Extreme Thrifting

I hesitate to share too many of the extreme options of economizing. But what the heck—here goes: One brilliant 27-year-old drone I interviewed revealed to me that she would often scoop the leftover Danish that are discarded in the trash of the office kitchenette after meetings and eat them for breakfast herself. If that’s too fabulous to consider, start cooking. Cooking is always cheaper than eating at T.G.I. Friday’s. Whipping up your own meals, however, involves a certain amount of planning ahead; if you don’t have groceries, you’ll end up eating out every meal anyway. Also, I hate to admit it, but going vegetarian (and by that I mean eating primarily vegetables, not imitation meats) is one of the cheapest options of all.

Here’s another boring but chic cash-saving tip: When outfitting yourself, buy black, tan, and navy clothes so that everything in your closet will go together.

• Help each other out! Share your best "extreme thrifting" tips!

Other ideas to consider:

• Shop at charity stores located in fancy neighborhoods. One woman’s closet absolution equals your scoring Armani pants.
• Master the domestic arts of mending your own buttons and growing your own plants.
• Finally, don’t drink away your paycheck. Spending $30 a week on alcohol isn’t really the act of someone who’s making the tough cuts. I know it’s cruel, and I’m sorry, but you might have to start picking people up in retro places like the Laundromat instead for the long-term benefit of your wallet.

See also:

Budget Cuts
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