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As a prelude, one of the things that gets the most heated debates and arguments is whether credit cards are good or bad! Write a post like this and you will have tons of comments from folks who either love or hate them. The folks who love them say it is just a tool. If you pay it off every month and earn rewards, that is a good thing and a great deal. The folks who hate them say carrying a credit card makes you spend more and that their teaser offers suck you into the debt game. They advocate that you should live a debt free life by steering clear of credit card debt.

Despite their arguments, both camps agree that one should not have credit card debt. I belong to the camp that loves my credit cards for the rewards that they give me. I feel that the main reason why people get into credit card debt is because they succumb to impulse spending. That is almost a result of not budgeting or asking yourself if you really need what you intended to buy. When I graduated from college, one of the things I “had” to buy was some working clothes. Now, being married with kids, myself and Mrs Credit Card occasionally succumb to sales and “nice clothes” which we do not really need. Since we are ok financially, I guess it is OK to splurge once in a while. But for new graduates, I thought I’d compile a list of “must have” guy clothes so that you can use as a check list.

For anyone who has just graduated or are about to graduate, it’s probably time to take inventory of your life, goals, and yes, your wardrobe. One aspect not to neglect before you hustle off to conquer the world is budgeting for a career clothing overhaul. Odds are, you’ve been living in the same college uniform for a while. My guess is, (being a guy) your daily collegiate wardrobe consisted of a couple dozen t-shirts, several sweatshirts with frayed sleeves and odd unexplainable stains and a few pairs of jeans.

What universal items should stock a working man’s wardrobe?

For those who need a traditional suit

• Classic Suit- Start with navy or gray. For those occasions when it comes in handy, a suit is a classic and should be a staple of every man’s wardrobe. Don’t skimp on quality, but do look for bargains. My best advice would be to get a reputable “local” tailor. A reasonable price might be about $450. Forget about designer for now as the going price starts at $800 and you will probably need alterations anyway. My suggestion (if you need working suits) is to get two. Either the classic 2 button or 3 button should work.

• Crisp White or Blue Dress Shirt- One of the most useful, adaptable items you can pick up. I suggest getting at least five (more if you are lazy about the laundry). Cotton polyester mix should be good. Places like LandsEnd selling decent working dress shirts. I would stick to the basic colors white and blue. You might get away with a yellow or pink you know how to color match. One word of advice, keep your shirt crisp and immaculately white. Nothing looks worse than an off white shirt masquerading as a white shirt.

• Ties- Try to pick up a minimum of three. A solid, a diagonal stripe and a basic pattern that incorporates several colors. You probably do not want to spend $150 on a Ferragamo tie. But you do not want one that is 100% polyester and looks cheap.

• Standard Shoes and Belt- Black or Brown, but keep it coordinating. Most guys find black is more universal in their wardrobe. Make sure your shoes are comfortable and try to buy reputable quality shoes. You do not have to break the bank but there are many poor quality brands that simply wear out very fast.

• A High Quality Overcoat- Like a suit, this is an investment. Buy as good a quality as you can afford. I personally bought my first winter coat at Century 21 in New York 15 years ago and I still use it!

• Underwear – need I say more. Consider your laundry cycle and get enough so that there is always one in the drawer!

Smart Casual Attire Wardrobe

If you end up with a tech firm or a start up and does not require formal wear, then here are some suggestions.

Khaki’s – The essence of casual classic. Again, buy smart, but quality. Pick up a few pairs; you’ll be glad you did. Suggested colors would be Navy Blue and Khaki Brown
Jeans – Go with clean, modern lines. Same with Khakis, at least a couple serviceable pairs.
Polo Type Collar Shirts – Get a minimum of five (once again more if you are not good at the laundry). Basic dark colors like Blue and White will do.
Dress Shirts – You should still get dress shirts as they go very well with Khaki’s.
Shoes – Casual shoes are a little trickier. But a pair of mocs should do.

Other non essential stuff which you probably already have

• Sunglasses – Alright, unless you are a lifeguard, this is not essential. But I think it makes sense to make a mental note of how many you should have so that you do not buy a new one every month just because “it looks cool”.

• Tuxedo – You will wear it a few times in your life – wedding, friends wedding, family’s wedding, funeral, the occasional black tie party. You can decide to rent or to buy. If you buy, then get it tailor made and have the most conservative design so that if you ever get invited to the white house for a formal dinner, you can wear it. (no fancy Versace’s).

I’ll stop here but the point that I want to get across is that I think that planning what you want in your wardrobe is very important. The reason is that, aside from budgeting, it helps prevent you from impulse purchases. For example, if I know you already have 7 dress shirts and they are all in good condition, then mentally, I will not be tempted to get a new shirt even if I see a really nice one. Same goes with Khaki pants and polo collared shirts. I find myself tempted when I hang at Factory Outlets with Mrs Credit Card! But when I remind myself that I already have all the T-shirts or dress shirts, then I’ll just move on and not be tempted.

Paying for your wardrobe

Suze Orman actually did say that it was OK to put your working clothes wardrobe on a credit card and carry the balance if you cannot pay it off because it is an investment in your future. My personal advice would be to disregard what she says and save up for your wardrobe way in advance. You do not have to buy them all at once. Chances are that you have half of the items I listed. In fact, I always recommend that on major purchases, you save up for it, and when you buy them, put them on either you student credit card. Better still, charge them to a cash back credit card or gas credit card or any type of reward card to earn reward points or cash rebates! Then make sure you pay it off at the end of the month.

For guys, I suggest you forget about cutting your own bangs just to save a few bucks!

Final thoughts: So here are some tips to stay on budget track and look your career best:

Before you go out on a huge shopping spree, I suggest you:

1. Evaluate what you have – T-shirts, sweaters, underwear, jackets, jeans, take a gander at all of it and determine what has any more life or can be resurrected in another form, (as in a T under a sweater, or anything still serviceable). Do not buy what you cannot afford, which is a basic rule of shopping (and budgeting). Therefore, try to salvage what you can within reason.

2. Determine your career field-to-be – is it polished and totally professional in attire? Completely casual? Something in between? Spend a few minutes pondering that one. It will help you determine if you need trousers vs. casual pants, and/or how many of each.

3. Prepare – No matter how casual the job, odds are you are going to need a few pulled together staples for occasions such as client meetings, company events or even interviewing for a job.

Related Posts:

1. Uncluttering the Closet Monster
2. Clearing Away the Clutter

As a beauty klutz who rarely wears make-up, I was intrigued when a copy of Allure’s Confessions of a Beauty Editor landed on my desk a few months ago as a gift. Flipping open the glossy cover of this beauty tip monolith for beginners revealed a mini crash course on trimming your own bangs. (I must confess, I haven’t purchased hair scissors so the poor coils of my hair are forced to tolerate regular home shears.)

… preparing to butcher my hair ^

Linda Wells offers this simple advice on trimming your own bangs (p. 124):

Start by resisting the urge to wet hair – it’s actually easier to see what you’re doing when it’s dry – and by using real haircutting scissors (they don’t have to be pricey, just specifically designed for hair). Then divide bangs into three sections, grab the first one, pull it straight up in the air, and twist it like a unicorn’s horn. Snip into the ends with the point of the scissors cutting diagonally a little at a time so each strand is a slightly different length. Drop the section to see where it falls, then twist and cut some more if necessary. Pull up the next section, matching it to the length of the cut portion. And voilà – you just bought yourself a few more weeks.

Miss Wells’ useful technique has saved me frequent trips to the salon so I’m passing her information along to other humble broke ass beauties. And in the event of a ghastly failure, buttering up the receptionist and begging to be squeezed into the next available time slot should remedy your tousled tresses.

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Related Posts:

1. Beauty On A Budget – Some of My Favorite Beauty Secrets

I love the atmosphere at the gym; all the various cardio equipment to choose from, going with my girl friends as motivation and for socializing, the huge mirrored studios I quietly sneak into when classes aren’t in session so I can carefully watch my reflection and perfect yoga postures.

But I socialize with my girl friends when we get together over the weekend and I didn’t necessarily need to see them again at the gym. And through several years of yoga practice (and mirror evaluation), I had now developed a ‘feel’ for what the correct posture should be without constantly needing to check my body alignment.

While a yearly gym membership is excellent for my health, it wasn’t being as kind to my wallet. It seemed as if I was wasting a lot of money on pricey annual fees for a membership I wasn’t using as much I should be.

I sat down and carefully drew out a list of the pros and cons to justify rejoining my gym. I could switch to a 24-hour gym, which would make the membership fee worth every penny since I would no longer be constrained to certain times. But while my current gym is located around the corner, the only 24-hour gym in this area is clear on the other side of town.

Con, I hastily scribbled, the gas money needed to get there!

After several days, I was still agonizing over what to do, and my gym was beginning to call every day now to persistently remind me how my membership was up for renewal.

I finally broached the subject with my boyfriend over lunch.

“So,” I concluded, spearheading a piece of romaine, “although this is a huge expense, I certainly don’t mind investing in something that’s good for my health. I can comfortably afford it and all, but I just don’t know what to do.”

He chewed thoughtfully on his pesto for a moment. “Look, you said yourself you’re struggling to get there as much as you’d like to. Why don’t you take the money for your annual membership and use it for something more useful then?” He pushed a glossy magazine towards me and thumbed open to a sporting goods advertisement. “If the biggest obstacle is making it to the gym in time, why don’t you buy your own piece of exercise equipment and use it at home instead?”

A bell went off in my head. “Matty, you’re a genius!” I cried. “That’s perfect! And a sturdy cardio bike would be exactly within my budget.”

We spent the next week comparison shopping for an adorable reclining bicycle, and I was lucky enough to find a great deal on a $500 bike that had been reduced to almost exactly what my annual gym membership would have cost.

When the phone rang again, I carefully put down my book and answered this time instead of gritting my teeth and letting the machine take over.

“Jennifer,” the chirpy voice announced. “We here at XXX Gym just wanted to remind you that your renewal fee will be due next week. If you don’t renew your membership now, you’ll miss out on some great savings for our exclusive members.”

“Oh, that’s ok.” I stopped pedaling for a moment and proudly glanced down at the new recumbent bike that was now nestled near the television in my bedroom. “I don’t think I’ll be renewing this year after all. Thank you, though, for the reminder.”

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Featured Resources

Compare prices and read helpful product reviews to make smart buying easy through Ciao! – Price Comparison and Product Reviews for the savvy shopper.

Enormous sacrifices were required during the onset of World War II, as the American government conserved resources through the enactment of the Food Rationing Program of 1942, a regulation which affected Americans for over three years and limited the amount of commodities a consumer was allowed to purchase.

This and other governmental programs resulted in strict rational provisions on gasoline, clothing and food, among other staple products, and affected every American household in the early 1940′s.

For permissible purchase of affected goods, government stamps and tokens were issued based on family size and came enclosed in ‘war ration books’. The red and brown stamps in the war books covered meats, cheeses, butter, fat and oil, while blue and green stamps dealt with processed, bottled, canned and frozen products. Special ‘sugar buying cards’ were also introduced in 1943.

Each of these stamps authorized the purchase of rationed goods in specific quantity and time designation, and a point system was established.

Generated propaganda campaigns were broadcast through government-sponsored ads, posters, pamphlets and radio shows to urge patriotic Americans to obediently comply with their new circumstances of scarcity without complaint.

During this national period of sacrifice, factory jobs swelled as women were recruited en masse to aid in production of war supplies; meanwhile, thriving black markets emerged to meet additional consumer demand for sugar, gasoline and meat.

Americans were encouraged to grow their own Victory Gardens to further conserve and replenish food during the war, and approximately 20 million Victory Gardens accounted for 40% of American vegetables by 1945, according to US-history.com.

I was born during the ’80′s and just missed the economical recession of the 1970′s. Since I’m very young, my generation has never experienced a rationing like this before. I can’t help but wonder the probability of a similar situation arising in our current political environment. How would you have coped during this unique war-driven era, where overseas contention directly affected domestic responsibilities and consumption?

Image sources WWII Era Ration Cards, Ames Historical Society, Travel & History, Women In WWII

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A country without a memory is a country of madmen. – George Santayana

The past does not repeat itself, but it rhymes. – Mark Twain

I believe that history is capable of anything. There exists no folly that men have not tried out. – Karl Gustav Jung

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Featured Resources

Compare prices and read helpful product reviews to make smart buying easy through Ciao! – Price Comparison and Product Reviews for the savvy shopper.

One of my goals this year has been to gradually move away from heavily processed fast food and toward more quality nutrition. This was certainly not easy since I’m usually pretty helpless in the kitchen – just ask my boyfriend who watched in horror as I nearly took my finger out of commission while trying to crack open a dinner roll.

But by sprinkling in a small dose of determination, I’ve finally established better eating habits that are actually quite simple. We’ll just ignore the scars for a moment …

Recreation of the body through food

How many times have we heard that old adage, you are what you eat? But it’s actually true, probably more than we realize!

The body is a miraculous machine and every moment each tiny cell is hard at work rebuilding and regenerating itself, and throughout a period of time all our skin cells, organ cells and brain cells will have degenerated and be completely replenished. The you sitting here now reading this will be recreated to a completely ‘new’ you in a few months from now! What’s so important during this recreation process is how our bodies use the food we ingest as raw materials and building blocks for destroying old cells and constructing healthy new ones.

So what we eat really does literally affect who we are, right down to the cellular level!

Growing your own garden

As I mentioned in Beauty On A Budget, one of the best decisions I’ve made this year, especially financially, is growing my own vegetable garden. Not only are homegrown veggies packed with nutrients and much cheaper than buying from the supermarket, they are ridiculously convenient when it comes to coping with a hectic schedule.

When I rush home from work in the evenings like a ravenous lunatic, I can have a fresh salad brimming with romaine, tomatoes, broccoli, celery, cucumbers and sweet peppers plucked straight from the backyard and plopped onto my plate; the small beginnings of a fiesty feast ready in minutes!

(I’m actually munching on a salad as I write this.)

Always plan the grocery shopping list

I can try to convince myself I’d like to make an effort to eat better, but let’s face reality here. If I arrive home from work exhausted and the cupboard or fridge is nearly empty or piled with crap, I’m going to end up whipping up whatever happens to be lying around in there.

Without being stocked with the proper ingredients by planning out my shopping strategy beforehand, I’m all ready setting myself up for failure. This is why it’s important, especially during a transitional phase, to always plan a grocery list and have the items readily available when you need them.

My grocery list usually looks something like this;

Misc

green tea, multivitamins, Ester C 1,000 Vitamins, Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother, red wine, organic snacking chips, jelly beans, dark chocolate, Jägermeister .. (oops, don’t ask ; )

Carbs

wild grain or brown rice, whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, multigrain or whole wheat bread, baked potatoes, beans, corn, fat-free yoghurt, three varieties of fruit (strawberries, blueberries, apples, bananas, pomegranates, kiwi, oranges, etc)

Proteins

low-fat cottage cheese, chicken breast, skinless turkey breast, eggs for egg whites, lean ground beef, seafood (salmon, tuna in water, haddock, orange roughy, shrimp, etc)

Veggies

basically anything scooped from the veggie garden

Creating simple nutritious meals

To motivate myself further, I keep a list of my favorite foods tacked to the fridge in their proper categories for when I’m hungry and feeling irritatingly indecisive. I simply choose an appropriate portion of carbs, proteins and veggies from each column and combine them together to create a simple yet nutritiously complete meal.

In the morning I may have a bowl of strawberries with some cottage cheese and a few slices of sweet pepper, then a tuna sandwich on whole wheat bread for lunch. For the evening, I may choose steamed brown rice and chicken with a garden salad, paired with a glass of red wine and some dark chocolate for dessert. I always carry water or green tea with me in a mug to sip on throughout the day while at work or running errands.

• Stock up on staple foods while on sale. If you can keep them from perishing, go ahead and stock up on your favorite foods if you find them at a decent price.
• Instead of eating three large meals, consider eating five or six smaller meals spread throughout the day. This helps natural metabolism and can also prevent accidental overeating.
• Eat just enough to satiate hunger, but not until too full. Eating just enough will help you feel relaxed and alert but who can stand that bloating achy feeling after gorging yourself completely? There’s a reason your body is sending that horrible nauseous feeling to your tummy, it’s simply not healthy. Next time you’re dining out, observe the expressions of people coming in compared to the sluggish ones leaving, who have managed to stuff themselves to the gills! 
• Reconnect with the simple joy of eating. Take time to slowly chew your food and savour each delicious flavor and texture. It’s easy to rush through a meal and forget to really enjoy the pleasure of this small blessing - make an effort to actually taste your food.
• If you’re trying to eat healthier, always keep one free day to eat whatever you desire. Make a promise to yourself that one day out of the week, all rules go out the window and anything goes. Indulge in that yummy double fudge peanut butter cup ice cream or that Big Mac with fries, guilt free. The key to anything is moderation and you deserve some play time. So for one day, let loose and have fun!

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key~†~ Nourish your body properly and watch the miraculous transformation from the inside out

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Lookin’ like a million dollars, even on a broke-ass budget

For me, beauty has always been a special type of spiritual elevation – a powerful radiation from the inside out that shines through in the joy we feel in our hearts and by unlocking the passion in our souls. Beauty encapsulates not only the physical, but possesses the mental and spiritual just as deeply.

Many women may feel afraid to cultivate their external beauty and end up neglecting themselves in fear of being too vain or self indulgent. This to me is an absolute shame. Feeling fabulous both inside and out is extreme nourishment for the soul and every person should penetrate their fullest potential on every level. No matter what age, anyone can be truly beautiful.

Beauty is all around us. Appreciating and cultivating your unique beauty is your own Divine right.

KISS (keep it simple, sugar)

Taking proper care of your body doesn’t need to be expensive or a hassle and once you establish a routine, in can actually be a lot of fun! I always try to keep my beauty regime as natural as possible. There are just too many synthetic ingredients found in beauty products which can aggravate the skin and cause unwanted side effects.

Beauty always starts from the inside. It’s terribly cliché, I know, but true. No procedure is more powerful than proper nutrition, light exercise, yoga and meditation.

Your skin is the largest organ of the body and if you’re out of balance somewhere internally, the effects will always show up on the skin in some embarrassing form. Drink plenty of water consistently throughout the day to flush toxins from the body. Please don’t wait to feel thirsty before drinking. If you do, you are all ready well on your way to dehydration and depriving your organs of essential moisture. If urine isn’t clear when you pee, you need to consume more liquids.

My drink of choice has always been green tea for its beneficial antioxidant potential. I always keep a mug of green tea handy and sip it consistently throughout the day wherever I go.

Yoga is by far my favorite type of exercise. The long term health benefits of yoga are precious and invaluable. Yoga not only teaches us how to quiet our minds and reach tranquility, but the gentle stretching techniques (known as asanas) allow our bodies to age with grace and strength.

My other favorite exercise has always been hiking. By walking at least 45 minutes at least three times a week, you’re getting superior health benefits without needing to worry about fancy or complicated exercise equipment. And the best part, it’s absolutely free.

Abide by your own inner clock. Always listen to your unique body triggers for guidance. When you’re feeling sore, do some light yoga and stretching for fifteen minutes. Feeling drowsy? Take a quick power nap – twenty minutes usually suffices.

Your body will always let you know when it’s time to rest, relax, eat, sleep and play.

Make time for quiet meditation in your daily routine. Nothing deteriorates loveliness quicker than stress, and meditation will help unlock the inner Divine to help you feel connected and vibrant.

~¤ Healing always begins from within ¤~

Ready to play mad scientist in your kitchen and concoct some savory beauty recipes? Dabble into these simple and inexpensive, yet highly effective secrets. I’ll start with what I refer to as “The Big Three”. These are the essential beauty items I keep well-stocked in at all times and would feel helplessly lost without.

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Vaseline is by far my favorite skin softener for problem areas. Top make-up artists also love using Vaseline on models like Kate Moss to give their skin that lovely dewy glow. Marilyn Monroe used to layer tons of this on while pairing it with baby powder to make her skin appear translucent and ethereal.

Vaseline can feel very goopy and heavy. The key here is to apply a very light layer at a time (a small dash of this stuff goes a long way), and always try to use on moist skin.  If it feels too thick or greasy in your palm, mix in a bit of water. You don’t need it everywhere; apply a small amount of Vaseline at night to where your skin tends to feel the driest. (This happens to be the creases on the side of my nose.)

As an added bonus, it’s one of my favorite lip glosses as well. I run a toothbrush over my lips to get rid of dry skin and immediately apply a smidgen for irresistibly soft puckers.

If you suffer from very thin, stubby eyelashes like I do, Vaseline is a beauty must-have. I coat both sides of my eyelashes with a tiny amount and allow it to set for ten minutes. Then I use an eyelash curler and, wow! The transformation is astonishing. My eyelashes are now lovely, thick and elegantly long. I’ve never spent a penny on mascara because this technique is so dramatic and effective.

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Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother is a miracle juice in a bottle. As someone who suffers from horribly dry skin in the winter, this is my holy grail for both dermatitis and acne blemishes. I mix 50% ACV with Mother and 50% tepid water in a small spray bottle and spritz it all over my face when my skin feels irritated and flaky. The ACV evens out the skin tone, kills bacteria, balances my skin’s pH levels and is a supreme blood purifier.

Suffering from dandruff? Add a generous amount of ACV with Mother to bath water, lean back to immerse entire back of head up to hairline and gently massage scalp with fingertips. Do this a few times a week and you’ll be amazed how quickly pesky dandruff (caused by bacteria and yeast) disappears. This also removes all the buildup gunk in hair. Enjoy your new silky soft mane! And don’t worry about the strong vinegar smell lingering in hair – it quickly dissipates.

I love this stuff so much, I even ingest a tablespoon of ACV with Mother every day internally for its blood purifying properties and for a boost of energy. Just be careful – the acid may wear away at tooth enamel when used over the long term. To counter this problem, add a tablespoon of ACV with Mother to hot water (you can also mix in a bit of honey to mask the yucky vinegar flavor if the taste makes you gag) and try to sip through a straw, allowing the liquid to fall to the back of throat.

At times I’ll notice tiny bumps forming on my arms and chest, which is usually caused by dry skin and eczema when hair follicles become clogged with oil. When I notice these, I spritz ACV with Mother directly to the area and the little buggers disappear overnight. Any acidic based moisturizer will also work to unclog these little annoyances when they sprout up.

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Raw honey is liquid gold for the skin. Honey kills bacteria, viruses and fungus and is an amazing moisturizer as well as another great counter to acne. This is by far my favorite homemade facial mask. Simply apply raw honey all over face and neck (the fingertips will warm the honey enough to allow it to glide on smoothly) and let sit for 20 minutes or more.

I love letting my honey mask sit on overnight. Since your skin warms the honey as you sleep, parts of it will dribble off onto the pillow. But for me the outcome is worth every bit of the small mess it creates. I don’t mind washing my pillowcases afterward because I’m always amazed at how calm, soft and glowing my skin feels in the morning after rinsing the honey off. I receive so many compliments on my complexion!

I slather honey on my lips as well for another great (and yummy) lip gloss – it makes lips unbelievably soft and the sugars in the honey are a natural exfoliator. Honey also has amazing healing properties and makes a great natural antiseptic. Apply honey to wounds to kill bacteria, lessen the probability of a deep scar forming and to prevent infection.

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Here are some other useful beauty tips I’ve acquired over the years.

Need exfoliation fast? Open a sugar packet and add a few drops of olive oil, gently apply to your face and rinse with tepid water. Mix instant oatmeal and water for another wonderful homemade exfoliating mask

Brighten teeth instantly by gurgling with Hydrogen Peroxide. Swish in mouth and be very careful not to swallow! You’ll look like a rabid dog by the time you spit the solution out, but try to hold the foam in your mouth as long as possible for optimal whitening results. And as a reader pointed out, using an incorrect concentration of peroxide can damage the enamel on your teeth. Always read the label on the bottle to be certain the concentration is safe for oral use.

Detoxify your skin … with kitty litter! This is one of those dirty little secrets you’ll pay hundreds of dollars for at the spa. You can have the same treatment in your own home for so much cheaper. Simply purchase a bag of 100% natural clay kitty litter (be sure to select a formula without clumping or any added chemicals or additives) and add a small amount of water to liquify. Apply to your face and entire body. Violà, an instant spa formula and invigorating mineral treatment!

Suffering from greasy, oily skin? Mash up a ripened tomato and apply the mush directly to your face. Leave on for at least 20 minutes and rinse with tepid water. Here’s another great recipe to unclog pores. Apply crushed cucumber pulp all over problem areas- it’s fabulous!

Getting itchy fingers and wanna mush up some more fruit? Try a banana this time. Smush a banana and add a tiny amount of honey to form a soft paste and apply the delectable goo directly to the face. Still have a few spare bananas on hand? Go ahead and eat one, then apply the smooshy rest to your hair as well. Now tell me beauty isn’t fun!

Crisco is a highly effective moisturizer and another big secret among Hollywood beauties. Hospitals even use this stuff (disguised under a different name, cream “C”) to treat skin conditions, like psoriasis.

Use powdered milk in the bath for a natural lactic exfoliator and silky smooth skin – you’ll quickly realize why milk and honey bathes were adored by Cleopatra. Milk is also a beauty secret used among many in the fashion industry. Instead of cleansing with water, many models simply refresh their face in the morning with a splash of milk!

Need an instant face lift? You’ll spend quite a chunk of change at the beauty counter by purchasing firming creams to tighten your face up. Try this instead. Crack one egg, remove the yolk and beat the egg white until frothy. Apply the egg white froth generously to face and neck and allow to set for at least twenty minutes. But don’t plan on trying to move your face or eating for a bit! After a few moments, you’ll immediately start to feel the ‘tightening’ effects. Lightly rinse with tepid water when finished.

Trying to lose weight but battling an irresistible sweet tooth? Consider jelly beans for a light calorie snack. Fresh fruit like strawberries and blueberries are an even sweeter alternative. Go ahead and mush some on your face while you’re at it (the fruit, not the jelly beans!)

To combat puffy swollen eyes, cucumber slices are the oldest beauty trick in the book. Don’t have any on hand? Try some of these other remedies instead. The potassium in raw potato slices works wonders for sore achy eyes and dark circles. Still stuck for a quick solution? Put two large spoons in the freezer for twenty minutes. Lay down, gently press the backs of the spoon to your eyes and say, “ahhhh”.  Hold for at least ten minutes to ‘wake up’ tired peepers.

Need a good conditioning solution for dry, brittle hair? Mix one egg, a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of olive oil and apply to wet hair. Cover with a shower cap and let sit for at least an hour before rinsing.

For a quick alternative to hairspray, dissolve a tablespoon of sugar in hot water in a spray bottle and wait for it to cool.

Dandruff can be stubborn and persistent, and dry itchy scalps are no fun. Soak scalp in Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother a few times a week as mentioned above. Add a large handful of crushed aspirin tablets to your favorite bottle of shampoo to further combat flakes.

For blemishes on face, try the famous aspirin mask. The acetylsalicylic acid in aspirin is excellent for oily, acne-prone skin. Dissolve three to five uncoated aspirin in water and apply to red areas and blemishes. Allow aspirin to penetrate facial pores at least twenty minutes before rinsing.

For a quick boost, bend over at the waist (pretend like you’re pulling your head toward your knees, but allow your head and arms to just dangle) and hold the position for at least 30 seconds. This will not only invigorate your entire body, but your complexion will also get a rosy boost as well. If you’re somewhere where you’ll look absolutely ridiculous doing this, take off your shoes and gently roll a plastic water bottle back and forth under the arch of your foot for another revitalizing effect.

For a nasty red pimple, apply a bit of Visine to a cotton swab and hold the swab on your blemish for twenty seconds.

Eat a snippet of parsley for instant fresh and kissable breath.

Traveling, but suffer from a weak stomach? Eat candied ginger or peppermint to instantly soothe an unsettled tummy.

Shave your bikini line using Neosporin (an insider trick of lingerie models and porn stars) for a smooth, soothing shave and to eliminate redness, irritation and bumpiness.

Buy Vitamin E and Vitamin A capsules from your local health food store. Prick open and apply to your favorite inexpensive moisturizer for added lushness without the expensive price tag.

I routinely apply a dash of self-tanner to face and arms for that sun-kissed glow – and skip makeup all together! Fake Bake was a favorite of mine in the past, but it also darkened facial pores so I switched to Clarin’s Self-Tanning Bronzing Gel. Experiment a bit with different products to see what works best on your skin tone.

Build your own garden and you’ll have a majority of these beauty products right in your backyard. This year I spent less than $30 at the nursery for cucumbers, acorn squash, romaine and butter crunch lettuce, celery, broccoli, bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. My garden has flourished and I’ve saved a bundle on food shopping.

What are some of your unconventional beauty secrets?

~†~ Baby Steps Are Key ~†~ Your beauty is your own unique canvas. Do something every day to make an effort to pamper yourself. Be playful with new ideas in your beauty ritual and indulge every part of your skin. Never be afraid to recreate yourself.
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Related Posts:

1. Crash Course In Cutting Your Own Bangs
2. Uncluttering the Closet Monster
3. Whipping Up Simple Tasty Meals For Quality Nutrition
4. Fit Nation – Time To Whip My Buns Into Gear

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Financial Resources

Today I set aside the earlier bulk of the afternoon to take a field trip to my library and stock up on reading material. Here are some of the treasures I extracted.

Currently Reading:

• “Smart Women Finish Rich” by David Bach
• “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason
• “The Millionaire Mind” by Thomas J. Stanley

Currently on Request from Scattered Local Branches:

• “The Millionaire Next Door” by Thomas Stanley & William Danko
• “One Minute Millionaire” by Victor Hansen & Robert Allen
• “The Bogleheads Guide to Investing” by Taylor Larimore et al.

What I’ve Finished Reading:

• “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey
• “Young, Fabulous and Broke” by Suze Orman
• “The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom” by Suze Orman
• “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki
• “The Automatic Millionaire” by David Bach
• “The Road to Wealth” by Suze Orman
• “The Courage to be Rich” by Suze Orman

I also curled up in a comfy chair in the corner for an hour and browsed through some articles in Money Magazine, Kiplingers and Business Week.

I ♥ my library.

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Living frugally means attempting to save money where you can, rather than blowing your earnings faster than your bank account can absorb it. Frugality sometimes has a bad stigma attached to it, and some people mistakenly perceive frugalness with just being a plain crabby and cheap tightwad. However, using craftily saved money towards a desired goal is much smarter than using earned money, and here’s why.

Taxes.

Let’s say you really have your heart set on a new Plasma television for around $1,000. You have two choices. You can either cut back on your other expenses to salvage enough from your current savings, or you can start increasing your earnings, let’s say by taking on a temporary second job.

Once state and federal taxes have wrecked havoc on your paycheck, however, you’ll need to earn more than $1,000 in the end – hundreds more, in fact. For our coveted Plasma television, we’ll actually need to earn roughly $1,400 to cover all mandatory taxes from our paycheck.

If we instead chose to cut back in other areas of our life to use savings that have all ready been taxed, we can then plop down $1,000 and be done with it – without enduring the stress or time wasted of assimilating a second job.

This is why many financial advisors view frugality as a wonderful way to “earn” money through savings, without the headache and hassle of working more to achieve the same goal.

So how can we become more frugal to save on current earnings?

The next time you buy a product without regard to price, consider further options to help you “earn” more through savings. Here are some suggestions.

Coupons – Using coupons and coupon codes for online shopping can help save you mega bucks over time.

• Cool Savings offers a wide assortment of printable coupons on groceries, baby goods, free items, freebies, and much more.
• Coupon Cabin has the option to search for relevant coupons by item category, specific store, or by state, to locate specific malls in your area. I love this site!
• ValPak asks for your zip code, and your ready to roll.
• Custom Coupon offers hundreds of coupons on everyday items, like cereal and yoghurt.
• Coupon Surfer is a great resource for coupons on groceries, children’s items, books, clothing, music, and much more.

All those coupons mean big savings. You could afford classes at online schools with enough financial tips. Don’t ever forget the power of little savings because they add up over time.

And this coupon list is by no means comprehensive. There are many sites out there geared toward helping you save on everyday items. Looking for dining coupons? Plug your area and “discount dining” into your favorite search engine and see what can be dug up.

This ABCNews article offers great advice on online shopping codes for even more savings. And another article from MSN Money shows consumers how to optimize savings to the max. With all these great resources at your fingertips on the web, you no longer have an excuse not to take advantage of nifty savings whenever possible.

Sales are also a great way to beef up your savings. If you find a coveted item, make sure to stock up during sales.

Comparison Shopping and Auction sites. Take advantage of comparison shopping and auction websites, which help find the best deals on an item. I’m in the process of putting together a more comprehensive list of resources, but here are two of my favorite sites to start.

• eBay is now the world’s largest auction site. I use eBay for just about everything. I can find many items for much less than at traditional stores, even with the shipping costs, and it saves gas money to boot.
• mySimon is a great comparison shopping engine which lists the online prices for a given product at many different stores. Compare prices and watch the savings roll in.

Learn to be a gourmet chef and eat in more. You’ll be amazed at the ridiculous amounts you’ll save just by not eating out so much. Buy foods in bulk when possible for even more savings, or find dining coupons when you do decide to treat yourself.

Avoid impulse buying. This is a great incentive for bringing cold hard cash along on your shopping sprees. Have a clear idea of what you’re looking for and stick to it. If you stumble across something you’re absolutely salivating to buy, give it a day or two before going back to make the purchase. Impulse buying used to be a huge money-waster for me, and it was usually on crap I didn’t even need.

Buy generic brands. Most stores are psychologically set up so that the most expensive brands are placed eye-level to the customer on the shelf. Consider looking upward or downward for cheaper generic brands. They cost less, but are just as effective.

Consignment shops, second hand stores & yard sales. Gently-used clothing stores can save you big money. I once bought a great hoodie for $1, and it’s still my most comfy one! Consider selling your gently used clothing to some of these places for an added bonus.

Library. Your local library is an often overlooked but valuable resource as well. A good library is stocked with loads of books and DVDs that can be borrowed for free. For a tiny fee, my library will also request titles from other branches if they don’t carry it themselves. The desired books or movies usually arrive for pickup at the nearest convenient location within 2-3 days. The fee here for this service is 25¢ per book, or $1.00 for a special Video or DVD request.

I ♥ my library.

~†~ Baby Steps are Key ~†~

Take advantage of great deals and start “earning” more on your savings

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