NYC is another fucking planet, UPDATE: good news!!

[angelaa73]

Hope you find something amazing and affordable!

[bittybomb]

I am not in the City, but am in a metro suburb. I've found that having a nanny is way cheaper than daycare (never mind much more convenient). (But we do have 3 kids, though I think once we hit 2 kids it was more cost effective to have a nanny.)

Good luck!

[Muddled]

$2000 should give you more options or, yeah, further out.

[hocus2]

Where will you be working?  Less popular hoods are going to help your budget. As long as your commute doesn't get too long there are options like Queens or parts of the riverdale. I'd see if you can find a broker who specializes in rent stabilized places. My daycare is $1350 for the month without food. 2 bedrooms are about 2000 so you've be over rent budget but well within your daycare budget. PM if want more info on my hood. 

How old is your kid? That is going to have a big impact on your childcare costs. Over 2 is better and over 3 opens a lot more options.

[Deleted]

Almost everyone I know with young kids in NYC does a nanny share instead of a center. The only family I know who doesn't does a combination of in-home and family care.

[hocus2]

Nov 4, 2013 15:27:05 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

Almost everyone I know with young kids in NYC does a nanny share instead of a center. The only family I know who doesn't does a combination of in-home and family care.

I know folks who've used centers in the city. The issue is getting a spot. If she's working from home a nanny is a very mixed blessing. I did it for 3+ years and it was hard. 

[dixienormous]

We live 30 minutes outside of Mid-town and out of the city. It's a bit cheaper, though childcare is still extremely pricey. We have an afternoon nanny and it works very well for us.

[revolution]

Have you checked out Long Island City area?

[Jalapeñomel]

Sorry. It's really hard here.

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2013 15:54:53 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Nov 4, 2013 15:52:03 GMT -5 @pnkybrwstr said:

DS is 14 mos.  The WFH thing is one reason I preferred a center.  I also want him to be with other kids.  NYC culture seems to favor a nanny though.

This is true.  But a lot of the nannies know each other and/or take the kids to play groups together.  When out and about, I rarely see just 1 nanny and a kid.  It's almost always a group of nannies that meet up with the kids and do activities together.

Plus my friends don't make enough to have their own nanny, so they nanny share with a couple other families--which means 2-3 kids together daily, plus larger meet ups with other nannies. 

If you found the right share, the nanny might end up watching the kids at another family's house. 

[hocus2]

I sent you a PM about my general area. Yes NYC is very nanny centered for the under 2 crowd -- but people certainly use daycare. I used a nanny until my youngest was 2 and now we're in a center and it I am very happy.

[Muddled]

Nov 4, 2013 16:02:51 GMT -5 @pnkybrwstr said:

Nov 4, 2013 15:51:45 GMT -5 revolution said:

Have you checked out Long Island City area?

I haven't, but judging by the subway map, it looks fairly convenient to Bushwick.

It is. Anything along the G would be easy.

[murdock]

Bay Ridge is a little far out, but I highly recommend it. Most of my family is still there, plus it has a combination Chinese and Norwegian cuisine restaurant!
Whut?

That beats any "combination Pizza Hut n Taco Bell!"

[janegold]

Have you looked into whether NYC has any artist studio programs? Here in Boston, the city's redevelopment authority has a program where certified working artists can rent or buy live/work spaces for much less than market value. About half of my building is made up of artist live/work studios.

[janegold]

Nov 4, 2013 16:40:58 GMT -5 @pnkybrwstr said:

Nov 4, 2013 16:13:39 GMT -5 janegold said:

Have you looked into whether NYC has any artist studio programs? Here in Boston, the city's redevelopment authority has a program where certified working artists can rent or buy live/work spaces for much less than market value. About half of my building is made up of artist live/work studios.

This is a really good idea.  I imagine there's a lot of competition, but I will look into this.

I bet that's true.  But, if there are waitlists and you guys plan to be in NYC for a while, can't hurt to get on to the lists sooner than later!

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2013 16:43:00 GMT -5 @pnkybrwstr said:

Nov 4, 2013 16:06:04 GMT -5 @ameliapond said:

Plus my friends don't make enough to have their own nanny, so they nanny share with a couple other families--which means 2-3 kids together daily, plus larger meet ups with other nannies. 

If you found the right share, the nanny might end up watching the kids at another family's house. 

Nanny share sounds pretty cool.  I think you mentioned in a previous post that you liked Sunset Park.  We visited friends on 40th who had a great place near the park.  The walk from the subway did feel a little iffy though.

Which subway? The area around the R is definitely sketchy--I always took the D from the 9th Ave (which is technically in Borough Park) and walked over two avenues. My old place was on 7th Ave between 41st and 42nd. I feel like that side of Sunset Park has more families.

[Jalapeñomel]

Have you looked at The Listing Project? This might be a good option since your DH is an artist.

[mushmouse]

Nov 4, 2013 15:49:27 GMT -5 @pnkybrwstr said:

Nov 4, 2013 15:24:34 GMT -5 hocus2 said:

Where will you be working?  Less popular hoods are going to help your budget. As long as your commute doesn't get too long there are options like Queens or parts of the riverdale. I'd see if you can find a broker who specializes in rent stabilized places. My daycare is $1350 for the month without food. 2 bedrooms are about 2000 so you've be over rent budget but well within your daycare budget. PM if want more info on my hood. 

How old is your kid? That is going to have a big impact on your childcare costs. Over 2 is better and over 3 opens a lot more options.

I'll be working from home, which is good.  DH is an artist and is looking for proximity to Chelsea and Bushwick.
I had preferred a center because that's what we have now, and I love it.  I'd love some input on Queens.  We won't have a car though.

Nov 4, 2013 15:26:52 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Aw, sorry, pnky. Did you check out Bay Ridge? Though, that will probably be in the 2k range for a 2 bedroom as well.

We did. Bay Ridge was really cute, and seems more affordable.  The downside is the proximity to the neighborhoods I mentioned above.  DH feels like he needs to be closer to ensure he actually goes to openings and stuff.  I know we need to compromise.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn and lived in Bay Ridge for a long time.  It's a great place, but not at all convenient for those areas.  One bad subway that takes FOREVER to get to the city and runs infrequently at night and on weekends.

[Deleted]

Would you consider Hoboken or Jersey City? They're easily commutable to Chelsea, and not that bad to Bushwick (though you'd have to switch from the PATH to the L). I'm not sure how the prices compare to the neighborhoods you're looking at, but I believe you'd save on income taxes.

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2013 17:37:03 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Can anyone comment on living in Astoria? A good friend of ours lives there and I love the neighborhood but I've only seen it as a visitor.

Any of my friends who live in Astoria love living in Astoria.

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2013 17:37:03 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Can anyone comment on living in Astoria? A good friend of ours lives there and I love the neighborhood but I've only seen it as a visitor.

I loved it. Lived there for 4 years before we got priced out then moved to Brooklyn.

[formerlyak]

Nov 4, 2013 16:13:39 GMT -5 janegold said:

Have you looked into whether NYC has any artist studio programs? Here in Boston, the city's redevelopment authority has a program where certified working artists can rent or buy live/work spaces for much less than market value. About half of my building is made up of artist live/work studios.

We have a few of these in Los Angeles as well. You could probably call Parsons or Pratt to see if they know of any since they have alumni who presumable would be living in these if they are available.

[LoveTrains]

My cousin lives in Astoria and loves it. We just had another friend leave Long Island City for Astoria. I have another friend that lives in Sunnyside Gardens and it is cute and not too far from the subway. Plus it's right by the train yard.

OP you are leaving us in RI! Sorry we never did a GTG. If you are up for it the Boston ladies and I are doing Waterfire on Saturday. Check out the Boston board for more info.

[formerlyak]

Nov 4, 2013 17:37:03 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Can anyone comment on living in Astoria? A good friend of ours lives there and I love the neighborhood but I've only seen it as a visitor.

Most of my actor friends who move to NYC live in Astoria and love it. I don't know how family-friendly it is though because they are all singles.

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2013 18:04:07 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

Nov 4, 2013 17:37:03 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Can anyone comment on living in Astoria? A good friend of ours lives there and I love the neighborhood but I've only seen it as a visitor.

Most of my actor friends who move to NYC live in Astoria and love it. I don't know how family-friendly it is though because they are all singles.

Tons of families. Especially in the Ditmars area.

[Velar Fricative]

Astoria is awesome. I lived my first several years in Sunnyside and it's a great neighborhood too - should still be cheaper than Astoria despite it being a popular neighborhood as well. I think Queens is a very underrated borough overall.

I live in Staten Island where everything is very affordable and we like it a lot but I would not recommend it to non-New Yorkers who may not live here for very long because it's a trek to everywhere. As for other parts of Brooklyn, Dyker Heights is next to Bay Ridge; my ILs live there and it's a nice area (no clue about rents though).

Good luck!

[Jalapeñomel]

Nov 4, 2013 17:37:03 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Can anyone comment on living in Astoria? A good friend of ours lives there and I love the neighborhood but I've only seen it as a visitor.

Expensive...this summer a 2 bedroom was around $2500

[Gato]

Yay!  I hadn't seen your original thread, but I'm glad you found a place.  My cousin lived in Windsor Terrace for many years with her husband and two kids.  I always loved visiting her there.

[angelaa73]

Ohhhhhh. Sounds positively....royal! Haaha

[Jalapeñomel]

Woohoo!  Where is Windsor Terrace?  Did you get a two bedroom?  Did you have to go up in price or not?