Personal experience: 9 things that helped me survive in New York without housing and work

The American dream brings many to New York. New arrivals sometimes do not know how to behave in order to survive and resist the flow of the Big Apple. We will tell in the first person the story of Leo, who managed to survive and stay in New York, even without having a home. She published very helpful tips in an article for the publication Insider.

I moved to New York with no specific plans. I picked up my best friend from Chicago, packed all of our stuff in my tiny Fiat, and drove all night until we got to Queens, New York.

First, my friend allowed me to stay in a spare room in the attic of her family's house. A few weeks later I found artist in Long Island City, who needed 10 to 20 hours of administrative assistance in exchange for a place in an industrial studio.

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The studio space was a small room with one window and no furniture, designed for an artist or designer to do their dirty work. There was no heating, no kitchen, no bathroom, and the artist told me bluntly that this was just a workplace.

Because I was desperate, I bought a yellow sofa and put it in the studio. At night she would sneak inside and sleep there. I woke up before 7 am so that no one would catch me. I lived like this for four months until I finally found a full-time job and could afford to move into my own apartment with my name on the lease.

Here are 10 $30 purchases that helped me survive when I lived in New York.

1. Gym membership ($14.99)

I chose the subscription gym with multiple locations so I could use their showers whenever I needed. I chose a membership tier that allowed me to use the showers in Brooklyn and Queens. But there was also a more expensive membership level that would have allowed me to go to Manhattan.

2. Toiletry set ($10)

Every month, I stocked up on toiletries like mouthwash, deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner that I could easily stash in my backpack.

3. Tampons ($7 to $16)

I was running out of tampons all the time, and I constantly wondered if it was worth spending $7 on another pack.

This experience has inspired me to bring boxes of tampons to homeless shelters and food banks whenever I can, because menstruating people are often underserved by these organizations.

4. Dating on Tinder (Free)

When I ran out of money, I started going on Tinder dates to eat. Of course, I did not tell my partners about my financial situation. I even played it cool by offering my card at the end of the date, but the partner usually insisted on paying. Sometimes it was the only food I ate in a day.

5. Ramen with noodles and Pringles ($5)

My cheap meals were microwaveable ramen noodles and a can of Pringles. Pringles are usually sold at Walgreens or CVS for three cans for $4. They are very easy to store in the studio or in my backpack thanks to the shape of the can.

6. Metrocard ($14)

Three Day Unlimited Card metro card helped me move around while I was looking for a job. When I couldn't afford a Metrocard, I pretended to buy one at a kiosk, waited for the train to arrive, and then made my way through the emergency exit.

7. Printing my resume ($0,10 per page)

I primarily looked for work in the fashion or art industry, but I also applied for jobs in restaurants and retail stores.

Also, I signed up for LinkedIn Premium for my job search and it was a colossal waste of money. Every time the money came from my account, I thought that $29,99 was the cost of six or seven sandwiches that could feed me for several days.

I ended up finding my job on Craigslist and wish I didn't have to spend so much money on LinkedIn Premium.

8. Coffee and pastries ($11)

To maintain the illusion that I'm just working in a studio space, I had to spend some time elsewhere. I used wi-fi in coffee shops to look for work during the day. In those days when I ate pastries, it was the only thing I ate all day.

9. Boots ($26)

Since I was walking around New York all day, I needed a pair of boots that would be comfortable enough to go to an interview or where I left my resume. I bought a simple pair of boots from Target that was right for the price.

I acknowledge that my experience as a homeless person in New York is associated with fair-skinned privilege. I have a bachelor's degree from a prestigious art school, many professional connections, and family members that I can rely on when I need additional financial support.

Not all homeless people have the same resources. I decided to share my story so that anyone who is going through a difficult financial time, especially artists, can feel the light at the end of the tunnel. Today I get the opportunity to write and work on creative projects, living in my own studio apartment in Los Angeles.