It is no secret that living in New York City is beyond expensive, and everyone who ventures into the city is always looking for ways to spend less and enjoy more of what it has to offer. Thankfully, due to the publication of Rob Grader’s The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City, it will no longer take a significant amount of time, effort or luck to find ways to enjoy New York City without breaking the bank.

Cheap Bastard is a comprehensive compilation of discounts and offers that are readily available to city dwellers and tourists. The book is very well organized, so readers can immediately pinpoint the deals that match their interests. Specifically, Section One focuses on the best deals for New York entertainment, Section Two covers ways to save on everyday necessities, and the final section focuses on ways people with even the most limited income can entertain themselves. Although tourists will derive the most benefit from this book since they presumably have the most limited knowledge about discounts and offers, even entrenched New Yorkers will likely find a few new secrets to add to their existing arsenal of bargain-hunting tips.

The section on New York entertainment will show you how to receive free theatre tickets, with ideas such as volunteering to usher one evening in exchange for free tickets to a future production. As an alternative, if you are pressed for time, there is ample advice on how to get inexpensive seats right up until showtime. The book also provides an education about entertainment that is available free of charge year round, assuming you know where to go to gain this type of access. If you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of New York theatre, there is also information on inexpensive comedy, dance, and magic shows throughout the city.

The section on living in New York focuses on places to get the best free food (at certain happy hours throughout the city) and free samples of a wide range of products. Also, you can enjoy an abundance of free wine around the city, assuming you read up on the establishments that host the most generous tastings. There are also opportunities for free or inexpensive hair and beauty treatments if you connect with beauty consultants and stylists looking to expand their clientele. If you have young children, you should be sure to peruse the section dedicated to activities geared to them, along with ways to take advantage of the readily available discounted health benefits. There is also extensive information on walking tours, entrance to the country’s finest botanical displays, art galleries, museums and zoos that offer hours of enjoyment at little or no cost. And, if you decide that shopping is on your agenda, you will want to take advantage of Grader’s virtual road map to the best home furnishing deals.

New York has gained notoriety for its high prices, but Cheap Bastard offers information that can dramatically offset your anticipated out-of-pocket expenses. Rather than roaming the city streets to search for the best methods to stretch your dollar, you can merely head to the nearest bookstore and reap the benefits of Grader’s exhaustive research.