Miss Truth Hurts is taking a mini break from the usual sex, relationship, and bitchy girl dilemmas that have been rolling in since this column started just a wee four months ago. In this month's posts, we're looking the recession beast in the eyes and saying, "Fuck you!"
What follows are some tips on how to live in this economy - how to not get fired, how to cut down on expenses, how to rock out a champagne party on a beer budget, how to make Valentine's Day a cheap date, and more. Next month, we'll resume to our regularly scheduled programming of love, lust, relationships, and life enigmas.
Q:I'm on a major budget right now and Valentine's Day is coming up. Any suggestions for an inexpensive gift or cheap date ideas? I want to show my girl how much I love her but I don't want to come off cheap.
-Romantic in Rancho Cucamungo, CA
A: Valentine's Day is such a stupid manufactured holiday that even if you had the dough to spend, I would suggest this same thing for your gift and date. What melts a girl's heart more than anything are love letters and a home cooked meal by her man. Instead of going crazy buying crap she doesn't need, either make her a card and write something sweet or just write a love letter in lieu of the card. You don't have to be a poet, nor do you have to be a great cook. Throw together some colorful pasta with chopped vegetables of your choice, a little garlic and olive oil, or some linguini with a simple meat marinara sauce for a Bolognese. Serve with a green mixed salad with a light vinaigrette dressing, and a bottle of inexpensive wine from Trader Joe's (they have a great selection for $2.99 and $3.99) and you can do V-Day for under $20. Oh, and don't forget to set the table with candles. You can get cute candle holders and candles at the 99 Cent store, cute Valentine's Day decorations, and even a potted plant for a centerpiece. Voila! Valentine's Day on a budget.
Q:I am in the red because of credit card debt and need to find more ways to cut down on my expenses. I already got rid of a phone line so I only have my cell. I don't eat out. I hardly go to shows or movies. What else can I do to cut down a bit here and there?
-Poor in Pittsburgh
A: I actually wrote about this in my book, Cherry Bomb. When I was in the red before I got married, I did all of these things and they worked! Good luck.
1. Call your credit card company and ask for a lower rate. If you've paid your bills on time and been a cardholder for a decent amount of time, they will not want to lose your business.
2. If you haven't paid your bills on time and don't have good credit, talk to your bank about a consolidating any credit card debt or outstanding loans.
3. Take a good, hard look at all of your household bills phone, cable, insurance, etc. and shop around for better rates. If you're a homeowner, consolidating your homeowner's, earthquake or flood, and automobile insurance into one policy with one company can save you money. Try to combine your Internet/cable/phone plans.
4. Cancel your magazine and newspaper subscriptions and read them at work, at the doctor's office, or online.
5. Prescription meds: Ask your doctor if there is a cheaper medicine for whatever ails you. Why spend more on Ambien for sleeping problems when Tylenol PM or Advil PM might surprise you by working just as well?
6. Don't fear the 99 Cent stores! You can get everything from name brand foods to cool dinner place settings to candles as gifts for people to basic household items and more.
7. Only send your clothes to the dry cleaner if you really, truly have to. Most garments will do just fine with the Dryel sheets that you can buy at the grocery store. I have personally used them on Marc Jacobs tops, Miss Sixty hot pants, and even on a Vivienne Westwood skirt.
Q:I'm fearful of losing my job in this economy. What can I do to not get laid off?
-Fearful in Fairfield, CT
A: Try to make yourself indispensable at work. Learn something that helps the company that no on else knows. Or, take on a task that no one else wants to do, even if it's outside of your job duties. Don't get into any altercations with co-workers or higher ups. Show up early, stay late, and ask for extra work. I know that sucks, but if you really want job security, it's hard to fire an employee who goes above and beyond what is expected and who does it with a smile.
Q:I'm in a band and we're about to go out on our first tour, in a van. It's total low- budget. I need some tips on how to eat cheaply, but somewhat well, on the road.
-Starving Artists in Springfield
A: Say hello to singer Wil Francis of Aiden and William Control. He's about to hit the road in support of his debut solo album Hate Culture and he's teamed with Denny's for its Adopt-a-Band program, which picks a band to feed for free while they tour, and lets them have after-parties at the restaurants. Cool, huh? Other than that, here are Wil's tips for feeding yourself whilst on tour with your broke-as-fuck band:
Wil writes: "Aiden did their first few tours in a Ford F 250 truck with a canopy and a U-Haul trailer in tow. It belonged to our drummer's mother. We played for free virtually ever night, and would try and find someone gracious enough to let us sleep on their floor. To save money on food, we'd bring a cooler and pack it full of lunch meat, cheese, and assorted condiments. It would usually last about a week before everything went bad and the wretched smell would almost force us to wear gas masks while we drove down the highway. Once we started making enough to give ourselves five bucks a day to eat on -- that's when the sky opened up and we had arrived. Haha. Fast food is probably the cheapest, most filling thing you can get, as unhealthy as it is. When $5 is all you have to eat for the day, a 99 cent whopper doesn't sound so bad. I'm not advocating fast food by any means, but shit, if you play in a broke ass punk band, do you expect to eat caviar and drink champagne?
MissTruthHurts
NEWSWIRE
Los Angeles, CA
JAN 30, 2009 11:37 AM