Say It Proudly: I am a Frugalista!

Shopping spree at Macy's? No way. My bag of donations for the CATS Resale Shop. In the bag? A DKNY blazer I once spent more than $100 on. I wish had the money back.

Thrift stores like CATS are a great source for Christmas decorations. I've found everything from 10 cent cards to 25 cent ornaments. Shop also for donated gift items (think candles, beauty products, picture frames).

Adorable blue snow boots for the youngest frugalista in your life from the This-N-That Thrift Shop, 309 Broadway, Hillsdale, NJ, where we donated clothing swap items to.

I love shopping thrift as an environmentalist. "Green" marketed fabrics are typically expensive and it's buyer beware. With bamboo, The Wall Street Journal reported, "To create fabric, it's chopped up and dissolved in toxic solvents—the same process that recycles wood scraps into viscose or rayon. Indeed, bamboo fabric technically is rayon."

What I also love: all the budget bloggers on the web, like My Year Without Spending, Budget Confessions, and The Thrifty Chicks. Michael Stipe says in R.E.M.'s Begin the Begin, "The finest example is you." I wish we had more examples like them about how we can be smarter with our hard-earned money.

It was nice to see photos of a clothing swap in Paris. Check out stylish fashionistas swapping at a "la troc party" on Emily's French Life. C'est super!

Don't ever let anyone put you down for shopping thrift or using what you have. If people want to feel better about their purchases because they spent a large sum of money, let them go right ahead. I'm proud to say I have no credit card debt (never have), I've paid for my vacations to Italy, Mexico, Paris and beyond outright, and I don't panic for my paycheck to arrive.

From a 50 cent bin at a thrift store to high-end consignment shops selling top designer labels, you can find stylish clothes for every income and preference.

I stumbled upon a Revived Attire, a new consignment shop on 321 Broadway in Hillsdale, NJ, and it was filled with my kind of eco-fashion.

I loved the way this chic black evening dress was paired with a Cameo necklace. I didn't try it on. But, hmmm, maybe I should have?

Cute! I love romantic ruffles. I'd pair this with a cardigan, a skinny belt and a black pencil skirt. Done.

I love dresses. Mini, knee-length, long. All good.

For once, I wished my feet were just a tad bigger. These adorable shoes were just $10!

I like to stretch my spring/summer wardrobe into fall/winter. I have plenty of dresses like this. In warmer months, I wear with ballet flats. When the temperature cools, I put a long-sleeved top underneath, and tights and boots.

Over-priced vegan shoes are all over. My 'new' vegan ballet flats: $10!

Even more frugal than consignment shops and thrift stores: the library. In addition to books, DVDs, and music, I pick up all kinds of magazines. I checked out Glamour, where I read about Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson's new album, Break Up. Groovy! My library system owns several copies. I heart the library.

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - New Music - More Music Videos

You can hear the influence of Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot. The legendary Bardot, of course: major friend of the animals. Check out the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.