A little goes a long way… let’s talk hair & nails!
Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 11:21AM Today's post written by Kara-Noel of Eli's Lids
Cut. Color. $150.
Even if you don’t go to a cutting edge salon (you know where they serve champagne during your cut and everyone wears designer black) personal grooming can add up!
Let’s look at what my family’s hair could cost…
Me – cut/trim & color, $175 (tip included) every 8 weeks = $1050
Hubby – cut, $25 (tip included) every 5 weeks = $250
Eli – cut, $20 (tip included) every 6 weeks = $160
Cora – trim, $20 (tip included) every 3 months = $80
Added up that’s $1540 per year!
What would you do with 1,500 bucks right now? Vacation? College fund? Student loans? Credit card debt?
It’s easy to get the hair bill down. REALLY!
Here are some tips, from simple to drastic, to get that money building your bank account or getting rid of debt:
- Work out a deal. If you have a “hair gal” that you LOVE, tell her your $ circumstances and see if she can do something. Some salons are flexible and she may be able to work with your budget. Chances are she’ll want to keep you and take a cut.
- Spread out your cuts. If you wait twice as long you’ll bill will be cut in half.
- Downgrade your salon. Instead of the posh salon and the super kid friendly place check out a walk-in place or your local beauty school. The prices are great at beauty schools and there is always a teacher looking over the student’s shoulder to make sure your hair isn’t ruined.
- Home care. We have clippers and I bought haircutting scissors at the Swapper for $10. I trim up and buzz the boys here at home. Box color is very inexpensive but is rough on your hair. Condition!
- No color! Go green.
Nails…
This mama loves a relaxing pedicure… but this mama also wants to buy a home someday! My husband and I tease each other that I only get a pedicure before I have a baby so that’s why I have had 3 kiddos in less then 4 years! I do get pedicures a little more often than that, but we aren’t in the red.
In college I had fake nails and went for a fill and pedicure every 2 weeks. At $30 (including tip) a session I was spending $780 a year on nails! WOW!! Wish I could have that money back.
If you are in the red fake nails should go (GONE!!) and pedicures should be VERY rare. I budget a pedicure every 3-4 months. Sad for my feet happy for the House Fund!
Remember sacrificing a little (even for a short period of time) has huge long term effects on reducing your debt!
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debt free in Eli's Lids
Reader Comments (4)
Wow, I guess my husband is right....I am really low maintenance :P I cut my husband's hair, and all the kids' hair myself. Cost: A new set of clippers and scissors once a year. And for me I go to Super Cuts and pay $17 with tip for a haircut every 6 months or so....and cut it myself in between. I color it now and then....at home. I have never had a pedicure and cut my nails down to where there isn't even any white on them. Ah, the simple life :P
Great, practical post! It adds up! So many ways to cut little costs here and there...
Funny, I JUST cut Jesse's (2 yrs old) hair for the very first time. I love cutting their hair at home. There is something very intimate about cutting my husband's hair. I love doing it. It takes a long time. He thinks I am just making sure I get it even. I am really just relishing in the closeness! ;o)
Amen, my invisible friends! A little goes a long way. After writing this post it is so neat to see how many people do save money by cutting their kiddos and hubby's hair!