Monthly Mashup: July Edition

The emergence of summer means many things, one of which is lots of free activities.  Summer in New York is filled with many a bargain pleasure, including free outdoor kayaking, movies, concert series and physical activities.  So instead of just focusing on our past stories, we decided to spotlight a few other sites as well that focus on free and budget living information.  A few of our favorite posts are below.

How to Do Broadway on a Budget – Go Frugal in NY, a new budget NYC blog, is the spawn of the Free Shipping blog that focuses on getting companies to offer free shipping and who also mandated a Free Shipping Day in December.  Check out their post on how to score Broadway tickets on the cheap.

Reimagining Breakfast for the Summer – Eating Well on $50 a Week is a cool blog that covers lots of cheap ways to eat on fifty bucks.  While not based in NY, they have awesome suggestions on how to creatively use vegetables and whip up dishes that look pretty darn amazing.  Plus, their food photos look so good, I’d be lying if I said my recent food pictures on Twitter weren’t somewhat inspired by theirs.

Our Favorite New Retail Addiction – Brokelyn - An awesome website that spotlights places in Brooklyn that are staples for living cheaply.  Check out this post on a little known BK shop in Midwood that offers up designer duds for practically nilch.  This one comes close to beating out Housing Works.

Money Management Startup, Thrive, Talks to Us About Behavioral Budgeting, Financial Literacy and the Future of Financial Management – We spoke to Avi Karnani and Matt Wallaert about Thrive’s work in the realm of Gen Y’s financial literacy and what they’re doing to get young adults active in managing their finances.

8 Tips to Save on Apartment Living – Another excellent post by the Go Frugal blog which gives tips on how to save on apartment expenses when looking for and moving out of an apartment.

10 Free Things to do in Queens – FrugalNYC is a website that, like us, is dedicated to frugal living in NYC.  Check out their listing of 10 free things to do in queens, and their follow-up with more free Queens activities here.

How to Play NYC Tourist this Summer – Not enough New Yorkers take advantage of all the city has to offer, and it’s no surprise with long work hours and a seemingly chronic of exhaustion (or is that just us?).  Regardless, we show you how to take back all the city has to offer and enjoy your vacation time in the heart of the universe.

5 Reasons Why You Should Drop Everything and Sign Up for a CSA Right Now – I’m a huge advocate of the city’s 80 CSA programs for a multitude of reasons expanding beyond the most obvious — healthy food.  Check out our 5 reasons to join one ASAP.

The Skint – Every frugal-minded New Yorker should be checking out this site.  A bare-bones listing of tips and freebies in the NYC area, the best way to take advantage of this site is just to subscribe and get a daily listing of cheap things to do each day.

Thrifting Online:  Tips to Mastering the Craigslist Domain – Ever wonder why you’re not finding cool stuff on Craigslist?  It’s probably because you’re not going about your search in the most productive way.  Craiging is an art form — not unlike sifting through the crap at a yard sale to find the diamond in the rough.  Mastering Craigslist is a learning process, and we’ve got the tips to help you up your game.

Monthly Mashup: April Edition

With summer on the upswing, New Yorkers are preparing themselves for weekends full of lazy outdoor afternoons, trips to the parks and beaches, intramural sports and hopefully some summer Fridays (crossed fingers).  But the most important thing about summertime is that it’s the best season to save money since free things like outdoor concerts and street festivals pop up almost every weekend.  Ah, New York in the summertime.

With the rainy days of April hopefully behind us, we’re taking a retrospective look back at our favorite and most popular stories from LifeStyler and the rest of the webs.

Is it Possible to Live Below your Means in NYC? – New York is a place of unparalleled expenses.  For the vast majority of us making under six figures a year, it can be one of continual financial stress having to live paycheck to paycheck.  We asked our writers to come up with some ways that help them live below their means in the big city and threw it all together to make a list of the ways we cut corners to keep some money in the bank.

The Best 15 Financial iPhone Apps – David at Money Under 30 sifts through the vast wasteland of iPhone apps to find the best iPhone apps for your money — management, that is.  Our favorite?  The ATM Hunter.

How Far is Too Far in the Quest for Employment? – How far are some people willing to go to make a living if unemployment strikes?  We spoke to a few readers to find out where they draw the line.

Being Frugal on Groceries Doesn’t Mean Starvation – The guys over at Thrive (an free online personal finance management program) discuss how to be a frugal grocery shopper without starving in the process.

Sell Junk for Cash and Free Your Soul – Cleaning out the apartment can not only be beneficial to your wallet, it can be emotionally cathartic too.  Our associate editor, Jeffrey Wilson, explores the benefits of cleaning house and selling off old nostalgia.

Budget Decorating Guide – New York Magazine can sometimes overshoot the budget shopping guides, featuring a $250 summer dress as a “steal” when most of us would have to choose between that purchase and rent. But they finally hit the nail on the head with their latest budget decorating guide, focusing on budget shopping hot spots like Pearl River Mart, National Wholesale Liquidators and Bowery Kitchen Supplies.

Confessions of a Habitual Job Hopper – We’re all aware of negative outlook associated with job hopping, but as a happy job hopper myself, I wanted to point out the positive aspects of the “sport” and take a look at how Gen Yers, with all their saavy web 2.0 know how, are indeed a generation of job hoppers and how they’re out to change the current work landscape.

Monthly Mashup: March Edition

Spring has finally sprung.  Well, almost.  And to kick it off, we’ve once again picked out our favorite and most popular posts from LifeStyler and some other intriguing blogs and websites  ’round the web for our March Monthly Mashup.  Keep reading for a compilation of interesting shiz from the past month.

Also worth noting, we’ll be having a contest on the website soon.  So keep coming back for a chance to win a pretty freakin’ awesome prize.  We’ll be revealing it soon.

Are Young People Afraid to Invest? – Young people in recent history have shown a disproportionate lack of ability in managing their money.  We took a look into the issue to see if attitudes towards saving for retirement and frugality have changed due to the current economic climate.

Paparazzi iPhone App Turns You Into Julia Allison – Looking for that big break?  Want internet fame and fortune — or at least Facebook fame?  Check out the Paparazzi iPhone app game.  It brings a whole new meaning to the concept of popularity.

Think Networking Gets You Ahead? Not How You’re Doing It – Our friends over at Money Under 30 got it right.  Lots of young adults miss many of the crucial aspects of networking.  David explains what the Do’s and Dont’s of effective networking are and how to make sure you’re doing it right.

Cold Cash in the Name of Science? – Part-time jobs are ok, but quite a few people are looking into more unconventional ways to earn a buck or two.  One of those ways is by volunteering for medical research.  We spoke to a former medical research assistant to find out what’s involved with one of these studies, how much you can expect to make, and what to be prepared for.

The 5 Best Free iPhone and iPod Touch Apps: Part Deux – Our obsession with all things iPhone related continues with our second edition of the five best free iPhone apps.  We take a look at our second round of favorite applications that do everything from watching your stocks to browsing locales and planning your next vacation.

Wise Buys: Experts Share Tips for Saving on Clothes, Gadgets, and Groceries – The NY Daily News talks to NYC residents about how they save some green on everything from clothing, gadgets and groceries.  Because, really, who has the ins on ways to save in this great city of ours better than the villagers themselves?

Acer Aspire One: A Wallet-Friendly Netbook for the Budget Conscious – Thinking of downgrading that thousand dollar computer for a cheaper model?  We took a hard look at Acer’s new $350 netbook to find out if it’s worth ditching the full-size versions and taking advantage of the huge cost difference.  Read on for our thoughts on the tiny machine.

Neighborhood Watch: Astoria – The LifeStyler crew took to the streets of Astoria and spoke to long-time resident, Brian Heater to find out the inside scoop on his Queens hood.

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Photo credit: katmere

Monthly Mashup: February Edition

It’s been seven months since we gave birth to the shiny new creation that is LifeStyler.  As we trek further down the road looking back on the happenings of the past month — whether it was delving into Obama’s new stimulus plan, tips on surviving in NYC’s harsh employment landscape, or fun, free weekend ideas — our mission stays the same:  to keep bringing smart, pertinent and helpful information about lifestyle and personal finance to the young and ambitious in NY.  And in true LifeStyler tradition, here are some of our Editor’s story picks from February’s harvest.

Credit Karma’s Ken Lin on FICO’s New Scoring Model – In an attempt to find out more about FICO’s new scoring model, we called up Ken Lin — CEO of Credit Karma — to find out what changes to expect in the upcoming months.

Recession-Proof Activities:  Bigger, Badder, Harder – You asked for more, and we brought it.  Check out LifeStyler’s third edition of Recession-Proof Activities for fun, free weekend activities in the NYC area.

2009 Economic Stimulus:  What it Means for you - David at Money Under 30 delves into Obama’s 2009 stimulus plan, and breaks it down into layman’s terms.  Find out how the Stimulus bill will affect you.

The Dream Delayed:  Recent Grads and the Struggle for Employment – Our newest contributor, Christine Rochelle, jumps into the trenches to get the down and dirty on the current unemployment crisis.  Check out Lauren and David’s stories of how they’re keeping positive in a dismal job market.

The Banking Crisis Hasn’t Deterred Condescending Attitudes -With many banks on a slippery slope, you’d think customer service would be a high priority for their business.  As I witnessed a few weeks back, that may not be the case — condescending banker attitudes are still alive and well.

How to Deal with a Job Loss – Pinyo at Moolanomy gives nine tips on how to deal with the loss of a job as someone who is on the brink of losing his.  He details how to not burn bridges with your current employer, and how to beef up your skills and polish up your interviewing skills for the job hunt ahead.

5 Tips for Surviving on Peanuts – With economic conditions still in a deteriorating state, it’s more important than ever to save every penny in case of a job loss or unexpected emergency.  We give you five tips on how to cut your expenses and live on less.

Monthly Mashup: December Edition

December brought with it cold, bitter weather, lots of face time with families and, which you may have noticed, a distinct lack of posting. And for that, dear readers, we sincerely apologize. But not being ones to focus on the past, 2009 is here with a bang! And with this new year comes a whole truckload of ideas that our staff is working to implement for your guys. This means an increase in Interviews, How-To’s, Personal Stories, and Weekly Listings of cheap events in and around NYC. So keep on reading for our Editors pick of the December blogosphere as we bid adieu to 2008 and welcome the new year with open arms and heightened anticipation.

On a side note, if there are any changes or ideas that you’d like to see implemented on the site, we’d love to hear them. Leave us a comment in the comments section or send an email to lauren@lifestylermag.com.

44 Ideas for Realistic 2009 Goals – The geniuses over at Master Your Card had some really interesting ideas for realistic and personal growth goals for the upcoming year. I even snagged 10 of his goals for my own. **As a side note, also check out his article on Credit Card Stoozing. I’ve added this to my own goals for 2009, but I’d like to hear from any of you guys if you’ve done this and what your experiences have been. I’m intrigued!

Kathryn Finney (The Budget Fashionista) on Affordable Dress for the Office – There’s nothing more annoying than getting a great new job that pays a serious adult salary, than having to fork over half of it towards blazers and business suits — especially if you’re a jeans and t-shirt kind of person. We picked the brain of veteran budget shopper, Kathryn Finney – genius behind The Budget Fashionista – for some tips on looking sharp at the office for less.

Recessions, Depressions, and How They’ll Affect You - Young Money takes a deeper look at what the differences are between a recession and a depression and just how they’ll affect you.

Five Fabulous Free Finds – Erin Gifford over at Wallet Pop gives us the lowdown on five freebies to take advantage of — including antibiotics and bowling passes!

Charity Gifts — Not Just for the Holiday Season – We came up with 20 ways to tie in philanthrophy with gift-giving, but philanthrophy needs no holiday! Keep the momentum going by donating money, resources or time to whichever organization catches your eye. Here are 20 nonprofits that we like to get you started.

13 Ways to Stretch Your Money - Bill Pratt at Young Money gives you tips on how to stretch your dollar in the new year. Most of the ideas you’ve probably heard a million times before, but he does offer some good ideas on how to save electricity at night and how to implement the 24-hour rule to making snap purchases.

How Much is Your Brain Worth? – Sometimes you just need a few extra dollars in your pocket, and aside from picking up a part-time gig, there aren’t a ton of ways to get it. We give you the lowdown on participating in focus groups, which can be a great way to have a part-time gig on retainer. Use ‘em when you need ‘em, ignore ‘em when you don’t.

The Spending Diaries – New York Magazine chronicles how five New Yorkers in varying income brackets spend a week’s worth of their cash. This is an older article (published in October of ‘06), and as such has probably made it’s ample round on the internets, but I still thought it was interesting — although a bit unrealistic at times. (Their low-end income bracket example is a literary grad student who lives in an $1,800 a month West Village apartment subsidized by his parents, who also foot the bill for his Equinox gym membership and tuition.)

5 Gadgets Worth Waiting for in 2009 – Smart Money has a list of 5 Gadgets that will be priced to sell after this year’s Consumer Electronics Show this month in Vegas. After featuring the latest and the greatest in new tech products, stores will be pushing the slightly older models off the shelves to make way for the abundance of shiny new tech toys. If you’re in the market for a computer, cell phone, or a TV, this is probably your best chance to buy.

Pulling in the Reins: 5 Tips to Curb your Spending – Getting out of the spending mindset can be a difficult task to undertake — especially after the holidays. We offer 5 tips to curb your spending habits and make sure the things you purchase are on a necessary and not wanting basis.

Monthly Mashup: November Edition

One major holiday down, one to go.  We hope all of you LifeStyler readers had a fantastic Thanksgiving Holiday (and long weekend), complete with home cooked meals and family gatherings.  Ours consisted of alternately inhaling baked macaroni and candied yams while watching old Twilight Zone re-runs on the tube.  But then we got down to business and compiled our favorite posts from the month of November in our monthly mashup of cheap, thrifty, and fabulous articles from LifeStyler and beyond the blogosphere.  Keep reading for our November Editor’s Picks.

Don’t Be a Gift-Giving Dunce – We’ve all gotten those gifts for Christmas — the ones you’re not so sure what to do with, or even somewhat repulsed by.  The LifeStyler staff recalls some of their most sucky presents of their childhood and share how you can avoid being a gift-giving dunce.

Saving on Transportation Costs in NYC – With NYC’s cost of living still at a peak and jobs being slashed in all industries, it’s important to cut costs wherever possible in your budget.  Read on for our tips for saving some dough with on your daily commute.

53 Inexpensive Christmas Gifts – David over at Money Under 30 rounds up 53 easy and inexpensive Christmas gift ideas for the cash strapped or just financially conscious consumer.

What I Learned from Damon Dash – We lowly, under-paid office drones aren’t the only ones getting ourselves into financial trouble.  Even multi-millionaires screw up sometimes!  We take a deeper look into Damon Dash’s recent financial pitfalls and see how he could have avoided this serious cash blunder.

5 Ways to Save Daily – Small steps can go a long way.  Along with making drastic changes in your lifestyle, it’s important to make small adjustments as well.  By taking a closer look at where you spend money every day, you can save hundreds of dollars a year with barely an afterthought.

Avoid the Workplace Monkey Suit - Hate the ‘ole suit and tie shebaggle every day?  Our men’s style expert, Jeffrey Wilson, shows you how to slowly integrate your own personal style — complete with t-shirts and tennis shoes — into your work wardrobe and still look polished and professional.

Cyber Monday Deals – Ditched the Black Friday madness for some Cyber Monday deals? The Budget Fashionista is keeping up with deals and will be updating this page all day to reflect new sales and incoming deals.

Lauren Unplugged – Living in a society that is hugely focused on being “plugged in” 24/7, it’s easy to forget what pure, unadulterated solitude is like.  So, when my old, tired Blackberry crapped out it’s last signal earlier this year, I vowed to end the madness and trade in the intrusive PDA lifestyle for a simpler solution.

5 Mistakes Young Professionals Make at Work – Assimilating into the workplace for the first time is no easy feat.  In a whirlwind of office culture and subsequent politics, it’s easy to make simple blunders that will spotlight your greenness.  Keep on reading for a list of the 5 most common mistakes that young professionals frequently make and how to stay on top of your game and ahead of the curve.

Monthly Mashup: October Edition

It’s that time of year when the weather turns crisp and the proud citizens of New York bundle up in their winter gear. But before we head off into the mother of all holiday seasons, let’s take a look retrospective look back at some stories from the past month.  Here are some of our favorite posts from around the net, as well as our more popular stories from October in this month’s Mashup.

One on One with Credit Karma’s Ken Lin – We spoke to the CEO and founder of Credit Karma, a new internet start-up that allows you to check your credit score whenever you want. We got the 411 on how the site works and where they plan to go from here.

The Under $60 Work Outfit - The Budget Fashionista showcased a great example of budget shopping with her $60 Work Outfit.  Find out how you can look fabulous for pennies on the dollar.

5 Well-Paying Careers You’ve (Probably) Never Considered – Now can be a rough time for students looking into future career paths.  With layoffs aplenty right now, the usual career paths may not be such an enticing route.  Check out these five career paths that are blossoming despite the recession.

8 Fun Recession-Proof Activities – You don’t have to stop your social life because of rising prices and stagnate salaries.  There are still ways to entertain yourself at home and around NYC –  even when you’re on a shoestring budget.  Check out our 8 recession-proof activities for some low-cost NY fun.

Six Benefits of Bill Consolidation – Consolidation doesn’t have to mean defeat.  There are many benefits of consolidating bills and we’ll take a look at six of them.  Take a look at them and get your finances under control and back on track.

Gotta Travel? Take the Bus! – With air travel sky rocketing (excuse the bad pun), it’s no wonder people are looking for alternate travel means.  Check out these four bus companies that are helping NY’ers ease the pain and costs of traveling.

Consumers Feel the Next Crisis: It’s Credit Cards – The New York Times takes a look at the credit card industry, and how the current economic situation is affecting the way they pick and choose lendees.

5 Simple Meals Made with Ramen – You may not be able to afford a fancy dinner, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend five nights a week rotating between beef and chicken flavored ramen.  Take a look at our five fun and easy meal ideas to spice up that ramen.

Switching to Cheap Beauty Products – Drugstore spending can easily spiral out of control — especially for women purchasing makeup and beauty products.  Read up on how to trade in those expensive products for budget alternatives.

Work Out for Cheap: Alumni Gym Memberships – Gym memberships are super expensive these days, but staying fit and healthy is still a prime and valid concern for most people. Think you can’t have both?  It may be more possible than you think.  Check out our list of NYC alumni gym memberships.

Monthly Mashup: September Edition

It’s already the end of September, and once again we’ve compiled a mashup of some of our most popular stories, as well as interesting and relevant posts from around the blogosphere.  Keep reading to find out which stories made our Editors’ Choice this month. Read more