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by michaelpinto 4768 days ago
First tip: If you can get in via PATH from NJ for get the car, that's going to cost too much. Honestly living in NYC is pretty expensive and while $50k sounds like something, after taxes it isn't. Also if you're thinking local education that's going to cost a great deal unless you are going someplace like CUNY. By the way here is some quick math:

Figure if you take out say 40% for your taxes that's $20k, so you're really making $30k.

$30k per year is only $2,500 per month.

If you're giving your father $1.5k and paying $400 on rent that gives you a mere $600 to live on per month,

Keep in mind that chances are that you'll commute in so that will cost. Also keep in mind that food costs more in NYC too. Keep in mind you'll need to pay for utilities at home. So that's going to be hard.
1 comments
ccm6gt 4768 days ago
My numbers almost match perfectly with yours except I didn't think NY tax would be as high as 40%. My minimum goal would be to save 1K a month to start and after calculating all my expenses that doesn't seem possible unless I ask for more money in the range of 60K. Thanks for the tips!

http://bit.ly/10ubdGY

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michaelpinto 4768 days ago
Keep in mind that you've got: Fed + State + City. Now if you are in Jersey your taxes will be lower, but I'm not sure how much lower they might be.

But here's some wisdom from my old professor back in art school in the 1980s:

Julie: Kids do you know how you get raise?

Kids: Work hard?

Julie: Nope: You quit your job and get a new one!

...this shocked me when I heard it, but it's true. So you may want to think about taking that job, waiting a year, getting the most valuable skills you can market, and finding a new job.

Yes of course ask for more! But keep in mind that the company may be cheap, although that's just a guess...

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michaelpinto 4768 days ago
PS $200 for food in NYC is not realistic unless you are just eating ramen!!!!
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ccm6gt 4768 days ago
$200 is pretty low for food, the host family told me that they will have dinner prepared almost every night which was included in my $400 rent so I lowered it from my original $350. I hope to freelance and make my skills more valuable while working here in my free time as well. Thanks a lot for your advice, I really appreciate it!
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