Cheapo Nuggets

Despite that it's "the most wonderful time of the year," I have very few nuggets of wisdom. Nugget #1 is don't ever be self-employed: it tends to freak you out around the holidays, when you seem to be spending what you're not earning, without a regular paycheck in sight. I'm in about week 4 of this ongoing freakout, but the end is in sight! Tomorrow I fly home to NC to try and get my life in order (haha) while my mother pumps me full of cookies and cheap wine (aka the "pink stuff"). Maybe by the time I come back I'll have some plan for the coming year and, with any luck, a pocket full of cash compliments of far-away relatives. At any rate, with the impending doom of the airport looming over my head, this is the best I can come up with.

Top 5 Things to Know Before You Go: North Carolina, & the Burbs in general (because my brain is too addled for a Top 10)

5. Do not buy airport food. This should be a no-brainer, as it's always expensive, luke-warm, and generally gross. However, if you need a fast-food fix, wait til you roll up in the south- land of the two best cheap chicken joints in the world: Bojangle's and Chick-Fil-A. And it's all half the price of NYC food! You can actually get an entire meal for under $5.

4. Do go see lots of movies- most cities outside of NY have second-run movie theatres where the ticket price drops from the already low $7 to $2 or $1.50.

3. Drink. Lots. Last time I was outside New York City, I literally bought an entire round of 4 beers for $11. What? That's less than I pay for one friggin glass of wine in certain neighborhoods! Yes, it's true- give up the joys of city living and you can drink on the cheap ALL THE TIME. Uh, ok, no thanks- I can't do the suburbs again. But I will make like a camel and have my fill before I come back up here!

2. Sleep. Unless A Christmas Story is on TV, there's nothing worth doing before dinner time anyways. Don't tell Mom I'm badmouthing my hometown, secretly I miss it, really!

1. And the number one thing to know before you go away from NYC is, enjoy driving! This may seem like stupid advice, perhaps a filler because your favorite blogger can't think of anything else to write? No way! I plan to enjoy driving so much that, in fact, I am not flying back to the frosty north- no, I am road-tripping with 2 or 3 other brave souls, and it will be AWESOME! This is not because I couldn't find an affordable flight. I just love being in the car that much. And a few years ago, this would have been said in jest- but since moving to NYC, where the average cost to ride in an actual car is about $10 per minute, I just can't get enough of those plush bucket seats. Damn, if that doesn't feel better than a mustard yellow subway bench! Not to mention that gunning it down I-95 is kind of cool.

My New Year's resolution? Come up with something more valuable to tell you. I've got about 10 days to come up with something delightful, so check back soon.

I wanna take you to a FREE! gay bar

For anyone who knows and loves the easily stuck-in-your-head chorus to "Gay Bar," have I got a holiday treat for you! I just found out the always-crazed men of Electric 6 will be playing for FREE! yes, FREE! in (of all places) Southpaw in Park Slope this Wednesday, December 12. To the best of my knowledge, Southpaw is not a gay bar, nor am I gay, nor will Electric 6 be taking anyone to a gay bar at any point. However, "Danger, danger- High Voltage!" is more than my tagline on Myspace- it's a rocking good time, even if you're not a mosh-pit-loving, testosterone-driven, oversexed male. Which I am not. But I just can't stay away from these guys!

They usually play Bowery Ballroom for actual amounts of money so a free show by a rock band of this caliber is an event to be celebrated! I can never find any girls to go with me, actually, I can never find anyone at all to go with me since my bro & his nutty friends moved away. However, for those uneducated in the wonders of Electric 6, their lyrics are strangely catchy (I wanna be a dance commander!) and they give a new meaning to "rock out"- I have yet to witness another band with as many high-kicks per measure as E 6. You will see jumping. You will be jumping. You will love it!

Wed. December 12, 9:00 pm, people. Southpaw. Be there. I will.

MORE MORE MORE!

Quick heads up to all you media/design/art gurus (I mean professionals)- mediabistro.com is having their holiday Design Party this Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 at Blue Owl in the east village. This party is open to any and all art/design/photo professionals (no students, whee!) and involves drinking and networking- two of my favorite things! But hop to it- you have to RSVP for it here. I'm pretty sure these Design Parties happen fairly regularly, but who can't use another excuse to booze during the holiday season?

I'm planning on going so come and have a drink with me!

Food, Friends & Family

Meant to post this a couple days ago... please forgive me, it's that CRAZY time of year for us all! I'm being driven to insanity at a break-neck speed!

FREE FOOD!!! (After you burn all those calories shopping!!)

Baskin Robbins (buy one sundae, get one free)
http://www.baskinrobbins.com/coupon/bogosundae1107.html

Johnny Rockets (free hamburger)
http://www.johnnyrockets.com/rockete-club/index.php

Pizzeria Uno (Free appetizer)
http://insidersclub.unos.com/insiders/

On the Border (free Appetizer)
http://clubcantina.ontheborder.com/clients/ontheborder/survey.htm

Watch a movie to relax from all the shopping

Buy one ticket, get one free at Fandango when you use Discover (Starts
Nov
16)
http://www.fandango.com/discovercard/

or FLY AWAY!!!

Orbitz
http://www.orbitz.com/App/PerformMDLPDealsContent?deal_id=07nov1372hours
ale&cnt=OVI&siteID=isIkAyUyNbM-rvPCreY%2AonvG5Ms1PiMrew


BURBERRY PRIVATE SALE

http://www.burberryusaonline.com/cat...goryId=2284855
Free shipping for orders over $195.


Restoration Hardware Friends and Family

20% off all non-sale items.
Use Code: H07FAF02

RalphLauren.com

When: 11/15/07 - 11/19/07
Enjoy generous reductions of up to 40% off.
Also, receive an additional 15% off already reduced prices online by
using
code NOV15 upon checkout!


Old Navy-Friends & Family on line code good from Nov 27-Dec 3---20% off
code
F8JXXP9RGCNJ

Banana Republic Friends & Family on line code- 30% off Dec 1-3
QLOV5931S3G5

Gap Friends & Family on line code-30% off Nov 30-Dec 3
D1L36GG596NL

Old Navy-Friends & Family on line code good from Nov 27-Dec 3---20% off
code
F8JXXP9RGCNJ

Banana Republic Friends & Family on line code- 30% off Dec 1-3
QLOV5931S3G5

Gap Friends & Family on line code-30% off Nov 30-Dec 3
D1L36GG596NL

At A Loss No More!

Yep, it's the holiday season, that magical time of year when every day is sponsored by the letter $. When every commercial, billboard, TV special, and email is encouraging you to SPEND SPEND SPEND, I would like to encourage you not to. Now, here's where I was at a loss- there seems to be a sad lack of freebies lately. But, have no fear! Compliments of one of my favorite people and her invaluable daily emailing, I have a list of deals & coupons that, amazingly, are still happening post- Black Friday (don't worry, I checked 'em all).

*Not all of them have to be used online- check out the printable versions for the retail stores!

Stila cosmetics warehouse sale:

http://www.stilacosmetics.com/special_vws_signup_2007.asp

BANANA REPUBLIC:

http://www.lifetakesvisa.com/pdf/BR_Offer.pdf

or online:
Use BRHOLIDAY for 20% off (no minimum) Expires 12/24/07
and stack with
CODE: MYRBRGIFT for an additional 15% off Expires 12/24/07
(Must use a VISA card for this one to work)
Total Savings of 35% off

Sephora.com
20% off (NEVER HAPPENS)
Use code: FF2007

PRINTABLE COUPONS!!!

Bath and Body works
http://f.e.bathandbodyworks.com/i/34/528207786/110507A_coup.html

Illuminations
http://www.illuminations.com/email/2007/1102/regular_1102_07.html

Lord and Taylor
http://www.lordandtaylor.com/common/coupons/lt_110807_coupon.pdf

Linens & Things
http://lnt.imageg.net/graphics/coupon/LNT_email_signup_9%2019%202007.pdf

CVS
http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/promotion?pid=6051&step_nbr=160

Yankee candle
http://www.yankeecandle.com/yc/html/retail/Email_HTML/registerForCouponsWebNEW.html

H&M
http://www.hmfriendsandfamily.com/

Sharper Image
http://www.sharperimagesavings.com/beyond/

Banana Republic
http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/info.do?cid=35127


Tomorrow- FREE Food, Friends & Family discounts!

What does it cost?

No more than what you would already be spending on a holiday gift! Which is why, even as a cheapskate, I urge you to buy handmade gifts from independent artists this holiday season. No one says it better than the illustrious, articulate Krista (who also happens to be my roommate and fellow designer) on the Astoria Craft Collective blog.

You might think that I am posting about independent artists on this blog as a shameless plug for our (and many others throughout the NYC area!) Handmade Holiday gift market on December 2. And you would be right! But that's just half of it- the other half is that I truly believe that nothing says "I love you" or "Merry Christmas/Happy Chanukkah/Kwanzaa/insert-holiday-here" or even "I think I can stand the sight of you for one more year" better than something beautifully AND lovingly made by starving artists following their dreams. One of a kind items ensure that your girlfriend's roommate will forever be jealous she can't have the same lovely earrings (and that her boyfriend didn't care enough to venture outside of Hallmark), and your sister will never have the embarrassing problem of seeing her dumb high school friends in the same outfit. Not to mention that you would be helping support the aforementioned starving artists (what's the holiday spirit without a little charitable giving?). In all seriousness, I think when someone loves what they do, it is truly reflected in their work- and in some kind of karmic way, your handmade gift is infused with that.

Even though I haven't mentioned the word Free! yet, I think this is a fitting topic to blog about because purchasing from independent artists costs no more than getting something from your local strip mall or The Gap. Check out Etsy.com for proof that handmade can be had for under $10, even under $5! And you will most certainly get brownie points (and who knows what else... mistletoe anyone?) for thoughtfulness. Which is more than you can say for the giver of that Target gift card.

Because I love LIC and Transgendered Films

A hot tip from one of my favorite "secret" web publications, The Nonsense List. I have French class until 9 on Wednesday, so afterwards I might be screenprinting in my kitchen with Angela or I might hot-foot it down to this truly entertaining cultural event. I don't know. What I do know is that this movie is a hell of a lot more interesting (and scandalous) than my crafting has ever been. I watched it with my aunt and uncle once, after babysitting my cousin, and I highly recommend watching a film of slightly pornographic nature with your older relatives.

Fat Lipstick Program at Flux Factory

Here's the guideline for this one-month long film program: bad taste,
saturated levels of color, heavy make-up, cartoonish characters,
theatrical violence, domineeringly psychosexual women, larger than
life pop art settings, and a healthy disregard for all forms of
authority: religious, moral, legal, political, and aesthetic
tradition. With popcorn.

This week: Female Trouble (1974) by John Waters. A high point in low
taste.

Flux Factory
38-38 43rd Street, Long Island City, Queens
V,R,G trains to Steinway Street station
9p; $free
fluxfactory.org

There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

Unless you're me, of course. For two days now, I've been treated to free lunches! Yesterday was compliments of my lawyer (who will be laughing all the way to the bank when he gets a huge payout from my accident), and today my friend took me out for one of our top-secret "business lunches" on his company's expense account (mmm Mangia Trattoria antipasti bar!). I highly recommend acquiring friends with magical powers like this. However, I do not recommend going the lawyer route, unless you want to get hit by a car and spend the next two years of your life dealing with doc appointments, insurance woes, and the enduring pain of not being able to do a Side Plank in yoga. You might get a free BLT and bottle of Vitamin Water after you spend 2 hours in NYC traffic to get up to your lawyer's office in Orange County, but trust me people- it's not worth it.

On that note, I'd like to direct you to somewhere you will have to pay for lunch, but you will enjoy the all-you-can-stuff topping bar so much, you might forget it cost you $4.75 for the actual sandwich. Enter Maoz Vegetarian, one of my all-time favorite lunch or dinner on the fly spots. Located on the east side of Union Square, Maoz only has really one item- so if you don't like falafel or pita, then stop reading right now (and also, you are insane!). However, the big draw is their all-you-can-stuff (in your sandwich, mouth, pockets?) topping bar. Composed of such delicious goodies as marinated tomatoes, cucumbers, minty cous cous, and my all-time favorite (and new addiction) fried broccoli and cauliflower, as well as about 8 or 10 different sauces (cilantro being my personal fav), the topping bar is a budget foodie's paradise.

Maoz Vegetarian
38 Union sq E
New York, NY 10003
(212) 260-1988

The one draw-back: there are only about 3 small barstools at a little counter- Maoz is tiny inside. I find it worth my while to hang around long enough to snag one though, as you are welcome to keep topping off your pita with deliciousness at the bar as many times as you like. This concept is one I wish more places would adopt- who doesn't hate getting halfway through a sandwich (pita or not) only to find the extras (veggies, spreads, sauces) have all accumulated at the top and have thus already been consumed in your first 3 bites?

**Side note: if you can snag a seat, you can pick up the free Parks Wifi from Union Square. I've been known to eat & work at the window... but be careful not to get hummus on your keyboard, I hear it's a bitch to clean out.

Moral of the story: not only is Maoz super tasty, but with the unlimited supply of extras, it's like getting a giant meal for the price of street food. I like to eat half my pita, topping it off every couple bites, then give it one final run through the topping bar and wrap that sucker up for later. But don't tell anyone I told you to do that... while not "illegal," you might have qualms about looking like a fatass or broke college kid. I don't have these issues, apparently. I say go for it, fat ass or not! Remember: it's vegetarian. It has to be healthy!

Free love?

If you happen to be this rosy-cheeked, blue-tight-wearing, flower haired girl.

http://www.nygirlofmydreams.com/

http://vimeo.com/373021/

I know this isn't about doing/getting anything on the cheap (wow, one day later and I've already switched blog topics... ADD much?), but it is simply too cute to ignore. Plus, as mentioned above, if you are the mystery chica, you might just get a free boyfriend! I can't tell you if he's quality, but he's even cuter than the guys on the apple commercials, and that's good enough for me.

If I were her I'd find this dude and jump his bones before a bunch of other girls start braiding their hair with flowers and wearing blue tights, trying to pass themselves off as Cinderella.

Now go get some!

Free Wine! a fitting first post

Because I'm currently hanging out with the kids here on the Upper West Side, I thought I would mention a couple local venues for free wine. Yes, the only thing better than wine is FREE wine!

If you're hungry and in the mood for some asian flavor, check out Silk Road Palace. Most chinese restaurants give you a free fortune cookie (always my favorite part of the meal), but SRP one-ups the competition by providing free plum wine with your food- which, incidentally, is also very affordable.

Read some reviews here.

Silk Road Palace

447 Amsterdam Ave
New York, NY 10024-5519
Phone: (212) 580-3465

I can tell you from personal experience that plum wine, while not the most high class beverage, will definitely get you pleasantly tipsy in no time.

While we're on the subject of free wine, I would like to give a shout-out to Little Shop of Crafts. Usually overrun with the underage set (watch out for toddlers wielding overloaded paint brushes), Little Shop kicks the kiddies out at 6:30 pm Wednesday through Friday so adults can embrace their inner artist and imbibe the complimentary wine. Little Shop has tons of ceramic, mosaic, and bead-related crafts, as well as paint-your-own dinnerware. The items are a little pricey, but as I already stated, this is about the FREE WINE, people. So cough it up for the holidays- give Mom a personalized gift she might actually use this year! And gift-makers remember- if you're not spending the money on yourself, it doesn't count.

Little Shop of Crafts
www.littleshopny.com
711 Amsterdam Ave (at 94th)
Phone: (212) 531-2723
*there's also an East side location, visit the website for details

I'm Not Just a Cheapskate Anymore

I'm a cheapskate with a blog!

Oftentimes I think about the life I led before I quit my full-time job for the ambiguous and sometimes frustrating world of freelancing, and I fondly recall being able to throw away $14 on a glass of wine. And then I think about how guilty I felt afterwards, how I always had the lingering thought that I could have bought almost three sandwiches with that, or even four actual bottles of wine from Trader Joe's.

So this blog is for both types of people: the "mildly-" (or un-)employed artists among us, and the frugal office workers who have enough dough to purchase a New York City priced martini, but would rather save up for that vacation to Australia.

Thus, I vow to share all the wisdom I've acquired in my years of volleying between being broke and acting broke, and dutifully scour both the web and the print world to find fun new cheap (and on the best of days, free!) things to eat, drink, visit, and use for your general amusement.