Lifestyle ↓

Be bold.  Be cheap.  Be alert when you buy a netbook.

RecessionGirl has been straight-up obsessed with netbooks and is the proud new parent of the HP 10.2 inch 1030 Atom.  The sticker price: $349.99.  Cheap and functional technology makes everyone want to shake their booty and dance with joy at the thought of a bargain.  But before you get stoked on your new mini-top, I just want to send a shout-out and warn ya on some of the financial fine print. Here’s what you need to know:

Microsoft Office costs $150 bucks and is sold separately.  Due to the antitrust action filed against Microsoft in 1998, it is illegal for the netbooks to be sold preloaded with the popular and recognized software.  I strongly recommend opting for ‘Open Office’ a FREE software application fully compatible with Microsoft Office that you can download in a few minutes http://www.openofficedownload.org/ver1a/index.php?se=AffID-210&affid=210&googleid=1041572243.

FYI, almost all netbooks come equipped with the ancient, arcane and just plane silly ‘Microsoft Works’.  It’s an abomination of software that is NOT compatible with MS Office for whatever bizarre reason; a cruel party joke that only Microsoft employees understand, but it’s easily overlooked when you’re jonesin for a netbook and focusing on the internet capabilities in the show room.  Stay focused and alert on your netbook test drive.  Recognize.

Here are some other costs that are thrown atcha:
(Prices vary depending on retailer, but are ball-park)

$59                  Standard 2 year warrante.
$129                2 year accident coverage warante.
$60                  Replacement battery (if you don’t rock the standard warrantee and you bust it).
$50                  1G upgrade.
$32.99             The cute little netbook carrying case.
$12.99             The not so cute little netbook carrying case.
8.625%            Big-ass New York State sales tax.

If I had opted for all of the bells and whistles strongly suggested by my sales person, my $349.99 laptop would have been about $800.

***Beware of the new commercial advertising the HP netbooks for $199.  HP and Verizon linked up on that deal and you will end up purchasing what amounts to what I call a ‘netberry’.  In addition to the sticker price for the netbook, you will be forking out roughly $40-$50 a month (depending on what kind of taxes, surcharges and other crap they tag on) because you’ve engaged in a binding 2-year contract with Verizon which is supplying you with 3G capability.  Great if you plan on traveling to Timbuktu or outer Mongolia and need to get a signal in a remote locale, but if you’re hitting Starbucks, your university library and other mainstream laplounges etc., it’s a ridiculously overpriced package, making your $200 purchase in the neighborhood of $1400 before taxes.  That price excludes requisite warantees and software.  Don’t get caught in the Net rifraf.  Keep it economical.  Keep it real.

Be bold.  Be cheap.  Be alert when you buy a netbook.

Be bold.  Be cheap.  Stoop it stupid.

One of the most fun ways to generate semi-passive income for yourself is to have a stoop-sale.  It can put money in your pocket, introduce you to some neighborhood friends and best of all off-load all of the no longer useful things that have accumulated in your life.  While a stoop-sale is pretty self explanatory, there are some details that shouldn’t be overlooked:

-Weed through the crap.  Nobody wants your Aunt Matilda’s terrycloth bathrobe she gave you as a hand-me-down when you were twelve.  Bag the stuff you know won’t sell and call City Opera Thrift Store for a pick up: 212-684-5344, http://www.yelp.com/biz/city-opera-thrift-shop-new-york.  They will come to your door and haul the stuff away.  Take the itemized form they give you and use it to deduct $500 in charitable donations on your next tax return.  You will not red flag the IRS for donations $500 and under.  If you claim more, it’s at your own risk.

-Use price stickers.  You can get a package of yellow circle stickers at Right Aid for $2.49.  After several (mostly unsuccessful) stoop sales, I’ve learned a bit about stoop-sale customers.  They don’t necessarily want to talk to you.  They just want to get a good deal.  The sticker lets them know upfront if they should drop cash or where they can start negotiating from.

-Be sorta organized.  The best sale I ever had included a garment rack, a $5 bin, $3 bin and $1 bin.  The jewelry was all $1 and in its own container.  The books and DVD’s were uniformly priced.

-Don’t get greedy.  This is a stoop sale, not a vintage flea market.  This is an alternative to throwing things away or donating them to charity.  Consider almost any monetary offer a miracle that someone is actually interested in your old stuff.  Unless you’ve got some fancy things that you know will get a hot dollar on eBay, reduce your expectations for funding your new laptop with the profits of your stoop-sale.

-Coordinate pricing with time of day.  You can try your luck by pricing items according to how much time is left to your sale.  For example, if you start your sale at 9:00am and are selling your blue jeans at $11, drop the price by half at 1:00pm if they haven’t sold.  You’ll find that people tend to buy multiple items if they think stuff is ‘sooo cheap’.  They sorta get ‘the fever’ for your $5 dollar jeans and then get a book and DVD to boot.  The fun never stops.

Be bold.  Be cheap.  Stoop it Stupid.

RecessionGirl has noticed the recession taking its toll and it’s high time to provide some linkage to people, places and things to help cushion the blow. Much love. Listen up:

If you got laid off and want to feel better about yourself, volunteer between panic attacks and job searches:
http://www.nycares.org/volunteer/
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mvc/html/volunteer/want_volunteer.shtml
http://www.heartsandminds.org/linksnyc/volnyc.htm

***Check recessiongirl.com volunteer link as well.

If you’re broke and you need to buy somebody a present go to:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jacks-world-new-york

If you are broke (DefCon 1 style) and need food and/or shelter assistance go to:
http://www.foodbanknyc.com/
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/
http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/newyork.html

If the fiscal depression has put you in an emotional depression go to:
http://www.meditationinnewyork.org/mcm-chelsea.php
http://www.nyimc.org/
http://therapistunlimited.com/find-a-therapist/NY/SS/ (this site provides a sliding scale payment option)

If you’re brokenness has made you mad at New York City and The Man, consider packing it up and relocating to a tax free haven:
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/40/Cayman.html
http://www.caribbeanlandandproperty.com/general.php?21
http://www.taxhavenco.com/bermuda.html

If you’re broke and all-over-the-place and need to figure out a five year plan so you can sleep at night go to:
http://cheaplifecoach.com/
http://www.coachondemand.com/5601/50315.html
http://www.lifecoachtraining.com/resources/faq/faq.shtml

Be bold. Be cheap. Exist.

Be bold. Be cheap. Ride a bike.

Considering the ever looming threat of MTA fare hikes and the relatively recent installation of more accessible bike lanes throughout parts of the city, riding a two-wheeler could prove to be a great way to release liquid funds for you this holiday season and thereafter. Save your money. Ride a bike.

Aside from the initial purchase of a bike and city-proof, kryptonite lock, maintenance is generally cheap. RecessionGirl has provided a few links to bike shops, maps, clubs and most importantly co-ops. The DIY bike-fix is not only a cheap way to repair your ride, but also a neat way to meet cool, bike-minded peeps in BKNY. You can talk rims, chains, break-cables and seats till the cows come home, especially if you’re into beater bikes. A few of the shops also have classes to help you develop your bike repair-skills and further your integration into the biking community.

Fix your own bike for chicks only: Ladies Night bike fixin:
http://www.pedalpushersonline.com/index.php?CID=1107

Fix your own bike all genders:
http://www.recycleabicycle.com
http://times-up.org/index.php?page=bike-co-op

Buy a bike:
http://www.racycles.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dixons-bicycle-shop-brooklyn

Bike really really really far:
http://www.5bbc.org/montauk/

Bike it like it’s hot – the map
http://www.nycbikemaps.com/links

Be in a bike club just like Lance:
http://www.kissena.info

Be bold. Be cheap. Ride a bike.

Be bold. Be cheap. Run away.

Use your severance pay and unemployment benefits for a triumphant experience. Create a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for yourself. “But RecessionGirl. How can I do that on these meager wages?”

Like this:

1. Sublet your apartment for 10% more than what you pay in rent and ensure that
   utilities are an additional charge. This is legal, check it: http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/subletting.html
2. Suspend your cell phone-service or pay a low fee to carry your plan while
   you’re out of town.
3. Enact a forbearance on your school loan. You can arrange to pay quarterly
   interest if you have the funds and are concerned about accrual.
4. Pay a holding fee to sustain your gym membership while you are away or
   claim hardship, whichever works.
5. Sell some stuff you don’t use on ebay or make a Brooklyn-style stoop sale.
6. Mooch off of friends and family for storage space if needed.
7. Chuck your resume on monster.com or similar and let it work for you while
   you’re chillin.
8. Take the little money you have and run. Go as far as you can. The economy
   will be better soon, subjecting you to all kinds of work obligations. You’ve
   been given a window of opportunity. Use it. Run.

Go to India. Go upstate. Meditate. Teach in Japan. Swim in Saipan. Drive an Airstream. Join a cross-country bike team. Write a book. Learn to cook. Volunteer, but don’t buy a souvenir. Save your money and hit-the-road. Here’s a few links to get started to help you lighten your load.

http://www.opc.org.nz

http://www.airstream.com

http://www.jobsabroad.com

http://www.discovermongolia.mn

http://www.jetprogramme.org

http://www.sivanandabahamas.org

http://www.airtreks.com

http://www.traveltomongolia.mn

http://www.moderncabana.com

http://www.lonelyplanet.com

http://www.volunteerabroad.com

http://www.teflcorp.com

http://www.teachinjapan.com

http://www.carmencuevas.com/en/Teachers.php

http://www.hostels.com/findabed.php?ChosenCity=Caye%20Caulker&ChosenCountry=Belize&Search=1

http://www.contikivacations.com/?source=goto&OVRAW=contiki%20tours&OVKEY=contiki%20tour&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=26880993012&OVKWID=7075951012

http://www.straytravel.com

Be bold. Be cheap. Run away.