Mentioned in this Week’s Video: The Debt Relief Bliss Boot Camp

I’m guilty in saying that I am the Smart Cookie who is the most obsessed with the Empire State. Whenever we have to take a business trip there, I skip to the front of the line, head tilted like a golden lab ready for a car ride. I can’t help it. It’s the city I love the most and now, feel the most comfortable in. And, traveling there through the years, I have learned how to spend less while still having a good time.

I received a ton of Facebook posts and tweets wanting me to share some of my favourite New York, Smart Cookie approved places so I am going to let you in on a few of my secrets!

I’ve been lucky to have gained many great friends in the Big Apple through my years visiting there. People are always more than happy to lend you their couch or spare bedroom, but it isn’t for everyone. If you can stay somewhere for free (friend, family etc) then take them up on their offer. You can pay them back by cooking them a nice meal one night or taking them out to dinner if you choose. Either way, it will be cheaper than a room priced at $300+/night. NYC does have high and low seasons when it comes to hotels, so be sure to check and see when they are. Typically, summer and spring are cheaper seasons than Fall/Winter because they are considered less touristy. Hotels are trying to get more people to come and visit to boost tourism, so prices drop & discounts are abundant.

I also use social media to my advantage by asking around to friends & followers to see if they know any hotels that are clean, affordable & fairly central. It helps to use topic-related hashtags (i.e #NYC or #travel) when you are tweeting because most companies in the hospitality industry follow these conversations to see what people are talking about so they can engage with them and offer to help.

Last summer when I was looking for a deal, I was pleasantly surprised by the people at DoubleTree by Hilton Met. They offered me an amazing nightly deal but the real icing on the cake was when I arrived and much to my surprise, they offered me 4 complimentary breakfast vouchers for each day, free wi-fi for my visit and there was a nice bottle of wine and a card in my room. Combine that and the fact that the customer service was above and beyond, I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone. Plus, its located right on Lexington at 51st Ave so its right on the 6 train which goes uptown to downtown and easy to get around Manhattan.

FOOD
It’s no secret that NYC is one giant culinary wonderland, but if you aren’t careful, you can spend a bucket load of money on food. When I’m in NYC, believe it or not, I eat fairly cheaply but do splurge on 1-2 meals based on what my budget is. First of all, make sure you find out what your hotel has to offer with your stay in terms of food, i.e. continental breakfast etc (you can source this when you are planning the trip). If they do, then use it even if its just coffee, fruit, tea and snacks. You can save a bundle on these items if you plan on spending a lot of time roaming the city and using them to refuel, rather than spend money on these small items.

Through the years, I’ve accumulated quite the list of restaurants from high to low and one key thing I’ve learned is that sharing is good. If you are traveling with a friend or partner, sharing tapas or a main meal is always cheaper and you get to try more than you would if you just ordered your own entrée. Plus, being from Canada, you realize how much cheaper the alcoholic beverages are, so if you wanted to indulge on that favourite bottle of wine, you still can. Here are just a few of my favourite places to eat:

Café Habana – nestled on Prince St in Nolita, this place is home to the BEST Cuban corn! Plus, their menu is fairly broad and you can get a great meal for around $10.

Mary’s Fish Camp – Being an East Coaster, I grew up eating seafood. Everyday. When my friend took me to this place, I had died and gone to heaven.  For the quality of seafood, you can get some great bang for your buck and a dinner entrée for around $20 or less. And its in one of my favourite hoods, the West Village.

Shake Shack – If you like burgers and fries, you need to make a pit stop to Shake Shack. These made-fresh-daily burgers are always an indulgence but worth it. With 6 locations throughout Manhattan, you can easily cure that craving. My fave menu item is the Single Shack burger for $4.55.

Eataly – Famous Chef Mario Batali opened this magnificent market a few years ago. Their concept is to challenge the idea that quality products are accessible only to a select few. You can get some amazingly fresh; quality Italian eats her for a reasonable price. Lunch, dinner or food to take home and cook – you can do it all here.

Bleeker Street Pizza – You can’t go to NYC without trying a slice of pizza. Chicago is known for their deep-dish pizza; NYC is known for their cheap, delicious, abundant pizza joints. I love Bleeker St Pizza because its authentic, Tuscan style pizza with fresh ingredients. Plus they now have gluten free crust, for those of you who have any wheat allergies. For $2.50 a slice, you can’t beat it.

TRANSPORTATION
I’m not gonna lie – learning how to use the NYC Metro subway is intimidating at first, but once you’ve experienced it a few times, its pretty easy to get around. I also find it the most affordable way to get around. I prefer the subway in NYC if I’m going long distances and in the daylight (for safety reasons of course) because you can spend a ton of money on cabs, however I find the cabs in NYC the cheapest overall. I’ve become accustomed to re-filling my MetroCard each time I go to NYC (only if you go often enough – they do expire after 1 year). For $20 I can get approx 10 rides which is often more than enough but always base it on how long you are staying in town and where you plan on going. So grab a subway map, learn the system and you are off and running.

PAMPER YOURSELF
If there is one thing NYC is cheap about its manis and pedis, and I don’t mean cheap in a bad way. I mean $12 cheap in a good way! I recently discovered Serenity Nails on my latest trip and will definitely be going back. Thank you to my friend for referring this place because you have to pick and choose carefully, especially when it comes to cleanliness & service. They offer $12 manicures, $25 pedicures or you can do a combo at only $30. I was pleasantly surprised by how clean, modern and spacious this nail place was compared to some of the not-so-nice places I’ve been in the past. Plus, I was very happy with the end result.

I hope a few of these tips will help make your trip to NYC a bit easier on the wallet. It’s a great city to explore and guaranteed you will find your own, Smart Cookies approved places to eat, sleep and have fun. Feel free to comment on the blog and share your tips. We love hearing them!

If you’re wondering how to turn your part-time love of writing (or photography, or painting, or other creative talent) into a full-time career then this is the Q and A for you. This week we turn to Rosemary Counter, author of The Decadent Housewife and regular contributor to Canadian and U.S. publications, to let us in on what it takes to make the leap while still living in true Smart Cookie style.

1.  First off, can anyone be a professional writer?

You’ll need some talent, but not that much! As long as you can write a good sentence, dedication is more important than natural skill. I try to write something—no matter how bad and useless—every day. I also subscribe to dozens of magazines to keep up on the scene. There are lots of books on how to write and sell a pitch, but double points if you take a class at your community college. It’ll help (force?) you to write your first pitch and piece, plus your teacher’s your first industry contact. I still bug mine one a month for tips.

2.  How did you get started?

I was loitering about book publishing, but couldn’t land the stable gig I thought I wanted (a blessing, in retrospect). I was freelance editing books and proposals, which were sometimes so terrible that I got convinced I could be the writer instead. Also in retrospect, I think I’d subconsciously wanted to write for years but was too shy.

3.  We’re glad you did. Your book is so good and so funny! What do you love to write about the most?

Selfishly, it’s whatever’s happening in my own life. Doctor sends you for a sleep study? That’s a story. Trying to conquer your mouse phobia? That’s a story! You get the idea.

4.  Can you make a decent living as a writer?

I will tell you the harder I work, the more I make—which is both a blessing and a damn curse. I’ll also say the word “decent” is all relative; my magazine writer salary is impressive for some and tragic poverty for others. Also, supplementary skills—researching, editing, fact-checking—make all the difference, both in your bottom line and keeping sane around your apartment.

5.  How do you plan for irregular income?

I squirrel away an impressive emergency fund—I’m talking a solid year here—so I never find myself nagging the editor for a cheque lest I can’t pay my rent. It’s awkward on both fronts.

6.  We tend to lump ‘creative’ into not caring much about money and the business minds as the moneymakers . . . what do you think?

Unless you’re the next J.K. Rowling (and someone is!), you probably won’t ever make lucrative bling as a writer. But that’s not to say I don’t care about money, because I definitely do. I love money, and want way more.

7.  Does anyone wonder when you’ll get a “real” job (like our moms used to ask)? What do you say?

Though she denies it, my mom used to sheepishly tell her church-friends that I was “confused” before law school. These days she points out my headlines to strangers in the grocery store line, proving that parents come around. Way harder is freeing yourself from the 9-to-5 model that’s engrained in your mind; I still get nervous telling the customs agent what I do. My New Years resolution is to toughen up about it.

8.  What are you saving for?

I’m putting a bit away every month for a down payment on a house. In my wildest dreams, it has lots of stories, an on-suite master bath with a Jacuzzi and, of course, my own office. I waste a lot of time looking at online real estate.

9.  What do you think is absolutely ridiculous to spend money on?

This is a big list, as I’m pretty thrifty now. Gadgets (no, thanks) and too many cabs (walk and you’ll save on your gym membership too) are all on my financial irritation list. But here’s a secret: as a lifestyle writer, you score a lot of swag. I get more books and creams than a girl could ever use.

10. What do you splurge on?

I always invest in designer glasses and jeans, in hopes that I’ll never look poor. (Even when I am poor, a pair of Pradas says otherwise.) I also pay a great accountant to handle my business. And I spend too much on restaurants and takeout, cause hey, you gotta eat.

You can check out recent articles at RosemaryCounter.com www.rosemarycounter.com and for more follow her @RosemaryCounter

1.     Check your tires:
Properly inflated tires will not only save you hundreds of dollars annually by improving your cars fuel efficiently.  Proper tires and inflation can also help you avoid an accident. Cold weather causes tire pressure to decrease3 and that can affect the grip your tires on the road surface.  Start by checking air pressure and that you have the right tires for the winter conditions you expect to face in your region. Finally, not the condition of your tires.  Worn or damaged tires can hamper your driving ability, particularly when you need them to perform the most- it is best to replace tires before the tread depth is the regulatory 1.55 mm.
<http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/winterdrive/winterdrive.shtml>

2.    Winterize your vehicle:
Shop around for the best price on vehicle maintenance and consider having this done before cold winter weather strikes.  By having your vehicle regularly, you will ensure your vehicle runs at maximum efficiency and saves you on costly repairs.  Also be sure to check your battery, oil and all fluids, brakes, lights, and engine belts and hoses. Have a winter driving kit on hand.

3.     Plan ahead:
Before heading out check weather and road conditions and ensure you have plenty of time to reach your destination safely.  Driving quickly to make up time in winter conditions is almost sure to increase your chances of having an accident-  a costly and dangerous situation you want to avoid.

4.     Clear snow and ice:
Clear any ice, snow or frost from all windows, lights, mirrors, and the roof.  After starting your vehicle, wait for the fog to clear from the interior of the windows to ensure good visibility all around before heading out on the roadways.

5.     “Feel” what you’re driving:
While some believe you may save on fuel efficiency by using cruise control, in winter weather it is better to avoid it.  Instead navigating slippery road conditions whether it is rain, ice or snow allows you to directly “feel” your vehicle’s traction and speed you think is safe for the conditions and help you avoid an accident.