{"id":30511,"date":"2015-04-01T05:15:28","date_gmt":"2015-04-01T12:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lenpenzo.com\/blog\/?p=30511"},"modified":"2020-01-03T14:06:34","modified_gmt":"2020-01-03T22:06:34","slug":"how-i-live-on-less-than-40000-annually-paulie-from-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lenpenzo.com\/blog\/id30511-how-i-live-on-less-than-40000-annually-paulie-from-new-york.html","title":{"rendered":"How I Live on Less Than $40,000 Annually: Paulie from New York"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"40k<\/a>

Paulie (in the white shirt) is a New York City street perfomer — and he manages to make ends meet on just $6000 annually.<\/p><\/div>\n

My name is Paulie and I’ve been reading Len’s awesome blog for almost a whole year now. I’m 27 years old.<\/p>\n

After getting my high school diploma I held a series of odd jobs before deciding three years ago that it was time to leave the rat race. So I quit my last “real” job as a Chippendales stripper and moved from Las Vegas to New York City where I now make money as a street performer. No, not as a stripper. I’m in a small band. Hey, you only live once, right?<\/p>\n

My specialty is singing old songs by Led Zeppelin, Queen, U2 and the Clash, but with a unique twist: I’m a crooner. It’s true! If you want to make a living as an entertainer on the streets of New York you have to be unique because the competition here is incredible!<\/p>\n

My Income<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depending on the public’s generosity, my take from the band is usually about $20 per day in small change, although we’re occasionally blessed with a kind-hearted person who will drop a fin or sawbuck<\/a> into our tip jar as we’re performing — then it’s a little more.<\/p>\n

My stupid band mates still have part-time jobs working for “the man,” so I often have to perform alone. You’d think working as a solo act would be better for my bottom line, but for some reason I always earn less. (Note to Alanis Morrisette: Now that’s<\/em> ironic!)<\/p>\n

If I had to guess, I’d say I currently make about $6000 per year.<\/p>\n

My Expenses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Obviously, living on such a meager income means I have to rent — and let me tell you, in the Big Apple, you don’t get a lot for your money. I’m currently renting a 36 square-foot room at the back of a Bronx pizza restaurant for $199 per month. Actually, it’s a converted janitorial closet, but it has all the comforts of home: a nice cot, a working lightbulb, an electrical outlet, a couple of hooks for my clothes, and a small shelf to hold my iPhone and computer.<\/p>\n

The only thing my room doesn’t have is a window, but what do you expect for $199 per month, right?<\/p>\n

\"40k<\/a>In case you’re wondering, as part of the deal, I get to use the restaurant’s public bathroom to wash up and “do my duty,” if you know what I mean.<\/p>\n

I don’t have a car — I use the subway for everything, including visits to see my parents across the river.<\/p>\n

Believe it or not, I don’t spend a lot of money on food. One of the perks of living in a pizza restaurant is that I get a lot of free food. Not a day goes by when at least one delivery comes back because it was a prank or because somebody didn’t have enough cash to pay for the pie! Crazy, right?<\/p>\n

Whenever I have an especially good day on the street, I’ll often splurge<\/a> and buy myself a Big Mac value meal. I know Mickey D’s is terrible for your health, but I’m a sucker for those two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions — all on a sesame seed bun! Admit it. I know you are too, right?<\/p>\n

My cell phone plan is $35 per month. Other than that, I don’t have any utilities to pay. To stay connected, I take advantage of the free wi-fi at various Starbucks, Mickey D’s and other businesses that offer it. I will say this: My landlord tried to make me cough up an extra $10 per month for electricity — so I asked him how much juice he thinks that little light bulb and an iPhone burns. I mean, come on. He finally saw the logic in that, thank God.<\/p>\n

I don’t worry about health insurance because I’m young and don’t plan on getting sick anytime soon — but if I do, there’s always Obamacare, right?<\/p>\n

Savings<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don’t save money for retirement. Why should I? That’s what an inheritance is for<\/a>, right? Thanks in advance, Mom and Dad!<\/p>\n

I don’t have an emergency fund either. Okay. Truth be told, I do. It’s called The Bank of Dad<\/a>. I’m not kidding!<\/p>\n

Hobbies<\/strong><\/p>\n

In my free time I enjoy chatting with my friends online, playing Call of Duty, riding bicycles — assuming somebody will lend me one to ride — and eating.<\/p>\n

Closing Tips and Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n