Budgets can be tight during a recession - and those usual “must-haves” start turning into “must-waits” as we watch our wallets and learn to say no to those non-necessities (as much as it pains us to turn our heads as we pass by those used-to-be-must-have killer red pumps at Towne Shoes). But how can we, as fashion-forward males and females, still look great at work- without breaking the bank?

The answer is to step into the shoes of the modern-day recessionista - who, according to the MacMillian Dictionary online, is “a person who is able to dress in a fashionable way even though they do not have a lot of money to spend on clothes.” Instead of splurging on those $200 shoes, a recessionista spent $20 on fixing up a pair from a couple seasons ago.
Try some of these cost-saving ideas:

• Actually spend some time with your closet to see what’s there – letting inspiration strike! New ways to mix and match or layer clothes can create endless wardrobe possibilities.
• Host a clothes-exchange party! Gather some friends (and a couple bottles of wine) and swap used clothes. Be sure to gather the leftover pieces and donate them to a local charity such as Women In Need (they will even pick up your gently-used clothing).
• When you do shop, be a bargain-hunter. Check out outlet or consignment shops to pay a fraction of the price, or scope out some hot deals online. Sites like BeyondtheRack.com scout great sales from various designers and post them on their website.

Remember – just because we’re in a recession, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. Get creative, and your wardrobe will remain wow-worthy!

Going into the summer months can be a challenging time to look for work. Even if you aren’t on vacation, it can seem like many are in “vacation mode”. Given the recent numbers from Statistics Canada and the government of Alberta, there are more people looking for work than we’ve seen since 1996. Both the Alberta and Calgary unemployment rates are pegged at 6.6 per cent for May 2009, up from 3.6 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively in May 2008 (http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Jobless%2Brate%2Bdoubles/1668680/story.html).

Some of the candidates who have recently been to the BOWEN office have told me that they don’t really expect to find work until September, when business returns to a more normal routine. So…what to do in the meantime?

For those who have the luxury of financial stability- be it from another source of household income, a buy-out package, savings or whatever - summer can be a time to partake in a little “funemployment” - a hot new buzz word.

The blog Recessionwire (www.recessionwire.com) defines “funemployment as “a period of joblessness that you actually enjoy - maybe you get to lay out, sleep in, work out, read up. It helps to have savings, severance or an unemployment check to help pay the bills.”

A recent article in the LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-funemployment4-2009jun04,0,7581684.story) profiles people who are making the most of their new-found free time and who have a “funemployment” attitude towards their out of work status.

So, if you are unemployed, how do you turn this time off into a time of “funemployment”? Here are a few tips: 

Do you have ideas on how to turn unemployment into “funemployment”? I’d love to hear from you.