Carrie Laven - Pretty Penniless

Broke-Ass Style Inspiration: The Baby-Sitters Club
My babysitting days were the richest days of my life. Okay, so maybe I only babysat the 4-year-old down the street every once in awhile– whenever his mother decided that she wanted to change out of her San Diego Chargers Ryan Leaf jersey into her San Francisco 49ers Jerry Rice

Get Centered with FREE Siddha Yoga and Meditation Sessions in Chelsea
Siddha yoga: kinda culty, totally awesome. I was first introduced to NYC’s Siddha Yoga and Meditation Center when my boyfriend told me to stop being a psycho bitch, and get a little inner peace in my life (okay, he may have used less-harsh terminology to describe my rage-filled state, but

Smells on the Chinatown Bus
It’s kind of insane that after 25 years as a broke-ass, I had never taken the Chinatown bus until last weekend. Don’t get me wrong, I adore budget travel– I’ve been cramped on overnight buses in Portugal, watched a boy floss his teeth with twine as he sat across from

My Best (Worst) Get-Rich-Quick Ideas
You see, I’m what they call a “creative genius.” I have a brain so out-of-control, half the time I can’t even make sense of the shit I come up with. All I know is that I am constantly sprouting figurative light bulbs out the top of my dome, having what

FREE “Love Your Tree” Valentine’s Day Workshop in Brooklyn
Forget humans– love a tree this Valentine’s Day! Unlike your slowly decaying relationship with your significant other, trees grow stronger over time, and provide tons of beauty and happiness in your life. As part of the MillionTreesNYC project, you can now “adopt” a tree in New York City. What does

Getting Stood Up at a Taco Truck
In honor of the upcoming Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about love. The happiness, the longing gazes, the tender moments shared. And sometimes: the drama, the emotional rollercoaster ride, the letdowns. Almost everyone has been in an intense relationship with someone who is Simply Not Good For Them, including myself. Except,

Last Day to Eat FREE Thai Curry at MoMA!
Admission into NYC’s MoMa is certainly pricey– at $25 general admission, you basically have to brave the horrendous crowds on the monthly free day– or dig up your student ID from ten years ago and try to pass as an 18 year old– to catch a break. Wouldn’t a FREE