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Not buying an unlimited MetroCard
We know. It seems like less money at the time, but all of those $10 and weeklong MetroCards quickly add up. Just bite the bullet and invest in the $116.50 monthly unlimited card. You’ll be set for the next 30 days, and you’ll stop being that annoying friend who makes everyone wait while they refill their card. Not to mention, just think of all those times you’ve barely missed a train just because you had to spend forever getting a new card from one of those glitchy machines. Rough.
Never having cash
Walking a few blocks out of your way to stop by your local bank branch can seem annoying at the time, but it’s definitely going to save you money in the long term. Many bars and bodegas are still cash only and the ones that aren’t always have those darn card minimums. (Why yes, I was planning on buying four Clif bars today!) Don’t put yourself in a place where you’re buying random stuff or getting charged multiple fees for some back-alley ATM. You’re better than that.
Buying cheap umbrellas
If there’s one thing you can always count on in New York, it’s that you’re going to get stuck in a rainstorm at some time or another. But if you find yourself continuously buying five dollar umbrellas on the side of the road that instantly collapse at the smallest gust of wind, you’re doing it wrong. Invest in two mid-priced umbrellas and keep one at home and one at your desk. Hopefully, those will get you through these rainy months till we finally reach the halcyon days of summer.
Ordering too much delivery
Seamless is probably the most seductive website in the universe, but that doesn’t mean you have to give in! With the small kitchens in most New Yorker's apartments and abundance of local restaurants, it can be especially tempting to simply click your way to a meal every day. Why lug home groceries and cook when you can have someone deliver a hot plate of food directly to your door? But pretty soon, you'll be that person who orders three meals a day from the diner around the corner and greets the delivery guy by his first name. You know what else is seamless? A slippery slope.
Taking an Uber or taxi everywhere
The subway can be incredibly frustrating, but it's a mile above the public transportation in a lot of other US cities. Take advantage of those trains! Taking an Uber all the time is like being in a relationship that seems amazing now, but later you look back and think, "Wow. I really spent a lot of money on that guy, and I really didn't need him in my life." An occasional hook-up is fine, but don't overdo it. There's no need to be Uber or Taxi Monogamous.