Chic on the Cheap: Bootie-licious

Girls, I am soooo running on empty right now! A week in New York + a delayed unemployment check thanks to the federal holiday, and it's peanut butter sandwiches for dinner. But I'm looking good doing it thanks to the new Nine West black booties I scored at Century 21 for SIX BUCKS. Seriously?? (Not the exact ones, but pretty darn close.)

Ironically, I was with a friend who was intent on finding ankle boots, and I was just browsing to entertain myself. I haven't bought new clothes or shoes in ages, and it feels good to see what I'm saving. But when you see a price tag that says $5.99, on a pair of shoes that is both cute and your size, you don't put it down! The trade-off? No beer with my pizza that night. Totally worth it.

Always up for a bargain hunt, they've inspired me to scour the web to find stylish boots you can also pick up for a steal. The girls in the fashion department already discovered a few – one of which is now on sale for $14.99! – but the more, the merrier. I wear mine with skirts and tights (teal ones on Valentine's Day!), skinny jeans, wide trousers, you name it. I'd never encourage frivalous spending, so you know they're worth it!














Rosalita Boot at Alloy, on sale for $19.99. Love the punk feel from the zipper teeth!
























Melissa Oxford at Alloy, on sale for $19.99. Sexy librarian, anyone?






















Sequin Trim Platform from Forever 21, on sale for $14.99. Skirt, leggings or cuffed skinny jeans are a must to get full disco effect.





















Rain boots at Old Navy, on sale for $19.50. I know, not booties. But who could resist that sunny yellow on a rainy day? New favorite color combo!

Chic on the Cheap: Cutting Costs Doesn't Have To Be Painful

Ladies, I went out to dinner tonight. No matter how strapped you are, you've got to leave a little bit of room in the budget for fun or you'll go mad, right? That's my credo! And since I'm visiting New York, I'm definitely giving myself a little leeway. But still, I only spent $10 on enchiladas at Chevela's – highly recommended for tasty and cheap Mexican food in a cozy spot in Brooklyn!

When my friend Kristen looked at the bill, she excitedly proclaimed, "Wow, it's amazing how easy it is to save money when I actually try!" Forgoing the usual libations probably helped a lot, of course – after a few gin & tonics, who cares about an overdraft fee? But really, it's just about making conscious choices to cut back in small areas, and the benefits really add up!

And the thing is, I'm not really suffering at all because of it. Living more simply has made me more conscious of my actions and choices: I'm finally learning to cook instead of relying on takeout; my butt is sexier and I save money on gas by riding my bike instead of driving; I'm finally reading all the books on my shleves more since getting rid of cable TV (thank god for Hulu, though, 'cause I can't live without 30 Rock!).

And guess what? The cheaper or "generic" versions aren't all that bad. I traded my Big Sexy Hair spray for Pantene's texture spray, and my hair is fuller than ever. Since I'm no wine connoisseur, Two Buck Chuck serves just as well as that $14 bottle of Pinot. I can't tell the difference between Amy's Organic pesto and tomato pizza and the Trader Joe's version, except the $2 I save (yes, TJ's is a lifesaver for a broke-ass girl!). And the jeans I wear most everyday are a skinny pair I got at Forever 21 for $12. Twelve dollars!

So my fellow budget divas, what's your favorite bargain? What tricks have you discovered to save money without feeling deprived? Check back every week for nw creative ideas to save and still feel fabulous!

What Did Your Parents Teach You About Money?

When I was ten or so, I desperately wanted a new Caboodle for my burgeoning makeup collection. (And did you know that they're back and updated? I kind of want one now!) I was supposed to save half of my $2 weekly allowance, but I horded it all for the desired case; when it went on sale before I had collected enough, I carefully calculated the tax, raided the house for every bit of spare change to cover the expense, and rode my bike to the store to claim the Caboodle that made me feel soooo much cooler than my fourth grade status. Even if I did pay for it in coins!

And that's been the definition of my financial life ever since – big spend-ah, even when I don't have the money. When I spent a summer in New York during college and my new bank offered me a credit card, I looked at the $2,000 credit limit as cash in hand to shop, eat, drink and enjoy the city for the next three months. Dayum, those were the days! When I get a real job, I figured, I'll pay it all off. Ha ha. I had no concept of the consequences – the money would somehow work out like it always had in the past. I managed to put off reality for the next seven years, but when I was laid off in November and realized I was staring down close to $50k in credit cards and student loans, it was a HUGE wakeup call! Thank god for unemployment, but it's a struggle just to pay my all my bills on the drastically reduced income, let alone tackle my debt or save.

How did I end up living in this financial fantasy world? I didn't grow up rich in the least, so where did this sense of entitlement came from? Trying to revamp my attitude and habits toward money, I'm considering the lessons I learned – or didn't learn – from my parents. I was obviously a natural-born shopper at a young age – thanks, Mom! We bonded by going to the mall every weekend, and though she instilled in me a love of bargain hunting, I developed an insatiable need to buy, buy, buy. At the same time, my mom avoided talking about money like it was more taboo than sex, while my dad spent beyond his means to shield me from the financial stresses he was juggling. We never owned a house or had cable TV, but I never went without and had no idea how much debt we were in. Completely oblivious to managing and saving money, I only learned how to spend and grew up thinking that dire financial circumstances just couldn't happen to me, no matter how much I screwed up.

Well, it was fun while it lasted! Now it's time to grow up. Time to break from family tradition and find my own way. While it's not as carefree, it's much more satisfying to arm myself with new knowledge and take responsibility for climbing out to financial stability on my own terms . I'm excited to have all of you fabulous recessionistas along for the ride, to share the tips, news, deals and insights I learn along the way. And I can't wait to hear your stories and advice as well...

Are you carrying on a financial legacy that you'd rather not? What have you picked up from your parents about money? Are you learning from their mistakes? Or following their lessons? When did you grow up and face the bottom line?