Mich's Guide to Living Cheaply
~ Go ahead and cancel your cable. You'll save a crapload, and let's be honest- you're only using it to watch crap Discovery Health specials on the Duggars once every couple of months.. Network TV has The Office, Gilmore Girls, Lost and Supernanny at your fingertips.
~ Maybe quit going to Lush so often that the entire staff knows you. I know you don't buy something every time, but well, specials are hard to pass up. Do go and buy some ginger dusting powder, though, since it's being discontinued.
~ Make a pact with one of your BFFs that you'll take turns buying The Office off of iTunes. It'll save a few bucks a week that can be put towards buying all the episodes again when the DVD comes out.
~Quit going into Betsey Johnson. You'll NEVER be able to afford those dresses.
~Make sure your friends have the same cell phone provider as you, then you can talk for hours at a time for free, thus cutting down on your cable tv watching. Win-win-win.
~Have a really shitty day at work on a Friday, and cry about three or four times throughout the day. Your boyfriend will feel bad for you and take you to the movies! But don't see The Number 23. You'll just cry again at the enormity of the suck.
~ Don't indulge that sweet tooth at an expensive bakery or ice cream place- just bake brownies at home and eat half the pan while you read Shopaholic and Baby.
~Justify buying Shopaholic and Baby by realizing that you can't help reading these crap books and that you really, really care about the exploits of Wacky Becky, and besides, Andrea is in Indiana so you can't borrow her copy.
~Cut down on that heating bill by moving into your living room on an air mattress hillbilly-style. You can even put that Ikea throw blanket to good use by making it the 'company covers' on the bed when people come over.
~Save money on snacks at work by filling an entire drawer with good things to eat and drink. You'll gain quite the reputation, and a cereal bar will always be at your fingertips (and on your fingertips- napkins!!)
~Befriend IT guys, and they'll burn you DVDs. Never mind that Little Miss Sunshine cuts out at the climax during the pageant.
~Buy two pairs of tall boots on clearance at Target, and you'll love them so much that you'll never have to buy shoes again. Then buy an outfit to go with them!
~ Meat is overrated. Buy lots of boxes of mac and cheese instead, so you can be a classy hostess and make more than one box at a time.
~Have your mom cut your hair. It gets rid of split ends, and you don't have to tip her! Plus, you'll get dinner out of it!
~Invest in two Ditty Bops CDs. You'll save loads of money in the long run, because you'll just listen to them on repeat, thus negating buying any more music. The Dixie Chicks will also work. And any Songs for A & H.
~Grow up next door to people who visit South Africa, and they'll bring you GORGEOUS jewelry because they are ridiculously thoughtful and generous. Also, they will bring you a barf bag, in which you can keep the jewelry, or perhaps write a letter on.
~ A fantasy life is much cheaper than an actual life. Pretending you're dating Jim Halpert at any given time is much cheaper than actually going out and doing things with real people. Unfortunately, pretend Jim can only get you so far, and when people start to ask who you're talking to, it might be time to stop.
Your tips?