Rethink Family Finances in These 10 Areas to Make City Life Feasible

City dwellers know the drill: push through graduation, land a job in the big city, find an apartment, get hitched, make babies, scramble for more space, get priced out, flee to the suburbs.

I get it. Some days the draw of extra bedrooms and big backyards without the need to pinch pennies is super appealing. But, after 15 years of living in Manhattan, I’m just not ready to give up the culture, convenience and community that enrich family life in the city. New York City is where my heart sings.

Thankfully, I have found plenty of ways to make city living feasible, even with our family of six. If you are considering jumping ship, first reconsider your financial lifestyle choices in these 10 areas. Perhaps you’ll find an affordable solution that emboldens you to set down roots in your favorite metropolis.

1.     Housing

Choose an apartment based on the qualities you prioritize. Don’t unwittingly get roped into amenities that aren’t important to you or that you won’t actually use. You may decide that a doorman, washing machine, elevator, safe neighborhood, and quality school nearby are musts while a gym, pool, playroom, and outdoor space are simply wishes.

If you have only one bedroom to work with, consider making it the kids’ room and setting up parents in the living room, either on a Murphy bed or even a regular bed—studio apartment style. Toss out the assumption that each child needs his own bedroom. City kids aren’t raised with that default. Bunk beds and lofts work great when floor space is at a premium. When kids grow old enough to desire privacy, use a curtain, bookshelf, or wardrobe to divide a room or simply have them get dressed in the bathroom.

Set a goal to buy an apartment, even if it appears far-fetched. Mortgage payments may seem burdensome on top of hefty maintenance fees, but at least you’ll be paying yourself rather than pouring money into rent checks and never seeing those funds again.

2.     School

Scrap private school tuition and enroll your kids in one of the many wonderful public options. Rather than paying for language and enrichment classes, apply to bilingual and Gifted & Talented schools. Choose a school within walking distance so you don’t hemorrhage cash on Ubers when you are running late. Take advantage of free school breakfast and lunch.

3.     Childcare

Commute to an affordable daycare. If you prefer a nanny, consider a nanny share, where one nanny watches over children from two families simultaneously, and the families split the cost.

4.     Food

Cook often and make enough for leftovers. To cut back on wasted food, eat through your groceries before they spoil, and let kids dish up their own small servings. Reduce baby formula costs by breastfeeding when possible. Skip pricy baby food; try baby-ledweaning. Consider take-out and restaurant meals as entertainment rather than sustenance. Instead, spend your food budget on groceries. Shop for sales and build meals from your finds. Get to know ALDI, Walmart, Target, Costco, and the Dollar Tree. Be a price-conscious shopper, ordering online when local prices are too inflated.

5.     Clothing

Go easy on the environment and your wallet while keeping your growing children clothed. Peruse thrift stores and seek out hand-me-downs from neighbors, school coat swaps, church rummage sales, and your local BuyNothing group.

6.     Transportation

Go car-free to see if it works for your family. Take public transit, bike or walk. Save taxis for emergencies. Enroll in your company’s Flex Spending program to pay for commuting costs pre-tax. When renting a car, check local airports for better deals than locations in the city center. Or try Turo, a car-sharing service in New Jersey and beyond. If you own a car, park on the street. Paying weekly parking tickets can be less expensive than parking at a garage.

7.     Entertainment

Prioritize playdates, playgroups and playgrounds over kids’ classes, camps and ticketed events. Rely on the library and other community resources. Enter the lottery for free swim lessons at city pools. Use public bathrooms rather than paying for a drink at Starbuck’s just to use theirs. Each year, purchase a museum or zoo membership and use it often as a play space and outing. Certain museums offer free admission for city residents. Check Tinybeans, Mommy Poppins and Macaroni Kid for fun and affordable local family activities. Buy Broadway tickets from TKTS for up to 50% off rather than paying rack rate. Reconsider which streaming services and subscriptions you use the most and ditch the rest.

8.     Birthdays

Host birthday parties at the park or your apartment rather than shelling out thousands on a venue. Bake your own cake and plan party activities that double as goody bags. Scale back the cost and size of gifts on your kids’ wish lists.

9.     Health, Hygiene and Housekeeping

Sign up for Flex Spending to use pre-tax dollars on healthcare expenses and stick to in-network providers. Exercise at home or run outside rather than paying for a gym membership. Cut your kids’ hair, a pandemic-inspired shift that now saves me $300 per year. Ask your apartment super to take care of minor repairs instead of hiring expensive and flaky contractors. Clean your own apartment—thankfully there aren’t huge spaces to maintain! Teach kids to dust, Swiffer, take out the trash, load/unload the dishwasher, and fold laundry. Invest in a cordless Dyson vacuum to make that task a breeze. Wash your own laundry rather than sending it out. Cut back on dryer loads by hanging some items up to dry.

10.  Vacations

To thrive in a city long-term, escape periodically. Make travel affordable by booking flights and rental cars early. Until you are tied to a school schedule, travel at off-peak times. Staycations are great too. When work and school are not a distraction, explore the amazing city you call home. Plus, if you do throw in the towel and head to the ‘burbs, you’ll wish you had spent more time enjoying the city experiences that were right at your doorstep.