'City Chic' offers savings help

As college students, we all can probably use some advice on how to live fabulously on a budget. Between paying for classes, books, groceries and entertainment, many of us live a broke existence. Many dinners of ramen noodles can attest to that. It's fine. We're in college, right?\nNina Willdorf, a self-described urban girl, offers savings tips while still living large in her first book, "City Chic." Hidden between the neon pink covers are some ingenious cost-saving tips for everything from decorating your first apartment to throwing a dinner party without breaking the bank.\nUnfortunately, this hand-to-mouth existence doesn't always end once the books close, and we're on our way into the real world. While most entry positions are new and exciting, many won't be paying enough for us to live out our champagne tastes; life after college still involves the beer budget. \nEven though dinner parties may not be at the top of every college student's to-do list, the advice contained within the book is worth the $12.95 price tag. The advice on decorating is particularly useful; with limited budgets and a somewhat vagrant existence, most students don't put a whole lot into decorating. But with a few dollars and a little elbow grease, the tips inside can have your apartment looking fabulous in no time. \nIn fact, Willdorf will have all of you fabulous with her budget-saving tips. There are sections on painting, furniture purchasing, flowers and plants, fitness, hair care, makeup tips, bar-hopping, grocery and clothing shopping. While not all of the tips may be doable for everybody, she does give plenty of ways to save a dollar or two on the things that eat away at our wallets. \nTired of spending hundreds of dollars on a gym membership? Just buy a pair of running shoes and trot around your neighborhood instead. Four dollar lattes at Starbucks breaking your bank? Grind your own coffee at home and drink out of a travel mug. Is your enormous bar tab eating away at your wallet? Go to happy hour, or drink whatever is on special at the bar you frequent. While some of these tips are almost so simple they should be self-evident, it does sometimes take someone else to remind you how to save a few bucks.\nThough Bloomington may not be a big city, the cash-saving tips inside can apply here, too. Besides, what student couldn't use a few extra bucks in his or her pocket? If you're interested in being amazing on a budget, look no further than "City Chic." Good advice on trimming your budget paired with cheeky humor makes this one advice book that's easy to swallow.