No shopping? No problem!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since our last post. But I'm proud to report that although I dropped out of the blogsphere, I stuck with the no shopping mandate. Well-- I did shop a little, but as promised, I only bought items that were second hand. I've been getting a lot of wear out of this vintage dress from Estella Vitae:



I also made good use of my public library card. Free music, DVDs and books? Yes, please.


I signed up for a knitting class at Knit on Wentworth Street and learned a few new tricks.


All in all, not shopping was a runaway success. It was 1,000 times easier than I expected, and I'm hesitant to throw myself back into the world of consumerism. Although the new anthropologie catalog is calling my name...

Kidding! Sort of. But from now on, I will be more cautious with what I'm buying. No more cheap, trendy stuff. If I buy something, I want to be using it for years to come. If it's sustainable, that's even better. In the face of mounting environmental and economical concerns, consuming carefully is trendy. Hopefully it will be a trend with staying power. Try it for yourself and see.

Xx,

Bridget

scouting: All good things must come to a (temporary) end

So I received my first -- and as it turns out, last -- pair of Frye shoes in the mail yesterday. *Tear.

I tromped around New York City last night like I a rock star, though. (Well, an unemployed rock star, like Britney circa 2006.) And who wouldn't, with a pair of sexy platforms like these leading the way? -Abi

how to: Be Fabulous (and Socially Conscious) on a Budget

Here at girls about charlestowne, we've been trying our best to ignore the economic recession. Instead, we usually focus on more important topics, like fancy cocktails at Fish or the new spring apparel at Hampden Clothing.

Yet recent events have brought our irresponsible spending to a halt. (Read more at Abi’s personal blog.) During these tough times, snapping up shiny new handbags and home goods just feels wrong.

So starting today, February 12, we're vowing not to buy any material goods— clothes, accessories, books, CDs— for an entire month, unless they’re second-hand. That’s (gulp) 30 days with no J.Crew, no new music from 52.5 and definitely no more footwear from The Frye Company. If we need something, we’ll be resourceful. Most everything we want can be found second-hand, on craigslist.com or eBay, or in local thrift shops like The Trunk Show, Estella Vitae, The Exchange Factor, or Linda Page’s Thieves Market.

As an added incentive, shopping second-hand is more socially responsible. We don’t need a brand-new blouse if there’s a perfectly good one in the window of a consignment shop. It’s recycling. It’s refreshing. And it will force us to think about what we're consuming.

So wish us luck. We’ll keep you posted on our progress. And if you know of any great thrift shops or Web sites, let us know.

Xx,

gac

penny pincher: Money doesn't grow on crunch rolls and champagne cocktails

www.treehugger.com

Being broke is definitely not hip. In other words, we're about as hip right now as miniskirts with Uggs. (Perhaps one too many Special Crunch Rolls from Shiki has broken the bank?) But that's why we're making a note to register for the "Women in Investing" seminar so graciously offered -- for FREE -- by the South Carolina Federal Credit Union. (6:30-7:30 p.m., Feb. 10)

Expect to learn the basics of investing, and how women in particular can benefit from stashing some cash away -- and we don't mean under your mattress. (Notice the class is titled Women in Investing.)

And since being unemployed isn't too high on the hip list either, there's a bonus seminar offered at 6 p.m., right before the Investing class, aptly titled "How to Land a Great Job."

Both seminars are at 6209 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston. Click here for directions.

Happy investing!

scouting: Sale @ II Brunettes

II Brunettes, the super-chic Mount Pleasant boutique that boasts apparel from lines like Splendid and J Brand, is hosting an impressive end-of-winter sale. Discounts are HUGE. $200 jeans are marked down to $49.99. Sweaters that were $120 are now $29.99. In this economy, that's nothing to sniff at, and we intend to cash in on the savings.