A capital of capitalism above all, New York specializes in separating people from their money by making the process loads of fun. The well-heeled shop on Fifth Avenue, where Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Prada display their fabulous wares in elegant window displays. Department stores like Saks, Bloomingdale's, and Macy's offer the latest styles in an atmosphere that brings back the city's glory days of the post-war era. And trendy boutiques in SoHo attract the beautiful people who pick up tomorrow's designs to turn heads in tonight's nightclubs. Bargains can be found at vintage and second-hand shops throughout the city, and even style icons like Barneys New York have sales every now and then, where the savings can be significant.

The city has an extensive green market system, with farmers selling organic produce at various locations. The biggest and most central can be found in Union Square, where visitors can pick up everything from homemade donuts and apple pie to gourmet cheese and wine. Trendy grocery chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have arrived in the city as well, with pre-made gourmet meals available for takeout.