What I Spent in September 2024: Monthly Reset

Plus a heartwarming story about fantasy football

Oct 01, 2024

My neighborhood changes drastically after Labor Day—the parks are busier, the kids are back in school, the line at the cafe around the corner is longer in the mornings. There’s a feeling of productivity in the air, which usually affects me, but something about the still hot days and cool nights had me doing many things that were not “productive”—reading on a blanket in the park, meeting friends at breweries, and watching sports (does the Golden Bachelorette count as a sport too?) on TV.

Each month I share a monthly reset detailing every penny I’ve spent the previous month—if you’re new, welcome, and subscribe so you don’t miss a future edition! If you’re a returning subscriber, welcome back!

I decided to change up the format a bit this month, separating out my fixed costs more clearly from my variable costs.

Fixed Monthly Costs

My rent was $200 higher than last month because the gas was restored in my building so I paid back the rent abatement from the past two months (see full saga here). Next month, my rent will be the standard $2,420.50, and starting in November, it will go up to $2,491.

My electric bill has been low since I have a pretty energy-efficient apartment (perks of my building being built in 1900—they had to make it stay cool without air conditioning). Weirdly, I haven’t gotten charged for gas since it was turned back on in the building—does this mean the landlord pays it now? Does this mean I’ll get a big bill for it sometime in the future? Time will tell.

I try to limit things I subscribe to because otherwise it can get out of hand quickly, even though subscriptions can be tempting. Also, I pay money to store photos through Google and Apple—does everyone else do this too? My sister is convinced we don’t need to pay the subscription anymore, but I researched online and don’t see another option.

Some things missing from this list that might be on yours:

Phone service—I’m still on the family plan. I’m 27, but I feel like this is pretty normal.
Streaming services—I don’t watch a lot of TV. I very occasionally watch Netflix or YoutubeTV from my parents’ account.
Car payment/insurance—I don’t own a car, because I live in New York City.

Variable Monthly Costs

Dining out: $114.64
The best, most desperately needed purchase in this category was the $2 water from a bodega in Yonkers during mile 7 of my 11 mile run the other week. But actually, I had meals at Jajaja and Spicy Moon, two of my favorite places, plus a sandwich from a cafe that I can’t remember the name of near Prospect Park that I took to the park for a picnic.
Groceries/Household: $439.27
I had many trips to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods this month, plus a few baguettes from Orwasher’s (best baguettes in NYC).
Transportation: $181.52
I took the subway and buses a bunch, plus I took two trips up to Connecticut to see family, and one train ride to Irvington, NY for a long run. Also, I spent $44 on an uber home from a bar in Brooklyn late (4:30am). When I called the ride, I was quoted $44, and then was charged $73. I disputed the charge on the uber app and got a refund, but I’ve never had to deal with that before! I think it’s because the driver took a longer route over a toll bridge. That kind of thing happens a lot with taxis and there’s nothing you can really do about it, and while it’s not great that’s happening with ubers too, at least it’s possible to dispute it. It’s such a scam if you’re visiting the city and don’t know it’s not the best route!

Photo taken crossing the Manhattan Bridge

Coffee out: $6.00
I only got one latte this month, and it was not $10, LOL. I’m not trying to be frugal here, but since I cut out caffeine, I just don’t enjoy decaf lattes that much.
Drinks out: $323.98
When I reflect on September being a busy month, I’m remembering all the nights out with friends, which is a great thing.
Health: $9.49
I had a cold earlier this month and bought some cold medicine. I feel like everyone I know is getting sick right now (including Ringo Starr, who canceled the concert I was going to go to at Radio City Music Hall last week because he was sick).
Hobby/Experience: $79.22
I got a couple tickets this month—a show at Nowadays in Brooklyn and a Yankees game—plus a ticket to a concert next year.
Travel: $110.25
This was all spent on a weekend in Boston visiting family and friends. I got my Amtrak ticket with points, but I spent money on food, drinks, and a local train ticket.
Gifts/donations: $64.14
The bulk of this was spent on (bulky) yarn for a baby blanket I’m crocheting for a friend. If you crochet or knit, you know it’s often more expensive to buy the yarn and crochet/knit than to buy a new blanket.

Cozy fall vibes crocheting with my cat, Tompkins

Clothing/Makeup: $0
Nothing in this category this month!

Totals:

$1,325.61 in variable expenses
$2,704.28 in fixed expenses
$4,029.89 in total expenses

One nice memory from the month that cost me $0:

I’m a part-time bartender, and two brothers came into the bar on a Thursday afternoon when I was working. We chatted and they let me know they were both visiting the city because their dad was in the hospital for a surgery, but had just gotten out and was thankfully doing okay. I’m in a fantasy football league for the first time ever, and when I saw one of them wearing a Steelers hat, I asked him for help with my team that week. He helped A LOT, and then about thirty minutes later, his friend who still lives in the city met him at the bar. Turns out, they went to college together, and stayed friends because of the same fantasy football league they’ve been in for the past sixteen years.

Check out all my monthly resets here. Submit a question to my financial advice column here (I’m not a financial advisor, this is fun advice like how to split the bill on a group trip)! And send me a DM or submit the form here if you’d like to be featured in the Making it in NYC series.

Thanks for reading! I post weekly about personal finance and lifestyle in NYC. I also post a monthly reset on the 1st of each month sharing everything I spent money on the previous month and goals for the next month. And if you want to make your next happy hour unforgettable, check out my party card game company, Sidetracks.

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