21 affordable must-haves every New Yorker needs in their life

Business Insider

19 hours ago

Hello, New York! I moved to the city five years ago and, like any good New Yorker, quickly learned how to stretch a dollar without sacrificing style or sanity.
What do Angelinos know about schlepping? Not as much as the average Brooklyn granny, I'll bet you that. It takes a shrewd knowledge to keep up with the hustle and bustle here, so with the help of my fellow New York-based colleagues, I've curated all the best products for urban living.
New York is an expensive place to call home, but with these affordable finds, you can make life here more comfortable, practical, and efficient.
A chic granny cart
Lauren Savoie/Business Insider
Schlepping is a careful science. My roommate and I invested in our own Hulken, and it forever changed the way we buy groceries. Learn just why we love it in our full Hulken review.
A portable fan for hot summer subway rides
Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan
Several of our editors swear by this mini fan for the summer. In addition to a fan with two speeds, it's also a portable battery charger and a flashlight.
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Highlights
Compact and cute design
Up to 19 hours of continuous cooling time
Doubles as a phone charger and flashlight
Wait any longer than five minutes for the subway in a stiflingly hot station, and you'll be wishing you'd scored on this deal. Our deputy executive editor loves this Amazon mini fan because it's portable enough for her purse and inexpensive.
A big blanket for when the whole friend group gets together
Lauren Savoie; Les Shu/Business Insider
Our New York-based editors came together at a park near our office to test the best picnic blankets. We liked this beach blanket because it's big enough for large groups but folds up compactly for storage, and it stays put in windy weather. If you and your friends are regulars at Jacob Riis, you'll appreciate this ultraportable beach blanket.
Headphones that block out all the city noise
Noise-canceling headphones saved my sanity when construction began across the street from my apartment. These over-ears let you switch between quiet and aware modes with a simple tap. This way, you can enjoy stillness and be aware of your surroundings on the train while you listen to music. Read our full guide to the best noise-canceling headphones.
A shoe tray so you won't track sidewalk grime into your apartment
Ottomanson Multi-Purpose Boot Tray
This waterproof tray's raised edges mean your wet shoes won't leak onto the floor. You can also use it as a pet food bowl tray or a place for draining plants.
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I live in a "shoes off" apartment. I leave mine on a rack near my door, but when it's wet outside, I slide this shoe tray out from underneath the bottom shelf so there's no mud, rainwater, or heaven-knows-what-else leaking from my shoes onto the floor.
Anti-chafe balm for long city walks
Sweaty summer walks can cause uncomfortable chub rub, so we recommend this anti-chafe stick for the thick-thighed girlies.
A cute carry-all that zips closed
Style editor Samantha Crozier has tested dozens of totes in search of the best work bag for women. She touts this affordable nylon work bag as both weather-resistant and lightweight, making it ideal for rainy commutes.
Buckets of hand sanitizer
Pack thousands of people into small spaces like the subway and germs are bound to spread. My first year in NYC, I got sick roughly once a month. Now I keep one of these compact spray hand sanitizers in my bag wherever I go.
A TV you can move around your shoebox apartment
Samantha Crozier/Insider
"I first saw LG's portable StanbyMe TV on TikTok," writes Samantha. "As a New York City apartment dweller, I'm always looking for space-saving options." You can easily wheel it over to your workspace, kitchen, or bedroom for portable entertainment. Read our full LGStanbyME review.
A sturdy umbrella that can withstand city wind
Summer rainstorms can happen in a flash. To save precious space in your tote bag, we suggest this pick from our guide to the best umbrellas. It's super light and compact, and it won't collapse as you walk down the wind tunnel-like streets of Manhattan.
Memberships that make city life a little easier
Paying a chunk up front can save you money in the long run, especially in a city like New York. The most essential memberships for city dwellers are Citi Bike, Instacart, and Class Pass.
Citi Bike is often the easiest and most direct way to get around, but bike rides and unlocks are significantly more costly if you're not a member. Bundling a membership via Lyft essentially gets you three subscriptions in one: Citi Bike, Lyft Pink, and Grubhub+ — and it's $20 cheaper than the base Citi Bike membership.
You need only make the mistake of buying a $10 stick of butter at Gristedes once to swear off most city grocery stores. Unless you're right near a Trader Joe's, I've found it's actually cheaper (or comes out to about the same cost) to order groceries via Instacart. You can shop around for the best prices and get bags and bags of groceries delivered right to your door — no schlep required. The annual Instacart+ subscription gets you lower fees and comes with an NYT Cooking and Peacock streaming subscription, which makes it worth the cost.
New York has so many great boutique fitness studios and classes to try out that it's hard to commit to a single gym membership. ClassPass offers a way for you to take classes or book gym time at studios all across the city, and the rates are typically better than booking each class à la carte. You can try a free trial for two weeks before you commit.
An AC that you don't have to worry about dropping out your window
Windmill 10,000 Btu Inverter Window Air Conditioner with WhisperTech
If aesthetics are important to you, Windmill makes one of the most attractive and easy-to-install ACs on the market. This 10,000 Btu unit should comfortably cool up to 450 square feet and is WiFi enabled so you can control it from anywhere.
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This is a great air conditioner for New Yorkers because it's super easy to install, meaning you won't have to worry about dropping the unit out of your apartment window.
Sneakers that can handle 20,000 step days
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
I've tested a lot of walking shoes all over my neighborhood. As much as I love stepping out in some fashion-girl shoes, I keep this OOFOS pair by my apartment doorway because they pull on easily, so I can slip out to the bodega at a moment's notice.
A white noise machine to drown out traffic
Homedics SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine
The Homedics SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine is a fantastic entry-level sleep machine that is easy to use and effective, with six types of relaxing noise settings. It's smaller and more lightweight than most white noise machines, making it perfect for traveling.
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Getting a good night's rest with blaring car horns outside a street-facing bedroom window is no easy task. A lightweight white noise machine by Homedics lets you drown out busy traffic sounds in your home or abroad. Read more about how this portable white noise machine can help your sleep routine.
A powerful roach bait so you don't have to share your apartment with creepy crawlies
Combat Max 12-Month Roach Killing Bait
Common, small roaches don't require anything too complicated, and Combat Max 12-Month Bait Stations are plenty effective — and discreet.
Roaches are an unfortunate fact of life in any NYC apartment building — no matter what your realtor tells you. If you want to keep the insects from infiltrating your unit, a solid bait will keep them at bay. Read more in our guide to the best roach killers.
A sleek cordless vac that doesn't take up much space
Dyson V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum
For a Dyson at the lowest price possible, you can't go wrong with the basic but mighty Dyson V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum. It offers two cleaning modes, three attachments, and a cleaning time of up to 40 minutes.
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My old clunker of a vacuum was heavy, loud, and took up too much room. Dyson makes tools like hair dryers and vacuums that are a genuine pleasure to use. I find myself cleaning with this cordless unit out of habit more than necessity. My roommates and I love how it stows neatly onto a wall mount, letting us reclaim our closet space. Read more in our guide to the best cordless vacuum cleaners.
A phone mount you can use on a Citi Bike
Lamicall Bike Phone Holder
This adjustable phone mount secures your device to the handle of your bicycle so you can navigate hands-free.
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The most common (and potentially deadly) Citi Bike offense I witness is people navigating busy city streets while looking down at their phone. With this bicycle phone mount, you can keep your eyes on the road and find your bearings more easily.
Sandals that'll still feel good after miles of walking
These supportive, waterproof slides, featured in our guide to the best walking sandals for women, are better for city streets than any other slides we've tried. Their strap comes over the top of your foot rather than down around your toes, so they stay in place better. Plus, the platform gives you a little separation between the sidewalk and your toes.
An air purifier to filter out city smog
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier
If you need a powerful, energy-efficient air purifier for medium to large rooms, the Airmega AP-1521HH Mighty is your best option. It includes three filters and ionization, and the fan speed adjusts based on the air quality.
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What we like
Performed the best at removing air pollutants and VOCs
HEPA filter lasts up to a year
Lowest energy consumption of all the models tested
Energy Star Certified
What we don't like
Noisy on the highest setting
Bulky shape
No remote
Specifics
CADR:Smoke: 234, Dust: 248, Pollen: 232
Room size:Up to 1,748 square feet
Weight:13.2 pounds
Size:9.37" x 16.81" x 18.30"
Auto-mode:Yes
Filter type:True HEPA and carbon
Heidi Borst/Business Insider
Do you remember that strange summer day when the Canadian wildfires turned our sky orange? I do, because I have a distinct memory of showing my friend our guide to the best air purifiers before she could impulse-buy anything subpar. This air purifier will help clear your apartment from harsh pollutants and can improve the overall respiratory health of your household.
Gabrielle Chase
Senior Associate Style & Beauty Editor
Gabrielle Chase is a style and beauty expert who has worked in the fashion journalism industry for five years. As an editor and reporter, she has covered viral products, luxury companies, and durable closet staples. She applies a healthy dose of skepticism to the fashion trends on social media — still, she's never above a good designer dupe.ExperienceBefore joining Business Insider in 2023, Gabrielle interned with Interview Magazine, and then wrote for Elle Magazine's online series, The Launch.In her role on the Reviews team, Gabrielle tests clothing, shoes, and jewelry for their durability, quality, and, of course, style. She brings her eye for fashion to every story she writes or edits, whether she's helping readers get dressed for work or find their new favorite pair of jeans. Gabrielle is also an expert when it comes to finding great deals on clothing and shoes, from finding affordable hidden-gem brands, to showcasing the best discounts around deal events.She upholds Insider Reviews' rigorous product testing standards, recommending only products that look good, feel good, and last for season after season.Expertise
Women's shoes and clothing
Apparel deal hunting
Viral fashion trends
Designer dupes
EducationGabrielle graduated from the University of Rhode Island with degrees in Journalism and Spanish. There she started runway modeling, which gave her an intimate look at how much work goes into producing a single garment. Backstage she'd overhear designers passionately retelling their creative process, so she switched her focus from broadcast journalism to fashion journalism.Outside of workGabrielle enjoys K-pop girl groups, horror movies, and science fiction books. She is based in Brooklyn.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [e-mail].