You can recognize very expensive cities by the doormen. So not the kind of bouncer who can’t put his arms around his body because of all the biceps. But the kind that is reminiscent of Secret Service agents: dark suit, tie, button in ear. These gentlemen kickers stand on Fifth Avenue in the entrance area of Christian Louboutin, Versace and Harry Winston and look so grim that as a tourist you don’t even dare to enter the shop. Presumably that is exactly the job description. Which jewel thief would think of robbing a store in the middle of Manhattan? In the traffic, the getaway car doesn’t come three blocks. And the clientele, who can afford the expensive displays, strutted in through the back entrance after the shop closes.
But actually the human entry-forbidden signs are not the problem at all. If you are honest, exactly what the high-end shops want to prevent would happen: the average earner strolls through the store, the average earner picks up a simple white T-shirt from the pile, the average earner looks at the price tag, the average earner drops the T-shirt on the floor in shock falling from Carrara marble. And who would want to be confronted with their own financial inadequacy while on vacation?
“The city that never sleeps”, “The singles’ metropolis”, “Priceless” – travelers have many images in mind when they visit New York City. But what is it about the clichés? In our “Mythos New York” series, our newly arrived correspondent does the – quite subjective – reality check.
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The only thing is: In New York, shock moments when paying cannot be avoided, even if you avoid Fifth Avenue. An example: The jet-lagged visitor notices late in the evening before the first shower in the Airbnb: “Shit, forget your shampoo!” Because the longing for cleanliness is great after the ten-hour journey, he goes straight down to the 24-hour drugstore. Only to find out there: a shampoo costs an average of eight (!) Dollars. And we’re not talking about the 1.5-liter family bottle or a brand with which Udo Walz would lather the hair of celebrity women. “You can wash your head with a bottle of wine,” the inexperienced visitor might think.
Having your own apartment in Manhattan is a challenge even for financial analysts
The answer has to be: No, you can’t. Because when it comes to alcohol, a warning is even more appropriate. A cheap beer is six dollars, a glass of wine (0.2 liters) usually starts at ten dollars. Tax and tip not included. The value-added tax on groceries in New York City is just under nine percent, plus another 20 percent tip. Anyone skimpy here rightly has a guilty conscience: The wages are calculated from the outset including tips, so low. Incidentally, it is advisable to add at least a dollar per drink even at the bar counter. Otherwise, round two might not only be a question of wanting to spend, but also of being seen. Especially on a weekend.
You actually have the chance to meet a rare species: the native New Yorker. Of course, he knows that there is no alternative to hiding in front of threatening dollar signs in your own four walls. Maintaining an apartment on your own in Manhattan is a challenge even for high-income financial analysts. A study recently came back to the result: New York is the second most expensive city in the USA (rents are only higher in San Francisco). If a person with gray hair tells you in small talk that they live in a shared apartment, you shouldn’t congratulate this person on their courageous lifestyle decision – it could simply be a question of money.
While frugality may be seen as stuffy and uncool elsewhere, America is the land where coupon queens get their own reality TV show (Extreme Couponing runs on TV station TLC). Even in hip New York, everyone has an average of two bargain apps installed on their mobile phones. Events where luxury goods are available at low prices are particularly popular. Alcohol, for example. If you see a long line in front of a café or restaurant on a Sunday, you can be pretty sure that a “bottomless brunch” is offered here. In Germany in the 1990s one would have said: breakfast with flat-rate drinking.
Then it is important to pour down as many glasses of Mimosa ready-mix as possible in 90 minutes. The $ 20 should be worth it after all. Yes, New York is a tough city. But also priceless? Those who live here would rather stick with a well-known German advertising slogan: The experiences are priceless – there is a credit card for everything else.
For sweet bargain hunters: “Huge” is a used term these days. The donuts at “Dough” are actually huge – and cost less than three dollars each. Best variety: “Café au lait” (to avoid questioning glances, it is better to practice the English pronunciation beforehand: “Kaffäh o lätt”). The regular store is in Brooklyn (448 Lafayette Avenue), there is now an offshoot in the Flatiron Building in Manhattan (14 West 19th Street).
For bargain hunters with a need for fresh air: The ferry to Staten Island is free and offers excellent views of the Statue of Liberty. If you have a little patience, you can expect a ship with an open deck. Not only do the photos get better, the lungs are happy too. Departure from Manhattan: Whitehall Terminal. There is an overview of the departure times here, the closest underground station is Whitehall St Station (South Ferry).
For bargain hunters interested in art: Many museums do not require entry at certain times. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA, 11 West 53rd Street), for example, every Friday between 4pm and 8pm.
For bargain needs of all kinds: “One Dollar Tree”, you can get everything at a reasonable price – from frozen salmon to nail polish to secateurs. Even shampoo. On the Website of the discount chain you can display the nearest branch.
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