5 Thrifty Things: Matryoshka Russian Nesting Dolls

Melissa Massello was born to helm a publication devoted to resourcefulness, the look for less, and attainable, affordable luxuries. As the oldest of three kids, daughter of divorcees, former competitive figure skater (who designed and sewed her own costumes — one of many crafts with mom), and frugal New Englander to the core, Melissa learned early on that smart spending, bag lunches, and bargain basements are the keys to unlocking The Good Life — regardless of your station, salary, creed, or credit score. Her earliest and fondest memories are of yard-saling with her grandma, organic farming on her grandpa's Washington apple orchard, and all-around sponging up the plentiful Depression-era wisdom from her gregarious Greatest (and first-) Generation Italian-American family. After studying journalism and working at five start-ups in seven years, Melissa decided it was time to take a walk in her dad's tech-obsessed shoes and share the bargain karma online.