With a recession looming and inflation driving prices sky-high, plenty of New Yorkers are feeling the pinch. Don't worry! We have 10 easy ways to save up to $1,000 quickly in New York State (and beyond) without doing much work at all.
1. Forget hotels, rent a private pool in your neighborhood.
If you don't feel like spending serious cash on flights, gas and hotels this summer—don't worry. You can rent a luxury pool or hot tub in your own area by the hour or afternoon. It's a cost-effective way to have a vacation-like experience without the hassle or all the absurd expenses. All you have to do is sign up for Swimply, an Airbnb-style pool rental service, to get started. It's free to browse and gorgeous pools start at just $25 per hour.
Have your own pool or hot tub? You can make serious cash by renting it out all summer. You probably won't use it 24/7 anyway. Even above-ground pools can be rented out. Some of the top markets include Long Island, Westchester, NYC's outer boroughs, plus the entire Hudson Valley and Catskills regions.
2. Just about everything will be 40% off or more for Prime Day, and you don't even have to pay for a membership.
This year's Prime Day deals will be bigger than ever because companies are struggling to move inventory and clear the Amazon warehouse space they pay for each month. That means below-cost deals will happen this Prime Day, but only for Prime Members. You can get a FREE membership for 30 days to take advantage of the deals, and you can always cancel before you're charged. They're even giving away a totally free year of GrubHub+ with $0 delivery fees, included with Prime. For Manhattan and Brooklyn-based residents, that free GrubHub+ membership is basically gold.
Better yet, Amazon is doing its best to beat competitor deals on even the most popular household brands. You can find their listings for Tide laundry detergent cheaper than Target, and even the bestselling Firestick for under $18.
3. You can have New York State assess your home's energy efficiency + make repairs at THEIR COST.
This great state doesn't want its residents wasting energy and driving prices up for everyone, so they'll actually send technicians out to your home to do an energy assessment. They'll check appliances, windows, doors, roofing and other areas for potential energy leaks and even help fund repairs and improvements up to $5,000. There are so income limits, but the vast majority of New Yorkers fall under the salary and income limitations—so it literally pays to go green! You can see if you qualify here.
4. Get 10 cents off every gallon of gas at up to 14,000 gas stations just by doing this.
Attention Walmart shoppers! With a Walmart+ membership, members will now save up to 10 cents off every gallon of gas and be able to access the discount at 14,000 fuel stations nationwide – including Exxon and Mobil USA locations. W+ members will get either 5 or 10 cents off per gallon at the 2,000+ Walmart and Murphy USA locations. The discount varies based on state regulations.
More information can be found at the Walmart+ landing page, but basically, that means Walmart shoppers have a cheap VIP gas card that saves them LOADS of cash each month. There are nearly 1,000 participating gas stations in the New York area, and roughly 14,000 nationwide.
5. Take advantage of free attractions and sights.
If you live in New York City, areas like The Highline in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood are totally free to enjoy and peruse. Hudson Valley residents can hike the Kaaterskill Falls (some of the biggest falls outside of Niagara!) without paying a dime, and hundreds of parks along the Adirondacks and Great Lakes also offer completely free access. Pack a picnic lunch and make the most of New York's glorious beauty!
6. Starbucks drinks are half off on Tuesdays!
Skip the cold foam iced latte on Monday, because every Tuesday in July starting July 5, members of the Starbucks free rewards program can enjoy a whopping 50% off one handcrafted cold beverage. The impressive recession-era promo includes all your favorite cold drinks like cold brews, nitro cold brews, and even the latest additions to Refreshers lineup.
7. There are MAJOR discounts on New York State Parks admission right now.
Legislation (S.8699/A.10030) sponsored by Senator Jim Tedisco and Assemblyman Matt Simpson, cuts the price of admission at facilities operated by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for the 2022 season. This might potentially save New York taxpayers up to $54 million in total this year. You just have to know where to look, and yes, it's worth asking at the admissions counter or calling ahead to see how you can score the deals for yourself.
8. Patio furniture and garden essentials are marked down by up to 90% off right now.
While patio and deck furniture is cheaper than usual across the country, it's especially cheap in New York where retailers have absurd overstocks, expensive warehousing, and shipping to liquidation centers has just gotten way too expensive. If you want the best deals, you can peruse the Walmart outdoor furniture clearance section online or head to your local HomeGoods on Tuesday or Wednesday when the best merchandise is laid out with the steepest markdowns. You can also shop competing Prime Day sales at Target, The Home Depot and other popular big box retailers.
9. Make a little extra cash doing InstaCart deliveries.
If you're low on cash and need to make extra, you can sign up for InstaCart and offer local delivery shopping and delivery with your own car. InstaCart shopping helpers set their own hours, and average hourly rates in the New York area range between $18 to $40 an hour. Not bad if you have a license, car and a desire to make people's lives easier.
10. New Yorkers can get free seeds for their gardens.
We're not kidding! Several local regions and municipalities in New York offer their own free flower seed mixes. The benefit? Well, you get gorgeous blooms and the region gets native pollinators that help preserve fragile ecosystems. A win-win. Adirondacks-area residents can see info here, or you can call your local town hall.
Love this story or have your own cash-saving ideas? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below!