rents versus salaries (New York, Ridge, York: apartments, rent, home)
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I am just wondering how secretaries/administrative assistants/clerks/retail workers can afford to live even in the outer boroughts. If you look at Craigslist, these jobs generally pay $10-$12 per hour (if that) unless you are a highly skilled and experienced, college-degreed person. I know many young people do share apartments, but how you share a small studio apartment? With rents going for a minimum of $1,000, and up, per month for a studio, how do these people afford it?
I am just wondering how secretaries/administrative assistants/clerks/retail workers can afford to live even in the outer boroughts. If you look at Craigslist, these jobs generally pay $10-$12 per hour (if that) unless you are a highly skilled and experienced, college-degreed person. I know many young people do share apartments, but how you share a small studio apartment? With rents going for a minimum of $1,000, and up, per month for a studio, how do these people afford it?
u cant by urself. u must share it with 2 or 3 ppl. thats y alot of ppl move out of nyc everyday.
I am just wondering how secretaries/administrative assistants/clerks/retail workers can afford to live even in the outer boroughts. If you look at Craigslist, these jobs generally pay $10-$12 per hour (if that) unless you are a highly skilled and experienced, college-degreed person. I know many young people do share apartments, but how you share a small studio apartment? With rents going for a minimum of $1,000, and up, per month for a studio, how do these people afford it?
the moral to the story is to go back to school, or go for training that will allow to command a higher salary, 10-12 bucks an hour is not sufficient to live on anywhere, especially NYC
The reality of it is that such folks do NOT live *Manhattan* centric lifestyles. Yes, they live in the outer boroughs, but they do not live in the trendy neigborhoods of the borough. They live in areas that you probably haven't heard of, and for the most part aren't advertised on Craig's list.
Some of these areas are not considered *good* neighborhoods, others are Brooklyn centric areas where people are *native* to the neighborhoods. Their familes (parents, uncles, siblings, cousins, etc. all live in or near the neighborhoods. They live at home, they're married with **husband** (or wife), two incomes allow them to make it. They are true New Yorkers---they're born here---they haven't come here in order to life as a "Friends" episode. They live life just as you would "back home". Natives always live more cheaply that tourists----it'll take years before you become a NYer, if ever.
I suggest neighborhoods such as Midwood, Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, in Brooklyn, they are far, generally an hour's commute by subway. At night, if you hang out in Manhattan say past 9 p.m., you wont take the subway----you'll cab it home, say $20-30 bucks. Unless you have a car, then you go home pick the car and drive back to the city. Or, for the most part you hang out in the neighborhood.
As far as sharing a studio---these people simply are transferring their college dorm life into adulthood. They live just like in college---'cept they don't have to study---just go to work; and they're off time is just one be keg party! If you have done the college thing, then you maybe at a loss to grasp the reality. Plus, these children can *always* phone home for money. It's not unusual for mom and dad to be paying the rent.
I suggest you either stay where you are, or get set to become a *true* NYer---one of the Bridge and Tunnel set.
Luck!
P.S., there's always the suburban areas of both Jersey and Westchester county.
Don't forget that there are tons of families in rent-stabilized apts. When I talk to the checkers and clerks at various shops, they usually still live at home with their parents.
As an Administrative Assistant the salary you suggested is really on the low end. In 1996, I made $18 per hour and today the number is rather large. Let's put it, I made over $60,000 when I left NYC 9 months ago. Yes, I am a college degree Admin, who had a degree in Social Work, but the pay was to low to live on. It will be hard for anyone to live in NYC on any salary below $45,000. You have no choice but to live in the outboroughs and seek affordable housing. I did live in a rent stabilize apartment where my rent was considered low, compared to my higher paying neighbors. However, I lived in that apartment for many years. When I thought about moving, I looked outside of NYC where things are more affordable and you are able to own.
A lot of the people doing those types of low paid clerical jobs are young women in their early-mid 20s. Most of them either still live with their family at home or live with their husband/boyfriend.
$15 isn't so unusual, especially for small offices. I think that type of salary is pretty standard for doing clerical work in a small office.
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