Agree with Tomm, bring as MUCH money as you can.
Want to point out contrary to the post above, our dollar has been steadily appreciating since the summer, it's gone up nearly 40% against the pound so actually it's not going to be cheap at all for you guys (although coming from the UK, it will prob be a drop in absolute prices anyways for you). It's also standard to tack on 15% on every bill, and at bars you are expected to tip a dollar or so every beer or at most two that you order. You tip in taxis too. Parking in cities like NY can be scarce and can rip you a new hole financially.
Most of my foreign friends that go stateside often end up spending on imported beers (bc you guys always say American beer sucks and tastes like water) so is more expensive than drinking our drafts, outside of the time you guys spend in microbrew territory.
A funny thing I seem to have picked up on after being abroad for 3 years, my friends are always saying that girls in America tend to expect drinks bought for them more than girls in other countries. I'm not sure if this is more just our culture or what, but almost always if a guy hits on you while out, he starts by buying you another drink.
That said, American girls are suckers for foreigners and men with accents. As a friend of mine from London who lived in NYC for a year said, "like moths to a flame." A group of 3 of you should have a blast...
That, and I also think Americans in general are really nice to foreigners they meet when out. We are pretty loose with spending and it will probably happen over and over the guys you meet at a bar will buy you guys rounds just hanging out. In my experience, people tend to be more nit-picky about splitting bills etc overseas. Most of my American friends don't stress much over money between friends.
I also would think that finding odd jobs will be pretty difficult, we have a ton of illegal immigrants and any work would definitely need to be under the table as Stephanie mentions... work visas are ridiculously hard to get. I know in the south and Cali, growing up guys could pick up lawn-mowing jobs for their neighbors for pretty good money, like 50-100 a lawn or so, but you'd be competing with the Mexicans that do a lot of that stuff but for cheaper and probably better. Goes the same for a lot of labor jobs in those areas at least.
Also if perchance you guys decide to fly anywhere, we have a good selection of budget domestic airlines with solid records.
Happy planning!
Reply to this 
