https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:37:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669382 Fri, 30 May 2014 15:00:39 +0000 hotchildinthecity 1669382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: yep! Its def not for everyone. I grew up in the burbs and my husband grew up in the country. And everytime we visit our parents, we're itching to get back to the city after like two days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669378 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:59:20 +0000 Modern Daisy 1669378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, i have a baby in 800 sq feet! Honestly the suburbs within reasonable commute distance are just as expensive. The only benefit is a little more space but then you have to take a train bus or ferry depending on where you are.</p> <p>We are trying to move to PA.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669368 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:55:14 +0000 bunnylove08 1669368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I cant really think of anything else, but if her husbands insurance was about $500 a month then I can see why she wants to stay at the job </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669358 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:50:02 +0000 snowjewelz 1669358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: Hehe, I most or less grew up in the burbs. I went to a big urban college b/c I couldn't wait to get out of the burbs, but then grew to love it after I moved back home after college! I totally thought I'd live in the city at least once but I ended up not wanting to! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669353 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:48:16 +0000 looch 1669353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bunnylove08: yeah, other than health insurance? I mean, could it be something else in addition to that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669350 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:47:15 +0000 hotchildinthecity 1669350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: i cant imagine living in the burbs either, honestly! Luckily you can find more affordable places outside manhattan/below 96th st. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669338 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:43:04 +0000 snowjewelz 1669338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's ridiculous to afford NYC... My friends that live there all make over 100k and probably have a partner/spouse that also make the same amount. For most of them it's the price they're willing to pay to live in the city and have everything accessible. One of my friends pay even more money to garage his car :meh: He claims he can never imagine living in the burbs even with his LO! I guess it's all about what you want in life... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669320 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:35:05 +0000 bunnylove08 1669320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: If its a city animal shelter job, they could be offering free/low cost health insurance (my husband works for the city and he gets really great insurance for low cost) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669310 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:30:21 +0000 looch 1669310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>But what kind of benefits other than health insurance is an animal shelter going to be offering? Employer funded 401k? Tuition reimbursment? I just can't imagine what it could be.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669208 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:54:23 +0000 Adira 1669208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: @Pepper: Yeah, must be those benefits!!</p> <p>And I don't think I could cut in NYC. The rent for that size apartment... I couldn't handle it, haha. I need my space! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments/page/2#post-1669207 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:54:20 +0000 Mama Bird 1669207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yes, probably the benefits. Though her husband might have some benefits through his work to cover the family?</p> <p>Brooklyn isn't that affordable either, especially if you want to be near a good school... Sigh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669194 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:51:31 +0000 MamaMoose 1669194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I also thought that rent was pretty reasonable for the location. My bro and SIL were paying significantly more than that for a 1 bedroom in Stuy Town and that was 4 years ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669193 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:51:29 +0000 Pepper 1669193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Yeah, it seems as though it's because of the benefits:</p> <p>“But I needed to keep my job because we need my benefits, and so we had to put Nora in day care.”</p> <p>That's such a tough situation, because that definitely seems like a low wage for the area. The benefits must be amazing.</p> <p>I'm enjoying this thread, NYC real estate fascinates me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669189 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:50:45 +0000 MamaMoose 1669189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I thought the same thing. After taxes (depending on their situation) she probably takes home somewhere around 18K. I'm guessing their health insurance would be more than the $6K a year extra that they have to pay to day care for her to work?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669184 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:48:25 +0000 Anagram 1669184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: and $2000/month in Manhattan is a great deal for daycare. I wondered if $21000 was accurate because that's staggeringly low. I mean, I'm a public school librarian (we don't make a lot of money) and I make significantly more than that. And I work in the far out suburbs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669173 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:44:40 +0000 Adira 1669173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm confused... they said daycare costs $2,000 a month... that's $24,000 a year, which is more than the wife makes. Wouldn't they save money if she didn't work?</p> <p>Though maybe it's because of the benefits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669163 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:40:32 +0000 hilsy85 1669163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: @bunnylove08: I grew up in Queens! :) I also know several people who are moving there now, including one of our pediatricians (she has a young child). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669159 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:39:58 +0000 Myicitygirl 1669159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In many areas of this country, $100k is a good salary and affords a nice lifestyle. But all things related to money are skewed in NYC. Last I heard, the threshold for the top 1% is approximately $400k nationwide, but over $875k in NYC. And those figures may be outdated by now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669147 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:35:51 +0000 hotchildinthecity 1669147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also agree that paying that amount to live in a one bedroom close to the park is ridiculous in terms of priority. Their income is low for living in manhattan and i think that they are making poor decisions in those terms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669123 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:27:28 +0000 MrsKoala 1669123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked for a non profit in Manhattan for a while and I really don't think you make that much more. In fact, I make more now in the burbs doing something similar. My mortgage &lt; my rent in Queens. BUT I think it would be much easier for them if they moved to one of the boroughs. More space and cheaper rent. The commute was not bad at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669117 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:26:13 +0000 mrsjazz 1669117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bunnylove08: Yes! Because I'm sure you have already done the research on schools :) The places we can afford near us, the schools are bad. Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669112 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:24:18 +0000 bunnylove08 1669112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: We couldn't buy in our old brooklyn neighborhood so we moved back to my childhood neighborhood and the prices are a little better but the schools are not that great. One thing about LI homes are taxes. DH is from LI and would love to live out there but the neighborhoods with good schools have super high taxes plus the commute is farther/more expensive into the city.</p> <p>If you want we can talk neighborhoods in queens. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669104 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:21:35 +0000 Greentea 1669104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family all live in Manhattan but no one has children... I am thinking they will relocate once they do/ if they decide to... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669095 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:18:12 +0000 mrsjazz 1669095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Yeah, the childcare is definitely an issue! We actually pay more in childcare than rent. We got really lucky with our crummy apartment :) We both hate it but it helps us pay other bills paying such cheap rent. If I told you guys, you'd gasp!</p> <p>@bunnylove08: We want to buy, too. We'd love to buy in our neighborhood but it's not really feasible for us. Queens is on our list even though DH would prefer not to move there. My mom and stepdad just bought a really nice house on LI and their mortgage payment is lower than this couple's rent! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669081 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:11:44 +0000 bunnylove08 1669081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was just going to say its not vital to live in the city. yes your commute may save you time and money but if you look at the dollar and cents it will not save you as much as you think. </p> <p>we moved from the city to brooklyn, and then queens. we are in the process of buying an apartment and we are not close to paying over 2k with mortgage and maintenance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669072 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:07:27 +0000 Pirouette 1669072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know, i mean NYC rent is ridiculous, but these people just seem to have made a poor decision under the circumstances. 500SF place with a kid is the tradeoff if you want "exposed brick, an ornately carved fireplace and a location just steps from Central Park." As a mom, those things are not my priority - playspace for my kid, room for a crib, etc. are my priorities. </p> <p>I have friends who pay way less than that for way more SF. they don't have fancy features like exposed brick or nonworking fireplaces in their apartments though. In my opinion, with a kid, it is more practical to rent a place that affords you the maximum SF in your price range, not the one that has cool features. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669068 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:06:34 +0000 Anagram 1669068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: Honestly, I feel like in this area rent AND childcare are almost equal in terms of financial burden. Just compared to most of the rest of the country. We can do higher rent in this area but the high child care on top of everything else is a killer.</p> <p>I know it's relative and low-middle class people all over the US have similar problems. Yikes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669058 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:01:45 +0000 mrsjazz 1669058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We make about the same as this couple and our rent is significantly cheaper. But we both prefer Brooklyn and wouldn't want to live in Manhattan so we don't have a problem there! We live a little further out and are paying well below market rate on our tiny 2-br. We still definitely feel the squeeze with childcare, my student loans, trying to save to buy an apartment, travel expenses for 3 (we pay for our nanny, too), and retirement. Ugh.</p> <p>ETA: It's amazing to look at the average salary in my zip code compared to the average rent/mortgage. I don't know how some people are affording to live here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669057 Fri, 30 May 2014 13:01:30 +0000 Raindrop 1669057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That would scare me so much if couldn't save... I would literally be up all night worrying about money all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nyc-area-bees-middle-class-finds-few-affordable-manhattan-apartments#post-1669053 Fri, 30 May 2014 12:58:53 +0000 Raindrop 1669053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Myicitygirl: Ah, yeah I'm in Cali and I know every state is different so I was just using money rules I know. :) Thanks for clearing that up. Gosh NY is so expensive! </p>