New York City! It's one of the most expensive cities in the world - and a great place to visit. There's so much to do - how do you pack it all in? How do you afford it all? Fortunately, there are some ways you can save money on visiting New York.

1. Stay with locals. Whether you couchsurf, use the Wandering Educators Tripping Network to find a place to stay or people to meet, or rent a room through Wimdu or Airbnb, you can find free or inexpensive places to stay. Extra bonus - you might have an insider to give you great local knowledge on where to eat, and things to see!

2. Check the local classifieds in New York - there's more there for travelers than you think. From theater tickets to places to stay, it's definitely worth perusing - who knows what you'll find? Treasures abound.

3. Love to explore neighborhoods? Take a photowalk!  It's a great way to explore a city and discover hidden treasures. If you're on g+, there are many photographer communities that organize local photo walks. These are free to participate in - and you'll make new friends, as well.

Photowalk Central Park. Photo courtesy of Anne Driscoll (whose NYC photowalk is listed, above!)

4. Go for the free! We love Frommer's NYC Free & Dirt Cheap: 382 Free Events, Attractions, Classes, and more. Who knew that there was so much free stuff going on? And who knew that it was so widespread, from free days at places to entire free events and things to do? This book includes cheap eats, cheap shopping zones, and more - with maps. With this book, it's a sure bet that wherever you are staying, you can find cool things to see and explore, for free.

5. Get off the beaten path. Find cool avenues for music, with up and coming musicians. Wander into art galleries. Visit libraries and attend events there. Find a cupcake place and try different flavors. Explore global cuisine through food trucks - and ethnic neighborhoods and eateries. It's not all about paying money to see the traditional attractions - while they symbolize New York City, so do the people that live there - and share their talents. New York City is a vibrant place - get out and explore!