Since its debut in 1998, HBO's Sex and the City has become notorious for its frank sex talk, pun-filled writing, and totally unrealistic depictions of life in New York City. Particularly eyebrow-raising is Carrie Bradshaw's lifestyle, which many keen-eyed fans have noticed is as lavish as a celebrity's and yet somehow paid for with a freelance writer's salary.
The universe of Sex and the City made concessions for Carrie, like a conveniently rent-controlled apartment for $750 on the Upper East Side, and an eventual gig at Vogue paying four dollars per word. Still, there are many instances in the show when the New York Star columnist makes unrealistic and absolutely bewildering financial decisions. Whether it's buying items she doesn't need or turning her nose up at widespread money-saving tactics, in nearly any episode of Sex and the City, bemused fans can find Carrie happily spending well above her paygrade.
Was Way Too Picky About Transit
The subway is a cornerstone of New York City life, and yet not even once in Sex and the City is Carrie seen partaking in the fun. Rather, she opts to hail a taxi, no matter her destination. In season four's "Ring A Ding Ding," it's revealed that Carrie doesn't even know how much bus fare is - despite, of course, her famously sultry ad adorning the side of many NYC buses.
The next season, when Carrie and Samantha board a cross-country train to San Francisco for Carrie's book tour, Carrie books the "deluxe first-class sleeper," but the modest suite isn't up to par either.
Saw Gwyneth Paltrow's Therapist
In season two's "Games People Play," Carrie is reeling from her second breakup with Mr. Big and talking her friends' ears off. They compel her to seek professional guidance, and she gets a name from Miranda's therapist: "shrink-to-the-stars" Dr. Ellen Greenfield (her friend Stanford is starstruck upon finding out).
While Miranda and Samantha, a law firm partner and a PR company owner, respectively, could possibly afford the rates of one of Manhattan's top psychotherapists, it's unlikely that Carrie, a freelancer with no medical benefits, could comfortably foot the bill.
Used Her Kitchen For Clothing Storage
In season 3, when Miranda asks her if she has a rolling pin, Carrie admits that she stores clothes in her totally unused oven, and suddenly the columnist's eating habits theretofore make perfect sense.
The fact that we don't see the freelancer prepare as much as a bowl of cereal suggests that her food budget is higher than most people's. But Carrie generally isn't eating cheap takeout, rather, she's dining out multiple times a day at swanky joints including "Raw," where Samantha meets her boyfriend Smith in season 6, and the exclusive "Balzac," whose hostess Carrie deems "the most powerful woman in New York" in season 1's "The Power of Female Sex."
Blew Her Advance On An Unwanted Gift
Most new couples enjoy various rites of passage, from meeting roommates to meeting parents, but Carrie does things a little differently. In the season 6 episode "Lights, Camera, Relationship," she takes her new beau Berger to Prada to meet her favorite sales rep, a suave Italian man who knows her by name.
Although he turns down a shirt worth "a small studio apartment," Carrie later spends a chunk of her $25,000 publisher's advance on it and then gifts it to him at a lunch. He's shocked by and later resentful of the moment of well-intended generosity since Carrie had been broke mere days earlier.
Was Willing To Toss Barely-Worn Designer Clothes
When her boyfriend Aidan moves into Carrie's apartment in season 4, the couple quickly begins suffering from cabin fever and Aidan suggests clearing out space in Carrie's precious closet.
A huge fight ensues, centering around a chicly distressed Roberto Cavalli number Carrie has worn only once before. Even though she enjoys a one-bedroom apartment far more spacious than most in Manhattan, she's willing to throw away the cherished piece. It's anybody's guess what potentially pricey items of Carrie's are trashed in the course of the move-in.
Bought An Expensive Outfit Just To Impress Natasha
In the season three episode "Attack of the Five Foot Ten Woman," Carrie is determined to attend a "Women in the Arts" luncheon thrown by Big's new wife Natasha after seeing their wedding announcement in the Times.
She goes dress shopping with Miranda and later reveals to Charlotte she bought a Bergdorf's frock worth a month's rent and a pair of Manolo Blahnik stilettos just for the event. It turns out that Natasha doesn't even show up, making Carrie's brash purchases look all the more foolish.
Took On A Huge Loan To Buy Her Apartment
When her ex, Aidan, serves Carrie with papers demanding she either buy back her apartment from him or vacate the premises, she scrambles to come up with a solution. While most freelancers would, regrettably, begin packing, Carrie takes a different approach.
She's offended when Charlotte doesn't offer her money for a down payment, but Charlotte comes around and offers her a $30,000 loan in the form of Trey MacDougal's engagement ring. It's a happy resolution, but the question of how Carrie could afford to pay back the money lingers.
Refused To Keep Her Diamond Engagement Ring
After the arduous saga in season four in which Carrie clearly isn't thrilled about the idea of getting married to Aidan, the couple finally split. On their bittersweet final day together, Aidan asks Carrie to keep her diamond engagement ring, but despite his protests, Carrie insists that he take it back.
It's arguably an honorable choice, but not a very financially savvy one when her designer boyfriend is much better off financially than she. To add insult to injury, shortly afterward, the breakup results in her being desperate for cash.
Bought A $4,000 Chair Just To Flirt With The Designer
In the third-season episode "No Ifs, Ands, or Butts," Carrie visits the store of a hot new designer, Aidan Shaw (later her second major boyfriend on the show). Aidan's dog jumps up on Carrie, embarrassing her in front of the other clientele, and providing an icebreaker to get her chatting with the apologetic designer.
Nonetheless, Carrie suddenly chooses to purchase Aidan's favorite piece, a handmade chair upholstered with 100-year-old leather that she admits she doesn't need. With the ice already broken and Aidan already making a move, it's a senseless impulse buy for the cash-strapped writer.
She Owns $40,000 In Shoes
One of Sex and the City's most laughably outrageous moments occurs in season four, when Miranda does some math for a financially distressed Carrie. It turns out that at around $400 bucks a pop, Carrie's 100-strong shoe collection (a conservative estimate, certainly) is worth a whopping 40 grand (in 2001's dollars).
With a well-documented history of immediately blowing her paychecks and spending months' rent at a time on Manolos, it's a wonder Carrie is able to survive.