The Swelegant Life on Pennies a Day

Working as editorial assistants in the notoriously low-paying publishing industry, 20-somethings Jennifer Griffin and Kera Bolonik are a new breed of New Yorker.

Devoid of trust funds or sugar daddies, they enjoy the high life despite their meager incomes, knowing that, with a little strategy and creativity, it is possible not only to survive, but to thrive, in the big city. From apartment hunting to entertaining and traveling, Griffin and Bolonik make the most of what they do (or do not) have.

Their book, “Frugal Indulgents: How to Cultivate Decadence When Your Age and Salary Are Under 30” (Owl Books, 1997), is the essential survival guide for the nouveau pauvre--a class of people who have the tastes and expectations of the bourgeoisie without the financial trappings. We asked the authors for their tips on how to enjoy champagne tastes on a beer budget in our big city:

Q: Your car is towed from the illegal spot in front of Starbucks, and the money you had planned to spend on Saturday’s big bash has gone instead to the LAPD’s downtown impound lot. Do you cancel?

A: No, just ask for some help. People like an assignment, like bringing wine or a six-pack. Think about throwing a theme party. Make it a white trash or a Pabst Blue Ribbon night. It’s cheap, funny and camp.

Q: How can you sample the cuisine at Les Deux Cafes and Spago when you can barely afford the valet parking?

A: We call this “expenseploitate,” or the art of milking an expense account. Your dining partner is no longer your friend but a client. Otherwise, go at a weird time. Have bread and wine and pretend you’re waiting for someone. Take in the atmosphere, then tell the wait staff your guest didn’t show up. You can usually leave without paying. Also, never have dinner in a group. The check is usually split evenly, and you might be asked to subsidize someone else’s expensive entree.

Q: You landed a pad in what has been ordained the hip neighborhood of the month. But the floors are empty and the walls are bare, and they’re going to stay that way as long as you keep ogling the Pottery Barn catalog. How can you still make the place the envy of all your friends?

A: Go jogging on trash day with cab fare in your pocket. You’ll have a workout or a find! Never buy chairs. People throw them away when, sometimes, all they need is a good shower.

Q: You’re off for an evening on the town with $20 and a smile. Can it be done?

A: Yes. Go to a place where an old college chum is working, and you’re likely to get free drinks. Ride on one martini for an hour and a half, while you are taking in the atmosphere of the “in” place. It’s also nice to have a blend of dive hangs, raunchy hangs and swank hangs.

Q: How can you dine luxuriously at home if you’re on a Spam and Fluff budget?

A: Become a vegetarian. Shop ethnic and farmers markets. Get less of a good thing, rather than tons of a bad thing. Bite the bullet and buy a good block of Parmesan cheese. Also, don’t waste money on ridiculous appliances. They are gadgets that would end up in the garage--if you had one. All you really need is a sharp knife.

Q: Do I pass up that amazing $300 fare to London?

A: No way. It’s an invitation. If happiness can be bought, then do so. Don’t be enslaved to repercussions. You made it this far, and you’ll make it farther. It’s not about mooching or couch hopping. It is about relying on yourself and thinking you are worthy.