Virginia K. Smith

Can you afford to live alone? Probably not, says this depressing new map (DNAinfo)

A point-by-point breakdown of how we all waste our money every day in NYC (Thrillist)

No, your house probably won't be more valuable if you live on "Mansion Street" (WSJ)

Dear Sam: In August, I signed a renewal of my current lease for two years, at an increased price. However, I have never received a counter-signed lease back from the landlord or property manager, in spite of numerous requests (they tell me it’s been lost in the mail, etc.). Since I never received a legally binding contract, I haven’t paid the increase, and now my landlord says I owe back rent for the past 5 months.

Another salvo in the ongoing app wars between car services: Gett has announced a new program guaranteeing "Better Fares Than Uber or Your Money Back" for rides in New York City. The move is strategically timed to coincide with predictable (if understandable) outrage over Uber's New Year's Eve surge pricing.

A local's guide to the best restaurants, parks, and more in Gowanus (Curbed NY)

This Brooklyn Airbnb host sure does sound, um, awfully fun (NYT)