We all want to look our best, but the cost of beauty can be pretty high. According to a report published by American Salon, the average haircut for women ranges from $21 to $44—depending on the location and salon size. Additionally, manicures cost an average $20.53. Weekly manicures can drain your wallet by more than $1,000 each year.

In a study conducted by Sustainable Youth in conjunction with Kelton Research, one out of three American women said they would be willing to give up 10 percent of their savings in order to look 10 years younger for the rest of their lives. Looking good doesn’t have to cost a fortune; and certainly shouldn’t comprise your financial future. With a little creative maneuvering you can still care for your skin, hair, and nails without leaving a hole in your wallet. Check out the following beauty tips and look fabulous for less.

-Make an appointment at a barber/beauty college. Visit your local beauty college and get your hair done for a low cost or, in some cases, for free! It may sound scary to have an inexperienced aspiring stylist “practice” on you, but a licensed professional is also onsite supervising.

-Find great skin/hair products in your home. Olive oil has many nutritional values in many areas besides cooking. It is good for your hair and skin. Pour a little olive oil in your bath for a great skin softener or try using it as a conditioner for your hair. It’s also a great cleansing cream. One tube of Vaseline can be used 50 different beauty ways including – lip gloss, cuticle cream, lotion, healing cream for dry skin on elbows and feet, and a quick faux eyelash extender.

-Give yourself a mani/pedicure. You don’t have to spend salon prices for a good manicure and pedicure. You can pamper yourself at home by buying a home-spa kit. Call up five of your closest friends and make it a girl’s night!

-Get your hair done on a Monday or Wednesday. These are the days with the least amount of traffic for most salons, so the best deals are offered on these days to help drive business. Plus, you’ll get lots of attention from the stylist when business is slow.

-Research coupons and specials. A little research goes a long way. Look up coupons online or sign up for promotional events through email. Many of the leading cosmetic companies offer great summer deals as do many salons. Visit Web sites like Mommy$avesBig for valuable beauty coupons.

Finally, don’t forget that it’s important to treat yourself well—no matter what the circumstances. The economy is causing a lot of financial stress, which can have a profound effect on your overall physical health. No amount of cosmetics will reverse the negative affects of worrying, so follow the number one beauty tip – always find time to distress.

Merriam-Webster recently announced their new words for 2009. In addition to many tech-related words such as vlog and webisode, one of the new words added to this year’s version of the dictionary is staycation.

stay·ca·tion
Pronunciation: \ˈstā-ˈkā-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: blend of stay and vacation
Date: 2005
: a vacation spent at home or nearby
— stay·ca·tion·er \ˈstā-ˈkā-sh(ə-)nər\ noun

While the word may be new, the concept is an old one. Not to date myself, but when I was a kid, air travel seemed like a luxury–we even dressed up to fly! Most of our “vacations” consisted of driving to a relative’s or friend’s house for the day (which I guess is now being called a “daycation”; however, that word hasn’t made the dictionary yet!)

Staycation is a buzz word right now because people are stretched financially. But no matter what the economy is like, I think there are a lot of benefits to exploring your own backyard. Every state has things worth exploring and we tend to take them for granted. Would you believe that I lived in Arizona for eight years before ever visiting the Grand Canyon!?!

If you haven’t taken a good look around lately, visit the local Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Bureau to find out about free or low-cost entertainment and activities. You may be surprised to discover museums, community concerts, annual festivals, art exhibits, fairs and craft shows to enhance your summer without breaking your budget. Or consider some free “old-fashioned” fun like fishing, hiking, or biking.

This week, we’re talking travel!

I recently went on what was supposed to be an inexpensive trip. Being a first time cruiser, I wasn’t fully aware of the costs associated with sea travel. As a communicator, I should have recognized the fact that the deal sounded too good to be true; however, my desire to travel overpowered my common sense. Here are some examples of the “too good to be true” sales pitches that had me packing my bags and blowing my budget.

What they said: “All meals are included.”
What they meant: There will be food available while you are on the boat.
When you get off the boat (and believe me, you will want to get off the boat!), you are on your own. Lunch and snacks in tourist towns can be really costly. In one port, I paid $3 for a bottle of water. Also, be sure you know what is included in the all-inclusive meal plan—many ships charge for “extras” like alcoholic beverages, soda, and even ice cream.

What they said: “You can see a lot in a short period of time.”
What they meant: You can get to a lot of places in a short period of time.
To actually see a lot, you will pay a lot. On my trip, the average shore excursion was around $60 per person; more elaborate excursions cost well over $100 per person. We found out the hard way that venturing out on our own was harder and no cheaper.

What they said: “We are equipped with the latest in communication technology.”
What they meant: Good luck trying to get online.
I paid $60 for an hour of Internet service. During my 60 minutes, the connection dropped four times. During many portions of the trip, there was no service at all (I’m sure some people found that relaxing—I am not one of those people!) I was able to use my cell phone occasionally; however, I used it sparingly to avoid international roaming charges.

What they said: “Enjoy our first-class service.”
What they meant: You are expected to tip well for everything.
When I went to pay the final bill, I found that they had added automatically added $15 gratuity per day for me and another $12 gratuity per day for my children. The tip was split among people who worked in many areas of the ship where we never once set foot. I visited the office to have the amounts adjusted more appropriately. While the total amount of the tip did not decrease (and the $200+ really impacted our overall cost of the cruise), I was happy to be able to give our very patient evening waiter his fair share.

What they said: “We have some great last-minute deals.”
What they meant: The cost of the cruise may be affordable; however, getting to the ship is another story.
We booked the cruise before booking the plane tickets and that turned out to be a costly mistake. There are some great last minute deals on sea travel, but last minute air travel is expensive.

Don’t get me wrong, the trip was amazing (except for the missed flight—but I’ll save that story for another day!) My only advice is to take your time and consider the total cost of the trip so you don’t go overboard and sink into debt (sorry, I couldn’t resist!)