Dear Abby: My friends are pushing to exchange birthday presents even though I can’t afford it

Dear Abby: My friends are pushing to exchange birthday presents even though I can’t afford it

DEAR ABBY: I have a group of friends who get together once a month, usually for a casual dinner. Next month’s gathering will be to celebrate three birthdays, one of which is mine. While planning this gathering (via text), I asked if we could skip exchanging presents and just enjoy our time together. The response … Read more

Californians have to work harder than 48 other states to afford a stay-at-home parent

Californians have to work harder than 48 other states to afford a stay-at-home parent

California parents will have to work harder than almost every other America in order to raise a family on just one income. That’s according to a new, national study from SmartAsset — which ranks the Golden State second from the bottom of a nationwide list revealing the salaries a single-income household would need in order to … Read more

Exclusive | Yankees star and his wife help 57 families afford IVF after their own fertility struggles

At the third annual Willow Gala in Brooklyn on Monday night, Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón and his wife and infertility advocate, Ashley Rodón, celebrated a milestone close to their hearts. The gala, held at Skylight at The Refinery in Williamsburg, raised more than $1 million for couples navigating the financial and emotional toll of infertility … Read more

Struggling Americans are turning to trendy, risky ‘buy now, pay later’ loans to afford groceries, gas

Debit or credit? In this economy? Cash-poor and maxed-out consumers are increasingly turning to trendy “buy now, pay later” microloan products to afford everyday necessities — as inflation and the cost of living rise faster than salaries and bank balances. A report from Lending Tree found that 29% of users of popular BNPL brands like Klarna … Read more

Some parents turn to gambling to afford back-to-school supplies for their kids: survey

Some parents turn to gambling to afford back-to-school supplies for their kids: survey

From gambling and pawning possessions to taking out loans, a new survey uncovered the extreme lengths parents go to afford back-to-school supplies. The survey of 2,000 parents of school-aged children revealed that nearly one in 10 (8%) have gambled in order to have money for their kids’ school supplies. Others admitted to pawning their belongings … Read more

Most pet owners would go into debt for their pet — most can’t afford to

Most pet owners would go into debt for their pet —  most can’t afford to

New York Post may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Ask a pet owner what they’d do if the vet visit estimate came back at $6,000, and most already know the answer. Roughly 76% of pet owners say they would take on debt if … Read more

Spider-Man’s NYC home would cost millions — more than a even a superhero could afford 

Spider-Man’s NYC home would cost millions — more than a even a superhero could afford 

The Big Apple’s cost of living is a real supervillain! Spider-Man couldn’t afford to live in New York City in real life — as sky-high 2026 prices and unaffordable real estate would force the web slinger to live like a friendly neighborhood homeless man, experts said. Peter Parker would have to find an uncool corner … Read more

Half of parents admit they have ‘no idea’ how they will afford kids’ college education: survey

Half of parents admit they have ‘no idea’ how they will afford kids’ college education: survey

Half of parents admit they have “no idea” how they’re going to afford their kids’ college education, according to new research. A survey of 500 parents of high school seniors who intend to enroll in a four-year university this fall and 500 parents of current four-year university students unveiled the realistic struggles they face in … Read more

Exclusive | Private ‘recovery rooms’ are the new home gym for serious fitness fans — who can afford it

Exclusive | Private ‘recovery rooms’ are the new home gym for serious fitness fans — who can afford it

Go hard or go home? Nowadays, the motto’s go hard and recover hard. Fitness fans are increasingly focused on how they treat their bodies after working out, spurring a massive surge in popularity for things like sauna, cold plunges, red light therapy, hyperbaric chambers, compression therapy and massage. This has meant big business for gyms, … Read more

Many can’t afford summer vacation due to increasing travel costs: survey

Many can’t afford summer vacation due to increasing travel costs: survey

Four in 10 Americans will not be taking a single trip this summer, with cost as the biggest reason why. The survey of 5,000 Americans, split evenly by state and generation, looked at respondents’ 2026 travel plans, and it revealed 37% will not be traveling this summer. For these respondents, the majority are unable to … Read more

I’ve got Ozempic envy: I’m jealous that my friends can afford GLP-1s and I can’t

I’ve got Ozempic envy: I’m jealous that my friends can afford GLP-1s and I can’t

Gail Rudnick and Kim Murstein — the no-nonsense hosts of hit podcast series “Excuse My Grandma” — are The Post’s brand-new advice columnists. From family feuds to friendship fallouts, money, marriage and sex, there’s no topic too taboo to tackle, and the native New Yorkers will hash out each issue from their differing perspectives to tell the … Read more

Float through the rest of your life on this luxury residential cruise line — if you can afford it

Float through the rest of your life on this luxury residential cruise line — if you can afford it

The sea’s the limit if you’re wealthy enough. A residential cruise line just announced a new luxury ship that will allow passengers to live on board permanently. Launched by Villa Vie Residences under the working name Project Lumina, the ship will feature fully-owned private residences and top amenities and services. Project Lumina will feature fully-owned … Read more

New club Moss brings five stories of luxury amenities to Midtown Manhattan — if you can afford it

New club Moss brings five stories of luxury amenities to Midtown Manhattan — if you can afford it

A new private club in a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper offers a range of luxury amenities, if you can pay the price. Moss recently opened in five stories at 520 Fifth Ave., a 1,002-foot-high supertall at 43rd St. – with monthly dues of $280 to $745 on top of initiation fees of $1,500 to $3,950. Founded … Read more

Callous critics blast broke parents for skimping on holidays: ‘If you can’t afford Christmas, you shouldn’t have kids’

Callous critics blast broke parents for skimping on holidays: ‘If you can’t afford Christmas, you shouldn’t have kids’

He’s spreading Christmas jeer.  Penniless parents who can’t afford holiday toys for their tots deserve a fate worse than Santa’s “naughty” list, says an unsympathetic critic, who’s virally bashing folks for being broke.  “If you can’t afford to buy your kids Christmas presents, then you don’t deserve kids,” Sam, a dad and dog lover, from … Read more

Can’t afford a Miami mega-mansion? Head to Fort Lauderdale where $40 million buys a lot more

Can’t afford a Miami mega-mansion? Head to Fort Lauderdale where  million buys a lot more

To reach the upper price scales of Fort Lauderdale’s home listings, a few things are a must: water on at least two sides (a peninsula even better) and the ability to dock a yacht of significant length alongside the home. Ideally, the house should be newly built (or renovated), with space tailored for hosting large … Read more

Gen Z and millennials can’t afford friendships — but burn through cash to keep them, study says: ‘It’s in your best interest to become an introvert’

Gen Z and millennials can’t afford friendships — but burn through cash to keep them, study says: ‘It’s in your best interest to become an introvert’

Buddy fees are taking a toll on Gen Zs and millennials. Having chums comes at a high cost for frugal 20-somethings, and their millennial counterparts, who can ill afford splurging on social outings, but would rather spend the dough than face loneliness and FOMO — the fear of missing out — according to new jaw-dropping … Read more

Gen Z can’t afford love — most spend $0 on dates every month, new survey reveals

Gen Z can’t afford love — most spend alt=

They’re a budgeted bunch of penny-pinching pups.  Gen Z is not wooing the objects of their affection with top-tier rendezvous nor top-shelf spoils. In fact, most 20-somethings, grownups born after 1997, aren’t spending a dime on dates — and it’s paying off big time, per Bank of America’s new Better Money Habits study.  “The cost … Read more

‘I sold feet pics to afford my summer vacation’ — and other weird ways cash-strapped Americans are paying for travel

‘I sold feet pics to afford my summer vacation’ — and other weird ways cash-strapped Americans are paying for travel

Struggling Americans are doing whatever it takes to fund their much-needed summer vacations — taking up surprising side-hustles like selling pictures of their feet to faceless fetishists online, or even starving themselves. That’s according to a steamy new summer travel poll from KAYAK, — which showed that 1 in 20 U.S. adults admit they’re resorting to … Read more

Most Americans can no longer afford even a ‘minimal quality of life,’ depressing new study finds

Most Americans can no longer afford even a ‘minimal quality of life,’ depressing new study finds

The American dream is slipping away. Most US citizens no longer enjoy “a minimal quality of life” due to skyrocketing costs, a depressing new study has uncovered. Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity conducted research into the economic well-being of the country’s residents, defining “minimal quality of life” as the ability to pay for a … Read more

Starbucks has never been more expensive — see how many minutes you have to work to afford a coffee now

Starbucks has never been more expensive — see how many minutes you have to work to afford a coffee now

Is it costing you major Star-bucks? The beverage that fuels people’s productivity may be costing them a pretty penny in wages. Java website Coffeeness analyzed how many minutes Americans in each state need to clock to get their daily fix of Starbucks — with Arkansas coming in first in this regard. The bean counters reportedly … Read more