Whether you believe we’re in a “mental” recession or not you cannot deny prices for everything have gone up. My first wake-up call occurred when they removed double cheeseburgers from the Dollar Menu at McDonald’s on 139th and 7th Ave. Then I was being charged 50 cents to get some “Mac” sauce on my Quarter-Pounder. Then all the desserts at Popeye’s went up to $1.29 (except for the Apple Pie, thank heaven!) Three major crises have contributed to everything being a lot more expensive. The destruction of corn fields due to hurricanes and storms have drove up the price of corn which brings up the price of food in general. There’s corn in everything! Check the ingredients section on just about everything you eat. Oil has gone up. Besides the obvious use of gasoline, oil is also used for plastics. That’s why some supermarkets are trying to encourage shoppers to use paper bags or those funky, colorful tote-bags. Eventually they have to raise the prices of food because of the higher prices of transportation and shopping bags. Double whammy! Finally, but in no way least, you have the real estate/credit market which took a devastating blow in the last couple months! Real estate affects everything. Property values have gone down and foreclosures have skyrocketed. If you rent this translates into a higher increase in monthly rent not just for you but for all the ‘bodegas’ and stores you shop at which in turn are pressured to increase their prices. It’s an endless cycle.
In light of all this I realized that I was going to have to take some steps to curb my spending or at best make sure I get the cheapest deals on everything! The following are some tips for those of you in Harlem who want to save a couple extra bucks. I hope they help. Feel free to add your own!
Here are some things that I’ve had to do to stretch my dollar:
Unlimited Metrocards: Even though prices have gone up, if you use the train or bus more than 4 times a weeks, you’re better off getting a weekly or (in my case) a monthly card. It’s the best way to travel in NYC.
Food Shopping: I’m sorry. I enjoy the convenience of a Pathmark, but ask anyone who’s been there many years, that food is expensive and the produce is still not Grade A! You’re better off finding your nearest Western Beef or head up to Washington Heights where you can still find amazingly low process on produce and meat on St Nicholas Ave!
Wining & Dining: Unfortunately, one of the things we as New Yorkers hate to skimp on is going out because then we REALLY begin to feel poor! So if you want to get the most for your dollar go to places like Caliente, Café Largo, St Nick’s, Jewel, Minton’s, Smoke, The Den (Happy Hour Appetizers) in order get the most bang for your buck. Café Veg and Café 22 are two spots that are extremely low priced and serve excellent food. Run a search here on UptownFlavor and you’ll get some reviews on most of these places. And if you want to get a good deal bowling, Mondays and Tuesdays you can bowl unlimited games for $20 from 8pm til closing at Harlem Lanes.
Take-Out: I love Spanish food! Look for bodegas that sell cooked food. You’ll get huge plates of food for $4-$6. A couple I’ve eaten at…146th St and 8th Ave, 124th and 7Ave, 135th and 5th Ave, 135th Bet 7th and 8th Ave’s (couple doors down from the Police Precinct). Other cheap spots…El Valle (135th and Bway), Caridad (145th St and Bway), Adam’s Restaurant (145th bet 7th and 8th Ave’s). If you dig Tex-Mex: El Toro Partido (1st Choice), Caliente, Jesus Tacos. Chinese you say? That’s a tough one. I personally gag when I eat Chinese take-out from just about every Harlem spot. The meat looks old and everything comes with an extra side of grease. There is only one spot I recommend. New Home Sing on Broadway bet 135th and 136th Streets. Chicken is always fresh! The change their cooking oils regularly.
Bakeries: Avenida Las Americas (136th n Broadway) is one of a dwindling number of bakeries that still has $1 Spanish coffees and pastries made fresh.
Movies: I watch all my movies at the Magic Johnson theatre on 125th St. Saturday and Sunday mornings for $6. The theatres are mostly empty and annoyance-free.
Bargain Clothes: El Mundo (134th and Broadway). It is Harlem’s Walmart! You’ll find different stuff every week so you have to come often to get some nice threads and footwear on the cheap. Also, look out for the giant wooden crates with sheets, comforters, t-shirts, sandals, sneakers,etc outside at rock bottom prices for the picking. Great deals always!
Other shopping: Hamilton Place Discount on 146th St and Broadway and the 99Cent superstore right across the street.
Gas: Your best bet is Coco on 115 E 138th St Bronx, NY or the BP nearby on Grand Concourse. They usually have pretty cheap gas and not too far at all…across the bridge from 5th Ave and 135th Street..
Beyond Harlem’s Borders:
1. Sign up to myopenbar.com and you will find different spots in the city where you can get free alcohol and sometimes even free food.
2. Sounkyo Sushi (937 1st Avenue bet 51st St & 52nd St)- All you can eat for $20, all you can drink Sake/Beer $15. Enough said!
3. Sign up to social sites like Yelp.com and Meetup.com. You’ll find many events that are sponsored and at zero cost to you.
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Illoquent: I have a couple of questions/comments. A study was done that shows that you can get just as much value from a $20 metrocard as from an unlimited if you don’t have a lot of transfers. You wind up saving a few dollars each week and you car will just get you through the week.
You mentioned a couple of places that I thought have closed. They were Cafe 22, El Mundo. Can you confirm?
El Mundo was only temporarily closed. It’s back in full swing.
1. Regarding the study you mentioned, I’d actually like to see it. Maybe it does work out better. I do plenty of tranferring between buses and trains and I find out I save more with the unlimited. But I’m certainly open to any tips.
2. Both businesses are open. El Mundo had closed its doors for some weeks. Many speculated that it was Columbia closing it down or something. Turns out they had closed for renovations. (That’s the story they gave, anyway). Word on the street is that Columbia will eventually construct on that site. For now, though, it is open. Cafe 22 is also open. I know because I have breakfast there a couple times a month.
Ill: I think it was an article that was amny or the metro a year or so ago. I find it especially helpful when there are holiday weekends and you lose those extra fares on the unlimited. The value is in the fact that you are getting 2 free rides when you buy the $20 card.
A bit south of Harlem but Ranchito on Amsterdam between 106 and 105 is an amazing lunch deal.
-Choice of meat/fish + beans and rice + maduros + canned drink of your choice for $5…
And while its not exactly the healthiest option, the Caporal (156 and Bway) lunchbox is still a great deal @ ~$4 when you want some fried chicken and french fries…
Also, be sure to take advantage of any pre-tax transit program your employer may offer. That way, you get your metrocards (usually unlimited-monthly) at a substantial effective discount.
Don’t forget about restaurant.com — you get gift certificates to any restaurant you want for about half the price (sometimes even less). I’ve used this site since I was a student in Philadelphia in 2003.