The Brian Lehrer Show How to "Spend, Splurge and Scrimp" in NYC
Apr 16, 2026
Eliza Shapiro, a New York Times reporter who writes the Affording New York column, explores how diverse New Yorkers make city life work. She recounts stories about trading commute time for cheaper rent, hidden costs of bargains, creative ways people cut entertainment bills, and the tradeoffs families make to afford big celebrations.
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Affording New York Reveals Tradeoffs
- Affording New York asks a simple question: how do diverse New Yorkers actually make living here work amid high costs.
- Eliza Shapiro collects cases from incomes $23,000 to $500,000 to reveal tradeoffs across housing, food, and leisure.
High Earner Living In Large Co Living Household
- A geologist earning about $200,000 moved into a co‑living space with 16–17 roommates to adjust to a new higher salary.
- The example shows even higher earners choose shared housing to manage NYC living dynamics.
Relocating For Safer Housing After A Fire
- Janet lost her home to a Bushwick fire and moved to Washington Heights prioritizing building quality and space over proximity to longtime friends.
- She gave up neighborhood convenience to avoid poor-quality housing and structural problems.