When You Got to NYC, You Couldn't Believe (____) Was So Expensive. (New York: real estate, insurance)

[Indi9]

Groceries. I almost passed out at check out. Then I had to go home and completely re-do my budget. That was about eleven years ago, and I had planned on living on my savings for a while. Luckily, I moved here in the summer, in June, so there was plenty of free stuff to do. By August, I was working. But that first grocery store experience is indelible, never to be forgotten. lol

[DjRey]

I go to New York frequently to visit family. Im a tell you that shopping for clothes is WAY cheaper in NY than Cali.We have high prices on everything,tax on retail clothes and food alone is like 8.75%??.I know in New York they got that thing about no tax on clothes under a certain price.That is the best,These bustas would never do that out here! The BART system also is expensive. Out here it ranges from 2.00 to 7.50. And its not that great public transportation. New York IS cheaper than the Bay Area for alot of the basic necesities.

[Moderate Guy]

[quote=DjRey;6309277]II know in New York they got that thing about no tax on clothes under a certain price.That is the best,QUOTE]

just FYI, the tax free holidays aren't permanent and can be changed by the legislature at any time.

[Henna]

I don't think he's talking about tax-free holidays. All clothing under $110 isn't taxed here anymore. Used to be.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by Henna

I don't think he's talking about tax-free holidays. All clothing under $110 isn't taxed here anymore. Used to be.

You are correct, Henna. Happy Thanksgiving!

[passdoubt]

Originally Posted by joninaz

Do smokers now buy online? Just curious. In Arizona the ciggy taxes are relatively lower but still many people drive to smoke shops on Native American reservations to buy cartons. I would think that some enterprising folks would be shipping smokes to NY via mail/UPS.

Yes. The City and State are suing the reservations to try to collect tax money too. They sell them on the streets in Harlem. Go to 125 and listen to the guys standing around chanting "Newports... looseys... Newports... looseys"

But to answer this question, when I got to NYC, I couldn't believe the women were so expensive.

[YBF]

I moved from NY to Atlanta and besides housing and property taxes nothing is that much cheaper....it kinda all balances out...groceries are the same price if not more and they charge tax on that....dont remember having that tax in NY... car insurance is a little cheaper but then they charge you an ad valorem(auto tax) and its not cheap either!!! 2007 Toyota Camry $300 oh and next year it'll only be $250....Gas is a little cheaper its only like $1.70 here now but guess what you NEED a car and you have to drive 35-50 miles 30 minutes-1 hour everywhere!!!!! Since Ive been here I havent saved not one dime. I feel like I am spending more for nothing..........Id take that shoe box in NY any day than to pay for a nice big apt/house in the middle of nowhere Atlanta. Its not that much cheaper overall please dont let ppl fool you.

[YBF]

Oh I forgot i have to go to the mall for clothes and accessories there isnt an area where I can get cool clothes/shoes for cheap or reasonable prices....like 125th st or Fulton Street Brooklyn...its just the Simon and Westfield Malls yuk!!!!! [SIZE=2]
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[dixiecupdrinking]

Originally Posted by bmwguydc

...Also, admission fees to movies, attractions, etc. are generally less expensive than NY....

YES. Movies.

Edited to add, in Brooklyn at least the basic everyday necessities don't strike me as being that much more expensive. Groceries, for example, or basic drug-store stuff. However, entertainment related expenses are definitely higher, i.e., beer, and movies, as noted elsewhere. That said, there are also more deals to be found here than most cities, I'd say, and it just feels that much better when you find a 2-for-1 happy hour in NYC.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by passdoubt

But to answer this question, when I got to NYC, I couldn't believe the women were so expensive.

Wish that was my only problem. I increased the line item on my budget titled "women expense"significantly, but somehow while my other budget categories have had need to be fully utilized this one category always remains in surplus or unexpended.