Wednesday, December 10, 2008

For the Recession Warrior


There was an interesting article in The New York Times magazine last month that evaluated the New Oxford American Dictionary's choice for word of the year. They often pick something that is ultra current and of-the-moment, and this year's pick was hypermiling, defined as an “attempt to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one’s car and one’s driving techniques.”

The author of the story, William Safire, didn't agree with that choice. He much preferred 'frugalista', a term meaning “a person who lives a frugal lifestyle but stays fashionable and healthy by swapping clothes, buying secondhand, growing own produce, etc.” That word certainly struck a nerve with me, especially after seeing the benefits of purchasing pre-owned designer goods on Portero.

The term frugal often has negative connotations, but in this recession culture, it becomes a bit of savvy. It might seem frivolous to some to buy a pricey brand-name watch or handbag in hard times, but for others, it's economical to purchase something for oneself or a loved one that will become an heirloom one day. Especially when you can save thousands of dollars while doing it.

That's why this week's homepage centers upon the unbeatable savings that Portero offers all year long, and especially now at the holidays. We've created a gift guide that features classic, timeless pre-owned designer goods that are investment pieces rather than bargains that won't even make it to next holiday season. With starting prices at up to 85% off, these are our lowest prices of the year. Shop by gender or price--either way, the savings remain the same.

Shop for Him
Shop for Her
Under $500
$500-$999
$1,000-$2,999
$3,000-$4,999
$5,000-$7,499
$7,500-$9,999
Over $10,000