New Yorkers face financial woes

By David Freedlander | dfreedlander@am-ny.com

5:14 PM EDT, May 19, 2008

For Amanda Green, the economic downturn has meant scaling back on shopping, finding admission-free events to attend and considering a move to -- gulp -- Brooklyn.

"I confess I have thought about making the dreaded move," said the 24-year-old with a studio apartment on Central Park West.

While Green's reining in her spending, she's certainly not scraping by. She makes more than $50,000 a year working for a market research firm, and up to $1,000 more a month as a part-time public relations freelancer.

"It's what I hear in the news that worries me," she said. "People getting laid off, everything getting more expensive."

No more does Green walk through Soho, where the glitter of even cheap jewelry can be too much to resist. And she's sworn off the vintage clothing stores she used to pop into.

She now regularly visits the Museum of Modern Art on free "First Fridays" and the Brooklyn Museum on similar "First Saturdays." She also tries to check out free book signings and readings.

"I use to go out on the town a lot more," Green said, "but I realize I'm happy just eating pink berry and people watching."

She doesn't feel the full brunt of the economic crunch, thanks to her social life.

"I've upped the dating," Green said. "I tend to date chivalrous types who can take me out to nice places. It's helped me survive the recession."

We want to hear how other New Yorkers making between $40,000 and $80,000 are making it work. E-mail dfreedlander@am-ny.com