A single gallon of gas in Chicago currently costs most than a sandwich, chips and a Coke. A ticket to fly -- coach! -- to my brother in LA is over $400. Money is tight. People are canceling Netflix, cutting coupons and pinching pennies.
It all makes me wonder: What's an Us Weekly-reading recessionista to do when it comes to looking her best? If a new Coach bag is out of the question, what does that means for one's quarterly Botox shots or a post-baby tummy tuck?
I rang up (on a Sunday -- free cell minutes!) Robert Kotler, MD, author of Secrets of a Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgeon: The Expert's Guide to Safe, Successful Surgery and former Doctor, 90210 star, and asked him how to reconcile frugality with fabulosity.
In this hard-knock economy, what options are available to a prematurely wrinkling gal who craves a taut forehead but still needs to pay the mortgage?