have definitely learned how to budget living on a 1200 dollar stipend...
I have definitely learned how to budget living on a 1200 dollar stipend. There are things that I wish I could do in this great city that I am not able to do, but at the same time I am enjoying myself with the options available to me on a minimal budget. I live in a BETA house, and I think it would be less stressful for the new class of BETA’s to come in with a backup fund, meaning about $1,000-$3,000 because things come up unexpectedly and finding housing in NYC can be challenging. Overall, if you put your needs ahead of your wants you should be fine!
- What made you decide to do Blue Engine over other national service programs?
- What’s it like living on $1200 a month in New York City? Is that some kind of joke?
- What does a typical day look like?
- How was training? Do you feel like Blue Engine prepared you for the academic year?
- What are some of the pros/cons of working alongside teachers and other members of your team inside classrooms every day?
- What kinds of opportunities are you exploring in the year(s) beyond this current service experience? In what ways has Blue Engine helped clarify and/or confuse your thinking on this?
- Anything else you’d like to add? Any advice for prospective applicants or observers in the education field?
