Cheap and Chic in the City

Everyone I know is on a bit of a shoestring budget. And if they're not, they probably should be, myself included.

Living in the city and scrimping is a pain though: there's so much to do, and see, and eat, and wear.

My suggestion? The Hershey's Kisses solution to dieting, applied to city life. Instead of holding off on any and all junk food/spending, you find a small solution that satisfies your stomach or lifestyle urges. It keeps you from eventually binging on an entire chocolate cake or $500 purchase, and curbs the desire to spend or eat improperly.

Danielle (Being a Beginner/The Novice Palate) and I, along with a group of other financially challenged college kids/young professionals, are maintaining a public Google Calendar (see bottom of this blog) at Super Fun Things to Do In Boston. [note: yes, the title needs some polishing...]. We've been adding free or cheap things to check out when we've got free time or a few bucks.

Options include:

• wine tastings (Federal downtown, Best Cellars on Boylston, etc)
• Radical Movie Nights at Lucy Parsons Community Bookstore in the South End
• live jazz every night of the week at Wally's Cafe on Mass Ave
• 10 or 20 cent wing nights all over the city --Whiskey's, Red Hat
• Trivia nights--the most original being Sex and Drugs Trivia at The Savant Project on Sunday nights
  
• I'm currently posting some of the best options from this Boston Globe article on recession deals at some amazing restaurants all over the city
• [suggestion from Delia Cheap Ways to Enjoy the Arts in Boston
  
• Free movies at the Mugar Omni Theater at the Museum of Science

Some of my favorite cheap things lately: the Museum of Fine Arts, free with NU ID, Wally's on a Monday night, 50 cent tapas at Masa in the South End, and checking out free concerts at Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory.

Check out the calendar, go to a few events, and comment if you'd like to be added as an editor so you can add free and cheap events you've found!