<p>I know that spending money is subjective...but how much should I budget per month/week if I plan on enjoying the city?</p>
<p>bump **********</p>
<p>You're going to a city where a bottle of water costs $3.50....I suggest budgeting $1k/month if you're Scrooge, $3k/month or more if your spending style resembles that of Paris Hilton.</p>
<p>IMO $500/month is enough for an undergrad student if you're getting a 19 meal plan.</p>
<p>It shouldn't be too hard for you to find a $1.50 water bottle in the city once you become a true new yorker, by the way.</p>
<p>$1000 a month? What are you eating, lobster and turtle soup? I'd say Scrooge-like is $350 a month. $1000 is more like clubbing, restaurant dinners, and shopping.</p>
<p>Also, I had 19 meals a week freshman year, and my monthly budget was no more than $75. That covered toiletries, school supplies, laundry, and the occasional movie ticket or new book.</p>
<p>This whole topic of money was also addressed in this thread (<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=167187%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=167187</a>) where a number of students with different lifestyles gave input.</p>
<p>phew. Shades_children, thank you so much</p>
<p>I'm planning on spending more the first month or two, but somewhere around $200-400 a month the rest of the year.</p>
<p>Of course, I'm overestimating.</p>
<p>Well I'm overestimating because I feel that having money left over is ALWAYS better than not having enough money.</p>
<p>yeah, freekobe07 it was pretty awesome. Kobe's last shot. Heat suck!</p>
<p>wow..ihateCA, your information is absolutely wrong, I live about 30 minutes from the city (in jersey) and I have gone to MANY places within the city to eat and club and chill, idk who told you bottled water costs 3.50 but in my honest opinion things are CHEAPER (in terms of coke and bottled water it's usually $1 or LESS) in the city than other places, maybe if you freakin shop and eat all the time on 5th avenue it's a different story, but honestly I would go with shadeschildren's response on this one.</p>
<p>I lived in nY and frequently went into Manhattan in the 2.5 years I lived there. I know everything in Manhattan's more expensive (with the exception of real estate) than outside Manhattan. I'm exaggerating this fact.</p>
<p>Entering NYU students - Duane Reade is located in Union Square as is Walgreens. Lots of grocery stores too where you can buy water in 24 packs for under 10 dollars. Not everyone in NY is wealthy enough to spend $3.50 on a water bottle, in fact no self-respecting "New Yorker" which is what you all will be very soon would be willing to pay that much even if they could afford to do so.</p>
<p>There are lots of bargins in NY in terms of food and entertainment. No one should panic!</p>
<p>Conservative estimate: $100-150/week for personal expenses, transportation, entertainment.</p>
<p>i'd say 300-400 a month will be sufficient. if you find a girlfriend, expect to double that, haha.</p>
<p>why if you have girl friend, you have to double the expenses..why not vice-versa....the other way that you can save some by having girl pay for you, or both stay in library....</p>
<p>i guess if you are a girl and you find a boyfriend, you can halve the expenses ;-)</p>
<p>yesssss =]</p>
<p>I've been technically a "new yorker" for 18 years ihateca..so please, spare me.</p>
<p>Yeah his(/her) calculations would make a "typical" budget be about 2k a month. That would mean we'd be spending 24k + 50k NYU costs for a grand totaly of 74k/year for college. :-D I don't know that anyone would pay THAT much!</p>
<p>You may be overestimating to have more money left over, but I think you're overestimating to the point where your figures are basically irrelevant.</p>