It's migration time.

Young graduates are moving from their college dorms to their first apartments. Many are bright, enterprising and also poor. Meager paychecks, frightful landlords and expensive happy hours haunt their checking accounts. So they engage in that all-too-familiar juggle performed by twentysomethings across the country, one that involves frugality, creativity and bouts of hungry drunkenness.

Over the weekend, The New York Times ran a story about how four of these twentysomethings make ends meet in New York City. The article, Starting Salaries But New York Tastes , has been on the Times' "Most Emailed" list for a few days now. I guess many of us can relate.

The young Manhattanites shared their strategies for living the life they imagined in the big city. Here are a few of their most creative tips, just in case you want to incorporate them into your own budgeting plan:

Grooming:

* Men: buy an electric razor and cut your own hair.

* Women: give up those platinum locks. It's expensive being blonde. And paint your nails at home.

Diet:

* Franks and beans, vodka-filled flasks, big lunches and light dinners are all kind to your budget -- and your buzz.

Entertainment:

* Don't shy away from freebies. Make the most of the perks that come with your job. Be nice to friends who can get you into parties, promotions and openings.

* Consider selling freebies, like gift bags, on EBay.

Household:

* You can sublet a walk-in closet.

But the article doesn't mention savings. So here's FiLife's somewhat annoying reminder for all of you performing that twenty-something juggle: add one more meal of franks and beans to the rotation and put at least a few dollars into a savings account, CD, or IRA each month. Promise yourself you'll put away more next year. It's good to get in the habit of saving.

It's what truly bright, enterprising, rich people do.

-- Kristen Sullivan