This is why you shouldn't move to NYC (even if you make $175k+ per year)

@jack_boudreau_

43.2K followers · usually 5.6K views a post

Views

73.1K

Likes

1.6K

Comments

412

Shares

284

Selling · Agency / Service

Habitsseen in 12 videos →http://usehabits.com/quick-match?utm_source=tiktok&utm_medium=bio ↗

Why it worked

The video uses a relatable 'lifestyle creep' narrative combined with absurd, hyperbolic expenses to keep viewers engaged until the end, where the financial pain point naturally leads them to the bio link.

Summary

A creator breaks down his monthly expenses in NYC to illustrate why a high salary doesn't guarantee financial comfort. He concludes by highlighting his struggle to save money despite his income.

Structure

1Hook stating the premise of high income but low affordability in NYC
2Detailed breakdown of monthly expenses including travel, rent, and lifestyle costs
3Calculation of total monthly spend versus income
4Final frustration about the inability to save money
5Implicit pivot to financial management via bio link

Product placement

The video serves as a lead-in to the creator's financial advisory service linked in his bio, which addresses the financial mismanagement highlighted in the video.

Original caption

For context, I’m 31 and work in tech

More from @jack_boudreau_

Their other posts in the index, biggest breakout first.

On-screen text

This is why you shouldn't move to NYC (even if you make $175k+ per year) I LITERALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I LIVE IN THIS CITY I MAKE ABOUT $175,000 A YEAR AND HAVE AN INSANE EQUITY PLAN YEAH, IT'S STILL IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE ANYWHERE HERE AFFORDABLY SO, IN TOTAL, I MAKE ABOUT $175,000 PER YEAR AND NET OF TAX, THAT'S PROBABLY AROUND LIKE 10 GRAND A MONTH AND SO, THIS IS WHAT I SPENT LITERALLY JUST TO EXIST FLIGHTS AND TRAVEL IS AROUND $1,500 A MONTH WEEKLY DATE NIGHT IS AROUND $1,000 A MONTH UBER, $500 A MONTH MY DAILY STARBUCKS ORDER IS AROUND $20 AFTER TIP RENT IS AROUND $6,000 A MONTH PARKING, THOUGH, IS ABOUT $750 A MONTH DOORDASH FOR LUNCH IS AROUND $1,200 A MONTH MY CO-WORKING MEMBERSHIP IS ABOUT $600 A MONTH MY CAGE-FREE, PASTURE-RAISED, GLACIER-FILTERED WATER FOR MY FACE PLUNGES IS ABOUT $420 A MONTH MY HIMALAYAN NEUROTROPIC PINK SEA SALT IS ABOUT $200,000 A MONTH TOTAL IS AROUND $14,000 A MONTH BEFORE 401K CONTRIBUTIONS, SAVINGS AND DESPITE WORKING MY ASS OFF FOR LITERALLY 10 HOURS A WEEK WORKING REMOTELY AND MAKING $175,000 A YEAR IN THIS CITY I AM SOMEHOW IN A POSITION WHERE I'M LITERALLY LOSING LIKE CLOSE TO $4,000 A MONTH I JUST, WHAT THE HELL.

Transcript

I literally don't understand why I live in this city. I make about $175,000 a year and have an insane equity plan. Yeah, it's still impossible to live anywhere here affordably. And so, literally, so let me just like kind of break this out. I have this all like written out. So, in total, I make about $175,000 per year. And net of tax, that's probably around like 10 grand a month. And so, this is what I spent literally just to exist. Flights and travel is around $1,500 a month. I blame that on weddings mostly and I'm from the Midwest. Weekly date night is around $1,000 a month, $250 a date, but then that's pretty conservative. Uh, Uber, $500 a month. My daily Starbucks order is around $20 after tip. Rent is around $6,000 a month, which is a little high, but it comes with the gym. Parking, though, is about $750 a month. DoorDash for lunch is around $1,200 a month. My co-working membership is about $600 a month. My cage-free, pasture-raised, glacier-filtered water for my face plunges is about $420 a month. My Himalayan neutropic pink sea salt is about $200,000 a month. Total is around $14,000 a month before 401k contributions, savings. And despite working my ass off for literally 10 hours a week working remotely and making $175,000 a year in this city, I am somehow in a position where I'm literally losing like close to $4,000 a month. I just, what the hell.