The Pros and Cons of Getting Your Beauty Tips Online

Are you interested in improving your appearance, at least beauty wise? If you are, you may have been told by those that you know to turn to the internet. While the internet is a great way to familiarize yourself with the latest in beauty trends, as well as learn how to properly apply makeup, get beauty product recommendations and so forth, you also need to be careful when doing so. Despite what you and others are often told, there are both pros and cons to getting your beauty and fashion information from the internet.

As previously mentioned, the internet is a great source of information, no matter what you are looking to research. That is one of the many pros or plus sides to using the internet to research beauty tips, tricks, techniques, and the latest beauty trends. You often have a number of different options. For example, you can visit traditional websites that just focus on beauty and fashion or you can visit the websites of popular printed beauty magazines. You may also be able to find strictly online versions of beauty magazines. These types of magazines are often referred to as online beauty magazines. Having a number of different resources at your tips is what makes the internet nice and convenient.

Although it is nice to be able to access to a number of online resources, when looking for beauty tips, tricks, trends, and techniques, you never really know what you will end up coming across. This is most evident when you come across a website that was designed by someone just like you, an everyday internet user. What you need to remember is that the internet allows just about anyone to post anything that they want online. Just because someone outlines a new beauty trend or gives you a product recommendation, it doesn’t mean that they are speaking the truth. You may not necessarily think about it at the time, but getting your information from unchecked sources may actually end up putting you and your health in danger.

Another one of the many pros or plus sides to using the internet to learn more about beauty is that it is free, at least to find what you are looking for. Most of the websites and resource guides that you will find online are free to access. As long as you take a minute to examine the information being given to you or the source of that information, you shouldn’t have a problem with using the internet to get beauty product recommendations or tips on how to apply makeup and other beauty care products. Depending on how often you search for beauty information, you may be able to save yourself a considerable amount of money by using the internet instead of buying printed fashion magazines, which can actually get quite costly overtime.

As outlined above, you can find beauty tips, tricks, and information on beauty trends by visiting beauty focused websites, reading online beauty magazines, as well by visiting the online websites of popular printed fashion magazines. Finding all of these resources is another one of the many pros to using the internet. When using the internet, it is easy to find whatever you are looking for. A simple standard internet search could help direct you to a popular online beauty website or it could even take you directly to what you were looking for, like tips on how to remove properly remove your makeup at night.

As you can see, from being outlined above, the internet is a great way to find information on beauty tips, tricks, and trends. If you are interested in improving the way that you wear your makeup, how you wear your hair, or the appearance of your skin, you may want to think about turning to the internet to do so. As a reminder though, it is important that you display caution and use your best judgment, especially with something important like beauty product reviews.

How Watching TV Can Help You Improve Your Beauty Knowledge

Are you interested in learning about beauty trends? If you are, you may have tried using the internet and you may even spent money on beauty books or beauty magazines, but have you ever thought about just turning your television on? If you have yet to take the television approach, you may want to think about doing so.

When it comes to learning more about popular beauty trends, there many individuals who wonder exactly how turning on the television can help. Well, if you are like many other Americans, there is a good chance that you have cable or satellite TV. If you do, this means that you often have access to a large number of channels. One or two of those channels may be referred to as beauty or fashion channels. These types of channels are where you may want to go to learn more about the latest in beauty or fashion tends. You may also find shows that help you learn how to properly apply your makeup and so forth.

In addition to television channels and shows that are devoted to fashion and beauty, you may also want to think about tuning into an entertainment show. Entertainments shows are shows that often cover the entertainment industry. It is not uncommon to find a popular celebrity being interviewed or shown on an entertainment show. As you likely already know, celebrities are often well known for their good tastes in fashion, as well as their beauty. By watching an entertainment show, you may able get a good look at some of you today’s hottest celebrities and the latest fashion and beauty trends they are sporting. In addition to traditional entertainment shows, you will also find that many news channels also have a small entertainment session.

It may even be a good idea to just sit down and start watching a television show or a movie, particularly one that is new or was just recently released. As it was previously mentioned, celebrities are often known for looking their best at all times, especially when they are on screen. If are looking for new ways to spice up your appearance, beauty wise, you may to examine some of the many fashions and beauty products that are shown your television screen. In a way, this won’t even seem like research to you. It is fun to watch TV and kind of amazing when you think about everything that you can learn from it.

In your search for beauty and fashion related programming, you will likely also come across infomercials. These are paid advertising slots. In addition to just selling a beauty product, many infomercials contain multiple product reviews and recommendations from others. While it is nice to find neat beauty products on your television screen, you need to remember that there are no guarantees. Infomercials are a great way to find and possibly buy beauty products, but they may not necessarily be the best at helping you understand the latest in today’s beauty trends.

As you can see, there are a number of different ways that you can use the television to help you learn more about beauty trends, as well as other beauty related issues. This is nice as television is likely something that you already have; therefore, no extra expenses need to be incurred. All you need to do is set aside a few minutes of your time, grab the remote and you should be good to go.

How to Find the Perfect Beauty School to Attend

Are you interested in perusing a career that is focused on fashion and beauty? If you are, you have number of different career opportunities and jobs to choose from. For instance, you can run your own fashion consultation business, run your own beauty salon, or even a beauty supply store. Although having your own business is nice, you can also work as a beauty supply store worker or be an employee at a beauty salon.

As you can see, you have a number of different jobs and career opportunities to choose from. The only thing that you need to remember is that it is sometimes difficult to get a job or run a successful business that is focused on beauty and fashion. Although it is more than possible to do so, you need to examine the competition. As beauty and fashion increase in popularity, more individuals want to work in that field. What you want to do is set yourself apart from everyone else. To do this, you may want to think about receiving the proper amount of education and training.

When it comes to receiving beauty education and training, you will find that you have a number of different options. For instance, there are two and four year colleges and universities that you can attend. These colleges and universities give you a college degree, one that is often for cosmetology. In addition to attending an accredited college or university, you can also attend a traditional beauty school. Beauty schools are often run by experts in the field and they are often more affordable to attend. While you may not necessarily receive a college degree for attending a beauty school, you should be able to walk away with a certificate of completion.

If you do decide that you would like to attend a college, university, or beauty school, to get the proper amount of beauty training, there are a number of important factors that you may want to take into consideration. One of those factors is the cost of doing so. Beauty schools can be fairly expensive to attend, especially if those schools are considered accredited colleges and universities. Yes, you may be able to financial aid, in the form of student loans, scholarships, and grants, but there are no guarantees. Before going broke trying to attend beauty school, you may want to make sure that it is a career that you are serious about. Also, if you are willing to relocate, it may be easier for you to find a more affordable beauty school or college to attend.

Reputation is also something that you should think about when looking to find a beauty school to attend. In all honesty, most colleges and universities have outstanding records; therefore, you may be making a good choice with attending one, even really any one. As for a beauty school that isn’t necessarily considered a college or university, you will want to be careful when making your choice. Some beauty schools come highly rated and recommended, but there are others that some employers are actually encouraged to stay away from. To ensure that your beauty training and education is well worth it, will help you get a job or help you start a successful business, you will want to make sure that you choose a beauty school that has an outstanding reputation.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many that you may want to take into consideration, when choosing a beauty school to attend. If you are interested in researching beauty schools, colleges, and universities on your own, you may want to think about turning to the internet. With a standard internet search, with a phrase like “beauty schools,” you should be able to find the online websites of numerous beauty schools, as well as colleges and universities that have cosmetology programs. If you are still in high school, you may want to think about approaching your guidance counselor for assistance.

How to Find the Perfect Beauty Pageant Dress for Your Child

Have you recently decided that you would like your child to enter into beauty contests? Whether your child is a toddler, a teen, or an elementary school aged child, it is likely that you will be in charge of choosing and buying a beauty pageant dress. A beauty pageant dress is an important part of a pageant; therefore, you will want to make sure that you take your time and choose the perfect beauty pageant dress for your child, not just any ole one.

One of the first things that many parents do is try to envision what type of dress they would like their child to wear. While this is more than possible to do, you never really know what you will find. Instead of wasting time discussing what you may or may not even come across, you may want to wait and save the discussions until after you start shopping. So, in that case, the first thing that you may want to do is head on down to your shopping mall or dress store.

Once you arrive at the store or stores that you would like to visit, you can start eliminating beauty pageant dress styles or colors almost right away. It is also advised that you bring your daughter along with you. If your daughter is unable to attend, for one reason or another, you can look, but you may want to hold off on buying. A beauty pageant dress is one that should be a joint decision between everyone involved, even your child, especially if she is a teenager. Once you and your daughter have a handful of beauty pageant dresses that they would like to at least try on, you will want to get started with doing so.

When it comes to trying on a beauty pageant dress, you will want to encourage your daughter to do more than just try on a dress. She will want to walk around in it, stretch a little, and so forth. Although a beauty pageant dress may be beautiful, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be comfortable to wear. Yes, in a beauty pageant beauty is more information than comfort, but if you daughter is uncomfortable in her dress then it may negatively impact her beauty pageant appearance.

Cost is another factor that you should also take into consideration. Yes, it is important that your daughter gets a beautiful beauty pageant dress, but you also need to make sure that you choose a dress that you can afford. There are too many horror stories associated with parents who lost their homes or their vehicles because they ended up investing too much money into their child’s quest to become a beauty pageant queen or princess. This is a mistake that you will want to try and avoid making yourself. In fact, you may even want to think about trying to find secondhand beauty pageant dresses.

Although secondhand beauty pageant dresses have this awful ring to them, at least to some parents, you may not have any other options if you are on a budget. You also need to remember that many beauty pageant dresses are only worn once or twice and many are well cared for. What does this mean for you and your child? It means that you may be able to walk away with a relatively new beauty pageant dress without having to go broke doing so. You may be able to find like-new beauty pageant dresses that cost half as much as the brand new dresses do.

It is also important to mention online shopping. You may be able to buy a beauty pageant dress online, in either new or used condition. The only downside to doing so is that it important to make sure that all measurements are correct. One simple mistake on a measurement and hundreds of dollars could be wasted on a beauty pageant dress that your child can’t even wear.

How to Find Free Beauty Tips Online

Are you interested in keeping up-to-date with the latest beauty trends or are you just looking for information on how you can properly apply your makeup? If you are, your first though may be to go out and buy a beauty magazine or even a number of them. Although beauty magazines are a great way to go about familiarizing yourself with popular beauty trends, there is a much easier way to do so as well. That way involves using the internet.

Perhaps, the best thing about using the internet to familiarize yourself with beauty tips is that it should be free to do. Online, you will find that you have access to a number of different resources. For instance, you can gain access to the online websites of printed magazines and these online websites often have sample articles from their magazines and much more. You may also be able to find online beauty magazines, which are like printed magazines, but in online only formats. There are also traditional websites out there that are made by beauty experts or even individuals like yourself that have a focus on beauty and fashion.

Now that you know where can find some free beauty tips online, you may be wondering exactly how you can go about doing so. If you are interested examining the online website of a well known and popular beauty magazine, you will want to try typing the magazine name and then “.com” in. This will usually bring you to the online website of a printed fashion or beauty magazine. Should you not be able to find the website yourself, you should be able to find it by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, you will want to search with the name of the magazine in question.

If you are interested in viewing an online beauty magazine, you will also want to perform a standard internet search. Online magazines are increasing in popularity, but they are still not as popular as most printed magazines; therefore, you will likely need a standard internet search to help you out. When performing your standard internet search, you may want to think about searching with phrases like “online fashion magazine,” or “online fashion magazines.” Your search results should include the links to the websites of online fashion magazines. The thing that you need to be on the lookout for is that a large number of fashion magazines are free to view, but not all are.

As for traditional websites that have a focus on beauty, you can also find these websites by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, you will want to keep what you are looking for in mind. For instance, if you are looking for age defying skincare cream recommendations, you may want to think about performing a search with phrases like “skincare cream recommendations,” or “age defying skincare products.” Customizing your search to include exactly what you are looking for is a great way to save yourself a lot of time.

As a reminder, using the internet to get free beauty tips, advice, and information on the latest beauty trends is a nice way to proceed, but it isn’t your only option. In addition to using the internet and buying printed beauty magazines, you may also want to think about turning on your television. There are now a number of shows on the air that have a focus on both fashion and beauty.

How to Find and Buy Affordable Beauty Products

Are you in need of beauty products? If you are interested in improving your appearance, beauty wise, you may be. If really haven’t placed much of a focus on your appearance, beauty wise, in the past, you may be a little bit surprised when you start shopping for beauty product and supplies. Unfortunately, that surprise will not always be a good one. You will likely find that many, in fact a large number of, beauty products are expensive. In fact, some may be so expensive that you may just want to turn around and walkout of the store and forever give up your quest to look “beautiful,” but you don’t have to. There are a number of different ways that you can go about finding affordable beauty products.

One of the easiest ways to find affordable beauty products is by visiting a retail store, like a beauty supply store, a fashion store, or a department store. What you will want to do is visit the store’s clearance or markdown sections. Most retailers, including beauty supply stores, have a clearance section that contains marked down beauty products. Most of the time, there is nothing wrong the products that are being discounted. When it comes to storefront stores, many retailers are limited on space; therefore, they regularly try to move out older products to make room for new ones. This common retail practice may be able to save you a considerable amount of money on beauty products.

In addition to having a clearance section or a markdown section, many retailers, including beauty supply stores, also regularly have sales. In fact, most retailers have large storewide sales once a week or so. If you are able to find a good store sale on beauty products, you may be able to save yourself a decent amount of money. It is common to find retailers that give you a percentage discount off of your order or a certain item. You may also see offers that are like buy one get one free or buy one get one half off. You should always try to check your local stores to see if they are having any sales and also check your newspapers for store sale fliers or inserts.

Although shopping at a local beauty supply store or another retailer is nice, you may also want to think about buying beauty products online. What is nice about buying beauty products online is that you often have hundreds of retailers to choose from. That actually translates into an unlimited number of beauty products for sale. Also, with the internet, you can easily compare prices and products, making it easier to find affordably priced beauty products. You will also be able to find beauty products for sale on online auction websites. Of course, you can make your purchases from there, if you want, but you need to review the person who you will be doing business with, like their feedback. Buying health and beauty products from someone who you don’t know is risky, as you can never be too sure about contaminations and such.

In addition to using the internet to find beauty products for sale online, you may also want to use the internet to find moneysaving coupons. It is common to find money saving coupons for certain products or certain retail sores. If you have a nearby beauty supply store and that store has an online website, you may want to see if they have any coupons for you to print off. You will also want to check the online websites of your favorite product manufacturers for the same. It may also be good idea to pick a copy of your local Sunday paper, as many Sunday papers are full of coupons, some of which may be for beauty products, like makeup, skincare products, and hair care products.

As you can see, there are a number of different ways that you can go about finding and buying affordably priced beauty products. Looking great or “beautiful,” may be important to you, but it isn’t something that should leave you broke.

How to Find a Beauty Supply Store

Are you looking to improve the way that you look? Although you may think that you need to start an exercise plan or go under the knife, you don’t necessarily have to. With recent developments in technology, there are now a number of beauty products that can help you improve your appearance, beauty wise. For instance, you can choose to color your hair if you wish to change the color of it, buy eye makeup to bring out the beautiful color of your eyes and so forth. However, if you are interested in turning to beauty products for assistance, you will need to find a beauty supply store to shop at.

When it comes to finding a beauty supply store to shop at, you will find that you have a number of different options. One of those options involves visiting your local shopping mall or shopping plaza. A large number of beauty supply stores are located inside these types of shopping centers. What is nice about beauty stores being located inside a shopping mall is that you can save buying your beauty products until you have to make a mall trip; there is no need to make a special trip. This is nice if you don’t have a mall located in the same town or city as you live in.

Another way that you can go about finding a beauty supply store to shop at is by using your local phone book. Beauty supply stores can often be found under the headings of “beauty shops,” “beauty stores,” or even “department stores.” What is nice about using your local phone book is that you will be able to get the name, address, and telephone number of a beauty supply store. If you are just interested in going to get what you need and then returning home, having the exact location of local beauty supply store is very helpful. Also, with having the telephone number of a beauty supply store, you can call the store in question to see if they have what you are looking for, if you happen to know what it is you are looking for.

Asking those that you know for recommendations is another great way for you to go about finding a beauty supply store to shop at. Asking those that you know for beauty supply store recommendations is nice because you won’t just get the name on any ole beauty supply store, but you will likely get the name and location of one that comes highly rated and recommend. By receiving positive feedback about a beauty supply store, you know that you won’t be wasting your time by visiting a store that likely wouldn’t even have what you were looking for. For that reason, you may want to think about asking your friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers for beauty supply store recommendations.

In addition to asking your friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors for beauty store recommendations, you may also want to think about asking your hair stylist or the other workers that work at a hair salon or a beauty salon that you visit. When working in the beauty and fashion industry, many employees get inside information; information that may be helpful to you in your search for a beauty supply store. Also, many hair salons and beauty salons are now starting to carry their own selection of beauty products and supplies, so you might not even have to look very far.

Although many people prefer shopping for beauty supplies and beauty products locally, as it is often easier to examine and compare products and product labels, there are also online beauty stores that you may want to examine. To find an online beauty store, you may want to think about performing a standard internet search. That standard internet search should get you to the online websites of online beauty supply stores.

As you can see, you have a number of different options when it comes to finding a beauty store to shop at. As a reminder, you may want to take a few minutes to examine each beauty supply store that you come across to make sure that they have what you looking for. Doing so may be able to save you a considerable amount of time and possibly even money.

Getting Married? Beauty Preparations You Need to Make

Have you recently been engaged? If you have, have you started planning your wedding yet? If you haven’t, you will want to get started with the planning soon. Even if you have already started planning your wedding, have you made all of your beauty preparations yet? Beauty preparation are an important part of planning a wedding, if not the most important part. For that reason, you will want to start making your beauty arrangements right away.

When it comes to beauty preparations for your wedding, you will find that are a number of different steps that you will need to take. First off all, you may want to decide how you would like your hair and makeup to be done. If you are also interested in having your bridesmaids’ hair be all the same, you may want to think about planning out their hair styles as well. If you find yourself having a difficult time doing so, you may want to think about hiring the services of a beauty consultant or making “testing,” appointments at your local beauty or hair salon.

Speaking of a beauty or hair salon, if you need to make appointments for you and the rest of your wedding party to get your hair done, you will want to make your appointments in advance. If your wedding is scheduled for “wedding season,” you will want to make your appointments as soon as possible, especially if you have your heart set on getting your hair done at a particular salon. Smaller salons can only handle one wedding party at a time.

In addition to getting your hair done on your wedding day, you may also be interested in getting your nails done or having your makeup professionally applied. If you are interested in getting your makeup professionally applied, you will likely have your makeup done right after your hair is. As for your nails, you may be required to make an appointment in the days leading up to the wedding. If you or your bridesmaids need nail touchups, they can be done at the last minute.

Although you hope that everything will go well on your wedding day, you will want to prepare for the unexpected. In terms of beauty and fashion, the unexpected may include a tear in your dress or the dress one of your bridesmaids, a stain, or too much sweating. For that reason, you may want to think about having an emergency beauty bag on hand and with you at all times during your wedding, particularly before the ceremony takes place. Many times, the maid of honor will be responsible for coming up with such a bag, but you still may want to make sure that it is done.

As for the items that should go inside an emergency beauty bag, you may want to stock it full of anything that you think you or your bridesmaids may need. Items that you will definitely want to include in an emergency beauty bag include makeup, deodorant, hand lotion, hairspray or hair gel, a brush, a comb, extra bobby pins, a small sewing kit, and emergency stain removing chemicals. Having these types of items and more inside an emergency beauty bag will reduce the number of unexpected events that may end up hampering your wedding day.

The above mentioned beauty preparation tips are just a few of the many that you will want to make. In fact, beauty preparation tips are just a few of the plans and arrangements that you will have to make. For instance, you will need to choose a venue for your wedding reception, a band or a DJ, a wedding cake, and so forth. With all of the preparations and arrangements that need to be made, you may want to think about hiring the services of a professional wedding planner or at least buying a wedding planning guide, which will hopefully include a detailed checklist for you.

Free Beauty Samples: What They Are and How to Find Them

Have you heard of free beauty samples before? If you have, have you been requesting them whenever you come across free sample offers? If you haven’t, you may want to think about doing so, as there are a number of benefits to requesting free beauty samples, a few of which are briefly touched on below.

One of the many benefits of requesting free beauty samples is that they are free. Many times, you don’t even have to pay for the cost of shipping. Depending on who the free sample in question is being offered by, the product manufacturer or the retailer in question will ship the free sample to you free of charge. When you look at it that way, what do you have to lose by requesting free beauty samples?

Another one of the many benefits to requesting free beauty samples is the products that you can find available. For starters, free beauty samples come in a number of different sizes, but you are often only given a free trail size. As for the actual free beauty sample, you will find that there a number of products for you to choose from. For instance, free beauty samples often include makeup, perfume, skincare creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and so forth. No matter what you are looking for, in terms of a beauty product, you should be able to find some form of that product type available as a free sample.

Speaking of what you are looking for, that leads to another one of the many benefits to requesting free beauty samples. Requesting free beauty samples is relatively easy to do. In fact, you have a number of different options. One of the best ways to go about requesting free beauty samples is by using the internet. When using the internet to find free beauty samples, you will want to think about performing a standard internet search. You may want to visit the online websites of beauty product manufacturers, as well as beauty supply stores, as they often have free sample request forms on their websites.

You can also use the internet to find free beauty samples by visiting websites that are regularly referred to as freebie sites or free product sample websites. These websites are often in message board formats so that internet users can share free product samples that they come across online with others. What is nice about visiting a free product sample website is that you will not only find links to free beauty samples, but a wide range of other sample types, including books, movies, food, pet products, and baby products.

It may also be a good idea for you to visit one of your local beauty supply stores on occasion. While it is more common to find free beauty samples online, many beauty supply stores also offer free beauty samples to their customers or even those who just enter the store. Since not all retailers offer in store free samples, you should not count on receiving them, but if you happen to be in or around a local beauty supply store you may want to look to see if they have any free beauty samples available for taking.

Perhaps, the greatest benefit to requesting free beauty samples or taking one when you find them in store is that you never really know what you may end up with. Product manufacturers and retailers often offer free samples on their new products; therefore, it is likely something that you haven’t already tired before. In that case, you may be pleasantly surprised with the free beauty sample that you requested, whether it was perfume, makeup, or a skincare product. In fact, you may be so pleased with your recently acquired free sample that you decide to buy the full size product from then on out.

In addition to sending you a free product sample, it is common for a product manufacturer or a retailer to also include moneysaving coupons with your free sample. This is nice because should you like the product in question, you may want to buy the full sized product and your coupon may come in handy if and when you decide to do so.

Common Services Offered by Most Beauty Salons

Are you interested in getting a little appearance update or are you just interested in pampering yourself a little bit? If you are, you may want to think about heading down to your local beauty salon. Beauty salons are the perfect place to a new hair do or even another beauty update.

When it comes to visiting a beauty salon, many individuals wonder what type of procedures they should undergo. If you are one of those individuals, you may want to keep on reading on. Although different beauty salons provide different services to their customers, you will find that many offer the same or similar ones. A few of the most popular beauty salon services are outlined below and they are ones that you will definitely want to checkout.

When many people think of beauty salons, one of the first things that pops into their mind is hair cuts. Hair care is a service that is offered by almost all beauty salons. Hair care services often include a trimming, shampooing, dying, highlighting, and so forth. Many beauty salons also specialize in doing “up-dos,” or other elegant hair styles for popular events like proms and weddings. Whether you are looking to just get a haircut or you need an “up-do,” your local beauty salon should be able to offer you assistance.

Skincare is another service that is offered by many beauty salons. In terms of skin care, you will find that the most common service offered is tanning. A lager number of beauty salons have tanning beds for customers to use. In addition to traditional tanning beds, a large number of beauty salons are now starting to offer spray on tans, which are one hundred percent safer than using tanning beds. If you would like to get a tan for a special event, like a wedding or a vacation, or just because, you may want to see what your beauty salon can do for you.

Another one of the many services offered at most beauty salons that you may be interested in learning more about is nail care. Many women choose to leave their nails plain, but many more like to paint them, get manicures and so forth. If you would like to have your nails professionally done, whether it be for work, for a wedding, or just because, you should think about making an appointment at one of your local beauty salons.

Nail care, hair care, and tanning are a few of the many services that you may be able to undergo at one of your local beauty salons. In addition to a traditional beauty salon, you may also find a beauty salon spa in or around the area in which you live. If you have a local beauty salon spa, you may want to think about stopping by. Beauty salons spas are like traditional salons, but they also offer spa treatments and have a spa-like setting. Common treatments offered at a beauty salon spa include massages, acupuncture, body wraps, and much more.

As previously stated, the above mentioned services are just a few of the many that are commonly offered at beauty salons and beauty salon spas and they are some of the most popular treatments available. If you would like more information on what is available to you locally, you may want to think about placing a call to your local beauty salon or beauty salon spa.

Careers in Beauty You May Want to Learn More About

Are a high school student who is trying to determine which career field that you would like to enter? If you are not a high school student, are you just an adult who is looking for a career change? If you are and if you have a love for beauty and fashion, have you ever thought about the careers that are focused on fashion and beauty? If you have yet to do so, you may want to take the time to familiarize yourself with some of the many beauty and fashion focused careers that you may find interesting.

One of the many different ways that you can make a living off of your love for beauty and fashion is by becoming a beauty consultant. A beauty consultant is also commonly referred to as a fashion consultant or an image consultant. A beauty consultant often advises or consults with those who are looking for beauty tips, like what type of makeup they should wear for a special event, like a wedding. Beauty consultant also offer varying services, depending on the individual in question. For instance, there are some beauty consultants who also specialize in makeup application, but not all do.

Another career opportunity that has a focus on fashion and beauty is that of a beauty salon owner or a beauty salon spa owner. In all honesty, there is a very small difference between a beauty salon and a beauty salon spa. Both offer popular services like hair care, nail care, makeup application, and tanning, but beauty salon spas also have a focus on many spa treatments, like massage treatments, acupuncture, and so forth. Getting your own beauty salon or beauty salon spa up and running can be a little bit difficult and costly, but as more men and women are deciding to pamper themselves, it is a business venture that may bring you profits.

As it was previously mentioned, owning your own beauty salon or beauty salon spa can be profitable, but it often takes quite a bit of money, hard work, and determination to get started. If you would still like to work at a beauty salon or a beauty salon spa, but you don’t want to start your own business, you can still do so. Each year in the United States, thousands of new beauty salons and beauty salon spas open for business and many more decide to hire new employees. If you have experience working for a beauty salon or a beauty salon spa or if you attended beauty school, even if it was just a locally offered training course, you stand a good chance of being hired as an employee at a beauty salon or a beauty salon spa.

If you have a love for beauty, but you don’t necessarily have experience trimming hair or doing popular nail care procedures, you may want to think about opening your own beauty supply store. What is nice about opening your own beauty supply store is that you have a number of different options. For starters, you can choose to have a storefront location or you can choose operate your business online. In fact, you can even choose to do both if you want. You also have the option of carrying as many or as few beauty products and supplies as you want to. You also have the option to buy all of your merchandise wholesale, which many business owners seem to find more affordable.

As with working as an employee at a beauty salon or a beauty salon spa, you can also choose to work at a beauty supply store instead of actually own one. Many beauty supply stores often hire beauty consultants, as well as managers, stockers, and cashiers. You may even want to think about selling beauty products for another company, like Avon or Mary Kay, as an independent contractor.

As you can see, there are a number of different careers out there for those, like you, who may have a love for fashion and beauty. It is a known fact that those who work in a career field that they enjoy are more likely to be happy with their lives, even outside of work; therefore, you may want to further research the above mentioned career and job opportunities.

Can You Make Money as the Employee of Beauty Salon

Do you have a love for fashion or a love for beauty? If you do, have you ever thought about finding a job based on that love? If you haven’t, you may want to think about doing so. There are number of different jobs out there that have a focus on beauty and one of those jobs is working at a beauty salon.

When it comes to beauty salons, many individuals automatically say “but, I don’t know how to cut hair.” Yes, having hair care experience is likely to up your chances of being hired by a beauty salon, but not always. Unfortunately, many individuals mistakenly believe that beauty salons only focus on hair care, but this is not true. Those types of establishments are ones that are often referred to as hair care salons, not necessarily beauty salons. At a beauty salon, you can find a wide range of tasks performed, including clerical tasks, spray on tans, hair care, makeup application, and nail care. What does this mean for you? This means that if you are interested in working in a beauty salon, there are a number of different tasks that you can perform.

When it comes to finding a job at a beauty salon, there are a number of different approaches that you can take. There are many beauty salons that advertise when they are hiring either in the salon, in a local newspaper, or online. In addition to beauty salons that just advertise whenever they are hiring, there are also beauty salons that accept resumes and job applications all year round. Many of these beauty salons just hold onto their applications until they are interested in hiring new employees.

As it was previously mentioned, having some beauty school training or experience working in the field of beauty and fashion is likely to up your chances of being hired for a job. If you don’t have any applicable training, but you have your heart set on working at a beauty salon there is good news. That good news is that you should be able to get the beauty training that you may need to become a successful and well known beautician. You can do this by either taking a local beauty school training course, where you receive a certificate of completion, or you can attend a college or university, to get a cosmetology degree.

Although having certification of completion from a beauty school or a cosmetology degree is likely to improve your chances of being hired for a job, you may still want to think about applying for any beauty salon jobs that you see advertised or hear about through those that you know. While most beauty salons do prefer hiring someone who already has the needed knowledge and experience, there are some beauty salons out there that actually like training their own employees. That is why it is advised that you always be on the lookout for a job opening, especially one that doesn’t have any prior work experience or education requirements.

As you can see, it is more than possible for you to get a job as a beauty salon employee, should you wish to do so. What you also need to remember though is that working at a beauty salon isn’t the only beauty focused job or career opportunity that you may want to look into.

Can You Make Money as a Beauty Supply Store Owner

Are you interested in running your own beauty supply store? If you are, you are definitely not alone. A large number of men and women who have a love for beauty and fashion often dream of running their own beauty supply stores. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe that dream is one that is too difficult to turn into a reality. Yes, starting your own beauty supply store and making it profitable can be a long and complicated task, but it is more that is more than possible to achieve.

As you likely already know, beauty supply store owners are individuals who are in charge of running and often managing a beauty supply store. Beauty supply stores come in a number of different formats, but most are designed to give the public easy access to some popular and well known beauty products and supplies. These products and supplies often include hair care accessories, skin care products, nail care products, makeup, and so forth.

Since the products sold at a beauty supply store play an important role in the success of one, you may be interested in learning more about what type of beauty supplies and products you should sell, as well as where you can get them from. The good thing about running your own business is that you are in charge of all the decisions. So, you can choose to sell whatever type of beauty products that you want to. For instance, if you wanted to focus on African Americans, you can do so. If you wanted to focus on beauty supplies and products for men or just women, you could also do so as well; the decisions are all yours to make.

As for getting the products to sell at a beauty supply store, you have a number of different options. If you want to start out small, just to reduce the expenses that you incur, you may only want to think about placing small orders. While this is more than okay to do, you may still want to examine wholesale beauty product sellers and distributors. These individuals and companies often reward you and other customers with discounts for buying their products in large quantities. Of course, you can buy your beauty supply products and supplies any way that you want, but you should know that most beauty supply store owners choose to go with wholesale products.

Another choice that you have, when trying to make money as a beauty supply store owner, is the type of format that you would like your business to be in. A large number of beauty stores have local, storefront locations, but many are also operated online. With the recent spike in the popularity of online shopping, you may even want to think about having a storefront retail location, as well as an online beauty supply store. If you would like to operate a storefront beauty supply store, you will notice an increase in startup costs, as you need to pay for store space, as well as buy many store fixtures, like shelves and cash registers.

Speaking of startup costs, the startup costs associated with opening your own beauty supply store, especially a local one, can be quite high, but you don’t always have to come up with the funds all on your own. With a good credit score and a convincing business plan, you may be able to receive financial support from financial investors, as well as financial lenders, like your local bank. This is something that is important to remember, as many hopeful beauty supply store owners just write off the possibility of being one because they think that it is too much money for them to afford. With the proper financial assistance, anything is possible.

In short, it is more than possible for you to make money as a beauty supply store owner. In addition to making money, you may also find it to be a fun and enjoyable adventure. As a reminder, before opening a beauty supply store, either locally or online, you will first want to take the time to familiarize yourself with all local, state and federal laws.

Can You Make Money as a Beauty Salon Owner

Are you interested in perusing a career that is focused on beauty and fashion? If you are, have you started to examine your career options yet? If you haven’t, you will soon find that you have a number of different options. One of those options is to start your own beauty salon business.

When it comes to owning and operating a beauty salon, there are many hopeful owners who wonder if it is really possible to do. Of course, starting any business can be a stressful and trying time, but it is more than possible for you to develop and run your own profitable beauty salon. If you would like to learn more about how you can go about doing so, should you wish to do so, you will want to continue reading on.

Before deciding to open your own beauty salon, there are a number of important factors that you may want to take into consideration first. One of those factors is your vision for your business. Do you want to start out small, like start out of your home, or do you want to start with your own storefront location? If you would prefer to start your own beauty salon as a traditional business, not necessarily one that is a home based one, you will want to examine all available locations. You need to carefully choose the location for your business. Be sure to choose a location that can accommodate to you and all of your space needs, as well as one that does not have a lot of competition nearby.

Another factor that you may want to take into consideration is your beauty and fashion knowledge and experience. While a large number of individuals who wish to open their own beauty salons have a love for beauty and fashion, not all do. If you haven’t worked for a beauty salon before or if you haven’t attended beauty school or even just taken a beauty training course, you may want to think about doing so before you start your business. Yes, there is a good chance that you will end up hiring your own workers and they can have most of the knowledge, but you will at least want to be familiar with the business that you run.

Startup costs are another factor that should be taken into consideration, when trying to determine if you can make a living running your own beauty salon. Most businesses have startup costs, but it can be kind of expensive to get a beauty salon up and running. In addition to building space, you will also need to purchase other fixtures and supplies. There is a good chance that you will need a receptionist’s desk, hair care stations, nail care products, and possibly even tanning beds. These pieces of equipment can get fairly costly, but is there financing assistance out there for you, should you need it.

As a reminder, running your own beauty salon is just one of the many careers that you can have that is focused on beauty, in one way or another. However, if you have your heart set on running a beauty salon, it should be more than possible for you to do so. Before you get started though, it is important that you take the time to familiarize yourself with all local, state, and federal laws concerning small businesses.

Can You Make Money as a Beauty Consultant

Are you looking for a new job or a career change? If you are, do you regularly find yourself examining the latest fashion and beauty trends? Do you regularly find yourself giving beauty advice, even unasked advice, to those that you know? If you do, have you ever thought about working as beauty consultant? If you haven’t, you may want to do so, as a beauty consultant can be a nice, fun, and relatively easy way to make money.

Speaking of making money as a beauty consultant, there are many individuals out there who wonder if it is really possible to make money. If you work as beauty consultant, there is a good chance that you will likely end up starting your own business. While it is always risky and sometimes tricky getting your own business up and running, it is more than possible for you to make money as a beauty consultant. If you would like more information on how you can go about doing so, you may want to continue reading on.

Before examining how you can go about making money as a beauty consultant, you may be wondering exactly what one does. When it comes to beauty consultants and the tasks that they perform, you will find that it varies. Different beauty consultants often offer different services. In most cases, a beauty consultant will advise an individual on what type of makeup they should wear or how they should wear their hair, everyday or just for a special event. In some cases, you may also find beauty consultants who go as far as show a client how to properly apply their makeup or even doing so for their client’s special occasion.

When it comes to working as a beauty consultant, many hopeful beauty consultants wonder if any experience is required. As previously mentioned, many beauty consultants start their own businesses, but beauty salons or even beauty supply stores hire others. If you are interested in starting your own business and working for yourself, you do not necessarily need to have any prior beauty training or experience, although it will likely help. However, if you were interested in working for an existing beauty salon or supply store there is a good chance that there may be some education requirements or work experience requirements.

One of the next commonly asked questions is how money is made. As it was previously mentioned, beauty consultants often advised their clients on how they should dress, wear makeup, or wear their hair, often for a special occasion. If you are interested in working as a beauty consultant, you will charge your clients for using your services. Different beauty consultants charge their own fees, so you can do the same, but you may want to see what your competition is charging. This will give you the opportunity to make sure that your rates stay fair and competitive.

Of course, to make money as a beauty consultant, you need to have clients or customers. What is nice about working as a beauty consultant is that you can target all individuals in general, but there are also groups of specific individuals that you may want to think about targeting. These individuals are often referred to as your targeted market. As previously stated, many individuals hire fashion consultants for special occasions or special events. These special occasions and events may include starting a new job, a job interview, a wedding, an elegant dinner, an important business meeting and so forth. These are the individuals that you may want to spend most of your advertising dollars on.

The above covered points are just a few of the many that you should first familiarize yourself with before you jump right in and open up your own beauty consultation business. You may want to do additional research and to do that you can use the internet or visit your local bookstore for guides on how to start your beauty consultation business.

Beauty Supply Stores: Is It Better to Shop Locally or Online

Are you interested in revamping or updating your appearance? If you are, you may want to think about going shopping for new beauty products and supplies. There are a large number of beauty products and beauty product supplies that are designed to help improve one’s appearance.

When it comes to buying beauty products and beauty supplies, you will find that you have a number of different options. For starters, beauty products are most commonly sold at beauty supply stores, but they are also available at other locations, including department stores and fashion stores. If you are looking for the latest selection of beauty products and supplies, you may want to think about sticking with beauty supply stores. Even then though you still have a choice. Beauty supply stores are operated both in storefront retail locations, as well as online.

If this is your first time deciding to take your appearance, beauty wise, seriously, you may have never shopped at a beauty supply store before or it may have been a while since the last time that you did. If that is the case, you may be wondering whether you should shop online or locally and if there is even a difference between the two. If you are, you will want to continue reading on.

One of the most commonly asked questions, concerning beauty supply stores, is what is the difference between a locally operated beauty supply store and an online beauty supply store. As you likely already know, a locally owned and operated beauty store is one that you physically visit, pick out what you like, pay for it, and then leave. When shopping at an online store, you just need to enter in your shipping information and your payment information. You can buy beauty products and supplies from an online beauty store anytime of the day, from the comfort of your own home.

Another difference between a storefront beauty supply store and an online beauty supply store is the assistance that you will receive. That is one of the reasons why many consumers prefer buying their beauty supplies and products from locally owned and operated beauty supply stores. When shopping online, the online retailer in question may have a customer service number that you can call, but you will likely not be able to receive help with buying makeup or suggestions. Help and suggestions, also commonly known as consultations, are one of the many reasons why many prefer shopping at a locally owned and operated beauty supply store, as most have very helpful and knowledgeable staff members.

The product selection is also something that you may want to think about taking into consideration. While many storefront beauty supply stores do carry a large selection of beauty product and supplies, you may find that some stores are limited on space. There are also stores that focus only on certain individuals, like men or women. This limits your selection of beauty supplies and products to choose from. What is nice about online beauty supply stores is that they do not have to worry about fitting all of their merchandise onto a sales floor. That is why you can often find a large selection of beauty supplies and products when shopping online. Also, you will find that you are instantly able to gain access to as many as fifty or more beauty supply stores in a matter of seconds. This is something that you cannot do just driving around town in your car.

As you can see, there are a few differences between online beauty supply stores and locally owned and operated beauty supply stores. There are also a number of pros and cons to each. For the best shopping experience, you may actually want to think about experimenting with both locally owned and operated beauty supply stores and online beauty supply stores. If you are like many shoppers, you will likely develop a preference almost right away.

Beauty Schools: Should You Attend One

Are you interested in having a career in the beauty or fashion industry? If you are interested in working as a beauty consultant, running your own beauty salon, running your own beauty supply store, or even being the employee of an existing salon or store, you may find it easier for you to land a job or start your own business if you have some beauty education. For that reason, you may be wondering whether or not you should attend a beauty school.

When it comes to determining whether or not you should attend a beauty school, there are a number of important questions that you may want to take the time to ask yourself. These questions may help make it easier for you to decide whether or not beauty school is right for you. A few of the questions that you should ask yourself are touched below.

Before reading up on the questions that you should get answers to, to determine if beauty school is right for you, it is important that you know about beauty schools. Beauty schools actually come in a number of different formats. For instance, it is more than possible for you to attend a two year or a four year college or university to get a degree in fashion or beauty. In addition to attending an accredited college or university, you may also be able to find schools that often referred to as beauty training schools. These types of schools regularly offer a wide range of different training classes, like classes for hair care, nail care, and so forth. With a beauty training school, you often receive a certificate of completion, which is similar to a degree.

Now that you know you have a number of different options when it comes to attending a beauty school, you may want to refocus on the questions that may be able to help you determine your goals and if those goals include beauty school. One important question that you want to ask yourself is what you want your career future to be like. You may want to work as a beauty consultant now, but do you still want to be doing so in ten years? If you are interested in having a long-term career in the fashion and beauty industry, it may be well worth it for you to attend a beauty school or even get a degree from an accredited college or university.

Location is another question that you want to ask yourself, when trying to determine if beauty school is right for you. If you are unwilling to relocate to another area of the United States, is there are college, university, or beauty school located near where you live? If there is not, you may be unable to get the beauty education and training that you were hoping for. Of course, you don’t want to give up though. A number of high school and community colleges have courses that you can take. Although you may not necessarily get a degree or a certificate of completion, you may walk away with some valuable training that may you help achieve your career dreams.

Can you afford to attend beauty school is another question that you should ask yourself. Beauty schools are not always cheap, but at the same time, they aren’t always expensive either. If you are interested in walking away with a cosmetology degree from a two year or a four year college or university, you should expect to pay normal college tuition fees. The good news about this is that you often have access to grants, financial loans, and scholarships. If you are on a budget, you may want to think about attending a beauty school or at least taking a few beauty classes at a nearby establishment that offers them.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many that you will want to take into consideration. Going to beauty school and receiving a certificate of completion or a degree is something that will likely help you for years to come, especially if you are interested in a beauty focused career; however, the decision to attend beauty school is yours to make.

Beauty Salon Spas: Why You Should Visit One

Have you ever heard of a beauty salon spa before? Although you might have, you want to be sure not to confuse beauty salons with beauty salon spas. Yes, they are quite similar and alike in many ways, but there is a difference between a traditional beauty salon and a beauty salon spa. For that reason, if you have yet to try a beauty salon spa, you may want to think about doing so.

When it comes to visiting a beauty salon spa, many individuals wonder exactly why they should do so. As previously mentioned, traditional beauty salons and beauty salon spas are not the same, despite the fact that many people actually think that they are. Therefore, you should think about visiting a beauty salon spa just for the point of trying something new. In all honesty, it is something that you will likely remember for years to come.

One of the reasons why a beauty salon spa visit will likely be a memorable one for you is because of the services that you have access to. When examining the services that could be provided to you, it is important to remember that not all beauty salon spas are the same. For that reason, if you are looking for a particular service, like a spray on tan, you may want to think about contacting your local beauty salon spa ahead of time to first make sure that they do offer spray on tans.

Despite the possibility of various services being offered, there are many services that are offered by most beauty salon spas. As a reminder, beauty salon spas are similar to traditional beauty salons, even though there are a few differences. In terms of the similarities, you will find that beauty salon spas regularly offer common treatments like hair care, such as hair trimming and hair coloring. Nail care, tanning, and makeup applications are also commonly offered at most beauty salon spas.

As for the difference between a beauty salon spa and a traditional beauty salon, it is the spa setting. Spas are known for their peaceful surroundings. Some beauty salons are too, but many are focused more on seeing as many customers as possible, as opposed to making everyone feel like they could stay all day. In addition to the spa-like settings, you will also find that many spa treatments are offered at many beauty salon spas. For instance, you may be able to undergo acupuncture, get a massage, or even get a body wrap. Additional spa treatment may also be available, but it tends to depend on the beauty salon spa in question.

Although not always common, you may find beauty salon spas that offer cosmetic procedures. Each year, more beauty salon spas are making the decision to offer these types of procedures. A number of beauty salon spas are now starting to offer BoTox injections, laser hair removal, and so forth.

As a reminder, the above mentioned beauty salon spa services are just a few of the many that you may find available at your local spa, but there are no guarantees. Since different beauty salon spas are operated in different ways, you may want to think about contacting your local beauty salon spa for additional information, particularly before making any appointments. This will help make it easier for you to find the beauty salon spa that can best fit you and all of your needs.

Beauty Pageants: Should You Let Your Teen Enter Them

Are you the parent of a teenager, namely a female teen? If you are, has your teen ever mentioned entering into a beauty pageant before? If she recently has, have you given her a decision yet? For many parents, their first though is “no way,” but you should know that beauty pageants are all not as bad as they seem.

When it comes to determining whether or not you should let your teen enter a beauty pageant or even a number of them, you should know that there are a number of pros and cons to doing so. One of those pros or plus sides is the fact that it is something that your teenager wants to do. If your teenager was the one who brought up a beauty pageant then there is a good chance that it is something that interests them.

Another one of the many pros or plus sides to allowing your teen enter a beauty pageant or even a number of them is because of the rewards. What is nice about beauty pageants is that you don’t just get a trophy or a ribbon, but you also get a cash prize reward. Instead of cash, some beauty pageants even give out scholarships. If your child is interested in making their own money or if they are interested in going to college, a beauty pageant may actually be able to help them achieve their goals.

While there are a number of pros to letting your teen enter into beauty pageants, there are also a number of cons or downsides to doing so as well. One of those downsides is the work that goes into attending beauty pageants. Now, if your teen was only interested in competing in a local pageant, this may not be as big of an issue for you. However, there are beauty pageant families out there who actually spend time traveling across the country participating in beauty pageants. While you and your teen can do this if you want, it often places a lot of stress, both emotional and financial, on all family members.

Another one of the cons or downsides to allowing your teen to participate in a beauty pageant is the results. Unfortunately, it seems as there is a stereotype associated with beauty pageants. Many individuals only believe that beauty pageants are for those who are breathtakingly beautiful or skinny. Perhaps, this is due in part to the fashion industry and many beauty pageant judges. Although your teen can participate in a beauty pageant if she wants to, no matter what her appearance is, it is something that you may want to take into consideration. For teens, there is nothing worse or more damaging to one’s self-esteem if they are told or made to feel as if they aren’t pretty or talented enough.

In keeping with the competition, your teen may find it quite difficult to jump right into beauty pageants. A good number of the teens who participate in beauty pageant have done so since they were a toddler or elementary school aged. While not always, these participants are often more likely to see success than someone who recently decided to enter a beauty pageant. Of course, that doesn’t mean that your teen can’t place high or even win a beauty pageant, but it does mean that they may have a lot of hard work ahead of them.

The above mentioned pros and cons are just a few of the many that exist. If your teen has recently asked you if they could take part in a beauty pageant, it is something that you and the rest of your family may want to seriously consider or at least closely examine.

Beauty Pageants: Should You Enter Your Child In One

Are you the parent of a toddler or an elementary school aged child? If you are, have you ever thought about entering your child in a beauty pageant? If you are like many other parents, there is a good chance that the thought has at least crossed your mind before, but it is a good idea?

When it comes to deciding whether or not you should enter your child in a beauty pageant there are a number of important factors that you should take into consideration. One of those factors is your location. Where do you live? If you do not live near a big city or a popular one, like Hollywood or New York City, there is a good chance that you would have a hard time finding pageants to enter your child into. Yes, you may be able to find a number of local beauty pageants, but if you are really serious about getting your child into modeling, you may find yourself having to travel long distances and spending quite a bit of money on that traveling.

In addition to costs associated with travel, it is important that you examine the other costs associated with regularly entering your child into beauty pageants. With beauty pageants, your child is often required to wear different items of clothing, as well as perform in a talent show. Many parents spend thousand of dollars or more each year buying clothing for their children to wear or on courses for learning a new talent, like dancing or singing. Do you have that much money to spend? If you don’t, you can still proceed with entering your child into beauty pageants, but you may find it difficult to compete with other families who do have more money to spend.

The work that goes into regularly participating in beauty pageants is something else that should be examined. You should look at the work and the sacrifices that are often made from two different angles. As a parent of a beauty pageant child, you may find yourself traveling a lot, spending a lot of time away from your home and other family members. You may also experience financial hardships, as that is something that many families report. As for your child, toddlers and elementary school age children often love spending time with their friends and just being a kid. If you take beauty pageants seriously, they may not have time to do everything that they know and love. Of course though, your child may prefer participating in beauty pageants.

Speaking of your child, it is important that you include them in on the decision to participate in beauty pageants. Unfortunately, too many parents make the mistake of believing that their kids are too young to make the decision on their own. Yes, a toddler may be, but it is still advised that you discuss entering beauty pageant with them. What you may want to think about doing is entering them into one or two beauty pageants and then wait to see how it goes. You never know, but your child may deicide that he or she does like participating in them after all.

The above mentioned factors are just a few of the many that you may want to take into consideration before automatically deciding that your child should regularly enter beauty pageants. As a reminder, it is a decision that shouldn’t be made by just one parent, but the whole family.

Beauty Magazines: Are They Worth Your Money

When waiting in line at the supermarket checkout, have you ever ended up buying a beauty magazine that you saw by the checkout counters? If you have, you are definitely not alone. While a large number of individuals, possibly just like you, purchase beauty magazines on occasion or as an impulse buy, many others have to have copies of all beauty magazines and on a monthly or even a weekly basis at that. While it is okay to have a collection of beauty magazines, you need to be careful about wasting your money.

When it comes to buying beauty magazines, there are many individuals, especially first time buyers, who wonder if beauty magazines are really worth the money. In all honesty, you will find that it depends. Beauty magazines come in a number of different formats and they are made and published by different individuals and companies. For that reason, no two beauty magazines are really the same. That is why you should examine each beauty magazine individually to determine whether or not it is worth your money.

One thing that you will want to examine is the contents of a beauty magazine. Beauty magazines, as previously stated, have different materials inside of them. If you are looking for something in particular, like how to keep your face clean and free of pimples, you may want to make sure that the magazine you are interested in buying covers that problem. If it does, the magazine in question may be worth your money, but if not, it may actually end up being a waste of your money.

What you also need to remember is that beauty magazines are not the only way that you can go about familiarizing yourself with the latest in beauty and fashion trends, as well as get tips on how to improve your appearance, beauty wise. You should also know that you can turn to the internet. Online, you may be able to find online beauty magazines, which are similar to the printed magazines sold in stores, but they come in online formats and many are offered free of charge. You may also find online websites that are designed to offer you free tips. There also online websites that have beauty message boards on them. These message boards are nice because you can not only get free beauty tips online or share tips that you know, but you can also make an online friend or two.

Yes, beauty magazines are not all that expensive. In most cases, you will find that beauty magazines cost around three or four dollars an issue. With that in mind, however, you need to remember that some people have a hard time with buying just one beauty magazine. Beauty magazines, over time, can get fairly costly; therefore, you will want to make sure that you examine each magazine that you want to buy before actually doing so. Even if you stop yourself from buying a beauty magazine even just five months out of the year, you may enjoy your extra savings.

In short, the decision as to whether or not you want to buy a beauty magazine or a number of them is your decision to make. However, with that in mind, it is important to remember that you don’t need to buy a beauty magazine to get beauty tips and information on the latest trends. If you do decide to buy beauty magazines though, you will at least want to take a few minutes to skim through them. This will give the opportunity to see if the magazine or magazines in question are really worth your money.

Beauty Freebies: Is There Really Such a Thing

A number of different product manufacturers and stores regularly offer free product samples. These free samples are also commonly referred to as freebies. Freebies come in all different size, shapes, and styles and they tend to include a number of different products. Those who just learn about freebies, possibly just like you, wonder if it is really possible to get beauty freebies? It is and if you would like more information on how you can go about doing so, you will want to continue reading on.

When it comes to getting beauty freebies, you will find that you have a number of different options. For instance, beauty freebies are most commonly offered by the product manufacturer. To get these types of freebies, you often need the internet to do so. What you will want to do is perform a standard internet search with the name of a beauty product manufacturer that you like or one that you have just heard of. If that manufacturer is offering free beauty product samples, there is good chance that the special offer would be outlined on the website’s main page. Although this approach is nice, it can be time consuming and you aren’t guaranteed to always find beauty freebies. That is why you may also want to explore your other options.

Another way that you can go about finding beauty freebies that are available for requesting is by performing a standard internet search. Instead of searching with the name of a popular beauty product manufacturer, you will want to search for free product sample websites or freebie websites. Individuals who just like requesting free product samples themselves often run these websites. Many just like to share what they find. On a free product sample website or a freebie website, you should be able to find information on how you can go about requesting a number of free beauty product samples. Be on the lookout for beauty freebies that require the payment of postage, as these offers are not truly free.

Although the internet is one of the easiest ways to go about finding beauty freebies, you can also try visiting one of your local beauty supply stores. It is not uncommon for a beauty supply store to offer free product samples on some of the beauty products that they carry for sale. By offering beauty freebies of their most popular products, a beauty supply store stands a better chance of selling the full size version of the product as well. Beauty supply stores are the best places to find beauty freebies locally, but it is also possible to occasionally find other retailers, like fashion stores or department stores, that also handout free product samples, including free beauty samples.

If you aren’t already requesting beauty freebies, you may want to think about doing so. In addition to getting something for free, you may find a great new product that you never would have otherwise tried. As a reminder, you can usually find beauty freebies by visiting the online websites of product manufacturers, free product sample websites, as well as by visiting your local beauty supply stores. Even if you are unable to find beauty freebies, you may be able to come across valuable moneysaving coupons that can be used on the beauty products that you may need or want to buy.

Women in Business – Tweets

Are Certain Types of Businesses Harder for Women to Break Into?
Tweet: Are there still businesses that women have a tough time breaking into? Read this to find out. LINK

Goal Setting for Women Entrepreneurs
Tweet: Tips on how to set goals for yourself as a woman entrepreneur. LINK

How to Find Balance When Juggling a Business and a Family
Tweet: Tips on how to balance a business and a family. LINK

How to Stand Out amongst Other Women Entrepreneurs
Tweet: Ways to stand out amongst other women entrepreneurs. LINK

How to Use Your Feminine and Masculine Energy While in Business
Tweet: Discover how feminine energy can be used to boost the success of any business. LINK

How Women Can Learn to Use Graceful Flow for Success in Life
Tweet: Discover what graceful flow is and how women can use it to increase their success as entrepreneurs. LINK

Marketing Tips for Women Entrepreneurs
Tweet: Marketing tips for female entrepreneurs. LINK

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Woman Entrepreneur
Tweet: Pros and cons of being a female entrepreneur. LINK

The Benefits and Challenges of Working for the Opposite Sex
Tweet: Discover the pros and cons for women of working for a man. LINK

The Benefits and Challenges of Working for the Same Sex
Tweet: Discover the pros and cons of working for a woman if you are a woman yourself. LINK

The Benefits and Challenges of Working for the Same Sex

As a woman entrepreneur, you might be delighted at the prospect of working with women rather than men, only to discover that is not all you imagined it was going to be. This is because the kind of energy that drives one person to be a leader and another person to be a colleague working under them tends to be a very masculine, driving sort of energy – one that even women possess.

Male versus Female Energy

Men and women possess both masculine and feminine energy. It changes in terms of balance depending on the situation. For example, in the planning stages of a new project, feminine energy might be at the forefront, as people allow a flow of ideas to go back and forth as to how best to tackle the assignment. However, that flow would be of less value as the deadline approached. Things need to be tightened up, buttoned down, and pushed through in order to meet the deadline.

Some women have more masculine energy, others more feminine. Some women «fake it ‹til they make it», thinking they have to be tougher than any man they work with. This can lead to bullying behavior. Some women are even harder on their female colleagues than the men, for a couple of reasons.

One reason is that they are trying to toughen them up; they didn’t have any breaks to get where they were, so why should any other woman. In other cases, it might be due to them having climbed the ladder and wanting to pull it up after themselves, discouraging any woman they work with from aspiring to become a leader too.

One final point which no one can really help is biology and hormones. Let’s face it. Women change at certain times of the month each month until they reach menopause, and even the most reasonable of bosses can become a nightmare at times. But then, so can we all. It’s important to try not to let personal issues get in the way of professional ones, no matter which side of the desk we are sitting on.

The Pros of Working with Women

The benefits of two women working together is that it tends to be much more team-oriented, with a free flowing of ideas. The best bosses are those who are willing to mentor others. They are happy to pass along their skills and don’t feel competitive if another woman joins the team.

Rather, they are supportive and welcoming. They share a common vision of a better company, a better world. They understand the challenges of being a woman in the business world and don’t try to make it harder for you than things have to be – due to a lack of awareness or unreasonable demands on your time when you are desperate to get home to the kids.

An empowered woman does not take her power by robbing it from others, but rather, by cultivating it in herself – often with the help of strong role models of both genders. And that empowerment can lead to success in any career.

The Benefits and Challenges of Working for the Opposite Sex

There is an old saying that behind every great man there is a great woman. This demonstrates the value of feminine energy in creating success, even if it isn’t always valued to the same degree as the more masculine energy that is typified by the stereotypical «businessMAN».

Beyond Gender

It is important to note, however, that masculine and feminine energy are present in all of us and don’t equate with gender. They also have little to do with sexual orientation. They are more to do with styles of communication and leadership.

Some people would argue that since opposites attract, it will always be easier for a man and woman to work together. In the Western world, we seem to still think it normal for the man to be the boss and the woman to be the support staff. The disadvantage of this is that it can be tough to switch the roles, with, for example, the woman as the CEO with a male personal assistant.

Communication Is Key

The crucial difference, and one which may explain male dominance and the disadvantage of working for the opposite sex, is different communication styles. Men want to speak but are not always good at listening. Women have a reputation for being «chatty», but that chat is usually about people because women tend to be more nurturing and concerned for others.

Women also tend to have a better emotional quotient; that is, a better grasp of the feelings of others and level of empathy that few businessmen will express. They can therefore «grease the wheels» and get their foot in the door on a lot of deals. The men can then close those deals.

Everyone Wins

Women are generally not determined to win at any price, but to create a win-win for all parties concerned so that the business relationships will continue happily over the long term. A male boss who values his female colleague’s feminine energy will pay attention to her input and value her contributes.

The Downside for Women of Working with Men

In an ideal world, we would all be enlightened and mature enough to treat each other with perfect professionalism and equality. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sexist remarks can do serious damage to business relationships.

Sexism in the workplace can create a «glass ceiling» that women seem to hit. Note how few women CEOs there are in the US. The fact that women earn about one-third less than men is also a telling point, even though in many cases it is the woman on the team who is working harder and producing more results.

Sexual harassment can work both ways, of course, but it tends to be a male colleague behaving inappropriately towards a woman, rather than the other way around. Bullying is another negative aspect to working for the opposite sex which needs to be addressed.

On the whole, women entrepreneurs are not given the same degree of respect as male entrepreneurs, but conducting yourself in a professional manner can ensure you are successful no matter which gender you are working with.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Woman Entrepreneur

As an entrepreneur, you will have advantages to help you succeed. Unfortunately, there will also be disadvantages. As a woman taking on entrepreneurship, however, you may face challenges and develop strengths differing from what a man may experience during his entrepreneurial career.

It’s important to identify these possible issues so that you may use your advantages to become a successful businesswoman and learn how to overcome the disadvantages holding you back.

The Disadvantages

Networking

Women are less likely to have relationships with people who have networks or connections to help launch and sustain a business. Not only does a network provide valuable information needed to successfully create a business, but it also provides a mentorship as well as referrals you may need for future expansion.

Due to the tendency of the highest levels of corporate leadership to be mostly occupied by men, it is difficult for female entrepreneurs to find a woman in a high occupational seat to seek advice from.

Family Needs

It can be difficult for women to devote the time needed for a business to become successful if they have young children who require constant attention. Trying to launch a business may take up all of your time and this can often put strain on obligations to your family.

It is important to schedule your work life with your family duties in mind. As an entrepreneur, you are the boss and therefore you set the hours needed for your business to grow.

The Advantages

Strength in Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Leadership studies reveal that having high emotional intelligence may prove to be an advantage in business. Having a high emotional intelligence quotient is an important factor in leadership and studies have found that women, on average, have an edge over men when it comes to this.

People with high emotional intelligent quotients understand their own emotions as well as the emotions of their peers, and use the information to help guide how to think and react to the situation.

Collaboration Skills

Working with others and building long-lasting relationships is a strong trait among many women and may aide in the success of a new business. Creating new partnerships among businesses like your own opens a world of opportunities for your business to grow with your competitors, rather than compete against them.

New businesses are going to have difficulty competing against more established companies. If you’re struggling to match your competitors› progress or sales, you may end up in debt. This may eventually result in your company going out of business. Taking on new opportunities creates lasting partnerships and encourages companies to include your business in future prospects.

This is a good time to point out that many people feel that women basically do have the same advantages and disadvantages when it comes to entrepreneurship. Whether or not it’s actually true remains unclear.

When it comes down to it, the best way to ensure success as an entrepreneur is to be honest and work hard to achieve your goals. Hopefully, doing so will lead to more advantages and fewer disadvantages.

Marketing Tips for Women Entrepreneurs

Are you a female entrepreneur searching for new ways to market your new business? If so, there are many great ways to do so. Even better, the suggestions mentioned here are very affordable. Remember, unless you’re lucky enough to have an unlimited supply of capital, it’s always best to go easy on your finances in the beginning.

Always Have a Plan

No matter what kind of small business you’re in charge of, it’s always best to have a plan before you put things into action. This is true of every aspect of running your business. You may want to keep an audio recorder or small notebook with you, or find a note keeping app for your smartphone. Once you have a plan laid out, stick to it to the best of your abilities.

Set Optimistic Goals

In order to get work done effectively, it’s best to establish goals that you can work to achieve throughout the day, week, or month. These goals should be things that are attainable. Otherwise you’re just setting yourself up for failure. However, they should also be optimistic and challenging goals that will encourage you to push yourself in order to be as effective as possible.

Know Your Target Market

Research into your target market, before you even open your doors to the public, is crucial to your marketing plan. The more specific you can get, by drilling down categories, the better. Not only do you need to know things like age, gender and income bracket, you also need to know what motivates your ideal client or customer to buy.

Build a Strong Portfolio

As the owner of the business, the way that you present yourself is often the first impression that potential clients or customers get of your organization. Make sure to always have a resume or portfolio available so that your future business associates can see all the hard work that you’ve done in the past. If they’re impressed with how you represent yourself as a person, it’s much more likely that they’ll want to do business with you.

Form a Network

It can be difficult to market your product or business on your own. Fortunately, social networking makes it easy for just about anybody to reach out to potential clients. Make sure that your business has a strong web presence, and establish pages for it on social media sites.

But, social media isn’t the only way to establish a network of clients and business associates. Whenever your business works with another company, be sure to establish a relationship between the two of you.

Keep Searching for New Opportunities

Never pass up an opportunity to market yourself or your business to others. Make sure that you always have your business card with you in case you run across someone in your personal life that you want to form a connection with in your professional life. You never know where you might meet your next customer.

These are just a few marketing tips for women entrepreneurs. Realistically, this is just the beginning. Obviously, you don’t have to try all these things at once. Trying one or two at a time is usually the better way to go.

How Women Can Learn to Use Graceful Flow for Success in Life

Many business women make the mistake of thinking that they have to abandon their feminine side and embrace all things masculine in order to get ahead in business. The truth is that no matter what job or industry you are working in, you will never be truly successful and happy in your career if you are pretending to be something that you’re not.

You might think the role of hard-headed businessman is the only way to succeed in top companies, but most businesses have more than enough of this type. Their masculine energy rides roughshod over anyone who doesn’t meet their exacting, and often unrealistically high standards. It also silences any disagreement or any creative thinking that might come into conflict with their vision of how things «should» be done.

Feminine energy is a lot less action oriented. It is softer, more creative and flexible. Feminine energy goes with the flow. It doesn’t try to redirect the river.

The Idea of Graceful Flow

The idea of flow is that everything should come to us naturally, without us chasing all over the place after things we think will make us happier, more successful, more… whatever. Flow is about accepting what is good in life without wanting more or pushing it away because we think we don’t deserve it. It is also about attracting the good things in life through correct action. If we work hard on a project, for example, good results will follow.

Flow is also about a vision of how things can be better, but organically. If you want to grow a wonderful rose, you can’t keep tugging at it to make it grow faster. The result would just cause it to wither and die on the vine.

The Secret of the Secret

The very popular book The Secret resonated with a lot of people who wanted to learn more about abundance and flow. It is also commonly termed the law of attraction. Instead of exhausting yourself chasing after all the things you want, you can take actions that will make those good things come to you. The result is a lot less stress and a great deal more success and satisfaction.

A lot of business people get so caught up in the idea of more – more customers, money, and profits – that they fail to appreciate what they actually have. They get so stressed that their health starts to fail. They also say or do unskillful things which result in poor relationships in the workplace, and unhappy clients who go to businesses who will treat them better.

The Pareto Principle tells us that 20% of your customers are responsible for 80% of your profits. Graceful flow in this case would therefore mean nurturing these relationships as much as possible to sustain them over the long term.

The energy can be directed in a positive, purposeful way, with laser focus – not negative, aimless and anxious. Graceful flow will bring success without having to stress over it, for more harmony and balance within the company, the business community at large, and within yourself as a woman entrepreneur.

How to Use Your Feminine and Masculine Energy While in Business

If we look at a list of the top CEOs in the world, almost all of them are men. If we look at the US, there has never been a woman president, though there have been female statesmen at the head of many other countries for many years. Why is this the case?

It isn’t simply an issue of gender; it is an issue of masculine versus feminine energy. Male energy is very action-oriented, driving hard and not permitting there to be more than one way to do things or look at things. Female energy on the other hand is very creative, flowing and allows for other approaches and points of view.

Both men and women possess masculine and feminine energies. It has nothing to do with sexual orientation and everything to do with action and communication. Yin and yang, Shakti and Shiva, female and male energies, have been seen as different for thousands of years, and the goal has been to balance them in order to maintain harmony.

There are a number of ways to use your feminine energy in the workplace without seeming too «weak» or «girlie».

A Harmonious Workplace

«Business as usual» is the attitude in most companies; one that is driven into workers no matter what the reality of the situation and economy. Emotions are discouraged, action is encouraged, and any voice of seeming dissent is disregarded or gotten rid of through lay-offs.

But workers are human beings, not human doings. They will also get disgusted and leave a company where they feel they are not being valued as people. Women will often be those who work harder even under the toughest circumstances, and also set the tone. Women are more comfortable with strong emotions than men and can therefore express them in positive, problem-solving ways, not fly off the handle and bully others the way some male managers will.

A Creative Workspace

Feminine energy also leads to more creativity, something that is not usually encouraged in businesses where people just want to get the job done and go home. «I wonder what would happen if,» is not a dangerous phrase in a work environment that is feminine in nature, and that’s where true innovation and achievement can begin.

Nurturing Leadership and Mentorship

Feminine leadership tends to be more nurturing, and like a mentor-mentee relationship. Look at the number of women who go into education and work as teachers. Yet most administrative roles such as principal and dean go to men. Women value connection and foster personal growth in the workplace. They understand the value of team work, not the «lone wolf» approach.

Women can also transition from masculine to feminine energy more easily. It is great to get input about a new project, but it is also essential to meet the deadlines.

Women entrepreneurs should not make any apology for their feminine energy or try to «man up». Instead, they need to embrace the differences and study the best times to switch from one energy type to the other, in order to run their business efficiently.

How to Stand Out amongst Other Women Entrepreneurs

As more and more of the female population decides to start a business, it gets harder to stand out amongst other women entrepreneurs. However, it can be done. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Utilize Social Media

Social media can be used for so much more than keeping in touch with friends and family. Create pages for both yourself and your business on multiple social media sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.). Then, share content that shows off the things that you have to offer.

Be sure to highlight ways that you are different than your competition. For example, if you’re the only day care service in your town that also provides transportation, be sure to bring that up in your posts.

Keep Your Promises

Clients and customers alike will notice when you deliver on every aspect of a promise that you make to them. Make sure that you finish everything that you start, and that you get it done in a timely manner. People remember that you were true to your word, and keep that in mind when deciding who to do business with in the future.

Go the Extra Mile

Doing more than is expected of you when working with clients or customers is a sure way to set yourself and your business apart from competitors in your field. If you can offer an extra feature or service that your competitors don’t, that’s an excellent point to make when trying to “sell” yourself to potential customers.

Give Out Free Samples

People tend to get pretty excited about the idea of getting something for free. Consider investing in promotional objects like pens, mouse pads, t-shirts, or fridge magnets. It may not seem like much, but gifts like this with your logo on them can go a long way toward setting yourself apart from your peers.

Listen to Feedback

Even if you are successful when you launch your business, you won’t be able to keep up with the changing landscape if you aren’t able to adapt as a business owner. Take every opportunity that you can to collect feedback from customers and other businesses that you work with.

One way to do this is to provide customers with a satisfaction survey, either in person or via email. Make sure to include a section that lets the customer fill in suggestions on how you could improve your service. Not only will this give you an idea of how you can do better, it also lets your customers know that their opinion matters to you.

These are just a few ways to help to ensure that you stand out among the sea of female entrepreneurs. Yes, competition is fierce. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful. With perseverance and due diligence, chances are you’ll realize continued growth along your well-deserved journey to success.

How to Find Balance When Juggling a Business and a Family

Building and operating a business can be challenging, especially if you’re also in charge at home. After a busy morning of getting everyone else ready for their day, you may not feel as ready to get to work.

Likewise, after a long day at work, all of the tasks you have to do to keep your house in order probably seem overwhelming. Here’s a little bit of advice on how to juggle a busy life at home and at work.

Let Go of Stress

Taking care of problems both at work and at home can lead to feeling stressed or overworked, which can make it difficult to work effectively or enjoy time with your family. It may help to get a little bit of “alone time” between work and your family – whether it’s before you go to work or just after you get home.

For example, you might try leaving for work early and listening to your favorite music in the office, or go for a jog right when you get home. This will give you a chance to unwind and clear your head from the stresses of working or taking care of the household.

Find Quality Childcare

You may have a hard time staying focused at work if you’re concerned about the care that your children are getting while you’re not around. Make sure that you find nannies and babysitters that you trust completely, and that you feel are competent to be there for your kids while you’re away.

If you’ll be hiring help for childcare, make a list of all of the criteria that you think are essential in a caregiver. If they’re missing anything on that list, they may not be the right childcare provider for you.

See if you can set up a trial day with the prospective nanny or babysitter so that you can see how they get along taking care of your kids while you’re still there. That way, you’ll have no worries while you’re trying to take care of your business.

Stay Organized

Being disorganized or planning activities at the last minute can have a negative impact on your mood and your work efficiency. Try to keep your home and work area clean and well-organized so that you don’t have to sort through clutter to get things done.

At home, this could be as simple as establishing a place to keep everything that you use regularly. You won’t have to worry about finding your keys if you put them in the same place every time you come home.

Bring the Two Together

Last but not least, preventing your home life from interfering with your professional life often means keeping the two separate whenever possible. Instead, find ways to combine the two however you can.

For example, rather than withdrawing to a home office while you try to get business-related work done at home, get your kids and your partner involved. Even if they don’t have any advice to provide when it comes to maintaining your business, talking to them about what’s happening at work will give you a chance to vent.

Goal Setting for Women Entrepreneurs

Most successful women create a set of goals that they strive to reach, which helps them stay on track as they work toward success. Without setting goals and applying effort to long-term improvement, you won’t get very far even if you do work hard.

This is especially true if you’re trying to balance maintaining a busy household with helping your young business flourish. Here are some tips that may be helpful to women entrepreneurs while setting goals for themselves and their businesses.

Consider Using Visual Aids

You may not think of visual aids like graphs or progress charts when it comes to forming a professional plan. But, these things are more effective motivators than you may think. Looking at a visual representation of the progress you’ve made can make a bigger impact than simply looking at the numbers.

Not only that, creating a fun graphical image also gives you something that you can display around your workplace to motivate your team members and to help the business accomplish the goals that you’ve laid out.

Be Optimistic, But Realistic

It’s important that the goals you set for yourself or your business be things that you can realistically accomplish. If you strive to do something that isn’t possible for you to do, you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment in the future.

If you can’t imagine yourself possibly achieving a goal, you may want to set your sights lower for the time being. However, it’s also important to challenge yourself with the goals that you create. If you set goals that are too easy to achieve, then it will create the illusion of success without motivating you to do everything that you can.

One Thing at a Time

Motivating yourself to complete a complicated project can be daunting. When you try to deal with every aspect of a problem at once, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed. Try to break each project up into as many smaller parts as you can in order to keep your short-term goals as simple as possible. This will give you something to feel accomplished about at every successful stage of the project, rather than only once everything is finished.

Keep Track of Your Progress

Once you’ve laid out your goals, you need to stick to the plan in order to make them happen. Make sure that you keep track of what you’re doing in order to achieve your goals, and see how much success you’ve had. Take some time each week or month to go over the progress you’ve made and adjust your goals according to your current needs.

You should always be comfortable with the goals you set. The process of setting goals doesn’t need to be an arduous task. Take time to think about what you really want to accomplish in the next year… five years… and even ten years. Don’t just scribble something down on paper for the sake of saying you have goals. You’ll rarely accomplish anything that way.

Are Certain Types of Businesses Harder for Women to Break Into

One of the most popular slogans of the women’s liberation movement of the 1970s was, «You’ve come a long way, baby.» Fast forward to the present day and that might hold true in some businesses, but there are some which seem to maintain a closed-door policy and a glass ceiling that women are still battering themselves against more than 40 years later.

Technology

The most obvious types of businesses that are harder for women to break into are tech-related. Tech seems more of a boy’s club than an industry in which women can achieve equality. While a recent report from Pew Research has shown that the majority of Americans think women are just as capable in terms of leadership as men, very few women hold positions as CEOs in general (only 26 out of the Fortune 500 companies), and women as leaders in tech companies is even more rare.

The skewing seems to start at a young age, with schools encouraging boys in math and science and girls in softer subjects like liberal arts. This bias continues in high school and the trend is maintained at college level as well, with very few women majoring in computer science or technology. An «old boy network» shuts them out still further.

Financial Corporations

In financial institutions, women seem to have to do more to prove themselves than men, and to have to keep on doing it over and over again. They often work harder, for one-third lower wages, and are held to a higher standard than men. Even if they try to make a real difference, this can often be held against them.

In a recent opinion piece published in the New York Times, studied showed that if a male executive expressed their ideas freely, they got a 10% better competence rating in their annual review. By contrast, if a woman did the same, they received a 14% lower rating. If a man and woman both express the same idea, the man gets a higher performance rating, while the woman’s stays the same.

Other Big Businesses

Studies have also shown a «motherhood penalty» and a «fatherhood bonus.» Women with children are seen as less committed to their job than men. If a man is a father, however, he is actually seen as more committed. Factors such as the majority of childcare burden resting on the mother’s shoulders is never taken into account. Fathers are actually sent on more management training courses than single men, who in turn are sent far more often than women.

Start-Ups

Start-ups also tend to be «old boy networks» that shut out women except for the more subordinate tasks, even though studies have shown that start-ups led by women are more likely to succeed and innovative firms with women at the head are more profitable.

New companies with more gender diversity have more revenue, customers, market share and profits. This demonstrates that while there is still a glass ceiling in some businesses, there is also room for women to bring their skills and talents to play. In this way, they can build stronger companies by daring to be entrepreneurial, and to support each other with an «old girl network» that can open more doors for women.

ARC Vacation Spending – Tweets

Five Vacation Spots That Are Worth the Money
Tweet: Looking for new places to vacation? Check out these – they’re totally worth it. LINK

Nine Ways to Save Money on Food and Drink
Tweet: 9 of the best ways to save on food and drink when you are on vacation. LINK

14 Ways to Save Money on Your Accommodation
Tweet: 14 great ways to save money on your vacation accommodation. LINK

17 Ways to Save Money on Transportation When You Are on Vacation
Tweet: Discover the best ways to save money on transportation costs when you are on vacation. LINK

Are All-Inclusive Holidays Worth It?
Tweet: Things to consider when choosing between «a la carte» or all-inclusive vacations. LINK

Avoid These Pitfalls When Buying Your Souvenirs
Tweet: Tips on how to avoid wasting money on souvenirs when you are on vacation. LINK

Hidden Extras and How to Avoid Them
Tweet: Learn what hidden fees to watch out for so you can stick to your vacation budget. LINK

Online Help for Your Vacation Budget
Tweet: The best tools and apps for organizing your vacation budget. LINK

The Best Ways to Take Money Abroad
Tweet: Learn the best ways to take money abroad on your vacation. LINK

Tracking Your Expenses on Vacation
Tweet: Tips on how to keep track of your budget before, during and after your vacation trip. LINK

Tracking Your Expenses on Vacation

Tracking your expenses on vacation is essential if you don’t want to overspend and end up with a huge credit card bill to pay off once you get home. There are a number of ways to keep track. The easiest is a notebook and pencil. The more complicated will be a spreadsheet, online calculator, or app on your smartphone.

Start by estimating an overall budget. Then deduct the upfront costs you have already paid to see how much you have left. Many people prefer to set a per-day budget once they get to their destination, but this is not always practical because there can be hidden costs, forgotten costs, and cost of living issues.

Upfront Costs

You will have already purchased the tickets such as the airfare, or committed to train, bus or driving costs. You’ve also usually had to pay for the accommodation up front, and a car rental if you opt for one.

Package Deals

In many cases, you can get competitively priced package deals through websites like Expedia and Travelocity, which allow you to order all these items for one low price. In some cases, they might also offer various excursions as add-ons to the package.

It is important to do your research prior to going so you know what things cost. If you’re heading to Disney World in Orlando, for example, it is important to know the regular price of the tickets versus the discount being offered at the travel site. The list price, for example, might be $100 per day per person, but you can get the tickets through the package deal for $40 per person – a significant savings.

Other Costs Before You Go

Other costs might include visa fees, vaccinations, new clothes better suited to the climate, sunscreen, insect repellent and so on. All of these will add up.

Choosing the Right Accommodation

The websites will offer a range of accommodation, but it is important to pick something that will suit your family and lifestyle as well as your budget. For example, some inexpensive hotels include breakfast, meaning you only have to worry about two meals a day. Some suites will have a refrigerator, so you can buy milk and cereal for the kids and microwavable meals and save money that way.

Eating out, drinks and snacks can take a big bite out of your budget if you’re not careful.

The Location of the Accommodation

You might reject getting a rental car because you think you are saving money, or are nervous about driving overseas. But, factor in the cost involved in staying at the accommodation of your choice. It may seem cheap, but if you have to take taxis everywhere in order to see the sights, it can all add up.

Admissions

Admissions to the attractions can really bite into the budget. Your per-day calculations should include these as well as your food and drink.

Some apps, like Trail Wallet, will help ensure you are not over budget, but they don’t allow you to put your expenses in categories to see where all the money is going. In this case, an online calculator or printed out spreadsheet can help. Or again, just write everything down in your handy notebook. Tuck your receipts into your notebook and do your tallies at the end of the day.

Cost of Living Overseas

In many cases, you will find the cost of living to be very different from what you are used to. In the US, for example, you can get a breakfast at McDonald’s for around $3 to $4, but go to New Zealand, for instance, and it will cost $7. Cigarettes and gas are hugely expensive in the UK compared to the US.

Know before you go and keep track of everything you spend, and you should be able to have a good time without going over budget.

The Best Ways to Take Money Abroad

When traveling overseas, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind when it comes to how much money to take, and in what form.

ATMs are much more common than they used to be, but there are still many parts of the world where you won’t find one on every street corner – and even then, only in large cities. You might also find that banks are open only for very limited hours, and closed for local public holidays and early closing days you might not know anything about because you’re not a local.

Here are some tips on how to take your money and manage it while abroad.

1. Cash

Have cash in your home currency for the airport, and enough foreign currency in cash with you to cover expenses once you arrive – such as taxis, tips, a meal and so on. Have enough with you for at least one day’s worth of expenses so you can get situated in your new location and find a bank, ATM and so on.

Needless to say, always carry your cash in a safe place, but one accessible enough for you to take it out to spend without drawing unnecessary attention.

2. Foreign Exchange

Each time you exchange money, you will be required to pay a fee. So on the one hand, you might be nervous about carrying a lot of cash, but on the other, you want to get a good rate and make the most of the fee.

Order the cash from your bank or a Bureau de Change, at least a couple of weeks before you go. Check the exchange rate for buying and selling. You probably won’t have any money left when you come back, but it is good to check if you do need to change any back again.

Once you get to your destination, look for a Bureau de Change near where you are staying. They can be found at airports, of course, but you won’t usually get a good rate there.

3. Credit and Debit Cards

Credit cards such as MasterCard and Visa are accepted all over the world. If it is a debit card attached to your bank account, this can help keep you within your vacation budget. On the other hand, there can be substantial fees involved in using a foreign ATM which can bite into your budget. These include foreign exchange fees as well.

If you are going to take money out, therefore, make sure it is enough to cover what you need, rather than $20 here or there.

Use the credit card or debit card to make purchases directly at shops, restaurants and so on. Keep your cash in reserve for small purchases, market stalls and so on.

Note that some US cards are not accepted overseas, because they are not part of the Cirrus or PLUS network. In this case, consider getting a pre-paid MasterCard. Make sure the amount you put on it will cover your needs. You will have to pay a fee.

Also note that some US cards won’t work overseas because they use chips rather than swiping the card. You might not be able to pay unless you can find staff who would be able to enter the number manually. Otherwise, you will need cash.

4. Travelers’ checks

Some people still use these, though they are a lot less common and there are fees attached. But they can be replaced if they are lost or stolen.

5. Wire transfer

In case of emergencies, your family can wire you via Western Union or MoneyGram. There might be a fee based on a percentage of the amount of money sent, or a flat fee, such as $6 at Western Union.

Online Help for Your Vacation Budget

If you are planning a vacation, the first thing you need to do is set a budget, especially if you have a large family or money is generally tight in your household.

1. Spreadsheets and Templates

The basics of vacation budgeting can be calculated on a spreadsheet if you wish. It is useful for adding things up if you use the formulas on the spreadsheet.

Here is a handy spreadsheet already set up:
https://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/travel-budget-worksheet.html

Download it, open it in Excel, make your calculations and keep it up to date.

https://www.template.net/business/budget-templates/travel-budget/ has several different templates to choose from in various formats.

2. Tools and Templates

Some sites will allow you to plug the numbers in online and keep a running total of what you are spending.

The page at http://www.budgetworksheets.org/worksheet/vacation-travel is useful because you can estimate, enter the actual cost, and calculate the difference on a range of vacation-related items.

There is a handy tool at http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-budget-calculator that can help you calculate your budget.

Another useful one is http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/calculators/calculate/travelBudgeting.php?calcCategory=work

The first tool is more detailed than the second, but both will give you an idea of what you need to calculate to start with so you will understand the basic cost of the trip. You can then start to add on the extras, food, drink, excursions and so on.

The most comprehensive is this great article at http://foodfuntravel.com/travel-budget-planner-calculator-free/ with its own spreadsheet. It covers a range of expense categories, including the cost of visas and vaccinations that might be needed if you go abroad.

3. Foreign Exchange Calculators and Traveler’s Checks

A good foreign exchange calculator is important if you are going overseas. While in many cases you don’t have to worry about changing your money beforehand because there are so many ATM machines around the world, the fees can all start to add up if you are not careful. There might be exchange fees, bank fees there, and bank fees from your own bank. It isn’t a good idea to carry too much cash either, for safety reasons. Traveler’s checks will usually only involve one set of fees and can be replaced if they are lost or stolen.

XE.com is the best site for calculating exchange rates. And here’s a useful site for making the best choices about how to pay for things overseas and keep your money safe:
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/money-and-insurance/the-best-way-to-carry-money-overseas

4. Apps

There are a range of apps for tracking travel budgets. Some are better suited to vacations than business travel, and vice versa. The top three are:

Trail Wallet – Travel Budget and Expense Tracker (iOS App)

This is easy to use and helps you keep track of your daily budgeted amount. Input everything you spend and it does the rest. The downside is it has no categories – all the costs are lumped together, but its cartoons and comments about your shopping can be amusing.

Trabee Pocket – Travel Expense (Android and iOS App)

As with Trail Wallet, you set your destination and your currency, if any, to help you know exactly how much you are spending. You can classify by cash or credit card and break down the costs into categories, food, drink and so on. The paid version of this app also allows you to export your spending report into Excel or plain text, so it is very useful if you do a lot of business travel.

Concur (Android and iOS App)

This app is ideal for business travel and will let you upload expenses reports and download them as well to keep your company up to date with all your expenses. It can be used for budget family travel in categories if the other two options really don’t suit you.

Nine Ways to Save Money on Food and Drink

One of the most expensive aspects of being on vacation can be the food and drink. However, there are quite a few ways you can save money.

1. Know before you go

When planning your trip, research the area you will be staying in. Check out the restaurants to see the price of the entrees and kids’ meals. Also see if there is anything special going on at the time you will be there, like Restaurant Week, where a 3-course meal with wine will cost around $20, or a Lobsterfest, Oktoberfest and so on.

Choose a room with a refrigerator and microwave. Plan to shop for the basics when you get there, such as milk and cereal, if you have small children. Stock up on snacks too. Bring reusable water bottles and water purification tablets if you are going overseas.

2. Choose your accommodation wisely

Accommodation can sometimes include meals. For example, many of the motel chains offer a free hot breakfast. Eat well in the morning and that can tide you over for many hours.

In many cases, you can also make your own sandwiches from the toast, bacon, egg and so on, which you can wrap up and take with you for lunch. Most places won’t mind, but just don’t be too obvious about it. In this case, all you would then have to worry about would be dinner and snacks.

Other hotels and resorts include all meals, or dinner. This is usually the case if they are in a remote location. Be sure not to miss out and make the most of each meal.

3. Eat out on the weeknights, not the weekends

There are often special deals on certain weekdays to entice more people to come out to dine, so make the most of them.

4. Enjoy a big lunch and a light dinner

The lunch menu is often the same food, but far cheaper.

5. Go for happy hour and early bird specials

These usually offer the best value. And don’t be shy about asking for a doggie bag. If the portions are really large, avoid the temptation to overeat by taking one third to one half of the food and putting it on your bread plate, and asking them to pack up the rest. You will save money and calories too!

6. Look for buffets

They will usually charge you per person no matter what the age of your children, but buffets are a great way to taste everything, and you can take some food away if you are not too obvious about it – like chicken fingers, sliced meats and rolls and so on that will be great for lunch the next day.

7. Pack well

Head to a warehouse store and buy granola bars or other snacks in bulk. Bring a reusable water bottle for each person. Have nuts on hand. Buy bread and a jar of peanut butter. The sandwiches will hold up well no matter what the weather.

Have a backpack to carry the snacks and water in. Bring a Thermos and fill it up each morning with coffee at the hotel. Bring a Tupperware for storing leftovers from buffets, or from your doggie bags.

8. Ask the locals

The hotel staff or people who live in the area will usually know what’s good, at a good price. You can end up discovering some fantastic meals for great prices.

9. Steer clear of drinks on the menu

It is important to stay hydrated, so be sure to drink the water at the table. If you do have to have a drink, steer clear of fancy cocktails, and go for beer or wine. Drink one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you have to keep costs down. Order one soda and divide it into the water glasses. You will get the taste without all the sugar and calories.

Hidden Extras and How to Avoid Them

It is important to budget carefully for your travel, but it can be tough when there are so many hidden fees imposed on travelers these days. Here are some important ones to avoid.

1. Booking Your Flight

Reservations can cost if you try to book them on the phone these days. However, booking online can be costly too, if you make a mistake. If you have to make a change, they will often charge fees so high they are not much different from the airfare itself. Look for a website or airline that offers a 24-hour flexible booking period. Trip insurance might seem like an extra fee that you would wish to avoid, but it can save a lot of money in the long run.

Be careful when it comes to using frequent flyer programs, because they sometimes impose fees on your supposed free flights. There might be fuel charges, airport fees, and redemption charges when you cash in the miles.

Fuel surcharges are another tricky fee to avoid. They are often tacked onto your frequent flyer miles, and to small children who don’t take up a seat. International flights will be the most expensive. Compare costs carefully. The cheap fare you see may not be so cheap after all if the airline imposes fuel surcharges.

Checked baggage fees are another bone of contention. If you want to bring more than just a carry-on bag, most airlines now charge you for it. Pack tightly and bring only small bottles of toiletries that satisfy the rules about how much can be brought onboard. You can always buy more once you arrive at your destination, or use the freebies hotels and motels usually provide.

Overweight baggage fees are exorbitant. If you do have to check a bag, avoid adding even more fees by making sure you don’t over-pack. Weigh your luggage before you leave to avoid any surprises. Don’t go crazy with souvenirs on the way back either.

Visa, exit and tourist fees are another little surprise we often forget to budget for. It will often be included in the airfare. Check online for visa application fees.

2. Car Rental

Check to make sure the fee includes everything, with no added extras. Remember that your credit card will offer travel protection for collisions, so you might not need additional insurance.

Key replacement, alternate drop-off locations and fuel surcharges can all end up costing you big time. They will also charge if the tank isn’t full, so fill it up cheaply before heading in to drop it off.

3. Accommodation

Room supplements for singles (or more than X number of people in a room) are common, and can add up. Beware of resort fees, which can tack on as much as 10% more per night. Steer clear of the minibar, phone, and «free snacks and water» in the room which turn out not to be.

Valet parking can add up too, but might be cheaper than trying to park in a local lot in the center of a big city.

Other fees to watch out for are luggage storage if you want to stow your bags before check-in or after check-out so you can see the sights, towel fees if there is a pool or beach, use of the hotel safe to store valuables, newspaper fees, and a charge for using the fitness center. Also watch out for «energy fees» and ATM fees well above normal if you are tempted to use a machine in the hotel lobby.

4. Cruises

Port fees and taxes are quite common. The more places the ship stops, the more fees there will be. They should be included in the price, but do check.

Service charges for drinks is also common, up to around 15%. WiFi can also cost a good deal per day.

Be careful with shore excursions. They are not usually included in the price of the cruise, so renting equipment can be costly.

Five Vacation Spots That Are Worth the Money

There are a lot of choices of destination when you are going on vacation. The main questions are how big is your budget, what sorts of things do you and your family love doing, and are you traveling domestically or internationally.

Ask any traveler and they will have numerous suggestions, but here are top-rated places to go that should suit every taste and budget. The overseas suggestions will be worth a visit no matter what the exchange rate.

1. Singapore

This is a fantastic island-country and city with the best food in the world at the most affordable prices. The accommodation ranges from tourist to five star, all at affordable prices. Book online for a package deal.
There’s so much to do that you won’t be spending time in your room. The public transportation is superb, so you can get anywhere you need to go. Buy a travel pass when you arrive at Changi airport and head out for adventure.

The tourist buses called «ducks» will take you around every attraction in the city center, plus onto the river. Nearly everyone speaks English and the British influence is still strong. Try the chocolate buffet at the Fullerton Hotel on Saturdays and the original Singapore sling at the world-famous Raffles bar. Even the height of luxury is affordable in this paradise.

2. New Zealand

If you get a good deal from Air New Zealand during the «off season», which are the spring and fall in the Northern Hemisphere, you can head down under for a song. They also offer multi-airfare passes so you can get up to six internal flights for only a bit more than the cost of the international ticket. You will usually fly into Auckland on the North Island and branch out from there.

For those who love the tropics, head north to the beautiful Bay of Islands for a beach holiday. If you want a spa holiday, head to the middle of the island, Rotorua.

Are you a fan of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit? Head to Wellington on the North Island for tours of many of the locations used. If you love skiing, head for Queenstown on the South Island to ski the Remarkables, filmed so lovingly in the movies just mentioned.

Best of all are the backpackers hostels – you can stay in a Microtel for around 6 USD per night. The food is fantastic, as is the local wine.

3. Ireland

Ireland is full of fun, food and fabulous attractions. A flight to Shannon Airport is only about five hours from the east coast of the US.

Ireland is full of castles, unspoilt nature, and seafood. Public transportation is easy and cheap, everyone speaks English, and they are all very friendly to North Americans. Great bed and breakfasts abound. Expect to pay around $13 for a meal and $35 for accommodation each night outside Dublin.

Dublin caters to tourists, so it does not have the real Irish feel of Cork or Galway, but it does have a fantastic amount of attractions, including Trinity College and the two cathedrals. The youth hostels near Christ Church Cathedral are clean and modern. Expect to pay $20 to $100 per night, depending on season and number of people in the room.

4. Portland, Oregon

This is a family-friendly city with lots to do and superb public transport. It is also the gateway to all sorts of scenic locations, including the glacier Mt. Hood, where you can ski all year round. The variety of restaurants is as good as New York City, but for a fraction of the price. Don’t miss Powell’s – the largest bookstore in the world.

5. Nashville

Affordable, family friendly, with lots to see and do. It beats Disneyland/world by a mile in terms of value. There are seven theme parks within driving distance and attractions of every kind to enjoy, from music to museums – all at affordable prices.