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 So I decided to do my own version of a haul, cheapster style. Last Saturday I went to Buffalo Exchange’s Dollar Earth Day Sale in Venice and ended up spending a mere $16 for an amazing load of great stuff. Included are a Zara flannel coat, some cute cowboy-esque brown heels, a Le Sportssac mini-duffle bag + coin purse, and some fun summer dresses. I know next to nothing about designer labels, and tend to go for textures and colors more than brand names. On top of that, all proceeds went to charity.
I found a few cute things for my mom, and there were a couple of duds too. What can I say? It’s all for the love of the pickin’ game.
A few things to note about these dollar sale hauls is that one is generally not as selective as there’s less time to rummage (a lot of hungry frugalistas). If it looks like it might fit and be something you would wear, then spring for it. Also note that the items for sale might be last season, which doesn’t matter too much to me. I say if you like it and you’re going to wear it, who cares if it’s hot and in.
I also found a couple of cute things for my mama Cheapster, and after getting home and trying everything on, a few things didn’t fit.
Here are my pickings:
By Jeffery Cox
 I enjoy preparing for alien invasions and the inevitable resurrection of human corpses as much as the next guy. It’s fun to figure out which steampunk goggles keep out zombie spit and the most effective way to stop a robot (peanut butter flicked from a spoon), but we have a while before these kinds of scenarios will be on our doorstep. In the meantime, steps should be taken to get ready for the little disasters you are more likely to encounter.
ECONOMIC CALAMITY!
By far the best prep is to pay down debt and build an emergency fund. This probably isn’t news for the average Cheapster, so get to it!
Debt reduction is pretty straightforward: throw as much cash at those loans as you can until they are dead. Congratulations! You will have slayed your first monster.
The emergency fund will be in a few places: the bank, on you, and a cashe.
- The bank is just for normal situations where access to your money is not impeded.
- On you does NOT mean in your wallet or purse. $5 to $50 tucked in a shoe or money belt or key fob and for emergency use only (as in, you were just held up or lost your purse).
- A cache is just a secure stash of money for when you can’t access your bank. A few hundred dollars will handle most critical emergencies. Try to have the amount you would need for about three days of living or the price of moderate auto work in your cache. Just add five bucks a week until you hit that total. Break it up and hide it in at least three different, hard to find, places. You may want to put it in zip-lock bags so it doesn’t get funky. Now forget it exists until you need it. If you ever have your debit card hacked, you will be so glad you did this. Trust me.
Continue reading Cheapster’s 411 for 911 Scenarios
 For all the cheapster geeks out there, the first Saturday of May is Free Comic Book Day, where comic book stores and libraries have a selection of exclusive releases for FCBD, which include The Avengers, a special edition of The New 52!, Yo Gabba Gabba and Transformers. I tend to lean toward the classic and kiddie stuff, and am itching to get my paws on the Peanuts, Top Shelf Kids Club, Moomin Color Special, and Sonic the Hedgehog comics. (For a complete list of special FCBD releases, click here). It’s also Cinco de Mayo, so bring out the sombrero and enjoy the day snagging freebies galore.
In addition to free comics, here’s what some of the local comic book shops and libraries have planned for the big day:
Golden Apple Comics on Melrose is having a big bonanza, with a huge parking lot sale, lots of free comics and swag, $5 grab bags, free Cinco de Mayo taco bar (with purchase), and a bounce house for the kiddies. Special appearances and signings include: Felicia Day and cast members of The Guild, Andrew Chambliss of Buffy, and Burt “Robin” Ward and Scott Davis, among others. Festivities begin at 10 am so get there early for early pickins’.
House of Secrets in Burbank will have a special signing from 5 pm – 7 pm. of image Comics’ Mind the Cap with writer Jim McCann and artist Rodin Esquejo.
Blastoff Comics in North Hollywood is having a whole day celebration from 11 am to 11  pm at NE1 Skate Shop. Festivities include food and drink courtesy of The Federal, which is hands-down my favorite hang in NoHo, artists sketching and DJ spinning sets all day. All comic books in the store will be on sale at 40% off and Scott Tipton, one of Blastoff Comics’ founders, will be signing Star Trek books. For those going to see The Avengers on Saturday at the Laemmle NoHo 7 will receive a free comic book, courtesy of Blastoff.
At 5 pm begins the Cinco De Mayo party at NE1 Skate Shop and B. Wesley art show. Plus, they’ll be doing giveaways all night beginning at 7 pm. Life just gets better and better, don’t it?
City of Pasadena Library’s main branch will have screenings of classic 1940s Superman cartoons, talks from comic book artists and writers such as Gabriel Hardman, Corinna Bechko, Shane Houghton, Chris Houghton, and Kassandra Heller. You can also check out the artists’ drawings. Most of the other branches will also have free comic books.
Other participating stores include Meltdown Comics in Hollywood, Things from Another World at Universal Citywalk, DJ’s Universal Comics in Studio City, and Legacy Comics & Cards in Glendale.
 Our contest to win a $25 dollar gift certificate to Buffalo Exchange, one-of-a-kind cheapsters plushie, and OrigAudio fold and play speakers made from recycled cardboard ended Friday. A winner was randomly drawn.
Congrats to Salvatore Mucciolo, who contributed the following saving’ green, being green tip:
You can reuse plastic shopping bags when baking. Wrap your dough in them when it’s time for it to rise and whala! You have a cheap and useful baking tool.
Here are some other green tips from fellow cheapsters:
You can walk to work instead of driving!
-Richard Dagul
Don’t buy pre-packaged lunch foods a la trader joes…make a big vat of food, put it in containers, and take it for lunch all week!
-Miki Mori
Using your own reusable grocery shopping bags (: Saves you money because in Long Beach the law is no more plastic bags and if you forget bags then you have to pay an extra 10 cents for each paper bag you need. It’s a small price to pay but in the end it all adds up!
-Monique Kaur Nicholson
A great way to go green, and have fun with it too, is by simply shopping at your local thrift store.. such as the Buffalo Exchange. That way, you will be recycling perfectly useable and chic items, while simultaneously supporting your local economy.
-Mandy Frank
My favorite green cheapsters move is to reuse cardboard boxes for set construction on my stop motion animations!
-Kevin Harman @guybrush1985
Thanks to all who participated and for all the great cheapster tips!
By Jackie Lam
 The 5th annual Record Store Day is right around the corner and takes place on Saturday, April 21. It’s the time to step inside your neighborhood record store, smell the crisp vinyl encased in their sleeves and enjoy the physical tangibility of the record. RSD is a special day to pay homage to a listening format that still remains the favorite among audiophiles, has outlasted less-superior mediums while enduring the constantly changing music industry.
As usual, there will be a boatload of special vinyl editions of tracks released just for RSD, which include Deerhoof/Of Montreal, Foster the People, Grouple, Blitzen Trapper, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire, Destroyer, Beach House, and Minus the Bear. The best part is all the sales, freebies, giveaways, and free shows the local music shops have planned for the day. Here’s the haps: Continue reading Celebrate Record Store Day the Cheapsters Way
 Come one! Come all! The 10th Annual Earth Day Festival is taking place this Saturday at Memorial Park & The Armory Center for the Arts and Cheapsters will be there representing. There will be an eco-marketplace and booths with local businesses and city works, and non-profits will be present to share ideas and resources on how to live sustainable and green-friendly lifestyles.
Bring some fruit to partake in a free jam-making sesh with the artist collaboration Fallen Fruit, and there will be arts and crafts galore for the kiddies.
There will also be a bike ride sponsored by C.I.C.L.E. with stops at the glorious Pasadena Department of Water and Power , Whole Foods, and the Arlington Gardens. Meet at East Holly and North Raymond at 11 a.m. Click here for more info.
My personal favorite is the fair share market, where you can bring items you no longer need a do a swap for things that might be of use.
As for grubbin’, the festival will feature a sustainable beer garden from artisan craft beers from the Eagle Rock Brewery and the Craftsman Brewing Company. You can get a sizable 14-ounce cup of beer for only $5. Coolhaus and The Green Truck will also be there with some yummy eats.
Cheapsters will be at the Armory Center with a few giveaways and to exchange tips on how to be green and save money, so don’t be shy and be sure to say hi.
Where: Armory Center for the Arts / Memorial Park Between Holly and Walnut | 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103 | map it
Saturday, April 14 from 11 am – 5 pm
For more information, please visit their Facebook Page or website.
Here’s a trick from fellow cheapster Carrie:
So I’m a redditor (I’m sort of a secret uber nerd), and one of my new favorite subreddits is r/freebies: http://www.reddit.com/r/freebies/
It’s mostly just product giveaways, but some of them are super rad. So far I’ve gotten a bag of coffee, some bags of tea, face wash, and a box of cereal, all for free! And there’s more that I’ve passed up cause it requires me “liking” something on FB or is a product I don’t use anyway.
By Jackie Lam
Personal budgeting is all about finding your Cheapster Style.
 jackie the cheapster So as it’s hitting mid-month and the money in our bank account is dwindling at a rapid pace, it’s sometimes hard to figure out where all that hard-earned dough went. Ever since I was poor college student I’ve toyed with different budgeting tools and systems ever since (and I’m more than a little older now). And just like how I like to change up my wardrobe every few years, I like to try out new ways to track my money.
As cheesy as it sounds, when it comes to personal budgeting, it’s all about figuring out your style, what works for you and what doesn’t. While I personally enjoy tracking my own expenses it can be a painful experience for most. As we would all much rather be working on our passion projects (for me it’s writing, music, meditation, and volunteering) than working 80 hours a week, trying to keep up with our bills, wouldn’t it be great to have more control over our money?
Because the truth of the matter is:
LESS MONEY TROUBLES = MORE FUN TIME!!!
The good news is that when it comes to personal budgeting, there’s a wealth of websites and apps out there to figure out what works best for you. Stayed tuned for upcoming posts spotlighting what’s out there to help you find your Cheapster Style, including reviews on personal budgeting sites, apps, and approaches to managing your daily finances.
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Cheapsters is developing a crush of sorts for our new pals 
