Tip #2 - GO FOR BACK ISSUES.

These days, local magazines go for P100-P150 per issue, and imported ones such as InStyle, Lucky, and Glamour sell for P400-700 each. (Outrageous! In the US, you can get these titles for only $1 or P45 per issue when you subscribe for a year.)

Sorry to say, there's no way we can get the same bargain here. But if you promise yourself to steer clear of current magazines, and instead shop for back issues at Filbars for your monthly magazine fix, you'll be saving lots of Php's -- I certainly have! I set aside just P100 for my monthly magazine fund, and this gets me either a back issue of InStyle, Lucky, or Glamour, or 3 local titles!

Aside from these, I regularly visit websites as Style.com and local online fashion e-zine StealThatLook.com for free, or browse through magazines in salons when I'm getting a haircut or a mani/pedi!

Tip #1 - PENNY-PINCHING IS AN AWESOME ADVENTURE!

Being thrifty doesn't have to mean living a deprived and spartan life. In fact, if you think of penny-pinching as a challenge or an adventure, you'll see just how much fun it can be!

The first two steps, of course, are (a) to live within your means, as well as (b) to prepare for the future by making a habit of saving. But just as important as these two steps, is to minimize the money you spend on things you don't really enjoy, in order to have more to spend on what you really love... things that make you feel like you're truly living a luxe life for less.

For example, if you need a daily java jolt and grab a venti latte at the Starbucks outside your office building every single workday, you're spending enough to buy yourself one new top a week -- all on something you probably don't enjoy as much! So, using out philosophy of directing the money towards what you love, why not make your own brew at home, shop for a new top each week, and go to Starbucks only when it's for a cozy little coffee break with the girls? Which option sounds more fun to you?

Hope you enjoyed this first tip, and do come back often as I'll be posting new ones as often as I can!