NYC on a Budget: What New York City Has to Offer without Breaking the Bank

I know that being in college should be enough enrichment, but there is so much that we don’t see and don’t get to experience since our time there is limited. New York City has so much history and culture to offer and so many different ways to see and experience it.  One great way to take advantage of this, is to go to the many museums that NYC has to offer. Thankfully many of them are free or you can get discount tickets or a small donation. Let’s take a brief look at some of these fine establishments:

1.  For all you fashionistas out there, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology is always free. There are always new and inspiring exhibitions.  In January they will have fashions from the 1930s and how they were able to overcome the economic crisis when it came to their wardrobe.  Right now they have an exhibition entitled Trend·ology.  The Museum @ FIT says, “Trend-ology examines the diverse sources from which fashion trends have emerged over the past 250 years, including urban street style, art, music, film, and socio-political movements. The exhibition also highlights industry developments that have had an impact on how trends spread.”

Fashion and Technology Exhibition – photo credit : The Museum @ FIT

2. The Museum of Biblical Art seems like a vey interesting place.  No matter your religious beliefs, the art is beautiful and you can interpret it as you like.  There are some beautiful pieces that you can look at for hours and still find new details and there are exhibits with pictures and music so you get the feel that the artists wants.  It is free everyday, so why not stop by when you have nothing else to do, but want to go out?

Abel’s Offer, 1908 by Hans Andersen Brendekilde – photo from MOBIA

3.  For all you economic fans and finance majors, I think its cool that the Federal Reserve Bank of NY is always free as well.  You just have to register ahead of time.  You get to see the vault with all the gold and get to actually see a part of history and a part of the economy. The self-guided visit and the guided tour are both free and you can sign up for these here. I have visited with my high school before and it is a great experience and they gave us a little bag of shredded money.  Believe me, we tried to put it together to make one bill, but sadly we failed. Consider this historical “gold – mine” (ha ha) for your next outing. Just remember to follow the instructions and suggestions when visiting so that you can have a smooth entrance (wouldn’t want to raise any suspicions at the Federal Bank).

picture from newyorkfed.org

4. Of course the infamous MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) is free on Fridays if you enter from 4pm to 8pm. There are so many wonderful exhibits there and they are always changing.

What’s the art? The skeleton or the shadow? (taken by me @ MoMA)

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For more free and discounted museums visit this page and you will have of list of their locations and what days they are free.  Also remember when a museum says that they have a “suggested admission fee” (like the Museum of Natural History which has a suggested general admission of $17 for students and $22 for adults, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art  which has a recommended admission fee of $12 for students and $25 for adults) is exactly what is implies: “suggested” or “recommended”.  I paid $1 a couple of times to get into the Museum of Natural History since I had to write a couple of papers on pieces in the museum. As a struggling student I see no shame in doing this.  If I went now, since I have two jobs, I may give $5, but no where near their “suggested” amounts.

So with this information in mind and a few pointers, I hope you enjoy all the culture and history and art this city has to offer.  Who knows… you may be inspired and be the next Picasso (just remember little ‘ole me when you do)!