Frugal Style Tip: Everyone knows getting your hair colored can be quite costly. Everyone also knows doing it at home can possibly lead to a disaster (Who knew hair could turn that color?!). There is a solution to getting your hair done without spending an arm and leg while not risking the chance of doing it yourself at home. The answer: Students.

You could always swing by your local community college's cosmetic program and see if they offer any services by students. Often times, you can get your hair cut and colored for under $15.00 during student training. Nice, huh?

If you think it sounds at bit risky having students do your hair... it can be, of course. Luckily, there is always an instructor close by to swoop in and fix any problems. Look good and spend less! 

Is your home ready for 2012? Now the New Year has arrived and all the festivities are over, thoughts turn to decluttering the home. A cluttered home is not only unattractive, it can cause feelings of disharmony and anxiety. Follow the steps listed below to get rid of clutter in your home and have more peaceful living surroundings.


1. Clean out cabinets, drawers and refrigerators

• Go through all of your cabinets and drawers one by one. Throw away any paper clutter that is not necessary to hold onto, and file away needed receipts and paperwork in a special folder for safekeeping.

• Check your medicine cabinet for expired medication and toss whatever is past the date.

• You will also want to go through your pantry and refrigerator, throwing away moldy food items and anything that has expired. Make a point of using up any food that’s nearing its expiry date, to avoid it going to waste. Clean the shelves and the sides of the refrigerator, removing shelves that have stuck-on food for scrubbing in the sink.

2. Go through your closets

• Clean out your closets by discarding and/or giving away clothing items that you no longer wear or that no longer fit and cannot be repaired. If you have clothing that needs to be fixed and you are good with a needle, make the necessary alterations. If you can barely sew on a button, take the items to a seamstress or dry cleaner who performs alterations.

3. Inspect each room for clutter

• You can inspect your house, room by room, for clutter that needs to be removed. Pick up magazines and newspapers.

• Give away or refinish older pieces of furniture that no longer work in the room.

• If something is out of place, put it back where it belongs.

• Organize the kitchen by rearranging countertop kitchen appliances into a more pleasing arrangement. Store away any appliances that you may not use on a frequent basis. Put swivel organizers in your kitchen cabinets that will hold your spices and other items and enable them to be easy to access when needed.


4. Instruct your children about clutter

• Give your children proper instructions on how to keep their rooms clean. They should put their dirty clothing into the hamper instead of just tossing items on the floor.

• Toys should be put away when they are no longer being used, and children should also make their own beds when they are old enough. It is good for kids to learn how to be responsible at an early age.


5. Remove clutter from walls

• If you have wall hangings that you no longer enjoy, remove them and store them away. Your home is your haven; keep your walls free of anything that does not inspire you. Leave up any paintings and photos that create a happy ambience and help to engender good feelings in you.

6. Make money from your clutter

• If any of the items you’re discarding are in good condition, you could try to make some cash by selling them on Ebay or Craigslist. This is a good way to sell furniture. If you have lots of smaller items, collect them all together in a box and when the weather improves in the spring have a yard sale.

If you tackle the job of decluttering your home one task at a time, it will not seem so overwhelming. In no time at all, your house will be free of clutter and will truly be a welcoming environment.

This is a guest post from Karen Barnes, who writes for a site all about bedbugs. Decluttering leaves these pests nowhere to hide, and although Karen enjoys her annual clearout in January, she tries to keep her home organized year round.

My favorite season of all times has always been autumn, it brings joy to the entire family. Though the days are short and cold there is magic in the air. Love every bit of it; the surroundings are vibrant and so full of life and color. Autumn always remind me of-How blessed my life is and What Family means. Time just flies and we have to be prepared right in time to welcome the new season. Can you believe we are already in the beginning of October? It seems like it wasn't long ago when we had barbeques in the patio and enjoying getting a tan.

This list will make life a lot stress free when the snow is round the corner. There are some things that need to be prioritized and done in order. We all have hectic lifestyles and time is of essence in our lives. Do not get into it right away, manage efficiently and prepare yourselves do a couple of errands in weeks time. Life is a lot simpler if we have a list that is jotted down in easy to follow points. We all live in different parts of the world; this list is targeted to the users who have all the four seasons.

1. Taking Care of the garden: Be it a small patio or a large vineyard, each and every kind needs care and love at this time of the year. If gardeners have plants staying outside in the winter weather there are several things they can do to help the plants stay healthy. The effort you put in now will reap its benefits in the summer when they are in full bloom. Plants such as roses should be given minimal water just enough to moisten the upper soil. Use metal rakes to remove the yellow and faded leaves.
2. Store Away the Garden Tools: It is time to put away the lawn and Mower into the basement. Remove the hose pipe and cover the outlet with plastic. Sharpen the garden tools for pruning.
3. Change the furnace filter; it says it runs for 90 days. Trust me, I believe in the theory in the heating season it is better if changed once a month.
4. It is advisable to check for dampness in the basement and any loose outlets that allow for air inside. Get professional help and fix all the loopholes.
5. Cars are the only mode of transport from one corner to another. It is advisable to get a booking done and get it rechecked and while you are there get winter tires mounted right in time for snow.
6. Get the winter clothing out of the attic- Remove scarves, boots, gloves, heat pads out.
7. Prepare for freezing, ice, and snow: check your stock of ice melt, faucet covers, snow shovels, etc.

Hope you have a warm and snugly winter with this autumn checklist. Get your family involved and once all these errands are taken care of, you can have hot cups of coffee and cake and snuggle in the warm blankets when the time has come. Have a great and blessed autumn!!!

About the Author:Mary is a freelance guest writer for quite some years now.Gardening has always been my hobby and the colors of Autumn make it all the more interesting to write about. My other interests include Art, Home Design, Professional Resumes Careers and HR. Please visit the resumes blog for more information.