26-year-old bookstore manager lives in New York City on $53,000 a year: 'It's hard, but it's so worth it'
Eileen Tyrrell moved to New York with little savings and no guaranteed paycheck — and stayed. Here how she makes it work.
TL;DR
- Eileen Tyrrell, 26, moved to New York City in August 2022, prioritizing a meaningful life and job over a high salary.
- She holds a civil engineering degree but pursued her passion for books, now working as a bookstore manager with an annual salary of $45,000.
- Tyrrell's total annual income is around $53,000, including an estimated $8,000 from freelance writing, pet sitting, and TikTok earnings.
- She lives with two roommates in a rent-stabilized apartment in Chelsea, paying $1,566 for her share of the rent.
- Her primary strategies for affording life in New York include having minimal debt, reasonable rent, and low discretionary spending.
- Tyrrell has about $2,800 in student loans with a $50 monthly payment and avoids credit card debt.
- She focuses on experiences like travel for splurges and keeps social life low-cost, centered around walks, coffee, and home-based activities.
- Tyrrell has recently gained a following on TikTok by showcasing everyday, 'normal' life in New York.
- She finds fulfillment in her community and neighborhood, volunteering and feeling connected to those around her, framing her choices with Oscar Wilde's quote about happiness.