no one is riding friend She embodied the hustle and bustle of New York more than Phoebe Buffay.funniest friend friend (Yes, I said it!) I lived the bohemian-chic lifestyle most urban immigrants dream of, but I didn't have the budget of Carrie Bradshaw.
Instead, Phoebe became a jack-of-all-trades who moved from job to job. However, none of these posts seem to provide enough money for Phoebe to live a decent life in Manhattan, even in the '90s, leaving fans wondering how Phoebe will make ends meet. thought.
Other than Ross, Phoebe was the show's only main character who lived alone. She claimed to have a roommate named Dennis, but she was never seen or heard from him, which became a running joke and led to suspicions among the group that she was completely making things up. caused.
In any case, her rent was probably higher than Chandler and Joey's house or Rachel and Monica's house (especially since they lived in a rent-controlled apartment), which means that she could live with exactly her lifestyle. This again raises questions about how much can be covered.
she raked it up with a massage
Phoebe's most consistent work friend She worked as an independent massage therapist, which put her in some hilarious situations. Fans might think that her massage jobs aren't raking her in the dough, since she frequently did side gigs. In fact, Los Angeles-based massage therapist Sabrina Ortolano says Phoebe could have made a good living from her career.
“What's interesting is that Phoebe is often portrayed as poor and living in survival mode until she gets a job at a corporate chain spa,” Ortolano tells Bustle. “If a massage therapist in private practice does their job well, they tend to do pretty well themselves.”
When Ortolano and his wife, Cindy, started offering private massages, the rates were about $80 to $85 an hour. “New York tends to be expensive, so Phoebe's income would have been much higher than that,” she says. “Phoebe probably made $90 an hour when she worked for herself. As high as $200. Even in the '90s.”
Massage therapy is considered health care in New York state and requires 1,000 hours of training to practice on patients, so Phoebe's rates likely reflect that. But because independent therapists choose their own rates, Ortolano says Phoebe could charge as much as $60 an hour. (Given her character's laissez-faire attitude, it wouldn't be surprising if she handed out a good deal.)
Rent was affordable in the 90s.
Renting an apartment in New York is expensive, but back in the '90s it was a little more affordable, especially if Phoebe booked quite a few massages a week. “The cost of his first loft in Los Angeles was $850 a month, but he could easily live by seeing three or four clients a week,” Ortolano says.
In 1994, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in New York was about $1,500.If Phoebe's roommate Dennis If you split the rent in real terms, it would be about $750. Even if Phoebe lived alone, she would still have been able to afford a full-time massage therapist.
she did every odd job she could
Thanks to her odd jobs, Phoebe had more worldly experience than the rest of the gang. When she's not giving massages, she works for Dairy Queen, a telephone telemarketing company, and as an aspiring musician who blessed Central Her Park with iconic jams like “Smelly Cat.” I did.
She broke into her friend's workplace, working as Chandler's temporary secretary, Monica's catering partner, and an extra in a movie. days of our life With Joey.
Pay for these jobs would have ranged from tips at a coffee shop to about $22 an hour as a secretary. Since she only lasted one episode, it's possible she didn't even earn her one year's salary wherever she was. However, this money would have been just a bonus if she had kept to her regular massage schedule.
“The good thing about being a massage therapist is that you can make a living working significantly fewer hours than other professions, so you have more time to do other side jobs,” says Ortolano. “Phoebe must have been very interested because she had time.''
She rarely spends too much money
Unlike her other friends (well, Rachel), Phoebe usually lived within her means. However, her reasons for doing so were not necessarily financially motivated.
Phoebe was a champion of small, independent businesses. She even blamed Rachel for buying her a coffee table from Pottery Barn (horrible!) and using a gift certificate for a massage spa chain (despite the fact that she secretly worked for that chain). I advised you.
However, this lifestyle benefited Phoebe financially. Because most of Phoebe's vintage used furniture was much cheaper than the Pottery Barn ones it sold after. friend– Inspired Apothecary Tables Priced Over $1,100. As always, Phoebe was ahead of the curve with vintage trends.