Lauren Weber grew up with a father who rationed toilet paper and rarely used his car's turn signals (to prevent them from burning out). She was formerly a staff reporter at Newsday and Reuters, and has also written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and other publications.
How to be cheap without looking (too) cheap
Sorry for my long absence on this blog. I spent most of the summer teaching an intensive journalism class to high school students, and the experience, most days, left me feeling like I’d been eaten by bears. My students were great and engaged and excited (especially when we had a rock and film critic come in to speak), but I learned that teachers do the hardest job of anyone. So, hats off to all you educators out there.
So, now that I’m back to thinking about the book full-time, I thought I’d share a list I put together for Nicole Phelps, the editor of Style.com, a Conde Nast website. Nicole is a friend of mine from our Wesleyan days, and she asked me to write up some of my favorite bargain-hunting stops in New York City. Here’s a link to the post, and here’s a longer version of the list:
- Really Really Free Markets and Freemeets – Bring something, take something, all for free. I’ve found everything from a Diane von Furstenberg silk shirt to a birth-control diaphragm (okay, that didn’t come home with me) at these events. They’re held regularly and sponsored by Freecycle enthusiasts and groups like the anarchist collective In Our Hearts (www.myspace.com/anewworldinourhearts).
- Clothing swaps, known as “Bitch-and-Swaps” among friends – Perfect for a wardrobe infusion. My friends and I organize a couple of these per year; we gather all the forlorn items in our closets, present them to the group and then trade. I’ve also gone to swaps organized by groups like Astoria’s “Triple R,” an environmental non-profit. Some of my scores include pillow-soft old T-shirts, Indian saris, and Built by Wendy pants.
- Salvation Army store in Astoria – The size of a football field. This place rewards diligence and patience. I once found an agnes b. spring wool coat for $15; five years later, I still get compliments on it all the time. I also regularly see labels like Chaiken, Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Tam. It’s at 34-02 Steinway Street. When you’re done shopping, recharge at the Egyptian cafes up the street.
- Thrift Stop – This unassuming little shop at 400 3rd Ave (28th Street) is part of a constellation of thrift stores in the East 23rd Street area. It recently upped its game by building a dressing room. I bought a pair of Freelance boots here for $12, and have seen many pairs of Donald Pliner sandals, sadly not in my size.
- The curbsides of New York City – Never underestimate Americans’ proclivity for throwing out perfectly great clothing, furniture and other stuff. A few weeks ago, I dragged home a vintage metal dental cabinet that was in a sidewalk trash pile (a near-identical one was going for $300 on ebay). And way back in 1996, my sister and I found a stack of vintage Japanese cotton kimonos in a garbage can in the East Village. One word: Score.
Recent publications
In Cheap We Trust
The Story of a Misunderstood American Virtue
Little, Brown and Co.
Sept. 7, 2009
You can probably find the book at your local library. But if you'd like your own copy, you can buy it at
