Weekly Top Five Freebies and Cheapies

Every week, I scavenge the Internet, US cities, nay, the world to bring you, my beloved, the best freebies and cheapies that life has to offer. (P.S. I promise to include at least one "date" offering for my penny-pinching friends who know that lack of income should never mean lack of love!)

1. Cheap Designer Shoes. In case you are a bibliophobe, rest assured that Amazon is not just for bookworms! Stop by here and cheap out 80% off luxury brand shoes from Givenchy and others.

2. Cheap NYC Theatre. What if I told you that for the price of $10 plus the role of a dice, you could see 30 plays? Not to worry, my ADD friends, these plays, an exercise in interactive chaos, are performed in 60 minutes, engaging the audience, who is welcome to BYOB to the show. Check out the Neo-Futurists play, "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind," every Friday and Saturday nights at 10:30 pm.

3. Free Street Fairs. For NYC dwellers or visitors for the holiday weekend, the Street Fair is a staple NYC summer affair, a carnivalesque arena of cheap trinkets, exotic wares, and a range of ethnic foods for your sampling pleasure.  I crave the falafel in the off-season.  Check out this site for the wheres and whens.

4. Free Perfume.  Download this coupon and receive a free purse size bottle of Clinique Happy.  Like we have said all along, in a recession, it is still free to get Happy!  (Bad puns, unfortunately, are also free!)

5. Free Advice for the Pinked-slipped.  Recessionwire has done a great job of consolidating and centralizing excellent articles on the how-to's of unemployment.  Check out everything from severance advice to debt management.

Recessionista at the Races

The Kentucky Derby has been an American tradition since the 1930's. With a legacy of distinct glamour (think seersucker suits and big, bigger, BIGGEST hats) mixed with accessibility (Infield tickets generally run for about $25), the Derby continues to offer the majority of Americans an experience of a lifetime. Since I was an eager and fortunate neophyte to the Kentucky Derby experience this year, here are, free of charge, the findings I brought back from Churchhill Downs and Louisville:

 1. The Notorious Mint Julep. Lesson one: Just because it tastes delicious, doesn't make it any less potent. Most of the time, this Recessionista sticks with a safe Chardonnay, but when in Louisville...If you have the good fortune to attend the Derby, note that Kentucky natives are very proud and even more particular about the Derby drink of choice. Proper mint juleps are served in a silver glass (the Kentucky Derby collector glasses used in box seating are generally the exception) and made from Kentucky bourbon. To recreate a bit of the excitement at home or for friends, follow the recipe from the official Kentucky Derby website:

The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe

·         2 cups sugar

·         2 cups water

·         Sprigs of fresh mint

·         Crushed ice

·         Early Times Kentucky Whisky

·         Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

2.  Derby Attire. Generally, dressing up for the races is protocol.  For men, this means suits (bonus points for seersuckers accessorized with hats).  For women, this means dresses and noteworthy hats.  Look through your closet, and, while trying to avoid black, opt towards something you might wear to an upscale, nighttime spring/summer wedding.  The exception to this rule is Infield ticket holders - nothing is worse in a mudpit than an evening gown or tux.

3.  Placing Your Bets.  To be perfectly honest, I was a little overwhelmed with this one.  If it is not available already, someone should write "Derby Betting for Dummies."  I will keep it simple and use a "one horse" example ( we will use Einstein, a horse that won Race 9).  If I had (and luckily, I did) suspect that Einstein was going to place (i.e. 1st, 2nd, or 3rd), I would place my bet (minimum $2) by saying #6 (Einstein's number) to win, place, or show, as I passed on my $6 (one $2 bet per prospective placing).  Payouts are determined based on odds (2 to 1 will bring in a lot less of a payout compared to 50 to 1, for instance.)  There are other permutations (Trifecta, for instance, which is a sort of equivalent to a Poker Royal Flush - 1st, 2nd, 3rd place finish in the exact order you had bet upon), but I will save the more complex and involved betting strategies to the experts.  Once you put your money down, simply take your tickets back and say a "Hail Mary" or two.

4.  Louisville Proper.  For Recessionistas that are less than familiar with the Southern hospitality, you are in for a treat.  The people of Louisville are proud of and excited for the Derby, a stark contrast to many other cities and their reception of out-of-towners.  A stand out establishment is the Executive Spa in downtown Louisville.  Not only were my fellow Recessionista and I treated like princesses in the male-oriented, full-service executive  lounge, which includes a billiard table, shoe shines, and straight razor shaves, but my internationally-renowned master barber Farrell Stephens proved with my hair cut and style his acclaimed ability in working the razor beyond his notorious shave technique.  To ease into the Derby experience, I would be hard-pressed to find a better place to find the relaxation you deserve.

Whether your tickets are in Millionaire's Row or in the midst of the infield, the Kentucky Derby is an experience of a lifetime.  You will truly enjoy the entirety of this event...I'll bet on it!

Work the Runway

As Recessionista Roadmap has continued to rise in popularity, we took our show on the road (well, Park Avenue) for a promotional photo shoot. In the name of my readers, I was willing to endure a lengthy amount of standing, posing, and hefty amount of blushing in the middle of the busy New York street, along with a grueling second round from a tar-covered Manhattan rooftop. As passerbyers gawked, giggled and guffawed, I worked a sandwich board that advertised slogans that inspire others to keep a sense of humor during these difficult times. Here are some of the highlights, photos, and general shocking moments from the shoot:

1. Everyone, from a man wearing a cravat who lives on the Upper East side to the masseur working at Ricky's to the drunk personal trainer to the homeless man competing for "business" found extreme humor in my "Will Work for Shoes" board. In fact, many stopped to talk about their own challenges during the recession, as well as opened up to share many of their own tips for dealing with economic hardship.

2. Part of standing in the middle of a higher-end Manhattan street wearing a sandwich board involved reacquainting myself with humility and embarrassment, not unfamiliar emotions during this difficult economy. Despite feeling the need to constantly explain (it is for a PHOTOSHOOT, I am not really looking for a JOB!!), I realized the metaphoric emotional experience of what I was doing with how it feels to lose a person's job or experience economic hardship. Those experiences may feel embarrassing, frustrating, or shameful, but just as I was eventually able to remove the board, you will find a path out of the difficult times. Humor goes along way in the meantime.

3. Modeling is not for the faint of heart. Being posed, standing for long periods of time in uncomfortable positions/environments, and wardrobe changes - these are not enjoyable endeavors for the multi-tasking sort. Thankfully, I had a patient photographer who dealt with my diva antics. Also thankfully, I was able to return to my nerdy self after a couple of hours, rather than have to endure being prodded and adjusted every day. The experience reminded me how important patience really is when we have to deal with less-than-ideal circumstances.

Utilizing the (free) efforts of a photographer friend of mine, along with donated set (courtesy of the city of Manhattan and a friend's apartment building rooftop), we were able to keep the shoot costs to a minimum. The price of my pride, well, that is still being paid off...

Dust Off Your Library Card and Check These Out...

Read This: Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

Most famous for Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger offers bite-sized offerings of his talent in this collections of short stories.  Every tale draws readers in, usually with the same unconcern discomfort evoked by Holden Caulfield, the depressed intellectual youth and main character from Catcher in the Rye.  In fact, one to the stories in this collection, For Esme with Love and Squalor, captures much of the same powerful wistfulness of the loss of innocence as his more notorious text. Plus, busy Recessionistas may delight in rediscovering the short story - perfect time filler between subway stops or to relax you as you wait for your Match.com date to show.

Watch This: Vicky Christina Barcelona starring Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson

Playing, once again, with our general fallacies when it comes to love, Director Woody Allen serves up a tale of romance abroad, with two women falling prey to the seductive qualities of a handsome foreign man.  Enter into the love triangle a fourth, Penelope Cruz, who plays the ex of Juan Antonio (said Don Juan),  and you produce a complex, tragic but beautiful tale about the uncontrollable, uncontainable effects that passion produces within our lives.

Listen to This: The Fame by Lady Gaga

Even if you still have an N*Sync hangover from early this decade, the pop of Lady Gaga is edgy enough to warrant a listen.  Her latest released track, Pokerface, fuses dance-club-electronica with bubblegum pop in a distinct song that will have your body unintentionally moving in no time.  Plus, her costumed, exaggerated look ensures you won't confuse her with any other pop princess (no offence, BritBrit.)

Weekly Top Five Freebies and Cheapies

Every week, I scavenge the Internet, US cities, nay, the world to bring you, my beloved, the best freebies and cheapies that life has to offer. (P.S. I promise to include at least one "date" offering for my penny-pinching friends who know that lack of income should never mean lack of love!)

1. Free Beach Read. For those of you heading ocean side this spring, nothing compliments the smell of suntan lotion and taste of that first pina colada like a good, old-fashioned chic lit novel. Get a free copy of the book (most recently turned film) Confessions of a Shopaholic for that perfect vacation trifecta.

2. Cheap Fashion. Maxstudio's Supersale, with many items 70-80% off, allows Recessionista's to indulge their inner Fashionista without the trip to Confession post purchase.

3. Free Comedy at Your Fingertips. For those of you who cut cable extras, like DVR, to save some dinero, you no longer have to miss out on the latest from those cuddly, crass characters of Southpark. Check out http://www.southparkstudios.com/ for the latest episode in its entirety (with no commercials!) Just don't overindulge in the cheesy poofs!

4. Reduced-Price Lingerie. This Recessionista simply can not "bare" to describe La Perla undergarments as "cheap!" NYC Recessionistas can indulge in this exquisite line's sample sale today with as much as 80% off. Tres Jolie!

5. Free Recession Lexicon. To be en vogue these days, you must stay on top of the vernacular of the moment. Thankfully, the ladies at Recessionwire are giving up-to-the-moment vocab lessons to keep you trendy and clever at cocktail hour. Learning terms like "Slay-offs" and "Funemployment," you will be the hit of the discounted happy hour you attend tonight!

Celebrationista

Spotlight: A Night Under the Stars

By the time April has come around, most of us will do anything that we can to get outside and enjoy the warming temperatures and signs and smells of spring. Though April evenings can sometimes get chilly, my friends and I would not let that deter us from hosting parties and events outdoors in early spring. For those Recessionistas looking for an antidote to spring fever, consider hosting a group of friends for a glamorous but budget-friendly take on the drive-in cinema.

Since you will be hosting the theater and providing the venue for a sizable crowd, lower costs by asking guests to bring an appetizer to pass and a bottle of their favorite spirit for this starry night soiree.

Cost: $200/20-30 guests

What You Will Need:

• A Recessionista movie screen - $99*: Recessionista found this amazing deal on one that is not only reasonably-priced, but super easy to set up at http://www.yardtheater.com/home
• A movie projector - $99*
• Your laptop (just plug into the project - EASY!)
• A favorite DVD
  

Tell Guests to Bring:

• 1 Bottle of favorite spirits and mixer if required
• An appetizer to pass
• A blanket or two

Set-up is easy, and the tone of the gathering can be as casual or elegant as you prefer (choose an appropriate film to match your theme - it is a bit awkward to sit through Team America in a black cocktail dress, as I can attest through personal experience.) Despite the initial cost of equipment up front, you will be able to replicate this theme party and offer different versions throughout the good-weather months. Even if you only use the equipment 4 times this season, it breaks out to $50/party and you can not beat that!

The magic of a night with friends under the stars beckons nostalgia, enchantment, and the creation of new and lovely memories. Under the blanket of night, rest easy...you are amongst friends.

Weekly Top Five Freebies and Cheapies

Every week, I scavenge the Internet, US cities, nay, the world to bring you, my beloved, the best freebies and cheapies that life has to offer. (P.S. I promise to include at least one "date" offering for my penny-pinching friends who know that lack of income should never mean lack of love!)



1. Free Personalized Radio. This was a fantastic discovery of the week! Pandora prompts users to enter the name of a favorite song or artist and will immediately begin playing songs and artists similar to the the one you entered. I put in Lady Gaga, and, in addition to hearing her latest "Poker Face," I was treated to music from M.I.A., Rhianna and more. You can create multiple stations and infuse multiple artists into your station. Watch out, Samantha Ronson, there is a new DJ in town!

2. Free Reason To Smile. For the .02% of you have not yet met Susan Boyle, check out this uplifting tale.

3. Cheap Groceries. If you can pull yourself away from searching the millions of reduced cost books for sale at Amazon, you can utilize a $25 off coupon for grocery purchases of $69 or more. You don't even have to use your Greenpoints (sorry, inside joke for NYC Recessionistas!)

4. Free Ice Cream. Our favorite left-wing cats out of Vermont are sharing the ice cream wealth on Tuesday, April 21st. Saunter out to your local Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop for a free ice cream cone from noon to 8 pm, and you may find yourself having a Howard Dean "yee-haw" moment!

5. Free NYC Haircuts. This is a secret I was tempted to myself. The Carsten Institute of Hair and Beauty, an Aveda teaching school offers free(!) haircuts, reduced hair color (think $30), and more from morning until 3:30 pm on Tuesday-Friday. Call and make your appointment today with a graduating student!

Weekly Top Five Freebies and Cheapies

Every week, I scavenge the Internet, US cities, nay, the world to bring you, my beloved, the best freebies and cheapies that life has to offer. (P.S. I promise to include at least one "date" offering for my penny-pinching friends who know that lack of income should never mean lack of love!)

1. Cheap Way to Stay Healthy: As the weather warms up, we tend to spend more time outside. Most people know they should wear sunscreen, but most people do not know that moisturizers and foundations purporting an "SPF" typically do not offer "broad-spectrum protection" - namely they only block out a portion of skin damaging UVA rays. Take an extra 20 seconds and apply Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 85 to exposed skin; a tiny investment ($10) now can save you a lot of pain later.

2. Cheap Way to Look Healthy: I expect a fear of following #1 is trying to make Casper the new tan. Recessionista, puhlease! I wouldn't leave you out to dry! Try Physician's formula powder bronzer for $10 at the local drugstore, or, for a recovering Tan-aholic, perhaps you should splurge on Benefit's Jiffy Tan bronzer, a liquid that caused the Chairman of the Board at my company to ask me where I went on vacation.

3. Free Chance to Show Off Your Snuggie: Rather than let that fleecy blanket-cum-garment continue to collect dust at the back of your closet where it has been since Christmas given your inability to regift it, show it off at the The Snug, a 9th Avenue NYC bar that will be hosting The (free) Snug Fest this Saturday, April 11th. Be sure to take pictures and send them to that great aunt of yours who, bless her heart, knew you needed a snuggie.

4. Free Healthcare: With so many people I know losing their jobs recently, Walgreen Clinics have stepped in to play Healthcare's White Knight to the recently unemployed. If you have lost your job since the end of March, you are likely eligible for this program. Click on the link for specific details, and hats off to Walgreens for having a heart.

5. Free Way to Save Yourself Alot of $$$: If you think that the time and complexities of getting to a customer service representative to ask about a bill, make a complaint, are just bad luck or an afterthought of an engineer, then I think you might cut back on the Margaritas, Recessionista! With the help of this incredible directory to an extraordinary plethora of major business, you will get to experience the natural buzz of getting directly dialed in...saving yourself time, frustration, and, because we all know humans are much more respsonsive than prerecorded, non-emotive, robotic voices (well, most humans anyway...), you will save money.

Weekly Top Five Freebies and Cheapies

Every week, I scavenge the Internet, US cities, nay, the world to bring you, my beloved, the best freebies and cheapies that life has to offer. (P.S. I promise to include at least one "date" offering for my penny-pinching friends who know that lack of income should never mean lack of love!)



1. Free Love-in: Chicago Recessionistas looking for love in the written word take note - Loose Leaf Tea Loft is hosting a free Poetry Love-In event this evening, featuring readings from poets including Sid Yiddish, Lee Grobman, and others.



2. Cheap Wine: It does not have to come in a box, Recessionista! Check out http://www.cheapwinefinder.com/ for outstanding deals and helpful buying tips.



3. Cheap Mea Culpa: New York magazine features an apology from Michael Osinski, a former Lehman Brothers and Wall Street Fat Cat, as well as an explanation of how we found ourselves where we are with the economy. (Warning: this article, with all its good intentions, can get a little esoteric at times - oy, acronyms!) By reading this article, the next time you hear someone say, "How did we get here," you can say, "well, actually, I know exactly how we got here..."

4. Free Help Finding a Job: Take one ounce of Monster, mix in a dash of Craigslist, and sprinkle in a bit of Facebook. Voila! You have http://www.workstir.com/, a site that will serve up a range of job opportunities without the mass quantity of spam you have grown accustomed to from other sites.

5. Cheap Shoes: So, cheap is a relative term. However, when a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps crosses the Recessionista Roadmap at a drastically slashed price of around $200, we have to let our lustful fashionistas know.

Top 5 Reasons to Fall in Love During a Recession

Recently, a male friend of mine (who, by the way, is much cuter than Chuck Woolery, host of Love Connection, above) discussed the difficulties of dating in the current economy. As he, along with many others I know, continues to search for a job, the cost of dating - the dinners, drinks, shows, etc - seems like a fiscal "don't." Additionally, there is the pride factor - many individuals are reluctant to seek partners with a less than stellar financial situation. However, I disagree. Here are the Top Five Reasons to Fall in Love during a Recession:

1. No One Cares That You're Broke. Many people worry about being chased/valued only for their wealth. Well, that is not the case in this economy, where broke is the new pink. Enjoy being appraised by prospects for your looks instead!

2. You Have A Great Excuse to Stay In. Though not recommended for the first date, it is much more acceptable to invite someone to come over earlier in the dating process. Pick out a movie and show off your cooking skills, and maybe you will even get some necking in after your parents fall asleep.

3. Drinking Is Much More Acceptable During a Recession. Not good on first dates? Feel nervous thinking about the first kiss? Well, drink up! With stress plaguing the masses, everyone is a bit more understanding if you have one martini too many. Repeat after me: "The Recession made me do it."

4. Lavish Is Out: Forget dinners at Daniel and drinks at the Rose Bar. Instead, this economy is the perfect environment to explore more, ahem, rustic establishments and dive bars. If you are the type of lady who hates heels or gentleman that hates ties, this is your season! Dressing down or going to more casual establishments can really allow for more relaxed conversations and honesty without pretensions.

5. You Are Not In the Foxhole Alone. Everyone is feeling the pains of economic woes. A shared feeling of being sort of "in battle" together through this difficult time can do wonders in fostering and growing a relationship. Plus, it is a great common ground for conversation if you are on a first date with someone (sure beats "That is some weather we've been having...")

In my Weekly Freebies and Cheapies blog entries, I list out free/cheap dating opportunities on a weekly basis. Rest assured, your author is taking full advantage of these tips. The economy is a great time to find love. Nasdaq might be down, but your stock is up, Recessionista!

Living La Vida Broke-ah

If the creators of South Park can come up with hundred of ways to "Kill Kenny," one can imagine that there must be many other sites that offer valuable deals, discounts, and overall tips to fabulous living on a budget. Recessionista Roadmap wants to arm all of the masses with these, and we will continue to spotlight blogs and websites that can contribute to a positive outlook on life during dark economic times. Here are a few of note:

Popsugar: This website offers fabulous up to the minute tips on beauty and lifestyle, entertaining, technology, and, for the uber-indulgent Recessionista, a plethora of celebrity gossip. With special offers and fantastic tips, this is one to check out when you need a break from perusing Monster.com.

Wisebread: Who wants stale, dried-up financial advice, when a deliciously-written, starchy alternative is a hop, skip, and click away? Wisebread offers daily savings tips that, while entertaining you, can help increase the, er, dough in your pocket.

4 Reluctant Entertainers: I've met Martha Stewart and can honestly say there is only ONE of her in the world. Time to get realistic. However, the reality is Recessionistas can throw fabulous parties, be tremendously creative, and accomplish all of this on a budget. This website is loaded with excellent examples and lessons learned. It's a good thing.

Recessionista Tip of the Day: So, you can't quite kick your Starbucks habit - no judgement, Recessionista! However, instead of falling prey to the green and white cupped monster, try a quick stop by Dunkin Donuts instead. A Venti latte at Starbucks will run you $3.65, where the DD equivalent is $3.29. This minor switch saves you $131 annually. If/when you give up your daily DD habit, you save, brace yourself, $1200, yes, twelve hundred dollars. That overburnt office cup of joe never tasted so good, right?

Weekly Top Five Freebies and Cheapies

Every week, I scavenge the Internet, US cities, nay, the world to bring you, my beloved, the best freebies and cheapies that life has to offer. (P.S. I promise to include at least one "date" offering for my penny-pinching friends who know that lack of income should never mean lack of love!)

1. Cheap Designer Apparel: Most fashion-savvy Recessionista's are well familiar with the concept of Designer sample sales. (Designers heavily discount samples of the newest lines to what is usually an invite-only crowd - I once scored a Versace evening dress for, no kidding, $49.) Hautelook, a website mimicking a NYC Sample sale, gives access to a range of designer sales, allows you to mark your calendar for upcoming sales and will even credit you ten bucks for referring a friend. Now that is haute!

2. Free Italian Ice: For D.C. Recessionistas, our friends at Rita's Water Ice are giving away free Italian ices in honor of the first day of spring. What a sweet way to kick off the season! Open until 9 p.m. on March 20.


3. Free Friends: Perhaps, that is an overstatement, but Meetup.com can actually facilitate the bringing together of like-minded individuals. Whether you are interested in enjoying the company of fellow Pug dog lovers or are looking to bond with other out -of -work investment bankers, Meetup will do the work for you.


4. Free Breakfast: Oddly enough, at the Ikea store nearest to you. For the next two days, March 21-22, Ikea stores will be serving free breakfast to customers. Burn off the extra bacon walking about the low-price furniture and home goods vendor and take advantage of Recessionista-friendly prices!


5. Free Inspiration: "There is only one optimist. He has been here since man has been on this earth, and that is man himself. If we hadn't had such a magnificent optimism to carry us through all these things, we wouldn't be here. We have survived it on our optimism. " - Edward Steichen, photographer and mate to artist Georgia O'Keefe

To find inspiration daily, sign up to have a quote sent to you every day. Bonus: it will definitely increase your pretentiousness!

Recessionista Tip of the Day: The Phone can be your best friend and worst enemy. With all that technology offers, avoid getting caught up in the razzle dazzle iPhone/Storm/whatever, and look at your statements for the last few months - are you acquiring overages? under-utilizing technology (international calling, etc.) that you can cut? Spend an hour this weekend identifying exactly what you need and what you can absolutely live without. Then, make the call! Cell phone providers will always answer!

Lucky Charms

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, with bar and restaurant specials posted and obvious to all, I have decided to arm my green beer-swilling, corned beef and hash munching friends with random bits of trivia about this holiday, Ireland, and good-luck charms to impress your friends on the town this evening. Extra points if you dress up like a Leprechaun.

1. Origin of St. Patrick's Day: This holiday is a celebration of the anniversary of the death of the saint in the fifth century. Though there are many fables about the saint (e.g. he drove all the snakes out of Ireland), the truth is Patrick was a man who was taken into captivity in Ireland who turned to religion for solace. He is said to have many visions from God that led him to eventually become a missionary. Whether you believe this or not, raise your glass to St. Patrick - he gave you a reason to break out those beads after Mardi Gras! (PS - St. Patrick was not even Irish - his father was Italian and his mother was Scottish! Oh, the scandal!)

2. Shamrock: This plant is very special to Ireland; it derives from the Celtic "seamroy" and is said to represent rebirth. It is said the shamrock was special to St. Patrick, who used it explain the idea of the Holy Trinity on his missions. It is also said to be very special to McDonald's, who makes a small fortune on a seasonal ice cream drink named after the plant.

3. Corned Beef and Cabbage: Sorry to say, folks, but much like the Shamrock, CB and C existed as a popular Irish tradition outside of St. Patrick's Day until relatively recently. Personally, my aversion to meat and the smell of this dish make me slightly biased, but I have many Recessionista friends who adore this meal. Just don't enjoy it along side a Shamrock shake - that is a bit much!

4. The Leprechaun: These little men were born of Celtic legends, always illustrating curmudgeon-like, almost sinister qualities. Then, Walt Disney came along in the late fifties with "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" and gave them a personality makeover. Fear not, those of you who insist on a world less than "Disney-fied" - in 1993, a horror movie by the same name and about these wiley little men came out. Bonus: It starred Jennifer Aniston.

Share this trivia pot of gold with friends over a wee little pint tonight on the town.

To all Recessionista lads and lasses, Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Recessionista Tip of the Day: Once your hangover wears off tomorrow, your mind may drift to (dah dah duhhh) your TAXES! As we come upon a little less than one month away from the due date, I will post some clever deductions and tips/tricks for my Recessionistas. In the meantime, take a look at this excerpt on 11 crazy but legal deductions from Kiplingers.

Saving a Soul: 24 hrs. in Kuala Lumpur (Part 2 of 2)

A 24 hr. Memoir -Featuring the writing of Guest Blogger/World Traveler/Recessionister Peter...

The notable part of my last day in KL began in an abandoned, walled-off lot I had seen from my room. It was large, about half a square block, but difficult to get into. It contained the ruins of a never-completed building’s foundation, pools of poisonous-looking water, and the brute, green, and magnificently varied growth that covers everything here not paved. I thought it would be good for a couple photographs. As I waited for my lenses to un-fog, two dogs-about-town decided with unerring canine sensibility that I didn’t belong where I happened to be, so I left on the quick.

I had thought about going to the National Art Gallery, but now decided that I would just explore the city on foot, get an impressionistic sense of how it works and is put together. So I started off in the most colorful direction. Here were covered outdoor restaurants where the food was made makeshift and sometimes eaten with hands. Much was made of rice and bean curd, supplemented with ingredients whose English names don’t feature on the handwritten menus. It was at such pseudo-establishments that I ate from time to time.
From here, I wandered through lower-middle class and poorer neighborhoods at a time of day when everything seemed to be about eating and meeting. In all, the people appear to be a happy, or at least not outwardly unhappy, people.
As I write this under the awning of a café drinking Argentinean wine topped with the spray from the daily thunderstorm, I’m reminded by the couple drinking next to me that I may never have been anywhere where there are more inter-racial couples. And the races are many: Malaysian, Chinese, European, Indian, African. I don’t want to draw any facile conclusions from this, but it is notable.

But I had walked all day. I walked, and I took pictures, and I thought of my surroundings. I happened to see my reflection in a shop window where dresses were being sold for the equivalent of US $1.50 and realized with a little embarrassment that I was soaked through with sweat. I decided to ride the monorail. There’s only one, so I knew it would take me back to places I was a little more familiar with. For I had no idea where I now was. Nor did it matter, but I was thinking a drink might reinvigorate me, and something surfaced which had been gnawing at the lower levels of my consciousness all day and the import of which now became acute. I don’t believe that regular drinking establishments as we know them – call them bars, taverns, pubs – I don’t believe these exist as such in KL. There are hotel lounges and clubs, and you can get drinks in nicer restaurants, but I was by now a little worried where my afternoon sustenance would come from. Much of my later wanderings were disappointing searches for cocktail hour, something I never found. But chance did land me in the café I mentioned earlier, and here I am now sitting in a deluge the likes of which are unknown in Wisconsin (where I live).

Damn, it’s raining hard. I lean over to the guy keeping me in wine at this bodega to ask how typical this is. It is, apparently, a big storm, and I’m finally ushered inside so they don’t have to keep the awning propped up over me any longer. Fair enough.
I’ve made no mention of the major shopping area immediately surrounding my hotel and directly across the street from my present situation. It doesn’t interest me at all, but it may interest others that it’s there. This is a world city and not impervious to Gucci, Prada, and other names no doubt important but unknown to me. What actually does draw my attention is that there are fashion ads everywhere, as there are everywhere else, but there is not one among this extremely varied population here who looks anything remotely like anyone in any of the ads. I have no grudge against fashion – how could I? – but the worldwide industrial demon that has taken possession of it, if it had a throat, that throat would require quick slitting, and I’d volunteer for the hit.

Let me now elaborate and summarize, for I’ve taken much of your time. KL is architecture most varied, people good and friendly and sleezy, food delicious and unclean, and I’ve not even mentioned the prominent beauty of the women. In short, it is a vibrant, partly modern, partly developing, city of the world. It is also located on the equator, so much daily activity centers around fluid loss and replenishment, though not so much replenishment as I would wish.
Finally and most importantly to me, but for the occasional times when I wish I were sharing this with someone else, I was able to inhabit a space outside myself; almost 24 hours I did this, and I am healthier for it. The soul is in remission.

The rain has lifted, and it’s time for me to fetch my bags and find the airport.

Recessionista/er Tip of the Day: If a tight cash flow inhibits soul-soothing from being performed abroad, Recessionistas/ers in NYC and Los Angeles should check out http://www.lifebooker.com/, a webstie that offers great deals on spa services, massages, waxes, etc. so you can find a moment of respite on a budget. (Thanks to Kat for today's great tip!)

Saving a Soul: 24 hrs. in Kuala Lumpur (Part 1 of 2)

A 24 hr. Memoir
-Featuring the writing of Guest Blogger/World Traveler/Honorary Recessionista Peter...

When I was a high school expatriate in the last years before Germany’s reunification, the matriarch of the family I lived with diagnosed me with an ominous condition. “Die Seele ist krank.” The soul is sick. She had no idea.

Twenty years later, the soul is still ailing, and the condition has metastasized to both more and less vital organs. But I am not lost, I am not dead, and I will beat this thing. Today I find my soul, not under the head-shaking gaze of a motherly physician, but in the lap of luxury’s exotic mistress. Two weeks ago, Malaysia was one of hundreds of places I might never visit. But it’s tonight, and I’ve just asked my butler at the Kuala Lumpur Ritz Carlton to wake me with a pot of coffee an hour before sunrise. He glances at my camera bag and asks with a huge smile, “for pictures?”

Yes. It’s half an hour to midnight, and I have twenty four hours to myself. Let’s call this rehabilitation.

The last half hour of February 24th I spend walking and soaked. Finally I was nearing the Petronas towers. I wanted to photograph these lit up, preferably from across the fountain and pool I knew were in front of them. I didn’t know just where that was, but I was probably within a mile now. I took a couple shots of the towers over the tops of other buildings, and then its lights went out. Shit. Things shut down at midnight here. Keep walking, though, I might as well.
A young man in a park tries a ruse. “Card stuck in the ATM machine,” could I give him 8 Ringgits? My instinct is quietly but firmly to refuse, but these are different circumstances. It’s the witching hour in an outdoor equatorial sauna underneath the Gothic imposition of the KLCC towers. So I venture, “I’ll give you 8 Ringgits if I can take your picture,” lifting my camera. He declines. Maybe I’m the fuzz, he might be thinking. I don’t know because he’s gone now, leaving me to change fogged lenses in a too dark park.
I circle slowly around the towers, the eye to the viewfinder seeking some eternal moment to capture, the other watchful for a place to get a drink. I resolve neither the one nor the other for a while. Then I hear some music and move in. No, it’s not music, it’s a dance club. But next door is an outside lounge. I haven’t been able to find out whether Malaysia produces its own beer, but I see a sign for Singapore’s typically Asian rice brew, and I make for the Tiger. This is a really crappy place, and they charge 17R a glass, but once I remember the conversion, it’s not so expensive, and it all seems marginally less crappy, even the lung-aggravating clove cigarette ambiance contributing to what might become an improbable nostalgia if provoked by a few more Tigers.

I borrow a pen from the hostess. It’s here that I’ve written the preceding. After a time, I move out.

In the equatorial dark, one’s compass is a poor navigational aid. I wandered far tonight, and in no certain direction. I passed and photographed and conversed with vendors of food and other fruits of the street. Street food is good for the constitution, and I vow that I will tomorrow eat nothing but species of its genus. The other may be less wholesome and try unqualified systems of immunity, and I leave it alone.

I am on back streets, and by this time there are medium sized animals testing the lesser shadows and I cannot know their dangers or designs. Welcome home says the Carlton Ritz, and plunder please the bar mini. And I so do. My god, did I make it back here? Sleep comes slowly and in small measure.

To be continued in tomorrow's entry...

Recessionista Tip of the Day: Unless you have the luxury to travel for work as my friend Peter, going to exotic, international locations might feel impossible. Even if you can afford the price of the airfare, the accommodations break the bank. Well, if you don't mind putting on your best Bohemian beret and roughing it a bit, you can stay almost anywhere in the world as a guest in a fellow Wanderluster's home! Check out Couchsurfers - a site devoted entirely to connecting Recessionistas across the globe. Freeloading is the new pink, after all.

Homage to March

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."- Proverb from Guinea



By Day, 31 Reasons Why March Does Not Completely Suck...


1. March got dumped! In Ancient Rome, March was the first month of the year...until, the younger, sexier January came along...those fickle Romans!

2. National Reading Day. Pick up a book - it will make you (at least look) more interesting.(Forget Amazon and Borders! Go to the local library! If you have an expired library card - bring a piece of mail and drivers license/passport, and you will renew your passport to brilliance in no time!)

3. U2: New album No Line on the Horizon out today. Love him or hate him, Bono is back.

4. Tell the Truth! On this day in 1861, Honest Abe Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th president of the United States.

5. Spring Awakening: Good news! Duncan Sheik did not disappear with Y2K! The pop-rock band provided the music for the Broadway musical Spring Awakening, and they perform live at the Memorial Union in Madison, WI today for the Recessionista-friendly price of $10 today.

6. Stars are Aligning. Take a date (for free!) to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles for a dreamy night of star gazing.

7. Peace Corps Day. Jump onto Facebook and drop your friend/brother/cousin in Thailand a note to let them know that you admire and appreciate what they are doing...and, no, sending them a Facebook "poke" is not enough.

8. Religious Services: Okay, so this happens to occur every weekend (and, in some religions, every day.) Take this Sunday as a opportunity to thank your God(s), or, if you are an atheist, your loved ones for all that you have in your life. If you are a misanthrope, I probably lost you at "hello."

9. Toast the Lovely Ladies in Your Life! March 9th is International Women's Day. Celebrate with homemade cosmos, Sex and the City reruns, and a group of fabulous ladies!

10. Talking Marionettes. Pinocchio, the Disney classic, comes out on DVD today in celebration of its 70th Anniversary.

11. Britney is Back. If you love a comeback story and are still bummed that Mickey Rourke lost the Oscar to Sean Penn, perhaps viewing Miss Spears in full lip-syncing glory will boost your spirits. Performance, at the Nassau Country Coliseum in New York, begins at 8 pm.

12. National Girl Scout Day. Bring on the Thin Mints.

13. Friday the 13th: For the second month in a row! Rent the film of the same name, curl up with a blanket, and let out a good blood-curdling scream - very cathartic.

14. That's Genius! Today is the anniversary of Albert Einstein's birthday. Read up on the brilliant man with the wacky hair. We will overlook the mustache.

15. Ogres. Half off of Shrek, the Musical on Broadway. If you loved the movie, you will undoubtedly fall for the real-life remake of the animated take on a fairytale that was never written.

16. An Excuse to Booze on a Worknight: What if someone told you that you could have as many drinks as you wish and only pay $20? No, I'm not talking about a frat party at the Sig Ep house. Bondi Road, at the corner of Rivington and Sussex on the Lower East Side of the city, offers all-you-can-drink in 2 hrs. to patrons who just can't bear Mondays...or unemployment.

17. St. Patrick's Day. As if drinking green beer is not something you do everyday anyway.

18. South by Southwest: For those unfamiliar with the festival, music fans flood the streets of Austin, TX to check out bands on the rise. Bring back a few new artists and you will finally prove to your friends that you are "indie," in spite of the Kate Spade bag you tote around.

19. Mingling with Other Yuppies. Madison Magnet, the young professionals networking group based out of Madison, WI will be hosted its monthly happy hour today. Bring business cards, leave the politics at home.

20. First day of Spring. If there is still snow on the ground, just remember...this too shall pass.

21. Hot Vampires. Twilight, the teen movie phenomenon, is out on DVD today.

22. Dance like There is No Tomorrow: D.C. Recessionistas, take note! Check out the Dance Expo and try as many classes as you like for the recession-friendly price of $20.

23. The Feast Day of Saint Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès: Potentially the Saint with the longest name, the Roman Catholic church celebrates St. Rafqa on this day...and you think people get your name wrong a lot!

24. Labour Day: The holiday we celebrate in September is recognized on this day in Melbourne, Australia. Fake your best Aussie accent when you try to convince your boss you deserve the day off too.

25. For the Men Who have No Game: For D.C. men struggling on how to woo the ladies, fear not. At 7 pm, attend a seminar that will give you the necessary social savvy required to meet and attract the hottest Recessionistas.

26. Festival of Wines. Recessionistas in Boston are cordially invited to attend Wine Tasting and Dinner at Vinalia. Warm Italian food, along with a plethora of wines - what better way to spend a rainy Thursday night?

27. National Skyscraper Day: Kurt Vonnegut once fondly referred to New York City as "Skyscraper National Park." Drive, bus, train to your nearest city and look up at these amazing architectural wonders.

28. Urban Scavenger Hunt: What could be a better way to meet fellow young professionals in NYC than roaming around the city searching for random items and locations?! Event starts at 12:30, so bring your metro card and your flask.

29. Shamrock Shuffle. The name of the race actually might inspire you to participate!! Chicago Recessionistas should cross their fingers for good weather for this 8K run.

30. Break Out the Absinthe! March 30th is the anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's birthday. Given that the "Van Gogh: Colours of the Night" exhibit is currently showing at the artist's museum in Amsterdam, this might be a great "spring break" destination for Recessionistas on a budget.

31. End March in Appreciation: “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”- Marcus Aurelius

Weekly Top Five Freebies and Cheapies

Every week, I will scavenge the Internet, US cities, nay, the world to bring you, my beloved, the best freebies and cheapies that life has to offer. (P.S. I promise to include at least one "date" offering for my penny-pinching friends who know that lack of income should never mean lack of love!)

1. Free Music! Rhapsody (http://www.rhapsody.com/) will give you 25 free song plays for a month without (and here is the beautiful part) any registration, information entry, or commitment to sign-up for service. That means you can check out the new Britney Spears album in its entirety guilt free and no one ever has to know.

2. Free Freebies! A one stop shop for free samples of a slew of products, http://www.shop4freebies.com/ is a Recessionista's dream. Be forewarned, you may want to enter that email address you give out to people you aren't really into at the bars, as you may receive a plethora of advertisement emails.

3. Free Culture! For my NYC friends, Le Nozze di Figaro, the comedic Mozart opera is performed for free TODAY, February 20th, at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Julliard. Starts at 8 pm, and be sure to come early or you may end up seat-less and having to actually pay to take your date somewhere.

4. Free Art! If you are suffering through the horrible Midwestern winter and find your pockets are empty, fear not. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago offers free admission on Tuesdays. Bundle up, leave your wallet at home, and enjoy the work of people who probably had less money than you for most of their lives. http://www.mcachicago.org/

5. Free Oscars! Perhaps you won't be taking home a statue this year per say, but that is no reason to avoid watching the ceremony Recessionista-style. Chelsea Cinema will be airing the Academy Awards beginning at 8 pm (Pre-show festivities begin at 7 pm) for FREE! This is a great way to make up to your "Sunday friend" that they have been cast as a "Sunday friend" in the drama that is your life.

Recessionista Tip of the Day: Before you run off to Blockbuster or sign-up for Netflix, chat with your friends about a DVD swap. All of my friends have massive amounts of movies (those who still have VHS tapes shall remain nameless), and despite the common denominators (sigh...SATC, Bridget Jones Diary, Love Actually), we have found that sharing movies is a great way to save money and avoid late fees. Just don't be the jerk that doesn't ever return the movies...