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The Bargain Junkie
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INTRODUCING A NEW GIFT
AND HOME BOUTIQUE
AT LEE'S SPECIALTY
Annie Korzen I Special to the Jewish News
I
was brought up in a Bronx railroad
flat by poor immigrants. My moth-
er would use a teabag, then squeeze
it dry, hang it up and use it again the
next day: I hated her for this. My father
was a tailor, and he would make all my
clothes: I hated him for this.
I wanted to live like my friends, with
spacious homes, trendy outfits and all
the other trappings of middle-class
American life. Most of all, I wanted
fresh teabags. I enjoy those pleasures
now but have learned to respect my par-
ents' frugality.
I rarely buy anything that hasn't been
pre-worn, pre-used, pre-loved. I'm such
a compulsive waste-not-want-not addict
that when I'm in a restaurant and see
the anorexic girl at the next table leav-
ing a pile of food on her plate, I have to
fight the impulse to say, "Excuse me, but
if you're not going to finish that, would
you mind passing it this way?"
My thrifty lifestyle has allowed me to
have a comfy home filled with objects
of value (the most valuable object being
my Danish husband, Benni, and he was
also pre-loved — I would never get a
husband retail.)
I've also managed to educate my
child, travel all over the world and give
the occasional dinner party. I try not to
do this last one too often: If God had
wanted people to cook, She wouldn't
have invented cheap ethnic restaurants.
What my bargainista philosophy
has not allowed me to do is to own a
$150,000 Birkin crocodile and diamond
bag, or even a measly low-end $9,000
Birkin bag. Somehow, I don't feel I've
missed much. I'm perfectly happy
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CUSTOM INVITATIONS
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November 26 • 2009
with my lightweight, washable, silver
Sportsac. I got it on eBay for 12 bucks.
When I learned that my son was
planning a huge, black-tie wedding, I
started planning the most important
feature of the event: my dress. I needed
an expensive designer gown, but wasn't
willing or able to write a fat check for
something I would probably never wear
again — unless they start giving Oscars
to bit players. Then I saw in the L. A.
Times classifieds that the CBS wardrobe
department was having a liquidation
sale.
I ran over there and spotted the gown
of my dreams. It was beaded turquoise
silk, by the prize-winning Carmen Marc
Valvo. It fit like a glove — as long as I
didn't exhale — and the $1,200 price
tag was still dangling. I got it for 20
bucks. The wedding was fabulous, the
gown was a big hit and the price tag is
still dangling inside — in case I ever
want to sell it.
Benni's huge Danish family was
coming in from Copenhagen, and I felt
obliged to show them some hospitality.
I figured we'd take them for a Chinese
dinner — as an introduction to Jewish
culture. We found a place with a private
room in Chinatown where we fed 17
people a huge banquet of soups, spring
rolls, seafood, chicken and noodle dish-
es for a total cost of $250.
I wish they had Olympics competi-
tions in Frugal Living: I think I might
be a serious contender!
Here are some tips for wannabe bar-
ganistas:
• I spend my life at yard sales and
have found everything from designer
clothing to vintage linens.
• I'm a thrift shop addict, where
I recently scored a slightly used
Hartmann suitcase for 10 bucks. They
retail for around $500.
• I barter with friends. I gave my
neighbor some public speaking les-
sons, and she brought me a homemade
Shabbat dinner that had enough food
for the entire weekend.
• I picked up a broken geranium twig
on the street, stuck it in the ground and
it now covers a fence in my back yard.
• I always check Craig's List for free-
bies, where I got about 30 pounds of
bark mulch and some patio furniture.
• I go to wwwrestaurant.com for dis-
count dining vouchers. A $25 voucher
costs $10, but every few weeks they go
on sale for 2 bucks. What a deal! E
Anne Korzen is the author of Bargain
Junkie: Living the Good Life on the Cheap;
www.TheBargainJunkie.com .
A Heartfelt Gift
PRESENTED BY
SOLANGE MESSELIAN &
GLORIA COLTON
GG52
Actor/comedian/author Annie Korzen on living
a great life on the cheap.
When the economy struggles, buying
the perfect gift becomes even harder.
But instead of digging through sale
racks or manning the line at a midnight
store opening, why not try something
different — a gift to a charitable orga-
nization in honor of the person you're
gifting.
Charitable donations have a surpris-
ing amount of benefits for the people on
your gift list, for the recipient organiza-
tions and, believe it or not, you.
"Somehow, reaching out to someone
else makes our own life better," says
Edward Creegan, a Mayo Clinic oncolo-
gist in Minnesota. "If our focus is 'all
about me, we are doomed to unhappi-
ness and will try to fill that void with
trinkets, things, awards and 'stuff."
A charitable donation in someone
else's name can help take away that
unhappy focus and spread the joy of
giving. Both you and the person on your
gift list can derive satisfaction from the
knowledge that your holiday spirit is
helping people in your community, the
nation and even the world.
The benefits of a donation don't end
there, either. You're also recognizing the
interests of your friend or loved one and
strengthening your relationship. If you
don't know the right organization, take
the time to find out and make your gift
more personal.
Courtesy of ARAco ntent