by Rachel Brodsky

According to personal finance aficionado and BusinessWeek's economics editor Chris Farrell, frugality is back. And while this isn't anything we didn't already know, no one ever tires of taking in new strategies for making the most out of every dollar.

Gone are the days of frittering away every paycheck on Crate & Barrel goodies--these recessionary times ask us to seek the softer side of Sears, or in a likelier scenario, Freecycle. And yes, the Great Recession may be dying down, but no one's seen their pockets jingle yet. In Farrell's new book The New Frugality, he presents a number of ways for moving forward in our slumpy economy without totally going broke. Not only does Farrell point out the ways in which we can be frugal, he discusses the ways in which global climate change affects us and concludes that frugality and "going green" can and should go hand in hand. Purchasing things that are affordable AND sustainable, Farrell argues, is the key. So don't be cheap (Burger King), be frugal (Trader Joe's).

Farrell will be reading selections from The New Frugality tonight at Booksmith, starting at 7:30pm.

What: Chris Farrell reads from The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More, and Live Better
Where: Booksmith (1644 Haight)
When: Friday, January 22 (7:30pm)
How Much: Free!