There’s a lot to get used to once you finally make it to New York City for your internship, including how expensive it can be. Here are a few tips for how to save money during your stay:

Take public transport

Although it might seem like a lot to take in at first, the New York City public transport system is one of the best in the world and more often than not it’s the fastest way to get around town. The NYC subway costs just $2.75 one way for any length of journey, making it the best way to save money on your commute. If you’re getting the subway to and from work, it may even save you money to get an unlimited pass Metrocard, which is priced at $121 but allows you unlimited rides on the subway, buses and trams for a month. That means, if you get the subway more than 44 times in a month, you’ll be saving money by going with the unlimited pass. 

If you want to get taxis late at night or for other reasons, the best way to save money is to ride share. Uber, Lyft and Via Van are all well respected ride sharing apps available to download and use in the New York City area.

Make your own lunch (or know the cheap places to buy lunch)

Lunch in New York City can be one of the biggest drains on an intern’s budget. While permanent employees might go to salad bars for their daily lunch, that $11 salad a day will soon add up, when really you could be saving that money or spending it on other things like exploring the city. The best way to save money on lunch is to buy some tupperware and bring your own lunch to work. You can make sandwiches or salads in advance the night before and simply throw them in the fridge for the next day. Although it takes some forward planning, this could save you $55 a week (or more). And remember, you can take advantage of the free coffee provided in our apartments to save money on your morning Joe, too, just bring a reusable thermos or cup and carry it with you to see how much you could save. The same goes for water, too. Why spend $1.50 on a bottle of water when you can fill up a reusable bottle at home or at the office?

Find your local grocery store

Buying food at bodegas or smaller grocery stores can cost you more than you may realise. Explore your local area or the area around your work to find the cheapest, healthiest grocery store possible and you’ll be surprised how much money you’ll save. If every time is 10% more expensive at a small store or a commercial store, that soon adds up. Our favorite affordable grocery store in New York City is Trader Joe’s, which is famous among interns for selling high quality produce at a reduced price.

Focus your social experiences on free events and activities

Things in New York are going to be opening up again before long, and once they do, it will be very easy to spend a lot of money socializing in NYC, but it’s also very easy not to. There are plenty of events and activities with a hefty cover charge, but these are often not worth the cost for an intern when you can have just as much fun at something free. NYC is overflowing with free events and activities, from promotional launch nights of brands to activities such as exploring the city’s beautiful parks. You can find the latest free events on Eventbrite by restricting your search to ‘free events only’.

Thrift shop for clothes

If you need to go shopping, you’ll be relieved to hear that New York has as many cheap stores as expensive ones. Particularly when it comes to clothes, the city truly shines if you know where to go. Although thrift-shopping has become more and more fashionable, you can still save plenty of money by going to stores such as Urban Jungle in Brooklyn, where you can pick up $4 shirts and $10 shoes like it’s normal.