Renton's vitriol, not surprisingly, is reserved for those people not actually adversely affected by the economic downturn. "Thrift is of course the latest middle-class indulgence; where once we spent on goats to Africa, this year we're spending nothing. Why? How many people are actually poorer this Christmas?"

Well, stateside, quite a few of us. But the point is well-taken: those most ostentatiously hoisting the thrift flag are not always those for whom it is necessity. Renton is angry that these folks aren't supporting the economy; I find this somewhat disingenuous, as I'd be very surprised to find that most of these folks against whom he rails — that is, those not economically affected — are really denying themselves in a significant way — even if their public consumption is curtailed. But what's not curtailed? The platitudes. It grows wearing to see the well-compensated Today show hosts furrowing their brows daily over coupon clipping and Martha Stewart droning conscientiously about the cost-benefits of homemade gifts. And where socialites' naive utterances about the economy were briefly entertaining in a Petit Trianon-sort of way, the mounting body count renders this sort of philosophizing very trying indeed. Mused model/heiress Margherita Missoni to The Observer, "I find it a bit ridiculous actually, almost like it's the cool hot topic to talk about at fancy parties is the economy, which seems very decadent.'" The zeal of thrift is such that it feels less, "we're all in this together" than that it's a passing trend in which those who have the luxury will quickly lose interest - something we've anticipated for a while.

It seems inevitable that, as in those Halcyon days of the French court, My Man Godfrey and the seething unrest of the 1970s, anger is inevitable. There has been something distasteful about this full-scale embrace of novelty economizing not merely for the usual 'let-them-eat-cake' platitudes, but because in some ways it seems to deny the gravity of the situation. Look! Everyone seems to say. There's nothing we haven't seen before! There's nothing we can't handle! This part here is like the 1930s and this bit there is like the 1970s and we're smarter and more post-modern than people ever have been before and your individual problems are being taken care of - see this segment on clothing swaps?!

Not only does this roll-up-your-sleeves-let's-put-on-a-show! mentality in some wise trivialize the very grave realities of those being literally dispossessed; it also paternalistically strips the country's upheaval of some of its power for change, for reflection, for achievement. For all the panic many of us are experiencing for the first time, there are things to challenge us, things to push against. Whether this has the power to spur any artistic or philosophical achievement (or just thin the ranks of the Peaches Geldof-style slash/slash generation) is an open question; there may be nothing but a small-scale bout of decadent nihilism. The only thing that's certain is that this resolutely cheerful managing of tragedy as a game can't keep up: some of us don't have the luxury and those who do will tire of it. And for every penny "thrifty chic" might help one to save, it's surely going to breed a lot of resentment.

Humbug To thrifty Christmas [The Guardian]
At Winter Wonderland Ball, Margherita Missoni Wonders: 'Am I In The Sinking Titanic? I Think I'm In The Sinking Titanic' [New York Observer]

Earlier: Playing Recession: What'll We Do When The Novelty Wears Off?
The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Recession
Luxury Shame Will Be Big For Winter
[Image via New York Times]

Buy Cheap Shit: Buying less expensive stuff seems to have come as a revelation to a lot of people. Like, surprise! There are generics! And bulk prices! And cheap stores like Target! And they make stuff! And you can buy it! And it's kind of like expensive stuff but it's cheaper!

Buy Old Shit:Did you realize that there are actually places where you can buy things that aren't new? I know, this is Big. It may gross you out - this is a recurring meme - but sometimes you can find really awesome things at places like "thrift stores." And "consignment stores." And on "eBay." And via "swaps." (Swaps are very big right now.) And sometimes the old things? Are different from the things you can find in new stores!

You Don't Need To Own Everything! Okay, brace yourselves. There are these things called libraries where you can get books for free. They even have music! And movies! You know what else you can do? Borrow stuff from other people and then give it back.

Don't Buy Stuff You Don't Need: Hard to grasp, I know. But if you think about what to buy, you apparently spend less.

Make StuffThere are many earnest tips about cooking your own food instead of going to restaurants. It is cheaper, you see. Apparently you can also sew on your own buttons and iron stuff instead of getting it dry-cleaned.

Do Less of Expensive Stuff:We know, we know: it's really hard to not take cabs everywhere and not get weekly pedicures and facials and buy high heels. Because we want to, and we don't like to not get stuff we want! But the thing is, that stuff is apparently very expensive and - wait for it - not essential.

Get Crappy, Small Amounts of Expensive Stuff :This kind of thing is really big on these lists. Like, going to expensive restaurants but then just ordering an appetizer or something. Or not ordering wine. Half of the alleged "cheap eats" issues are just this kind of crumminess, which sounds like a recipe for a)hunger and b)depression. Also big: getting free services from, like, massage schools and beauty academies. As someone who has done this a lot, it's seriously no substitute for the real thing.

Be Crafty:Suddenly everybody's really into the novelty of coupon-clipping, and getting airfare deals and early bird specials and various other schemes that seem to take a lot of time and sound like awesome ideas to various rich editors who don't need to do them.

Pretend Being Broke Is Really Fun: Swaps, various at-home functions and girls' nights in are another popular bromide. For those of us who don't go out, sure. I'm guessing the Cosmo brigade whose weekends consist of some SATC club marathon aren't going to really find an evening of Scrabble and Netflix an acceptable substitute. Wait, what am I saying? Those dames don't buy their own drinks!

Don't Be A Moron: Basically, all of these tips can fit under this heading. "Live the way most of us do already" would be another good one. But since we all really enjoy frugality tips from rich people, please, keep patronizing us. It's a form of free entertainment we've been onto for years!