Restaurant Review: Pier i Cafe

When looking where to grab a bite to eat, you always have to weigh cost with value.  Since New York is a little more expensive than other cities, this is even more difficult.

Sometimes places cost more because of the location, food quality, or atmosphere.  Pier I Cafe is located outside along the Hudson River, only open during the summertime.  This is one of New York's best kept secrets.

Locals dine here for a relaxing meal along the water.  With its casual setting, many come here after a day of biking or running down the river's esplanade.  It is also one of the few places that allows the consumption of alcohol in the park, so it is a great place to watch the sun set, eat good food outside, have a glass of wine, and come to dinner dressed in your workout clothes.

It is geared towards adults, but is welcoming for all ages. Think of it as an "adult picnic", where the adults sit alongside the water, drinking a glass of wine and having a salad, while the kids run around and play. It is the perfect "daycation" getaway, feeling as if you have escaped the bustling and noisy city, and landed in a tucked away paradise. Food is great. Atmosphere is like nothing else. And it is full of locals.

What more could you ask for?

How about a price reduction? It is a little bit expensive, and not exactly "frugal". A burger is about $10, and a beer is about $6, but for the value, it is frugal. You have a relaxing, front seat view of the water, eating and drinking, watching the sun set. Honestly, McDonald's runs about $8 for a value meal, so how much more are you actually paying? Trust me, it's worth it.

Consider this: Spend a day on the Upper West Side. Walk around Central Park, Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center, and Broadway. Rent a bike along the Hudson River for a couple hours, bike uptown towards Harlem and get a chance to tour yourself around for an affordable price,then conclude your journey here at Pier I for dinner, and watch the sun set along the Hudson.

Price: 3.5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Location: 5/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5

Expect to spend: $15-20

What to order:

The "i" Burger
Maine Lobster Roll
Classic Caesar Salad

Is Last Minute, Money Efficient?

Well, is it?  I'm asking YOU!

Sometimes, we save money by booking ahead.  This could be for hotel, airfare, tourist attractions, restaurants, etc.  Sometimes, we save by booking at the last minute.

I've paid very little for flying to New York during holidays by booking it almost 6 months in advance.  I then talk to others traveling around that time, and find out that they paid the same by booking it a few days before.

So which is better?  Where do you find the most savings?  Are you "better safe than sorry" or "later is better than nothing"?

Where do you find the best deals for the best booking times?  Is it better to book ahead for airfare and save the tourist attractions for when you get to your destination?  Write a comment and let me know!

The Best ROI

Can you donate your money and be frugal too?
                   Yes.
You just have to figure out the best use and need for your money.

While I think it's important to save money, it is also important to give with the amount you've saved.  You want to be able to give to the best cause, and to get the most out of your money.  The problem I always face, is that there are so many different causes.  Girl Scouts want an extra dollar for some charity; the grocery store asks me to donate a dollar for breast cancer; my church is raising money missions trips; KONY wants all of my money- and the list goes on.

So how do you know what to do?  I think giving is very important.  If you can afford to give, then it is a necessity.  You need to make sure you give to something you are passionate about though, and something you feel at peace with.  I would just like you to consider a cause that my family has received money from, and in turn, given to as well.

I go to Oral Robert's University, a small Christian college located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  My parents are alumni, and have seen this school go through many hardships and challenges.  Recently, the school has been excelling- having top notch teachers, expanding and remodling campus, and the school is officially "in the black" (meaning they are debt free!).

They have a scholarship for kids who are well rounded in all aspects, calling it the "Whole Person Scholarship".  This is good for students like me.  I don't have the highest SAT scores, but I am very socially adept, spiritually sensitive, and very fit and healthy.  This scholarship is for those students.

ORU is currently raising money for these students.  When donating, always thinking about if you will have a good return on your investment (ROI). Donating to a student's education, and providing them with a way to go to college, is some of the best ROI you can get.

I urge you to check it out.  If not this school, then maybe another one is pulling at your heart.  Education for youth who deserve it but cannot afford it is some of the best ways to donate your money.  Think about it.  What kind of ROI are you getting from your donations?  Donate to where you think the best ROI exists.

Guest Blog: Befrugal.com- Saving More Online

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Where do you like to shop?

Restaurant Review: Joe's Shanghai- The Home of the Soup Dumpling

Ready to find a place that not only offers good food, but good value? All in one of the most expensive cities in the world - NYC.  Yep...This is my favorite: Joe's Shanghai 

Located in the middle of Chinatown, this is an authentic Chinese restaurant with a unique dining experience!  Known as "Home of the Soup Dumpling", this place offers a wide variety of Chinese food.  Their dumplings, filled with soup, are the highlight, but anything you try on their menu is amazing.  Really tasty noodles (order "Shanghai Noodles"), some of the best fried rice I've ever had, as well as fresh seafood and crisp vegetables too (since they get them fresh in the Chinatown markets)!  You can't go wrong!

Once, this place was only surrounded by locals in the Chinatown area, but more tourists and locals from all over New York have been hearing about this best kept secret.  It is a simple decor inside this "hole in the wall" restaurant, full of plain wood round tables and multiple Zagat reviews hanging on the walls.  They have group seating style, so odds are, you are sitting with the people you came with, and people you've never met!  The portions can be shared or self portions, but when I go with a group, I tell everyone to get something different so we can all try!  The waiters don't speak much English, so know what you want (even before you sit down- they are very interested in flipping tables).

If you want authentic NYC Chinese, in a great location, for great value, don't go anywhere else except Joe's Shanghai.  Great for locals, and great for tourists.  And when you go, ask for Derek!  He is actually one of the only servers that speaks great English and is very friendly!

Price: 5/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
Location: 4/5
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5

Expect to spend: $10

What to order:
Pork or Seafood Steamed Dumplings
Fried Rice
Shanghai Noodles
Scallion Pancakes
Crispy Duck
Red Bean Dessert