Post: #51

Im a guy in NY without a crazy bankroll. Here's the deal for me.

I dont live in Manhattan. Huge negative for the easy pulls from downtown bars. Literally none of my bangs are from nightlife snls.

The quality and quantity here is great. Even if you are not in the upper echelons, there are millions of chicks here who are not either that wont be snobby towards you.

Let me clarify this. If you are looking for blonde models who hang out downtown, and you live way out in queens, she probably wont be interested. Be realistic. But if you live in Queens or Brooklyn, understand that there are just as many girls 18-25 who are in the same situation, who are NOT ballin out downtown on a regular basis.

I have gotten a ton of flags here and basically dont fuck with typical American girls anymore. That cute dominican cashier. That hot peruvian waitress. That Puerto Rican chick with a crazy ass from El Barrio who lives with her mom. That college girl down the street in a shitty little apartment. These girls are all attainable for the guy with an average bankroll and a non elite pad.

I have had lots of girls actually impressed with my place just because it has an actual kitchen and isnt a tiny little box. Because most of the time people here who arent elite live in tin cans basically.

Lots of my dates involve going to a park, a concert, an art show, some sort of free event, or even just walking around different neighborhoods. Being a tour guide for a chick is a great situation really.

So you can definitely find a niche here as long as you dont have unrealistic expectations. Understand that not being elite here is fine, nyc is one of the most unequal cities in the world, and plenty of the cute chicks are not dating ballers. If you get out of downtown/midtown you will see that.

Post: #52

If you can find a way to earn about 80K and don't mind sharing a two bedroom with another person, I'd say you'd do fine in Brooklyn or even Lower East Manhattan. You won't save a lot.

Post: #53

Everyone who kind of knows me, but doesn't know me that well assumes I have a crazy bankroll. I don't.

I'm just smart about how I spend it. I prioritize and am efficient. I never let money that I'm worried about spending even hit my bank account. It's the little things that we should all be doing regardless of where we're living.

But a lot of people say NYC can't be done unless you're making over a certain amount.

That's bullshit.

If you know how and where to hustle deals in NYC, you can pretty much find anything that fits your price range. Of course that takes a bit of knowhow in the city and a decent network, but it can be done if you keep your eyes open.

Post: #54

Funny I am broke as shit and what Male Defined stated happens to me too.

A nice thrift shop belt and a H&M blazer often get people hating on me as a spoiled rich kid when I am basically on the brink...

Post: #55

Great replies guys, thank you. Good to hear stories from both angles.

Post: #56

I live and go out in Williamsburg/Bushwick all the time.

Bring a flask with me and drink 3$ beers. Most bars have this deal.

Meet tons of girls every single night (and there are some extremely beautiful foreign women flocking to these neighborhoods who are looking for adventure) and spend an average of $20 each time I go out.

Live with a roommate and housing is $700 per month. Great logistics.

Food is cheap in NYC.

I love it.

Post: #57

Goldmund

What's your bankroll look like? What do you do for work?

Post: #58

It fluctuates, but I make about 50k per year.
Have a job that affords lots and lots of time to travel, but includes waking up very early on occasion.
Side income (minimal now, but slowly growing) with writing.
Tell a lot of girls that I can't get rich in the arts, and they end up paying for dinner.
No debt.

Post: #59

Goldmund.

What stop do you live off? I am looking for a new place and 700 a month sounds great. But is your place mad deep in Bushwick or really tiny or do you just have the best deal in town or what... 700 seems like a fantasy price even from apt hunting in 2012

Post: #60

Bushwick, morgan stop. And shit is crazy expensive now.

I moved into my place 8 years ago, 1300 per month, and my rent has not gone up.

Neighbors that just moved into the apartment next to me now pay 2200 for the same size place as mine.

Every artfag in the world wants to live here. Landlords know it.

Post: #61

Alright well if your roomate decides to move to Texarcana, let me know!

Post: #62

Most folks I know here between the ages of 25-35 completely live over or equal to their income. They basically live paycheck to paycheck, and that doesnt change when they earn more money. They have to have the ideal apartment, they have to go out every night and spend spend spend, they have to take AMAZING vacations, they have to have a nice watch, they have to hop from job to job because they are not happy. Thats why I see all of these 25-30 yr old guys living with their girlfriends, probably b/c the girl begged them to, oh honey we will split everything and save! But really the guy ends up paying for everything and is out worse than if he took care of himself, concentrated on his earning and budget, and actually came out ahead. Honey lets go buy wedding gifts!!

The only way to live here is to be smart and not get sucked up into the 'keeping up with the joneses", because thats what most kids do here. Good college>good job>good apartment/lifestyle>no money left in bank account. Dont be this. Be an individual. Have a friend who earns a great living as a stand up comedian, lives in a 300 sq ft apartment in the Village, and pays like $1500/mo. I also pay about that, but could afford twice that. I am saving money and am close to have no debt at all. You can live this way if you hunt it out, and focus on yourself first. And have a great time living here.

Post: #63

One of my good friends moved to NYC about 6 years ago, he's been trying to get me there ever since. Each time I've tried it hasn't worked out, for one reason or the other. Anyways, he first moved to Astoria, I believe paying 1k-1200/mo for a studio, then moved to the city, forgot where in the city but he's paying 1300-1500 for a studio / small 1 bed I believe. He's a big drinker, smokes, eats out most meals. From what I remember he is making close if not more than 100k.

Me, I believe I could survive there with much much less. I hardly go out, less so since I quit drinking. More so now because the area I live in also, not many gaming opportunities. I pay modest rent, only eat out once a week, hardly any bills. Etc etc.

I'm also close to debt free.

However. I don't have a stable career nor do I have anything lined up. I'm a pro bartender and have done sales off and on for yrs as well. I don't think it would be a major problem finding a bar job once I'm there but then again I would already have to be there.

I'm 31 and still unsure... Anyone else in the same boat?

Post: #64

I know a pro bartender who came here. He found a gig as a realtor because the bartending gigs here all wanted NYC experience. Dunno if you could find a gig easier, but he had a real rough time as an out of towner even w lots of good experience.

Post: #65

Where did your buddy come from?

How's he doing in real estate? I've done RE in the past.. Not really sure how the NYC RE game works...

Post: #66

Guys - I wanted to throw this out there first :


There is about a 95% chance that my current room mate will not be able to resign his lease. The lease starts April 1st. I will know 100% by Tuesday/Wednesday if he will be able to or not. That being said, I wanted to put this info out on RVF because a room mate that shares my love of macking would of course be preferred

The rent is 1300 a month. The location is 85th St between 1st and 2nd avenue in Manhattan, in the heart of the Upper East Side, close to the infamous Dorrians bar - an ideal pickup venue if you're the "preppy" type.

Also, upon signing the lease, there is a one month deposit payment that will be returned to you once the lease is up.

I plan on showing my apartment to perspective renters next weekend. PM me if you're interested and we could set up something earlier. Just wanted to pass the love along

Post: #67

Glad the advice is getting better on this thread. That whole "don't come unless you're young, have a fat bankroll and advanced game skills" is overblown. It's fairly early to date girls in their early 20's (there are thousands of them) even if you are in your early 40s (like me). You just need to be interesting to them and have the logistics planned ahead of time.

Williamsburg and Bushwick are definitely not ghettos. W'burg is now more expensive than where I live (Gramercy). Rent varies throughout the city but if you are strapped, places are always cheaper in Chinatown, harlem, york/1st Ave in UES, theatre district, etc. I was hanging out with a Turkish girl last year who lives near 35th and 2nd/3rd and pays $500 for her own studio. It's tiny, has a actual ladder to go to her bed, no real kitchen and it shares a bathroom down the hall. But its functional and in Midtown and she doesn't share it. Not a good bachelor pad but places in the city that don't cost a fortune do exist.

Post: #68

(12-08-2013 03:07 AM)Saladin Wrote:  ^Distant Light is a good example of a broke dude who built a fishbowl. He's broke and he fucks the hottest girls and gets into all the top NYC clubs. Although personally I'd rather be making money and living centrally.

If you are living anywhere long term I don't see why you can't build a fishbowl.

Checking in

Lots of solid tips in here...

NOTE, I strategically built my life through cold approach which is why I'm connected to the best venues and know a handful of hot women. Most people don't have the "motivation" to do it since at first it seems very elusive. However, benefit is I spend 0$ in nightlife. If I actually put in the effort again I can go out or dinner 7x a week free.

That said, FOR MOST, I always say, go the "hipster" route sharing an apartment in bushwick, they have a handful of condos that is a 5-person share space. The L line will get you into the city quick JUST make sure you live atleast a block from the actual station.

From there figure out how you going to get your finances together. NIGHTLIFE, is an industry where everything can be free if you are connected with the right people.

When I was hanging in the more "high end" hipster scene there were a handful of people who were roommates. Come to think of it my model promoter friend rooms with about 4-5 different people in tribeca, manhattan. My other friend lives in a luxury building in downtown brooklyn 4 roommates BUT amenities are on point. (Pool???) I forget how much they pay rent.

IMO, those who just show up to NY have a "where there is a will, there is a way" mentality. DISCLAIMER, it's a risk as I've met TONS OF CHICKS who don't make it, go back to some other city never to return (Although, I found most guys have managed to make the "jump")

It's always interesting hearing others talk about NY because I can only compare it based on the "high end" scene so when others praising NY DESPITE not experiencing the "high end" scene, it makes me think AM I ALREADY IN THE BEST SOCIAL POSITION?? (In terms of a social/sex life)

Don't let the living cost scare you
However, if you aren't socially savvy YOU WILL BREAK YOUR BANK FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I see "randoms" paying $100 just to see tiesto in a packed venue. (when they clearly see me walk right in)

In closing...
This is probably the BEST EXAMPLE of what REAL NEW YORK is, the aspect that majority never see regardless of bank roll...

I am NOT RICH AT ALL and live 1.5-2hrs away from manhattan BUT due to how I am (fun as fuck!!!) and my competence at socializing, I've come to live a rather amazing lifestyle. I'm 6 degrees of separation from many people. Anyone can do this, only difference is I legit had a "drive" to live a lifestyle that I envisioned.

This is a personal video I made in 2012 (when I first was building things, not even a year in) for my personal facebook. THIS IS THE UNSEEN ASPECT...

Post: #69

@Distant Light- Great vid. Browsed through quickly. The McDs scene at the beginning is classic.

Great things always happen at McDs at 5-6am after drinking. =).

Quick Q- when do u do the filming? I tried doing the filming route, but I kept losing my shit when drunk. But the captured moments were pure insanity. My craziest vid is 9 people on a tuk-tuk

ala this

Post: #70

I use a flipcam anything beyond that and I wouldn't be able to film. Sucks that they discontinued it. I'm assuming the gopro is as small? But it seems abit too much to pull out and just shoot ASAP. The bad part is the fact that the best moments will never get recorded since I'm at the center of it and not thinking about recording.

I think everyone should keep an archive of there lives just to look back on and motivate themselves. Byproduct is that people (including chicks) know what they're getting into when they see what my life is about. They also know, it's going to go on with or without them so they might as well not play games and jump on board.

Post: #71

(12-05-2013 02:40 PM)frenchie Wrote:  I wouldn't move to New York without at least 150,000$ salary or some way to pull that yearly. The city is a mess and will suck you dry.

I don't understand how that would be possible with the salaries people make. I'm looking at glassdoor.com and I'm seeing tons of positions that are paying well under 150k. I'm talking about decent positions like senior software developers, people in management..etc. The director of human resources at American Express for example was listed at $120k. In addition I personally know people that have lived in Manhattan for years(good areas near Trump Tower) that make no where near the 150k ballpark.

On a side note after looking at salaries of various companies I was a little shocked to see how low they were for a lot of them compared to much cheaper areas of the country. For example, a senior software developer in Philly can easily make 100k whereas I'm seeing not many examples of them making much more than 120k in NYC. I'm just using larger generic companies as examples, not specialty areas like being a hot programmer on Wall Street.

Post: #72

I moved there making $50k a year but I had a job lined up BEFORE I got there. I lived in Flushing, Queens which is Korea-town (bad idea). Even while my place of residence was not off the hook, I was able to hang out enough in Manhattan as trains run through the night. By the same token, if you're gaming, your logistics will suck if you hang in Manhattan and live in one of the other boroughs.

If you can screen for a decent roomie, and make atleast $50k, Manhattan is the way to go as you will likely find the hotter girls there especially in midtown during happy hours and that area around NYU with a lot of small bars (can't remember the name).

It's been some years since I was there but PM me for more info if you'd like.