Is frugality hip among celebrities?

It turns out that F. Scott Fitzgerald may have been wrong when he famously opined that "the rich are different than you and me." These days, celebrities are being forced to pinch pennies just like us common people because of the recession. Well, not exactly like regular folks, but they are experiencing their share of hardships.

According to MSNBC.com, Ugly Betty star America Ferrera has decided that she only needs one house and is putting her $1.5 million place in the Hollywood Hills up for sale.

Think that's tragic? There are even more heartwarming examples of celebrity frugality on the Web site.

Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives was seen -- get this -- wearing elements of the same outfit twice. Teen queen Miley Cyrus shopped off the rack for t-shirts and a pair of jeans. Former spendaholic Britney Spears has turned over a new leaf and drives a Mitsubishi. What has the world come to?

You can hardly blame the celebrities. They read the newspapers like everyone else. Britney probably watches the TV news. They know that fewer people are buying movie tickets, CDs and books. Studios and record companies are feeling pinched too, so they are clamping down on salaries paid to the talent. That applies to Britney as well.

Gone are the days when actors and entertainment personalities can spend with reckless abandon and expect someone else to pick up the tab. MC Hammer and Ed McMahon even exploited their dire financial straights in those pathetic commercials for Cash 4 Gold.

Like all fads in Hollywood, this one will end unless Wal-Mart opens a store in Beverly Hills. Then, all bets are off.

For more on cheap stars, see our gallery on the Most Frugal Celebrities.