Dear Cheapie McCheapster,

Wakeful in Wicker Park

Dear Wakeful,

Instead of tossing and turning and worrying about bills, you need to do is to spend some time on Craigslist, Freecycle, and wandering weekend yard sales in your neighborhood. Cheapie's own office has a file cabinet picked up for free from a business that was remodeling, a chair from a certain major accounting firm in her hometown that was forced to liquidate, and storage baskets from a local manufacturer that decided to sell out and convert its building to luxury loft condominiums. Because there is a glut of used office furniture out there, you can pick up quality furnishings for free or at very low prices.

The catch is that you often need to haul your find home yourself. An SUV is not necessary; Cheapie never ceases to be amazed by what will fit in a Passat. Even if you have to buy a friend lunch in exchange for the use of her car, you'll still be money ahead.

Your penny-pinching pal,

Cheapie McCheapster