This Tuesday, I made page four of AM New York. My grinning mug was on the top right hand corner under a headline that read “Less Shopping, More Dating.” (For whatever reason, the online article I have linked doesn’t use this headline).
Then Betty Friedan rolled over in her grave.
I’m thrilled that I got the chance to be in the paper, because my mom was running out of people to impress with stories of my forays into satellite radio, inspirational storytelling, and hair modeling. But I feel misrepresented more than a little, because one joking comment I made in a conversation full of more substantive soundbites became my story. Emily Dickinson said, “Tell the Truth but tell it slant.” Sistergirl’s line apparently inspires a slew of journalists.
Also, the article makes me sound anti-Brooklyn, which I am not. The borough has beautiful areas with vibrant communities. I’ve already asked my friend, Julia, to alert me when she vacates her Park Slope apartment in the next few years. My current fear is that if I relocate, it would be very difficult for me to afford to ever move back to Manhattan on my own, and I love where I live.
Another thing that swayed me: The New York Public Library is my home away from home, and it doesn’t serve Brooklyn. I actually went to the Brooklyn Public Library website and tried to search for a series of books and then compared results with the NYPL online catalog before beginning my short-lived apartment search. “Does that make me crazy?” I asked Life Coach. “Kid,” he replied wearily,”yes!” Meanwhile, Gnarls Barkley assured me I’m just the consummate bookworm.
Anyway, so I won’t deny that I made the dating or shopping comments. However, I made many more other suggestions as to how young New Yorkers can deal with the recession. Never mind that I think I was the only young person featured in the series. Everyone else was pictured looking downtrodden about the price of basic grocery items, and there I was, beaming, as if imagining my next date. “Let’s do Pastis tonight, shall we?! Mmmm.”
Amanda’s Other Tips for Surviving the Recession:
1. Stop using your credit card. The interest rates are nasty, no doubt about it. So stop using them unless you can pay off the balance each month. I actually think credit cards should only be used for emergencies. My dad always told me, “If you can eat it, drink it, or wear it, it’s not an emergency.” I’m proud to say - after slowly unearthing myself from a mountain of debt from college and the move to New York - that I don’t even carry my credit cards anymore…and I have lived!
2. Also, try to put the kibosh on debit card usage. I find that I spend a lot more money if I merely swipe a card than if I give a cashier a bill and see how much (or how little) I get back after a purchase. It’s helped me curb ridiculous habits, like using my debit card to pay for a three dollar ice-cream sundae. If I don’t have the cash or change for something like that, I don’t buy it. If I have a large bill, I often don’t want to break it on such a needless purchase.
3. Keep in mind that NYC studio and one-bedroom apartments aren’t going to go down in price. Real estate, in general, won’t suffer a recession here the way it will in other parts of the country. Many New Yorkers are downgrading, though, so apartments with more bedrooms are likely to go down in price. It’s a good time for roommates, if you’re into that sort of thing.
4. Avoid areas that trigger massive spending. Unfortunately for many, this means, “DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT LEAVING YOUR APARTMENT!” For me, it means avoiding Soho on beautiful afternoons when all the street vendors are out.
5. Work to make yourself layoff-proof. Many industries are going to be downsizing, so now’s the time to shake what your mama - or education - gave ya. Think about skills you have that haven’t been utilized at work, and how you can sell them. Consider skills to build, like computer software you can learn. Definitely pull up the resume and make sure it’s updated.
Nice pic in the AM NY column. But you’re right…I’m sure the woman who has to pull the plug on her DVD player is happy with your demeanor too.
Yeah. My mom called me on my birthday with this greeting, “I read your article in the paper finally. They DID make you look like an airhead. Oh, and happy birthday!”