What? There is a recession? Well, I refuse to participate.

So,  we are in a recession. This is no news to most Americans, but for those of you who have been pleasantly living in denial, it is officially time to wake up. It is easy to believe that your lifestyle will not be affected by the recession if it has not been already, but smartening up economically has never hurt anyone before. 

There are so many things we can be doing to save money and live a more frugal lifestyle. Before I got to college, my spending habits were nothing short of reckless. College life is like being desperately poor all the time. Granted I have never been poor before, but for me living on a college budget is much like experiencing an economic hardship of some kind. Below are a few ideas I have resorted to, in attempt to make some quick cash, and to help save what I have.

1. Clean out your closet. Look for old clothes, shoes, and accessories. If you have not worn something in a year or more, try selling it on eBay. I know, this is much easier said then done. The pictures and descriptions can be very time consuming, but in the end it could be worth it. Especially if you have a lot of high- end designer pieces.  If eBay is not the route you want to go,  you can try taking your things to a local consignment store. You might not get as much money as you would have liked, but like I said desperate times call for desperate measures. 

2. Sell old DVDs, CDs, books and expensive Textbooks on Amazon.

3. Start buying all your produce at a local farmers market, you would be surprised how much money you could save from your typical grocery store. 

4. Give blood. You can make a quick $40 and help someone that really needs it. 

5. Stop eating out. This will not only help your wallet, but your waistline as well. 

6. Look for old things around your house or apartment, like art, lamps, decorative accessories and sell them on craigslist. You would not even believe some of the junk that people buy. 

7. Only use the ATM once or twice a week. $3 ATM fees here and there adds up quickly.

And who said you cannot continue to be stylish in a recession? That is nonsense. Recessionista is a new term that emerged for "recession chic". It is a person who knows designer fashions and trends, but cannot or will not spend the money due to the economic decline. A recessionista does not have to be a depressionista. They are certainly not going to let the economy stand in the way of being fashionable; simply make smarter choices.  A year from now, this term would have be comparable to cheap or frugal, but today it is none other then smart and desirable.