Eight (of the 1 million) Reasons Not to Go to Law School in a Recession

Just when you’ve gotten used to spending your days curled up in a pink Snuggie watching game shows, UPS knocks at your door to deliver your future.

It comes from the law school you’ve been deferring for two years in hopes that you’ll find a scholarship, strike oil, or win big on Deal or No Deal. Inside is a leather bound notebook and a brochure showing how much fun you’d be having at said high-priced law school. There are pictures of attractive (but not too attractive) twenty-somethings playing soccer on the lawn and holding Tarts for Torts bake sales.

You almost buy it. Then you remember that the only thing worse than being broke and unemployed is being a broke, unemployed and $200,000 in debt.

Here are eight reasons it’s unwise to hide out in law school during the recession.

1. Paying $150,000 to defer unemployment will not get you a job

Since it’s nearly impossible to take economics courses without destroying your GPA, law students tend to bypass courses that help them understand the obvious: the supply of lawyers is greater than demand. Hence, you may not find a job after law school…

Five Reasons to Love the Olympics in a Recession

Whether you love (or hate) ice dancing, luge or curling, as the economy limps along, we’re feeling like it’s a great time for the Olympic games. Here’s why:

It’s Motivating

So you lost that job you hated. Lindsey Vonn bruised her shin and went on to win gold and make history. Shaun White keeps doing the tough tricks, even after he bashes his face in. These athletes know that when you’re bruised and battered, you train and try again. Buck up, train hard and be ready for the next race…

Wear Your Resume on Your Sleeve (or Shoulder)

So you went from worshipping the “It” bag to feeling like a bag lady. Well, at least now you know just how versatile a purse can be.

But bet you hadn’t thought of this: In addition to broadcasting your social status and storing your worldly possessions, you can also use accessories to showcase your skills and experience.

That’s especially useful in the downturn, when you might feel like you need to pass out your C.V. out like sample sale flyers. Here are four cheeky tips for scoring a job interview with your bag. And please — don’t forget to have your resume stashed in it…

The New Year’s Second-Hand Shopping Guide

In New York, frugal women know about Encore, the consignment shop where Jackie O. famously sold all of her unwanted clothing for extra cash. And since the recession hit, such stores have seen consigners come out in discreet droves to pare their closets and pad their wallets.

What you may not know is that holiday time is the best time for closet cleaning — which means that the start of the year is prime for scoring bargains. And most of America doesn’t think to resell Grandma’s Chanel bag at Encore; often, great goods go straight into the hands of non-Vogue reading volunteers at charity thrift stores, who price them way below market.

Don’t believe me? Good. More cheap Valentino scarves to adorn my unemployed neck.

If you’re fashionable but poor, consider dropping the pride and checking out these four thrift shopping venues. For $3 you may be walking home in a pair of never-worn Florentine leather boots.

1. Estate Sales

The only thing sadder than the death of an elderly person is watching families hold estate sales so they don’t have to clean out closets. Luckily for the recently laid-off, you now have time to rummage through those boxes to find that pre-war handbag from Paris…

Nine Secrets for Economical Eating in Europe

With airlines offering downturn flight deals, it’s hard to resist the temptation to splurge on that European vacation—especially if you received a nice severance package to go along with your layoff.

But for the food lover, eating your way through Europe can cost a pretty penny and a half. (Start thinking about exchange rates now.) Fortunately, the recession traveler can enjoy fine cuisine on a dime by learning the European secrets of economical eating.

1. Discover the Axis of Pastry

While some other regions of the world are home to less tasty elements, Europe has the glorious Axis of Pastry: France, Italy and Austria. Sweets are not only cheap, they are downright divine. In cities where the cafés are as ornate as neighboring Baroque churches, enjoy the confections while admiring the Murano chandeliers. Skip the expensive coffee at…

Upgrade Economics: 5 Steps to Getting a Better Hotel Room

The Great Recession is changing the established principles of economics. Fortunately for the budget traveler, the laws of the hotel room upgrade are now working in our favor.

It comes down to the basic principles of price discrimination—the practice of charging different prices for the same goods or services to different consumer groups. For the budget traveler in a recession, this translates to “You can stay at a Ritz for Motel 6 prices.”

When luxury hotels can’t fill their rooms, they sell their cheapest to discount travel websites. But with the junior suites empty, sometimes all it takes is a friendly smile and some nice feedback for a frugal traveler get the upgrade of a lifetime. So throw out the Rick Steves book and live in luxury while the recession is still going strong, with these five rules:

1. Book Through a Discount Site

Sidestep.com should become your travel homepage. Spend time on travel meta-search engines and read the reviews. Keep in mind that many hotels have incorrect star ratings, so examine pictures and maps carefully. And this is key: Book a hotel room one or two price levels down from the actual room you really want…

10 Sneaky Tips for Flying Fee-Free in Europe

If Dante were writing today, he would have designed the tenth circle of hell after the Pisa Airport. While it’s often advertised as the “Florence” Airport by some European budget airlines, it’s actually about 50 miles away, waiting to punish you with outlandish excess baggage fees.

Europe has a number of airlines that offer if not luxurious travel, at least insanely cheap fares. Easyjet, Ryanair, and the lesser known copycats offer flights for as little as a few dollars. They don’t tell you that you’ll have to wake up at 3:00 am to catch a bus to some remote European town and wait in line for two hours before boarding something that resembles an aircraft. And they aren’t big on reminding you about the countless extra fees they can charge, especially for luggage.

I’ve learned the rules of frugal flying the hard way. I’ve been stranded on buses in Slovakia and had rough landings through flocks of birds in Lithuania. But if you’re crafty, prepared, and desperate for a European vacation, the experience can feel like a victory, especially after flying round-trip on $35…

The Recession Refugee

We looked like a mini-United Nations. There was Dorji, an older Asian male with an inviting smile and organized desk. Eshagh, the 15 year-old class clown, couldn’t stop laughing and barely made it past “Ich.” Hussein demonstrated his extensive vocabulary by speaking for five minutes about kitchen utensils.

Introductions took 40 minutes because none of us spoke the same language. Yet, we all found ourselves in Vienna, Austria, taking Beginners German for similar reasons. Theirs became apparent on the third day of the course, when we learned how to say our nationalities.

“Ich komme aus Afghanistan!” I come from Afghanistan.

Ich komme aus Somalia!

Mongolia!

Angola!

Then came my awkward, unexpected announcement: “Ich komme aus den U.S.A..”