Saving money in one of the most expensive cities in the United States can be difficult, especially living off an entry-level salary. Here are some tactics that have helped save me money, as well as enjoy my time in New York City.

1. Put away money pre-tax.

You set the threshold, but do this to build equity from the beginning of your career. Many companies offer plans where employers can contribute up to 15% of their income pre-tax to Roth, 401K’s or a combination of both for retirement. Figure out how much of your salary you need for your everyday and monthly expenses and put the rest away pre-tax. You’ll be happy you started saving at age 22 as opposed to age 30.

2. Budget, budget, budget.

Track every single dollar you spend and you’ll be amazed where your money goes. Over 30% of mine goes towards transportation. This will allow you to make adjustments as you become accustomed to what you can and can’t afford (and what you can eliminate from your expenses).

3. Use Cards!

To aid in tracking your expenses, pay for everything with a credit or debit card. This not only makes your purchases easier to track but also allows you to accrue points towards future expenses (like flights, hotels, etc).

4. Be Fresh

Avoid recurring expenses like buying lunch multiple times a week, purchasing an iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts each morning or splurging on a cinnamon pretzel from Auntie Anne’s before boarding the train each night. These types of purchases can be avoided and can add up to hundreds of dollars of money spent that could have otherwise been saved or allocated to a more necessary budget item.

5. Look for specials when eating out.

College students read: happy hour specials are plentiful in New York City. Instead of splurging on that $7.50 lager, go instead for the $3.50 Bud Light draft that is half price until 8pm. Finding these deals will help reduce the costs of eating out, which often is one of the most expensive activities in big cities.

6. Don’t live off shoestrings.

I have been guilty of this too often (especially in college): spending more than I was making. In the event of an emergency, I would have been S-O-L. Keep money available in your checking account that is reserved for emergencies (i.e. car breaks down, you need to hop on a plane tomorrow on a moment’s notice, etc.). Also, keep at least $50 in your wallet, just in case.

7. Paid in Full

Always pay your credit card off in full. Never pay the minimum monthly payment; this practice will lead to a lower credit score, monthly finance fees and ultimately will lead to more of a hassle when you’re looking to rent or own a place.

8. Automate and eliminate the need to write checks

If you’re able to, set up auto-payments for your credit card, car insurance, cell phone bill and rent check. This will simplify your life and ensure that you don’t miss a payment, which could lead to late charges and other hassles. Just remember to account for these monthly expenses when planning your monthly and yearly budgets.

9. Reward Yourself

Allocate a percentage of each paycheck to a trip or vacation you want to take in the future. This is a nice reward system that I build into my budget for myself. After all, life isn’t all about work. Use your money to experience those trips you have always wanted to take but never had the money saved to make it happen. You can establish a free account at any number of institutions and create an automatic transfer of funds each month into this vacation account. Like this, you’ll find that saving for a dream vacation becomes a natural and manageable part of your financial routine.

10. Keep It All in Check!

Budget, but don’t be too cheap and miss out on experiencing what your city has to offer. Know where you can spend money and where you can be thrifty and save. Consider investing in cryptocurrencies to grow your money over time, but make sure you do your research and use the best bitcoin wallet for secure transactions. Please, don’t be a hermit and hole up just because you think it’s best to save.

These are some of the methods that I employ to maximize my savings while still enjoying the benefits of working in a big city. What are some tactics you have used to increase your savings right out of college? How do your methods of saving change as you progress through your career? Leave your advice in the comments section below.

Jim Armstrong is a recent graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.  He now works for New York City-based advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather as an assistant search planner.