Philadelphia - November 28, 2008

Legal Tender

Good Stuff Under $10

Used to throwing your cash around like you’re on a bender in Vegas? Yeah, it’s time to stop that. Here’s our handy guide to fiscal responsibility.

Get some ecoduds at Arcadia from ten bucks down. With new merch added to their Recession Sale, you’ll have plenty reason to make return trips.

Support local talents at Conspiracy Showroom, where there’s a cache of crafty jewelry and barrettes for under ten bones. (Pay in cash for their Stick It to the Man Sale and get 10 percent off your bill.) Head to Art Star for a variety of super-cute, wallet-friendly goods like the Chicky Pup finger puppet.

Don’t go hungry; there are cheap eats all over town. Hit James for light bites like sunchoke soup for $9 or garden salad for $7. Grab a burrito for lunch at the newish El Fuego in Rittenhouse. Run to McCormick & Schmick’s after work for dirt cheap bar menu items ($1.95, $2.95, $3.95).

Want to rub it in our faces? Rub it somewhere else first. Lisa M. Reisman et Cie has cash-printed toilet paper by Paper + Design for passive-aggressives with $8 to burn.

Just because you’re broke doesn’t mean you have to hole up at home. Talk to the lovelies at The Random Tea Room, and take home a cup of their delicious mate for under $3.

For something stronger, APO offers sips like the Gloom Lifter Upper, The Breadline, and Ride the Bull for six bucks (Sunday-Thursday, 7 p.m.-2 a.m.). Or head to Parc for old favorites like Kir Royal and Sazerac for $8 or less.

At the very least, the economy won’t be the only one with a hangover.