I survived being homeless in New York with 9 items under $30

• I moved to New York without finding a job or an apartment.
• I was hunkered down in an artist’s studio for four months until I could afford to move into my own apartment.
• I had very little money, but spent it on nine things under $30 that helped me survive while I was homeless.
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I moved to New York without any concrete plan. I picked up my best friend from Chicago, packed all our stuff in my little Fiat, and drove all night until we got to Queens, New York.

At first, my friend let me stay in the guest room in the attic of her family’s house. Within weeks, I found an artist in Long Island City who needed 10-20 hours of administrative help in exchange for industrial studio space.

The studio space was a small room with a window and no furniture, intended for an artist or designer to do some messy work. There was no heating, no kitchen, no bathroom to shower in, and the artist explicitly told me that it was just a workspace.

Because I was desperate, I bought a yellow sofa and put it in the studio space. At night, I would sneak out and sleep there, making sure to wake up before 7 a.m. so no one caught me. I lived there 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 purchases under $30 that helped me survive when I lived in New York.

1. Gym Membership ($14.99)

I opted for a gym membership with multiple locations so I could use their shower whenever I needed. I chose the membership level that allowed me to use showers in Brooklyn and Queens, but there was a more expensive membership that would have allowed me to go to Manhattan locations as well.

2. Sample Size Toiletries ($10)

Every month, I stocked up on sample-sized toiletries like mouthwash, deodorant, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner that I could easily fit in my backpack.

3. Tampons ($7 to $16)

I ran out of tampons all the time, but some days I had $9 left in my bank account and wondered if it was worth spending $7 on a pack of 12 tampons. I also splurged on organic cotton tampons on some days because they were less irritating.

This experience inspired me to drop boxes of tampons off at homeless shelters and food banks whenever I could, as menstruating people are often underserved by these organizations.

4. Tinder date (free)

When I ran out of money, I started going on Tinder dates just so I could eat. Of course, I wouldn’t tell my dates about my financial situation. I even played it cool by throwing my card in the ticket holder at the end of the date, but the other person usually insisted on paying. Sometimes it was the only meal I ate during the day.

5. Ramen and Pringles Noodles ($5)

My favorite inexpensive meal was microwave ramen noodles and a box of Pringles. Pringles are usually on sale at Walgreens or CVS at three for $4. The box shape also made them very easy to store in the studio space or in my backpack.

6. Subway Card ($14)

A three-day unlimited Metrocard helped me get around while looking for work. When I couldn’t afford a Metrocard, I pretended to buy one at the kiosk, waited for a train to arrive, then sneaked out the emergency exit door.

7. Print my resume ($0.10 per page)

I was mainly looking for a job in the fashion or art industry, but I also submitted resumes in restaurants and retail stores.

Also, I signed up for LinkedIn Premium to help me with my job search, and it was a colossal waste of money. Every time that money came out of my account, I thought $29.99 cost six or seven bodega sandwiches that could feed me for days.

In the end I found my full time job on Craigslist and wish I didn’t waste so much money on LinkedIn Premium.

8. Coffee and pastry ($11)

To maintain the illusion that I was simply working in the studio space, I had to spend time elsewhere. I used wi-fi in cafes to apply for jobs during the day. On days when I splurged on a pastry, it was usually the only thing I ate all day.

9. Boots ($26)

Because I was walking around New York all day, I needed a pair of shoes that were comfortable enough to walk around while looking professional for interviews or dropping off my resume somewhere. I bought a pair of plain boots from Target that fit the bill.

I recognize that my experience as a homeless person in New York is made up of both light-skinned privilege and class privilege. I have a bachelor’s degree from a prestigious art school, numerous professional contacts and family members to rely on when I need additional financial support.

Not everyone who is homeless or homeless has the same resources. I chose to share my story so that anyone who is going through a tough time financially, especially artists, can feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Today, I can write full-time and work on creative projects on the side, living in my own one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles.