Here are my favorite shopping tips to don’t just save the environment, but they can also save you money.

Read on, my fellow “Frugalista” (thank you, Target.)

Shop in stores.  Preferably ones you can walk or carpool to.  Retailers get their shipments in bulk, which decreases the amount of packaging material used to deliver the products.  When you shop online, shipping costs (and all that wasted paper and cardboard) can add up quickly, so spare yourself and hit the local mall (with your reusable tote!). Be sure to try on before you buy so you can avoid the extra gas needed to return something to the store.

Look for local labels.  Try to buy from companies that are based in the your state to cut down on energy needed for transportation.  If that’s not possible, look for brands that produce their products within the United States.  American Apparel, C&C Cailfornia, Splendid, J.Crew, Lucky Jeans, Joe’s Jeans, True Religion, Juicy Couture, 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, and Rock and Republic (just to name a few) all manufacture their clothing in the U.S.

Shop smart online.  If you’re going to shop online, be sure you do it in an ecologically responsible manner by using the following tips.

Buy in bulk. Wait until you have a large order before ordering online or combine with friends to save on the environmental and financial costs of shipping.

Ditch the rush order stress. Plan ahead so you don’t have to choose expedited shipping over standard shipping rates.  This also gives the Postal Service a chance to fill up their trucks with packages before shipping them out.  More packages = fewer cross-country trips = a happy planet.

Choose your delivery address wisely. Be sure to have your packages delivered to a convenient address.  If you have them delivered to your apartment, for example, be sure that your roommates will be around to pick it up for you.  If they aren’t available, leave a note on the door telling the postman that he can just leave the package on the doorstep without a signature.  This avoids the annoying and fuel-guzzling trips back and forth to the Post Office.

Switch to Paperless Statements. Once all your earth-friendly shopping is done, you’re going to have to pay that credit card bill. But make Mother Earth proud and do it all online. No more 5-page bills coming to you in the mail. No more wasted paper (and money!) on mailing that check back to the company. It’s the greenest way to pay.

To help answer this question, I’ve compiled a list of things that I feel are, and aren’t, worth the splurge during our sad and painful recession. My basic rule of thumb? Things that last are worth the cash.

What’s worth it:

Jeans. I always used to laugh at the fact that my friends paid $200+ for jeans…until I tried on my first pair of J-Brands. While you can find cheaper options, the fact of the matter is, most designer jeans are better quality. Invest in a few pairs. They feel softer, they fit better, and they last longer. Your wallet might not thank you but your tush sure will! J-Brand, Hudson, and True Religions are my top picks.

The Iphone–If you can get your fam to join in. Individual plans are pricey, but with a family plan, the monthly rates are much more affordable. The iPhone beats all other cellular choices, plain and simple; it’s genius combo of visual voicemail, thousands of apps (including Shazam, which can detect any song playing nearby and tell you what it is), iPod, internet, and more makes it the clear choice. So worth it.

Haircuts/Hair dying. If you’re looking to change your hairstyle or color dramatically, please go to a salon. Now I’m not saying you should spend $200 to get a trim, but good haircutters/colorists can really make a difference on your do (mom, I hope you’re reading this—put that herbal essences hair-dye DOWN!). So when should you indulge? When you want layers, highlights, or to alter your color dramatically. Or you can get your friend to “work her magic,” just don’t come crying to me when you’re locks are purple and lopsided.

Basics. But only ones that you will use and use and use. This includes: a little black dress, a spring jacket, a few pairs of jeans (see above), a pair of STURDY flip flops–Reef, Teva, JCrew (watch out for water on those last ones–very durable, but zero traction)–etc. You be the judge of what’s a necessity…but don’t go overboard. Those Prada shoes are NOT basics.

What’s not:

Heels: While our feet are precious, you can pamper them without spending hundreds of dollars. There are great shoes out there that are well made, and bargains. I don’t know about you, but when I wear heels out to party, they are usually covered in dirt, sweat, and other people’s footprints by the time I get home. Point being, I’m not about to go throw my savings on a pair of Jimmy Choo’s. Instead, I love to shoe-shop at victoriassecret.com, shiekhshoes and DSW. To get your fix of strappy goodness, check out these (cheap!) beauties.

Manicures: Unless you’re extremely uncoordinated, DIY manicures can yield results just as pretty as those from a salon. Even better than do-it-yourself? Grab a friend and paint each other’s nails. One tip: After clipping, filing, and moisturizing your hands, buff each nail’s surface with a very rough buffer—this will help the polish stick and stay put for weeks. For summer, I adore bright shades. Try Essie, a cheap polish brand that has everything from neon yellows (great with tan/dark skin) to bright reds (beautiful on the fair).

Toiletries: Taking care of your body and face is important, no doubt, but people really underestimate the effectiveness that cheaper products can have. My $7 face cream has quenched my skin’s thirst just as well as my friend’s $50 bottle has quenched hers. And my Maybeline mascara has plumped my lashes just as well as that Dior Show I mistakenly purchased once. Until your skin is ridden with wrinkles and you need some serious skin care products, stick to affordable options.

Underwear: My opinion on undergarments? If they’re not visible, they shouldn’t be blasting your budget. And as for the claim that guys like when girls wear expensive, intricate lingerie? It’s false. I can assure you that the guy you’re sleeping with won’t care whether you’re wearing a bra from gap or La Perla–he’ll just wanna get that thing off! That said, it’s fun to feel comfy and sexy, even if you’re alone in the comfort of your own dorm room. Victoria’s Secret’s 5/25 undies deals are awesome, and they come in tons of cute styles, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice feeling sexy for staying on a budget.

Sunglasses: While designer shades can look pretty sleek, $15 ones can too. And since I lose my sunglasses about every 5 minutes, spending hundreds on them seems pretty dumb. Urban has a lot of funky choices that will fit a tight budget.

Gym Membership: Most universities and colleges offer on-campus gyms, but if you’re a graduate, or your school is lacking facilities, take the opportunity to get outside. Spending hundreds on a gym membership is not worth it when you have the great outdoors! Run, walk, hike, or do some at-home workouts—for free! Whatever floats your boat.

[Ever see something you want but don’t have the money to buy? Ever get sick of studying/watching TV and have the urge to get crafty and make things on your own? We know! Us too! We just don’t know where to start, which is why we got some of CollegeCandy’s craftiest writers to share their favorite DIY projects with everyone. So get to your nearest craft store for the essentials and let’s make some fun sh*t.]

In the past few years, ripped jeans have taken over the Abercrombie/American Eagle world and have now moved to high fashion, being featured on recent Alexander Wang and Martin Margiela runways. Since even the biggest fashionistas are now embracing the trend, I figure I might as well jump on the bandwagon.

Imagine my surprise when I went shopping for a pair of ripped jeans only to find that they were priced about $20 more than their unripped counterparts! Now this just seemed wrong to me; I’m getting holey jeans that are bound to fall apart faster, but I’m paying more? It’s a bit backwards if you ask me.

So being a frugal fashionista, I decided to try my hand at making my own ripped jeans! I have a pile of jeans I never wear sitting around from the 5 buck sale at Old Navy or 50% off day at Value Village; I might as well turn them into something useful. Inspired by these grey shorts by Alexander Wang, I began my adventure.

Ingredients:

- One pair of jeans

- A pencil

- A seam-ripper

- Sandpaper (optional)

DIY Recipe:

1. Make sure your jeans are pre-washed or else your rips will be misplaced and may end up exposing more skin than you intended.

2. Try the jeans on and mark where you want the rips with your pencil.

3. Lay the jeans on a flat surface, get your seam-ripper and make a rip over your pencil mark. I find a seam-ripper to work much better than scissors because it encourages fraying (WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT).

4. Pull out some of the threads around the rip to encourage fraying

5. To make the tears look more “real” you may want to distress around them with sandpaper (thins out the fabric and makes the rip look like a wear hole). You can also distress other parts of the jeans or rip around the pockets and belt loops with the seam ripper to add to the overall distressed look.

6. Toss your pants in the wash. The more you wash ‘em, the more fraying and distressing you will see. You may need to put them through a few cycles before the fraying looks the way you want it to.

And here is my finished product:

So trendy. So chic. And so much cheaper than what those fools at True Religion are charging!

Good luck!

It is impossible for me to find jeans that fit me well. If they are long enough (I stand a tall 5’10), then the rise is too low. If the rise is high enough, the pants are too short. And if I am lucky enough to get those trendy little jeans over my larger-than-average thighs, they rarely make it past my larger-than-average ass (thanks mom!).

Jean shopping for me is like bathing suit shopping for most girls. I absolutely dread it. I wait until the last possible second (like yesterday when my favorite pair ripped in the crotch for the fourth time) before making my way to the store. Once there, I bring armloads of jeans into the dressing room and try on every last one. There are often tears. And there is rarely a purchase.

Recently, though, I have come across a few brands of jeans that truly are made for every body. They are longer than the standard 32” that most designer jeans (Sevens, Citizens, True Religions) run and cut a little more generously for the real female body. Some are somewhat pricey, but when you have problems finding pants like me, the price becomes an afterthought:

Joe’s Jeans: My legs are long. 34” in-seam long. Which means I usually have to shop in the guy’s jeans department if I don’t want to look like I am preparing for a flood. Not anymore. Joe’s Jeans run longer than most; they even hit the floor on me! They also have a higher rise than most other brands, so there will be no thong exposure here. I don’t know how they do it, but these jeans really do look good on everyone. Definitely a brand worth investing in.

Juicy Jeans: Another pricey pair, but totally worth the money. Not only do these run long (super long), but they are made of a great stretch material that doesn’t grow too much between washings. So, if you have a little extra bulk in the thighs or butt like me, it is not a problem; these jeans will stretch to cover and really pull you in. The standard Juicy pocket is also a great shape and size for the perfect ass-flattery.

Gap Skinny Jeans: Not many people rely on the Gap for their jean needs anymore, but perhaps you should. Gap has tons of different styles, fits and washes and one of them is sure to fit you. But, my absolute favorite is their skinny jean. These things are seriously the bomb. They come in all sorts of lengths (short, ankle, regular, long, extra long) and they are the perfect fit. The legs are not super narrow, the waist isn’t super low and the color is perfect for day or night. Oh and they are far under $100; could there be anything better?