Grace Chang travels about 500 miles weekly, commuting nearly four hours from Arlington, Virginia, to her job in Hell’s Kitchen twice a week, spending around $1,000 monthly. Despite the large monthly bill on transportation, Chang admitted to The New York Post that she loves it.
The 28-year-old financial analyst said,
“I’ve always dreamed of working in New York — I love the thrill, the adrenaline of the city… But there are definitely some weeks when I’m, like, ‘Why am I doing this?’”
“My 10-ride Amtrak pass costs around $790 a month.. I spend another $200 on trains once I’m in the city,”
said Chang.
Although she spends a lot of money on transportation, she revealed what helps her cut down on the cost. She said,
“On Sunday nights, I meal prep and pack my clothes for the three days I’ll be in New York.”
“On Monday, I wake up at 4 a.m., do my makeup, get myself ready, grab my things and go,” she added.
Chang’s husband, Andrew, drives her 15 minutes to a D.C. train station for her 5 a.m. commute to Midtown. Her rides are usually calm, allowing time for various tasks, unless interrupted by heatwaves.
She explained,
“There have been some severe train delays due to extreme heat… Once, we were stuck on the tracks for three hours, just sitting in Newark, New Jersey.”
While in the city, Chang stays with her in-laws in northern New Jersey or a friend in Bayside, Queens, for free. She returns to Virginia on Wednesday nights to work remotely for the remainder of the week.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
