Thrifty 21-Year-Old Takes to the Skies, Saving Thousands by Avoiding $3,500 Monthly New York Rent
Sophia Celentano, a mature and enterprising 21-year-old, has discovered a unique solution to the challenges faced by many summer interns seeking affordable housing in bustling cities. Rather than joining the throngs of young professionals scrambling for accommodation in New York City, Celentano has opted for a truly unconventional approach: a super-commute involving weekly flights from her parents’ home in Charleston, South Carolina, to her internship at Ogilvy Health in Parsippany, New Jersey. Her decision stems from a desire to prioritize both financial prudence and personal well-being.
For Celentano, the benefits of her four-hour weekly plane journey far outweigh the costs of renting in a city known for its exorbitant prices. Unlike her peers, she only needs to be physically present in the office once or twice a week, making the choice of a super-commute not only practical but also financially advantageous. “I didn’t think twice about it,” Celentano confidently remarks. Currently a rising senior at the esteemed University of Virginia, she is determined to make the most of her internship opportunity.
Super-commuting, a term loosely defined by the Census Bureau as traveling “long distances” to work via air, rail, car, or bus—typically involving 90 minutes or more each way—has gained popularity since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. As hybrid work models become increasingly prevalent and major cities experience a mass exodus, the allure of super-commuting has extended to even college students like Celentano. “I really wanted to prioritize my happiness and well-being this summer, and to do that, I wanted to mostly be in Charleston with my family,” she explains.
In addition to personal fulfillment, Celentano’s super-commuting routine offers substantial savings. She thoroughly evaluated the costs of renting an apartment in Parsippany or New York City for the duration of her internship, comparing them to the expenses associated with living with her parents while taking a weekly round-trip flight. Data from Apartments.com and Renthop reveal that the average monthly rent for a studio apartment in Parsippany is approximately $1,730, while in New York City, it skyrockets to around $3,500. These figures exclude utilities, groceries, gas, and other incidental costs, which Celentano would have had to shoulder during her stay. While she chooses not to disclose her internship salary, Celentano conservatively estimates that living and working near Ogilvy Health’s office for the summer would have cost her a minimum of $4,250, assuming she were fortunate enough to find an apartment priced below $1,000 per month.
Comparatively, her super-commute expenses amount to roughly $225 per week. This figure encompasses the cost of a round-trip flight from Charleston to Newark Liberty International Airport, as well as Uber rides between the airport and her workplace, and meals. Every Wednesday, Celentano boards a departing flight that costs a mere $27, as evidenced by receipts reviewed by CNBC Make It. Her return flight, scheduled for 9 p.m., totals approximately $60. To save money, she packs breakfast and dinner in her work bag. Over the course of her 10-week internship, Celentano will spend approximately $2,250, thereby saving at least $2,000—or $200 per week—according to her estimates.
While Celentano’s super-commute undoubtedly poses challenges, such as arriving home late at night around 11 p.m., she has managed to mitigate the stress associated with being far from her loved ones. Thursdays offer respite, as she works remotely, granting her the luxury of sleeping in until at least 8 a.m. This flexibility eases the burden of her long travel days. Celentano’s unconventional approach has not gone unnoticed either. On her first day at work, she posted a TikTok video sharing her experience, and within hours, it garnered over 500,000 views. Subsequently, she has created several follow-up videos on TikTok, providing insight into her super-commuting routine, including her bosses’ supportive responses and how she occupies her time at the airport by editing vlogs for her YouTube channel.
Remarkably, Celentano’s super-commute is not an isolated incident within her internship program. She reveals that some of her peers commute from as far away as Boston, Philadelphia, and even Atlanta. In reflecting on her decision, she acknowledges the excitement and personal growth that accompany moving to a new city, yet recognizes that such a change was not what she desired at this stage of her life. Celentano expresses gratitude for finding an employer that supports her unique approach and notes the ironic realization that her longer commute has contributed to a healthier work-life balance.
In an era defined by remote work and innovative solutions, Sophia Celentano’s super-commute stands out as a testament to the creative thinking and determination of young professionals. By prioritizing her own happiness and embracing a less conventional approach, she has not only saved significant sums of money but has also found a harmonious balance between work and personal life. As the world continues to evolve, it is individuals like Celentano who inspire us to question traditional norms and seek out alternative paths that best suit our individual needs and aspirations.
