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Book I: Taking Charge of Your Finances
Use two-for-one coupons or share an entrée with your dinner companion
when you want to dine out.
Trade baby-sitting services with friends or relatives who also have
young children, to make going out occasionally more affordable.
Looking good for less
When you're rolling in dough, you can afford to spend a bundle on salons,
spas, personal trainers, and so on. But those are all luxuries you can't afford
right now. Here are suggestions for keeping yourself and your family looking
good for less:
Do your own manicures and pedicures, or get together with a girlfriend
and do them for each other.
Cut and color your own hair, get it cut and colored less frequently, or
look in your Yellow Pages or on the Web for a beauty school in your
area. Most beauty schools offer free or low-cost cuts and coloring so stu-
dents can hone their skills while being supervised by professionals.
Cut your family members' hair.
Get a massage at a massage school in your area. Find one in your local
Yellow Pages, or go to www·naturalhealers·com·
Eliminate expensive cosmetics, creams, and lotions. Although the pack-
aging may not be as attractive as what you find on the high-priced stuff,
drug store cosmetics, creams, and lotions usually do the job.
Minimize your use of dry cleaning, and wash and iron your own shirts,
blouses, and pants. If you hate ironing, watch TV or listen to music while
you work out those wrinkles.
If you belong to a health club and your membership is about to expire,
find a less-expensive alternative or -- if you rarely go -- cancel your
membership. Your local YMCA or community center may be an option.
Speaking of health, give up your nightly wine or beer. Not only do they
cost you money (see the sidebar "Just how much do your vices cost?"),
but they also increase the number of calories you consume each day
and jeopardize your health if you're a problem drinker.
Dressing for less
With a little planning and ingenuity, you and the rest of your family mem-
bers can look like fashion plates without paying top dollar. The key is to
