Cheap is chic
The global economic crisis has caused untold damage. Billions of dollars of wealth has been wiped out, millions of jobs are on the line and our financial security and sense of well-being have been shaken to the core.
Me—I kind of like it.
It means budget is the new black, and faster than a TSX slide, my frugal sensibilities and I are all the rage. Cheap is chic and suddenly I am stylish. I was shunned from the in-crowd for years because to me, spending more on a purse than you would on a mortgage payment (or for that matter, a car) never added up.
Generally, I’m pretty thrifty. And I always have been. Partly because I don’t have a lot of money, but partly, I think, because I simply inherited frugality along with blue eyes and dainty size tens.
Frugal comes out of the closet
I’ve always been cheap.But now it’s in style and I can come out of the closet. I can invite people over to my place for a fancy frozen pizza and a salad instead of dropping $50 for the exact same thing at a restaurant. I can meet wealthy friends before going to see a play on comp tickets.
Everywhere you look there are stories about where to find cheap stuff, how to vacation in your own town, and entertaining on a budget—things us cheapskates have been doing quietly for years.
They’re even inventing new words to describe our old ways. We are frugalistas, not tightwads. We can hold our heads high as we re-gift (speaking of which, it’s finally de rigueur to wrap presents in paper that’s already been used).
Potlucks are warm and cozy instead of dowdy and dull. Dollar store finds are no longer tacky, they’re treasures. And, instead of trying to hide the fact you’re wearing the same little black dress that you wore to last year’s society parties (and the year before), you boast about it.
Downmarket delights
Frankly, I’m relieved that we’re all being a little more economical. All that consumption made me nervous. A few Christmases ago, I received a very generous Holt Renfrew gift card and made my way downtown for the holiday sale with a friend and experienced Holt’s shopper.
I bought a cashmere sweater and a leather jacket—both half price. But I couldn’t sleep because I didn’t love them enough to justify the hundreds and hundreds of dollars they cost. So I took them back and found replacements at the Gap—a (partly) cashmere sweater for ten bucks and the cutest little pea coat ever for $15 (I eventually spent my Holts gift card on a very sensible overcoat that had been marked down three times).
Speaking of bargains, I’ve noticed consignment stores are a lot more crowded these days. Apparently, this hand-me-down thing is catching on. Soon enough, chi-chi interior designers will be co-opting the look I’ve done in my living room; I call it “contemporary castaway.”
I plan to enjoy my 15 minutes of frugalista fame. Because before you know it the good times—and the recession—will be over, and instead of being an ‘It’ girl, I’ll go back to being a cheap one.
If you want to pinch pennies without pinching your personal style, check out Affordable elegance for ideas on how to look like a million bucks without emptying your wallet!
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This article is original content on More.ca
