Monthly Mashup: December Edition

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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.

One on One with Kathryn Finney, The Budget Fashionista

As a LifeStyler reader, you’re probably hip to a few other budget savvy blogs and websites regarding frugality and shopping. And if you’ve spent any time checking out budget shopping guides, you’ve no doubt come across the musings of The Budget Fashionista. Founded by Karthryn Finney, TBF has built a cult following by becoming the Go-To destination for budget-savvy shoppers looking to stay in style without breaking the bank. Along with showcasing fashionable looks for less, they frequently feature sample sales, interviews with the creme de la creme of the fashion world for style tips, and DIY guides to re-creating runway looks for under $100 (and oftentimes under $60). So with budget consciousness on the brain and the masses flocking to find bargain deals, we couldn’t not pick Kathryn’s brain for some tips on how to keep in style in the workplace for less than you probably spend on your electricity bill.

As an introduction to some of our readers who aren’t familiar with you, how did you become known as the Budget Fashionista?
The budget fashionista started from a love of fashion, but a lack of cash. I was living well above my means, racking up over 6 figures in credit card and student loan debt. I started the blog in 2003 as a way to stay connected with friends and to chronicle my experiences getting out of debt.