Start at home with older brothers and sisters, then ask grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, and so forth. Specific requests, asked nicely, can sometimes yield great results. You may be doing them a favor--sometimes people have quite a stash of items that are too good to get rid of, but also do not want to just throw out. Also consider people who have access to get items inexpensively. Maybe your cousin who works at a store has a 20% employee discount, and would be happy to help you get a great price on items there. Check your local Freecycle.org website for items people are giving away for free. You can also make requests, if necessary. Craigslist.org is also a site in which people in a local area sell items (typically inexpensively) or even for free. Also check websites which are community-based. For instance, in Vermont, USA there is frontporchforum.com, which has bulletin postings based on one's town. Paper, envelopes, 3-ring binders, folders, and more can be re-used without having to buy new. Warning: never take stationery or other office supplies from work without asking, though, or you could lose your job for stealing. Usually offices are happy to no have to throw away office supplies, and may even qualify for a tax write-off. Businesses will often have free notepads, pens, pencils, sticky notes, and water bottles at various events or in-store. Although you are unlikely to get "big ticket" items this way, these items are free!

Summary: Ask other friends and family members what they have that they do not need anymore. Try websites that post free items. If you work somewhere that is getting rid of its stationery supplies (such as for a change in logo or address), ask your boss if the spare, unwanted items can be donated to the school. Ask for free promotional giveaway items.

It's hard to stick to just about anything if we don't have something to work toward. Whether it's your job, a diet, or a new habit you're trying to develop (or an old habit you're trying to kick), goals can help keep you on the right track. Here are a couple of examples: Time how many steps you take in one minute. Do this three times a day (any more and you might wear yourself out) and watch your numbers slowly climb up. Match pace to the fastest songs on your playlist, back to back. Use markers to walk quickly towards. See that bench up there? You're going to power walk all the way to it, resisting the urge to slow down. Walks, especially for fitness or weight loss purposes, can feel more effective if you're monitoring your progress and heart rate. A pedometer can show you how many steps you've taken. Believe it or not, it's recommended we each walk 12,000 to 15,000 steps a day. As for your heart rate, it depends on your level of physical fitness and your age. There are many charts available online; what's your training heart rate? Increase your workout time 10% each week. If you're walking 30 minutes 4 days a week (a good place to start), move to 33 minutes each session. This is a healthy percentage that won't leave you injured or fatigued. If you don't have a way to electronically measure your progress (like through an app on your phone) and you're not on a track where the laps measure your distance and you can time yourself, start counting your steps. How many can you do in 20 seconds? Then multiply by 3. If you're speeding along at at least 120 steps per minute (40 steps in 20 seconds, or 2 steps a second), that's 3 mph, which is the minimum pace for what's considered fitness walking. However, ideally, you'll be around 4 to 4.5 mph. The faster you go, the more health benefits you'll reap. To get even more out of your walks, stop every 5 or 10 minutes or so to do a few push-ups or some lunges. The extra burst of a work out is akin to interval training, surprising your body, using more muscle groups, and revving up the calorie burn. It may also keep you going longer. After a few push-ups and jumping jacks, your body may welcome the sweet release that is fast walking. There has been a ton of research as of late that says walking is as good, if not better, than running. And while that's true, it seems only to be true if you're walking at or around 4 mph. The benefits decrease (and in some cases become nonexistent) the slower you go. It used to be believed that if you walked at, say, 2 mph but for twice the amount of time, that it was virtually the same workout. It's now been shown that while you may burn a similar number of calories, your muscles just aren't putting in the work that they need to do to keep your body fit.

Summary: Set goals. Wear a heart-rate monitor or pedometer. Monitor your pace. Stop every so often for some strength training exercises. Know that to reap the health benefits, you've got to walk quickly.

When it comes to formal events, clip-on bow ties are never acceptable. Look for a sturdy fabric in a color that either complements your tuxedo or your date's outfit. The edges of the bow should align with the outer corners of your eyes. If you've never tied a bow tie, now is the time to learn! There are many different styles, but the classic semi-butterfly is the most popular. If you're having trouble, ask the tailor to help you tie the perfect bow. Pick out silver or gold cufflinks with gems or engraving on them. If you have a watch with a metal or leather band, you should wear it to the event. It'll help with staying on time, and it gives a more professional appearance. You can also wear jewelry like small chain necklaces or rings, as long as the metals don't clash with each other or look gaudy. A few days before the event, get a haircut and tame any facial hair. Good grooming pulls the outfit together and is important for appearing tasteful. On the day of the event, wear your hair slicked back or styled. Remember to trim your fingernails and shape your eyebrows, as well. You can get a manicure and an eyebrow wax at a salon or spa.

Summary: Pick the best bow tie for your outfit and face. Accessorize your look with cufflinks and jewelry. Make sure you look clean and polished.

Wrap the measuring tape around the neck, beginning at about one inch from the meeting of your neck and shoulders. This may also coincide with the bottom part of your Adam's apple. Come fully around the neck, leaving no dangling space in between the neck and the tape. Don't pull too tightly so as to create unnecessary tension, just enough so that you are getting a true measurement. Make sure the tape is level and not being held at an angle. This is the actual neck size. The dress shirt size will be half an inch bigger. For example, if you measure your neck to be exactly 15 inches (38 cm) around, then your dress shirt size will be 15 inches (39.5 cm). If you measured on a 1/4 inch/centimeter, then round up to the nearest 1/2 inch/centimeter. For example, if your neck size was 16.25, round up to 16.5. Your neck size should range between about 14 - 19 inches or 35.5 - 48.3 centimeters.
Summary: Start your measurement. Hold the tape tight. Note the measured number.