Dear Betty,
Between shopping for groceries, buying school books, and transportationfees, I’m feeling the strings tighten on my purse a little! A friend wants me to go to a fancy dinner with her in the city, but I just don’t have that kind of money right now. How can I get out of this sticky financial awkwardness?
Sincerely, Cash-Strapped Collegiette™
Dear Cash-Strapped,
Money is an issue for the majority of college students, so you are probably not the only one in this situation. Instead of going to dinner maybe you can ask your friend if they want to do one of the many things NYC has to offer for free and then grab dinner at a Chipotle or Shake Shack. By doing this, you are spending money on transportation for the whole day compared to an hour or two at dinner. You also will be able to take part in an activity in the city as well. Look at for offers on many different activities each week that you can do for free. Last year my friends and I went kayaking for free and had a blast! There are also many other cheap things that you can do in the city as well, such as rush Broadway shows for 20 bucks. Or if you feel awkward making a different suggestion, offer to go to Arthur for dinner. Something else to consider is that during Restaurant Week in the city they offer a fixed menu at many of the highly ranked restaurants in the city for a cheaper price, maybe suggest going to that fancy dinner during restaurant week. Hope this helps!
Love, Betty
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