Living stylishly on a budget

LIGHTEN UP
With the earlier nightfall weighing on our spirits, we're thankful that Neena's, purveyor of chic European and American lighting, is offering 36 percent off select Artemide lamps, including a few of the popular Tolomeo and Tizio models. Stop into stores at 380 Boylston St., 343 Congress St., 1299 Beacon St. (Brookline), 57 JFK St. (Cambridge), or 98 Central St. (Wellesley). Or, stay home and log onto www.neenaslighting.com. Sale ends Dec. 31.

HALF-PRICE TIX
'Tis the season for holiday theater, and for the fifth year running, the City of Boston and ArtsBoston are offering a limited number of half-price tickets for every major holiday show in town. Half-price tickets for Boston Ballet's "The Nutcracker" and "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" are available through next Thursday; half-price tickets for Disney on Ice's "Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey" are available until Nov. 14. Find it all at www.mayorsholidayspecial.com.

ANTIQUES ROW
As we're thinking about sprucing up our homes for the winter, we're happy to hear that Bridge Antiques (99 Charles St., 617-227-0995) is having a sale on its furniture and paintings. During a recent stop at the store, we admired a walnut Art Deco desk (originally $1,800) that is now a bit more within our reach. Furniture is 20 percent off; paintings, 25 percent off; jewelry (below) marked down 15 percent. While in Beacon Hill, also stop by Boston Antiques Company (119 Charles St., 617-227-9810), which is offering 20 to 50 percent off select paintings.

INTERNATIONAL SALE
If shopping in these dour economic times leaves you feeling guilty, head to Ten Thousand Villages (226 Harvard St., Brookline, or 694 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, on Saturday, where you'll get 20 percent off all the fair-trade merch you can fit into one of the store's large shopping bags. Scarves, stationery, bowls, jewelry, wall hangings, and more will be on offer, making the sale a good bet for early holiday shopping.

DRESS FOR LESS
Sales-savvy fashionistas will want to stop in at Queen Bee (85 Newbury St.) for markdowns on select Diane von Furstenberg wares. We found a wool DVF pleated Lolita dress for $249.92 (marked down from $624.80) and a chic wool/alpaca/angora blend DVF coat for $508.20 (marked down from $726). Select Maria Inez and Rebel Yell items are on sale as well. Check www.queenbeegirls.com.

AMI ALBERNAZ