City Chic

May 1, 2003
Bursting with random tidbits--e.g., bakeries often slash prices heavily right before closing; it's best to shampoo your hair every other day, not daily; blue is supposedly an appetite suppressant, thus not a great color to paint your kitchen--Willdorf's handbook for the chick-lit crowd actually contains lots of useful information. The glossy magazine vet (she's written for Glamour, Worth, Entertainment Weekly and Teen Vogue) provides a cheat sheet for 20-something women dealing with life on a budget in a big city. There are chapters on home decorating (complete with tips on seasonal curbside shopping); body care (suggesting exercises you can do anywhere); food and drink (listing cash-saving dinner options); and clothes (insisting"white tennies over tights are not an option here. Don't even think about it."). Of course, any woman who's lived in New York for a few months already knows the drill, but Willdorf's book may appeal to newbies and those considering making a move to a more urban environment.

February 15, 2009
Editor in chief of "Budget Travel" magazine and the author of "Wedding Chic", Willdorf has updated her delightful guide to living well on a dime. Although aimed at women in their twenties and thirties, women in other age brackets will also appreciate the author's hints for saving money in many realms of their lives, including home furnishings, make-up, entertainment, and laundry. Money-saving ideas range from exercising at home to storing food properly. The book's appealing layout includes bulleted lists, appropriate quotes, and drawings. A natural selection for public libraries.

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