We all want to look good, but when the economy isn’t doing well and we know we should be saving for a rainy day, it can feel like we need to choose between either looking our best or being financially responsible.
However it is possible to look good without it costing you an arm and a leg, so if you’re planning to knuckle down and save for that car, vacation, house, or another big purchase, here are some ways you can look good while still saving money:
Working out give us endorphins which naturally make us feel better about ourselves, but it also increases blood flow to the skin, making us look younger, wide awake, and giving us a glow. When we’re exercising regularly, we’re toning our bodies and ensuring we’ll fit our clothes, improving our posture and often losing weight as well.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive gyms or health clubs, and you can find a number of ways to get an excellent workout without breaking the bank.
Head to the local park and go for a run (you may even want to set yourself a goal of running a 5km or 10km eventually), grab that old bike and go cycling, grab a friend for a hike, or get online and see the plethora of yoga, pilates and HIT training videos you can choose from on YouTube (many of them free).
We all need to buy clothes and makeup eventually, and instead of feeling guilty that you’re going to be spending money on “frivolous items”, use Groupon Coupons at your favourite stores to save plenty of cash. There are many different stores that have these coupons available, and since you’re shopping online you won’t feel tempted by all the cute little items you often see at the checkout.
You can shop at stores like Sephora, Victoria’s Secret and Bare Necessities, all while saving some serious cash. Now that’s a win/win.
When you’re trying to save money, eating out is naturally going to ruin your budgeting, although grabbing take-out or getting delivery is tempting when you’ve had a long day and don’t feel like cooking, this is one of the key reasons why people end up putting on weight. Instead, go shopping on the weekend and commit to some serious meal prep.
Put on some fun music and spend a few hours cooking, and you’ll have healthy, filling meals to come home to every night (you can even do lunches as well). Make sure you have plenty of protein and vegetables and your skin will be clear, you’ll have more energy, and you’re likely to sleep better as well.
Need a facial? There are so many recipes online that will give you great skin with ingredients you’re likely to have in your fridge- whatever your skin type. Hair a bit dry? Some coconut oil, honey and a couple of egg yolks will have it shiny in no time. Spend some time on Pinterest and you’ll find a variety of ways to save cash while still looking cute.
So many people have “great ideas” for a business, but many of them don’t end up following through for one reason or another. So, what happens if you’ve got this great idea that you’ve been thinking of for ages and you want to follow through and turn it into a money-making business? Of course, there are never guarantees in the world of start-ups, but there are some steps you can take that will help increase your odds of success.
As your idea starts to take on a more concrete form, it’s time to start thinking about specifics. One of the specifics should be whether or not this is going to be a solo venture, or if you want to take on a partner. While you may like the idea of flying solo and being in charge of your own destiny, taking on a partner can have benefits as well.
Tai Lopez is well-known in the business world as being a top-notch advisor, investor, and a social media guru. He is also responsible for the 67 Steps program, which is meant to help people achieve what they want in their personal and business life. Partnerships are something he has discussed in length, pointing out the pros and cons.
A partner can bring all kinds of things to the table that you may not be able to bring. They can help where investment capital is concerned, knowledge, expertise, and just be a fresh set of eyes when it comes to decisions and problems facing the business. A partner can also open the door to contacts that you may not have.
As Lopez points out, in order for a partnership to be successful the partners should complement each other’s skillsets, strengths, and weaknesses.
Another big part of getting your business off the ground is to figure out your financing. This involves more than just getting cash, it also requires you to think about how much money your business needs to get started and stay operational. You will need to consider such things as office space, equipment/tools, inventory, staff, supplies, licenses and permits, etc.
There will be some areas that you can cut costs on, but others don’t allow for much wiggle room. If you are producing/manufacturing goods you may want to consider outsourcing. In the long-run this can prove to be a huge money-saver.
At the same time you need to be asking yourself whether or not there is a market for your idea/product/business. There needs to be an audience of potential customers or else you won’t be successful. Market research is the way you’ll be able to determine whether or not your idea has a place.
Before your business opens its doors, you will want to get on-board with social media. This is another area that Lopez excels in and places a lot of importance. In today’s business world, there is no way around it, it’s absolutely necessary to have an online presence in terms of social media. YouTube is arguably the most influential social media network, but the others all follow closely behind.
Social media offers businesses a way to connect with new and existing customers, build brand awareness, and become known as an “expert” in their field.
Taking that idea and transforming it into a successful business is not a quick or easy task. It takes plenty of motivation, drive, and expertise. This is exactly why these tips are so important and can help to pave the road to success.
Fashion stalwart Dior is joining the virtual reality bandwagon with the launch of Dior Eyes, a VR headset designed to give users an exclusive back-stage pass to the inner workings of the house and its latest Ready-to-Wear shows. Available to “selected boutiques” at an undisclosed price sometime in the near future, the headset is meant to provide the voyeuristic fashion lover a feel for the high energy, professional lives of the players behind the runway. Its sleek black 3D printed body and backlit logo are representative of the style with which the fashion house has carried itself over the past half-century. The move is reminiscent of YSL’s foray into Google Glass makeup tutorials last year, which were filmed from the artists POV to allow for an easy recreation of any given look. And while that venture has sort of fallen off (due in large part to the failure of Google Glass), it provided a service and not mere participation. While at the forefront of fashion VR, Dior’s exclusivity on where and who will have access to the experience may be damaging if what they seek is communicative integration with their fan base. Why not offer all who walk into any Dior store the same backstage involvement? At the same time, Dior is a name that has built its fortune on the foundation of exclusivity, so the move may actually be brilliant indeed. The headset drops in the spring of...
This week’s crowdfunding charts saw quite an array of new projects take off, from massaging head bands to… sex toys. In our third installation of the Crowdfunding Charts, we’ve gathered the best Indiegogo and Kickstarter had to offer. What hit crowdfunding this week Lovely on Indiegogo Started: June 2 Goal: $95,000 Raised as of June 5: $4,577 Well. There really is a wearable for everything. Lovely is a wearable sex toy that functions as a sexual activity tracker, vibrator, and sex coach. If you’re looking to improve your sex life and see real, quantifiable results, this crowdfunding campaign is just for you. Lovely’s smartphone app shows you different sex positions to try out, kind of like a personalized Cosmo sex tips column. It’s definitely the most unique crowdfunding find of the week, and the San Francisco startup has been grabbing attention from the likes of Engadget, Glamour, and more. Gloveone on Kickstarter https://d2pq0u4uni88oo.cloudfront.net/projects/1869031/video-545282-h264_high.mp4 Started: June 1 Goal: $150,000 Raised as of June 5: $45,040 It’s time to take virtual reality gaming a step further. VR company NeuroDigital Technologies, based in Miami and Almeria, Spain, launched a Kickstarter campaign for virtual reality gloves. Gloveone aims to add to the existing VR experience the sense of touch, making VR more realistic than ever. NeuroDigital Technologies is using the money raised to fund its prototype manufacturing, and backers can test out the prototypes themselves. Gloveone is now a Kickstarter Staff Pick after only being on the platform for four days. It’s fundraising goal is high at $150,000, but we think it has a solid chance of reaching its goal before the deadline. What’s hot this week HidrateMe Smart Water Bottle on Kickstarter https://d2pq0u4uni88oo.cloudfront.net/projects/1845469/video-543231-h264_high.mp4 Started: June 1 Goal: $35,000 Raised as of June 5: $134,177 (goal reached!) Fitness and health wearables are among the most popular, but HidrateMe is among the first to track not your activity, but your water intake. Sure, there are smartphone apps where you can enter how many ounces of water you’ve had that day — or you can just use your brain. But why do that when this smart water bottle can do it for you? HidrateMe is a highly stylized water bottle that connects to your phone using Bluetooth. Its app can adjust how much water you need to drink based on your fitness levels, weight, and location. It comes in a variety of colors and has a battery life of over a year, so charging isn’t necessary. In just four days, HidrateMe raised well over its crowdfunding goal. Plate Your Apple Watch with 24k Gold on Kickstarter https://d2pq0u4uni88oo.cloudfront.net/projects/1797740/video-536514-h264_high.mp4 Started: May 11 Goal: $1,500 Raised as of June 5: $30,620 (goal reached!) Let’s be real:...