Cheap and Cheerful, Down and Dirty: Putting together an interview outfit on the cheap

It's that time of year again, when millions of young people and not-so-young people complete their education and try to enter the workforce. This has traditionally been a competitive past-time even back before national economies were straggling along after the 2008 crash. Getting "a good job" is now something of a job itself as landing a face-to-face interview can take a few months of persistent application submission, psychometric testing, and phone follow-ups. Countless career advice articles stress the importance of dressing appropriately and making a good first impression, but if you aren't already working, where are you going to get $600 to drop on that timeless "interview suit"?

It's absolutely key to look your best and make a good first impression once you get the interview stage, after-all it's probably taken some serious effort to get there, so you wouldn't want to blow the chance you might have. However, the idea of dropping several hundred dollars on an interview outfit to ensure you're out-dressing the competition is sort of insane since it is possible to do it on a budget, especially if you aren't going for a job at a corporate law firm or investment banking company.

While I have no hard scientific evidence to support this claim, I would venture that it's harder for men to put together an interview outfit together less expensively than women, especially for those seeking positions in the legal and financial industries where the matched suit is a daily standard and absolute necessity. It is difficult to  buy a suit on the cheap without it looking cheap, but there might be a few ways around dropping more than $500 on a suit for a single introductory interview. Ladies have it somewhat easier in that fewer employers are expecting them to show up in a matched suit; whether or not this suggests that employers expect less from female candidates or take them less seriously will be left to the reader's imagination. Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that women in the US still earn on average $0.77 to each dollar of their male counterparts.

ANYWAY. Here are five strategies for putting an interview outfit together on the cheap without looking too cheap.


Beg, Borrow or...
Well, we wouldn't really recommend stealing your next office-ready button-down, but if you have a friend or a family member who's about your size we would definitely recommend asking if they can loan out one of their smarter pairs of trousers or dress shoes. If you're not sure who to ask, or are anxious about being rejected and alienating your friends and family by asking to borrow their stuff, send an open request by Tweeting, updating your Facebook status or sending a group email. You might be surprised by how many people will want to help you if they can when you're not directly asking for money and you might be surprised by what people have in their closets that they're not using. Last year I borrowed a vintage (i.e. before they started branding all their bags with that hideous fabric) Coach bag from my mom that she hasn't used in years. Borrowing it was free, and upgraded my plain black suit from "small town funeral director" to "single female lawyer". One advantage to this approach is you may be able to score a much nicer and more professional-looking ensemble than you could have afforded on your own. It goes without saying that people judge by appearances and HR people will sometimes rule out an employee candidate immediately if they judge their appearance as "not professional enough."

eBay is Great...

If you know your size, what fabrics, colors and silhouettes suit you, or if you're shopping for accessories. eBay is a good place to pick up vintage bags, belts, shoes and jewelry which often go for less than what you'd pay in a consignment shop or thrift store. Accessories are a great way to add memorable flair to your outfit, while staying within the unwritten necessary "interview outfit requirements". Popular silhouettes for ladies career wear include: "the pencil skirt", "the dress trousers",  and "the sheath dress". Typing in the name of a silhouette or style usually returns more results than "office blouse/jacket/pants/dress". If you're worried about having to sift through hundreds of pieces that aren't going to fly on the office floor, try adjusting the filters. The auction site now has a filter for "occasion"; searching for "wear to work doesn't get much easier than checking a box.

 If you don't know your size but know you're measurements, you can probably still buy clothes on eBay with relative confidence that what you win will fit. However, if you don't know measurements or how to take them yourself, buying on eBay becomes a much riskier prospect, especially if the items you're buying are more than a few years old. The age of the product itself isn't necessarily problematic, but the fact that women's size tags have fluctuated over the past several years can mean that a size 4 dress from ten years ago only fits someone who wears a size 2 today. Learning to take your measurements isn't as complicated as some people have made it sound, though it is a lot easier if you can enlist someone else's help. Wikihow has a good tutorial on how to take measurements for women, which starts out with the basics of bust, waist and hips. Knowing these three measurements can help you more accurately determine your ready-to-wear size  since these are the measurements on a size chart.  Men's sizes are more consistent, but it seems that fewer dudes throw their old duds up on eBay so there's usually less choice, especially if you wear a smaller size. If you wear a medium, large or extra-large however, eBay can be a great place to pick up gently worn and dead stock Brooks Brothers dress shirts and other career staples.  If you're unsure of your size check out this other Wikihow that photographically illustrates how to take clothing measurements for men.

Do Not Pass Go...
But head directly to the clearance rack. Experienced bargain hunters may have already noticed that department stores and clothing boutiques usually put their sale and clearance racks at the back of the shop, --unless they're using a sale-rail at the door to draw you in the first place; this is all in the hopes that you'll be tempted by other merchandise and impulsively buy a trendy cardigan or some wacky socks with little cartoon characters on them on your way to checking out their clearance section. Being aware of this strategy makes it harder to fall for, and it may also help to separate shopping trips for a specific item (in this case, pieces for an interview outfit), from browsing shopping trips. Keep your goal in mind and head directly, as directly as you can for the clearance rails. What's available at a discount will of course vary depending on what season has just passed, certain staples like black dress trousers or dark pencil skirts will almost always make an appearance. Retail seasons are at least one season ahead of whatever season it actually is, so clothes typically start being discounted while you can still get a good bit of wear out of them. Also, as long as what you've picked up on sale can be worked into your personal style or isn't overly trendy, you can get wear out of a discounted piece for years to come.

If You Are Petite...
Consider checking out a Juniors' Department. Though some of the clothes might be too revealing/trendy/"young" to wear to an office, thanks to the ubiquity of internships, most Young Miss departments have racks dedicated to "career-wear" and business casual pieces. As a woman who's 5'2", long-waisted and 98 lbs, I have never found a pair of black dress trousers that fit, that came from somewhere other than Mandee, H&M, or the Juniors' Department of Macy's or Kohl's. Bits from the Juniors section are usually less expensive, though they tend to be constructed from cheaper synthetic fabrics and can wear out more quickly. Caring properly for these garments can lengthen their life, as can a few sewing tricks like reinforcing seams yourself and tacking down hems with a few hand stitches. Proper cleaning keeps the fabrics looking newer and less worn-out but proper cleaning doesn't mean you have to start dry-cleaning everything. Check out this guide from lifehacker to see whether or not you absolutely have to take a piece to the dry cleaners to keep it looking nice and new.

Thrift Stores... 
In or near nice neighborhoods can be a surprising source of quality career separates. Thrift store shopping is not what it was ten years ago in terms of quality selection and rock-bottom prices since the gentrification and re-branding of resale culture as "hip", but there are still scores to be made and treasure to be had in the right areas. There are too many variables that affect thrift store content quality to make sweeping generalizations, but here are a few things to consider looking for when scouting out a Good Will, Salvation Army, or Value Village. Resale and thrift shops in young, trendy neighbourhoods tend to price their goods higher than those in less "bohemian" areas, but may be worth checking out since there's a good chance the fashionable residents of the borough will be unloading their old clothes there. Thrift stores in unfashionable but well-to-do areas with older residents often have higher quality career separates in addition to the standard offerings of '90s floral print maxi dresses and strange shapeless formal wear. 

There you have it, five places to look for putting together an interview outfit on a part-time wage or the the very last remains of your Stafford Loan. While our next article will feature a few other ideas for putting together career-wear before you're earning "career pay", we'd love to hear any additional suggestions, anecdotes, comments or questions from our readers. Email us at: cheerfullycheap@gmail.com or Tweet at us :@cheerfulcheap

Cheap and Cheerful's Free Mp3 Catch-Up Service

We've fallen behind with our free Mp3 of the week in the last few weeks, but we're back now with a catch-up service.

First up, is a live recording of Booker T & the MGs classic instrumental Green Onions, from Aquarium Drunkard. We profiled Aquarium Drunkard last year, and they're still going strong with tons of content that covers great breadths and depths in and across musical genres. If you have trouble downloading the track, try right clicking and selecting "save link as" (Mac users use "control click").

Noise Trade is currently offering the chance to download Bison's debut album Quill. Released late last year, their record has racked up critical praise and the band has been compared to Indie-Folk giants The Decemberists and Mumford and Sons. Grab this opportunity while you can; Quill isn't offered for free download on Amazon, Last.fm or the band's official website, so it may not be available on Noise Trade indefinitely.

Rounding out this three part mp3 omnibus are two free Dizzee Rascal downloads, "Fix Up, Look Sharp" and "Where's Da G's", available via betterPropaganda.

We'll be returning to our regular free Mp3 of the week this Friday, so tune in!

Getting Care When You Can't Afford Coverage: pt 2 fig. 2

Last month we covered how to find reproductive health clinics and access their services if you're uninsured. While different people need different reproductive health services for different reasons, one purpose most people use them for most of the time, is to obtain contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Certain contraceptive methods may also reduce the risk of STD transmission, or can help to alleviate symptoms of disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome.

Unfortunately, depending on what kind of contraception best suites your needs, getting it if you don't have medical insurance can be expensive. Here are some ways you might be able to reduce your costs, without forgoing contraception or increasing your risk of an unwanted pregnancy.

The Condom:  Many people reach for the rubber love-glove as their first method of contraception, and for some this remains their method of choice. When used correctly, condoms or "male" condoms, are 98% effective in preventing an unwanted pregnancy(1), and remain the best protection against HIV(2) and certain other STDs for those that are sexually active.

The costs of condoms over a year can vary widely, depending on how many instances of sexual contact requiring protection you have in a twelve month period. As it is necessary to use a condom for each time you have sex even if neither party climaxed, if you're having intercourse multiple times a day, every day, using condoms becomes less cost effective, especially if you're not worried about contracting an STD (i.e. you and your partner are in a monogamous relationship, and you both have tested negative for STDs).

Pros: 98% effective against unwanted pregnancy with consistent and perfect use, no prescription necessary, can be used immediately, widely available
Cons: Some users may feel a "loss of intimacy and spontaneity" or discomfort, consistently perfect use is rare

How to get it: Condoms are widely available from many different retail outlets, from drug stores, to specialty shops, to the ubiquitous supermarkets across the American landscape. While the price per unit can range up to $1.50 per unit for premium varieties in a national pharmacy chain, online retailers may carry the varieties, for less. Drugstore.com for example, sells Durex Performax Intense condoms for  $7.99, $6.00 less than the recommended retail price. Beyond trawling amazon.com for the prophylactic of your choice, searching via Google's shopping engine may also help you to find the best value on barrier contraceptives.

Larger manufacturers also often issue coupons or provide special offers through their official websites or through the SmartSource printable coupon service. Trojan is currently offering up to $5.00 off select products through this form here. Then there's also CondomUSA's free sample section, which will send a free sample of condoms for the price of shipping and handling.

The "Female" Condom: Similar to the male condom in that it is also a barrier method of contraception and STD prevention, the female condom is worn internally for penetrative intercourse. 95% effective against unwanted pregnancy with perfect use(3), it also provides some protection against the transmission of STDs.

Female condoms typically cost between $2.50 and $4.00 per unit, and while they are more expensive than male condoms, they enable the receptive partner to take control of their sexual health and/or fertility if their partner refuses to wear a "male" condom. Female and male condoms should never be used together during intercourse as they are likely to break.

Pros: 95% effective against unwanted pregnancy with perfect and consistent use, no prescription necessary, allows the receptive partner more control over their sexual health, can be used by people allergic to latex
Cons: Not as widely available as the male condom, higher price per unit, the failure rate from typical use of female condoms is somewhat higher than male condoms or barrier contraceptive methods suggesting that some find it more complicated or difficult to use, some users feel it reduces feeling during intercourse

How to get it: While not as widely available as the male condom, female condoms are available throughout the United States from Planned Parenthood, other family planning and reproductive health clinics, pharmacies, in some supermarkets and online. As of this writing, the national drugstore chain Walgreens stocks the FC2 and is currently offering a three count package for $4.79, which brings the price per unit down to about $1.60. This third party retailer at Amazon.com sells a ten count package for $12.25, bringing the cost down to $1.23 unit, which comparable to what one would pay per unit at a drug store for male condoms. If your pharmacy, supermarket or reproductive clinic doesn't currently stock female condoms, ask them to do so in the future.

The Diaphragm: the diaphragm is a shallow dome-shaped cup with a flexible rim; it works by covering the cervix to block sperm from entering the opening to the uterus. To improve effectiveness, spermicidal cream, gel, or jelly should be used in conjunction with the diaphragm. When used as directed, only 6 in 100 women will become pregnant over a year of using the diaphragm as their contraceptive method.

In order to get a diaphragm, you must first be examined by a health care provider and be given a prescription, which can filled by most local pharmacies. Unfortunately, the requirement of an examination increases the upfront cost of the diaphragm and makes it less convenient option for some. Depending on your appointment cost and the cost of the diaphragm itself, the combined total ranges from $65 - $275, plus an additional $8- $17 for a spermicide kit. However, the diaphragm, when properly cleaned and cared for can last up to two years, which will off-set some of these higher costs.

Pros: Portable, cannot usually be felt by you or your partner during intercourse, can be inserted hours before sex so there is no interruption of the proceedings, lasts for up to two years
Cons: Requires an examination and prescription, higher up-front costs, can be pushed out of place during intercourse, some women develop frequent urinary tract infections with diaphragm use, does not provide protection against STD transmission and spermicide use can increase the risk of HIV transmission

How to get it: First, as mentioned make an appointment with a health care provider. This can be done at most planned parenthood clinics, reproductive health centers and traditional OB-GYN offices. If you're uninsured or on Medicaid or another state health program, a planned parenthood, state-run clinic or charitable clinic are likely to be best bets for getting seen for an appointment and getting help with costs or financing. Once you've gotten a fitting and prescription for your diaphragm, there isn't too much you can do to decrease the cost of filling the prescription if you don't have insurance.

One way to decrease your overall cost is to clean and care for your diaphragm. Assuming it lasts a full two years, an upfront cost of $275 breaks down to a base cost of about $0.38 per day. This does not include the additional cost of spermicide applications which will vary depending on the frequency of intercourse.

The Sponge: Unavailable in the US market for over a decade after 1995, some people of a certain age may not have heard for the contraceptive or "Today" sponge, unless, they too watched Seinfeld reruns in junior high. This method offers some of the same benefits as a diaphragm but doesn't require a prescription or a medical visit in order to get it. The effectiveness of the sponge in preventing unwanted pregnancies varies depending on whether or not you've already given birth and whether or not it's used as directed. Women who have not already given birth and use the sponge as directed can expect 91% effectiveness rate in preventing pregnancy, but women using the sponge as directed who have given birth before can only expect about an 80% effectiveness rate in preventing pregnancy.

The sponge works by covering the cervix to prevent sperm from entering the uterus and by continually releasing a spermicide that stops sperm from moving. Like the diaphragm, it can be inserted hours before intercourse and worn for up to twenty-four hours after insertion. The sponge must be left inserted for an additional six hours after intercourse in order to be effective, and should never be left inserted for more than thirty hours.

Pros: Does not require a prescription, portable, can be inserted before sex so it is not necessary to interrupt foreplay, and cannot be felt by your or your partner during intercourse
Cons: Removal can be difficult especially for inexperienced users, does not protect against STD transmission, some users report it makes sex "dry"

How to get it: Despite being totally unavailable in the US market for over ten years, the contraceptive sponge is now widely available, and is at the time of this writing, also on sale at Walgreens. After browsing various online retailers, the best price per unit we could find for the sponge was $3.88 at otcitems.com, with prices from other retailers ranging from $4.18 to $4.66 per unit. There is also a 10% off coupon code for todaysponge.com up at RetailMeNot. In addition to being widely available online, and in some supermarkets and drugstores, the sponge is also available from family planning clinics.

The IUD: A T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus, the IUD can last between 5 and twelve years, depending on the type used. It works by affecting sperm movement, preventing them from joining with an egg. The Mirena IUD also contains progestin, which prevents the ovulation, which also helps to prevent sperm and egg from joining together. The IUD is a highly effective form of birth control, with fewer than 1 out of 100 women who use the IUD becoming pregnant within a year.

It does not protect against or reduce the risk of STD transmission and may not be safe to use for some women who are on certain medications, have an STD, or have had a pelvic infection following abortion or child birth within the last three months.

Pros: Lasts for years, can be used while breastfeeding, may improve your sex life by enabling you and your partner to be more spontaneous
Cons: Some women experience mild to moderate pain after initial insertion, spotting, and/or irregular or heavier periods, there's also the possibility of IUD slipping out of place or pushing through the wall of the uterus, high upfront costs.

How to get it: To get an IUD, you have to first meet with a health care provider for a consultation. Consultation experiences can vary from clinic to clinic and you may have to have a pelvic exam and an ultrasound in addition to a discussion of your medical history and reasons for wanting to use the IUD with your provider before getting an IUD inserted. Costing between $500 and $1000 the upfront costs for an IUD and insertion can be high in comparison to other forms of birth control, but may even out as a single IUD lasts from five to twelve years. Even assuming that a $1000 IUD will last only five years, the per day cost breaks down to about $0.55 per day.

Unfortunately, if you've decided that the IUD is the best contraceptive method for you, there isn't much one can do to decrease the initial costs. Some clinics will provide this service on a sliding scale based on your income, or will help you work out a payment plan. You may also be able to lower your costs if you qualify for a federal or state medical program. Check out this chart to see if you might qualify for medicaid.

The Pill: One of the most popular and well known methods of contraception, the birth control pill works by releasing hormones that prevent a woman from ovulating. Without ovulation, the ovaries don't release an egg, which prevents sperm from being able to meet with an egg, which prevents pregnancy from occurring. The pill is one of the most effective forms of contraception with fewer than 1 in 100 women becoming pregnant over year, as long as it is taken as directed. When not taken as directed, about 9 in 100 women will become pregnant over a year of using the birth control pill.

Pros: Reduced menstrual cramps, lighter periods, enables more spontaneous intercourse, offers some protection against Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which can cause infertility if not treated. Some types of birth control pills may have other benefits such as protecting against acne, bone thinning, breast and ovarian cysts, and ovarian cancers.
Cons: Some women experience spotting, breast tenderness, nausea, decrease in sexual desire and mood swings, especially in the first three months of use, no protection against STD transmission, increases the risk of stroke and blood clotting in some women.

How to get it: In order to get birth control pills, you first need a prescription, and may have to have a medical exam. Depending on your provider, this exam can cost from $35-$250. However, some charity or state-run clinics may be able to give you the exam at a reduced cost, or at no cost depending on your income level, age, and occupation. The pills themselves typically cost from $15-$50 per month, with most prescriptions being for a three months' supply. Though these costs are fairly fixed, there are a few things you can do to lower the costs of your birth control pills.

First, ask your health care provider about getting a generic prescription instead of a name-brand pill. While not suitable for everyone since some women take specific kinds of birth control pills to treat symptoms for disorders like endometriosis, generics usually contain the same active ingredients and may be a good alternative for some women. Second, some reproductive health clinics and private health care providers are able to dispense free samples of birth control after they've approved you for a prescription. Asking about this option costs nothing, and can help stretch your contraceptive budget for the year a bit further. Some providers may place restrictions on how many free sample packs they will distribute to you, while others may be able to continue providing you with free samples as long as they have some in the supply closet. Finally, if you're dissatisfied with the cost of your current prescription but aren't able to procure free samples or a cheaper, generic prescription, find out what reproductive health and family planning services clinics are in your area and ask them if they can help you get your birth control pills at a lower cost. Some clinics are licensed to dispense birth control pills and may be able to help you get a three month supply for as little as $20 total.

Emergency Contraception Pill: If your contraception fails, or if you have sex without using a contraceptive device, you may still be able to prevent pregnancy from occurring with emergency contraception. The Morning-After pill or emergency contraception pill works by delivering a dose of hormones that prevent a woman from ovulating. Though the emergency contraception pill can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse, it is more effective the sooner it is started. The Morning-After pill cannot terminate a pregnancy once it has occurred; it is not "the abortion pill". Pros: Safe, available from pharmacies without a prescription for those 18 and over, can reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy by 89% if started within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse
Cons: Possible side-effects include: dizziness, breast tenderness, irregular bleeding, abdominal cramps, nausea.

How to get it: Emergency contraception pills are available over the counter from pharmacies for adults over 17 and is also available from Planned Parenthood. If you're under 17 you will need a prescription from a health center or private health care provider. Costs vary from $10-$70 for the emergency contraception pill, depending on where you get it, and which kind you use. Sometimes the makers of the emergency contraception pills offer manufacturer coupons. Right now, Plan B One Step is offering a $5 off manufacturer's coupon available to print from their website.
In addition to the methods listed here, there are some other contraceptive methods such as the patch, the ring and the shot, that we haven't covered. Also, be aware that the descriptions of the methods and the assessments of their pros and cons as listed here aren't necessarily comprehensive. To find out what contraception method would best suit your needs talk to a health care provider, or find out more about each method at Planned Parenthood's website. Hopefully this list will help you lower your contraception costs and take control of your fertility and sexual well being!

If you have any advice on how to find affordable reproductive health care, or questions about looking after you're health when you're on a budget, we'd love to hear from you! Email us: cheerfullycheap@gmail.com or join us on Twitter: @cheerfulcheep.