LIFESTYLE: Cosmetics Interventions Aren't Just For The Rich: 5 Beauty Treatments Anyone Can Afford

 you think cosmetic treatments are just for the rich, then think again. These days, there are all sorts of procedures on the market, and practically anyone can afford them. 


Please note that we’re not talking about full-on surgery in this post. That’s still expensive and, in many cases, unnecessary. What we discuss below are small touch-ups that can make a massive difference in how you look and feel. 


Makeup Tattoos


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Imagine if you could simply skip putting on makeup in the morning and save yourself time and money. It sounds too good to be true, but it is something that a lot of women are opting for in the form of permanent makeup tattoos. 


The way this works is simple. Instead of using eyeliner and brow liner all the time, you get a tattoo artist to permanently ink them onto your face. Then all you need to do is add concealer and mascara in the morning, saving you a huge amount of time and money.


Eyelash Tinting


If your eyelashes sometimes look a little pale or thin, then eyelash tinting could help. This treatment darkens the lashes, helping to make them appear naturally thicker and fuller. You can also lighten them at the tips to create a dramatic, fuller look, reducing your reliance on mascara. 


Teeth Straightening Systems


Today’s best teeth aligners are nothing like the metal braces of the past. You don’t need to sit in an orthodontist’s chair while they glue metal posts to your teeth and then crank a metal wire to make it taut. Instead, you just order the aligners you need online to shift your teeth into their desired position.


The benefits of proper tooth alignment go well beyond beauty. When your teeth are straight, it actually helps to keep them healthy, since you can brush away bacteria more easily. In the long run, you are much less likely to lose a tooth. 


Lived-In Hair Colour


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Regular hair colour treatments dramatically change your hair tone but, at the same time, leave you with problems, such as roots that don’t match. Lived-in hair colour, though is different. Clever techniques mean that colour work can continue looking good for up to six months, allowing you to slash your salon costs. 


Chemical Peels


Chemical peels sound expensive (and something that celebrities would do), but they are actually surprisingly simple and inexpensive. Essentially, all they involve is covering facial skin with a chemical that causes the top layer to peel away, revealing fresh, rejuvenated skin underneath. 


Researchers still aren’t quite sure why it works so well, but they think that it has to do with the effect on cellular biology. Stress from the acid peel causes them to go into maintenance mode, turning back the clock, and behaving as though they are younger. 


Sclerotherapy


Lastly, if you have spider veins, you might want to consider sclerotherapy. It’s a non-surgical procedure that involves injecting a compound into unwanted veins that causes them to shrivel and die. A few weeks after treatment, it is as if your spider veins were never there.


LIFESTYLE: Putting Water Damage Right In Your Home

 

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Water damage is any issue caused in your property, or any damage that occurs within your property, as a result of the presence of water. It’s something that many of us will experience at some point or another during our lifetimes. Whether that’s ruined wallpaper due to a slow leak, damage to the beams in your loft due to a hole in the roof and rain getting in, flood damage to the flooring and other areas due to flooding of your home and much more. Now, seeing as water damage isn’t a daily or weekly occurrence for most of us, we tend to not really know what to do when it comes to dealing with it. Here’s some information that can help with this.


Why Deal With Water Damage?


Water damage is an issue that can wreak havoc in your home. It can not only cause a mess that needs to be cleaned up, but it can damage the structure of your home, including its walls or beams and electrics. It can also result in a host of other household issues, ranging from damp to mold to wood rot, which cause further damage in and of themselves. Put simply, once water damage occurs, you really do need to put wrongs to rights in order to be able to maintain your home to the highest standard.


Act Quickly


The first thing to consider with water damage is that you need to act quickly as soon as you identify it. So many people leave minor issues to get worse, as they don’t seem like a major threat to begin with and this can significantly reduce property value. But this is just a recipe for further damage and work that will take more time to resolve and cost more money to fix.


Call In Specialists


There are specialists out there who can deal with pretty much any type of water damage at your demand. From roofers to plumbers to Mold Mitigation Services, you’ll be able to find someone to help with your specific problem for a reasonable price. If you’re unsure who you need to get in contact with for your specific problem, do a little research and you’re bound to find the right professional. Make sure to read reviews and check qualifications to find a service that you have faith in.


Maintenance


Sometimes, following specialist work, you will need to uphold some habits or changes that will keep your home in good shape. For example, if you have experienced a flood, you may need to leave dehumidifiers running in your damp space to lift water from the air and remove it. If your chosen specialist recommends something, make sure to follow what they say. This will keep your home in the best condition possible.


Hopefully, some of the suggestions outlined above will help you out when it comes to maintaining your home, preventing water damage and putting water damage right if it does occur. Each will make all the difference, so give it a go! There’s nothing to lose.


LIFESTYLE: 5 Reasons You Might Find Budgeting Difficult

 Let's take a closer look at some of the most common budgeting roadblocks. Many of them are the result of concerns and emotional blockages that are tough to overcome.


Photo by Mikhail Nilov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-and-woman-doing-budgeting-7735783/

You Become Overwhelmed, So You Never Start

For some, the hardest thing is getting started. There are dozens of budgeting software to select from, and deciding which one you "should" use might leave you paralysed with indecision.


Experiment with other options without committing. You can read budgeting tool reviews and comparisons, but the best way to get started is to try it out and make a budget. Many apps provide free trials for you to try out the platform. Also, don't feel obligated to fill in every blank throughout the practice run. To gain a feel for the new structure, start with one or two categories.


Additionally, you are not required to use an app. After all, you'll use the "best" budgeting tool if you stick with it. Because it works for them, some people develop an envelope system and use cash or their debit card. However, you can sync your information by connecting budgeting applications to bank accounts and credit cards, and many people find that apps make it simple to arrange and monitor their budget.

It Can Be Scary To Face Your Finances

Making a monthly budget requires confronting your financial circumstances, whether you have large average monthly auto payments or not. When you have unlimited funds, listing your income and expenses may be a lot of fun. It's far more difficult if you're frightened to look at your debt, if you're trying to make ends meet, or if your income is inconsistent. This is particularly true if you are embarrassed by your debt.


Learning to stick to a budget might also be associated with limits. You may prefer not to be restricted by a monthly or weekly budget and prefer to spend money freely.


Concentrate on your objectives. Rather than focusing on what is bothering you about your finances, make a list of the goals you want to achieve with your money, such as being debt-free or increasing your savings account. Perhaps you're putting money down for a down payment on a house, creating an emergency fund, saving for the holidays, or paying off school and personal loans. Make the goal a priority, and keep it in mind as you get serious about your finances.


Rephrase the term "budget" to "spending plan." A budget, rather than preventing you from spending money, encourages you to be realistic about your income and required costs. Then, based on your goals and what makes you happy from investing, you construct a plan for what's left. Sometimes you need to face the fact that you may need a £200 loan, but if you have a plan in place to pay it back, you should have no issues. 


Using An Unrealistic Budget

Setting a budget and sticking to it can be difficult, and many individuals give up after a few weeks or even months. However, as with starting up, the tools aren't always the most important factor.


One issue is that many people begin by imagining the budget they wish they could stick to. But, after unforeseen expenses throw their budget off or they find the budgeting system is too hard, they give up.


Focus on tracking at initially, and be flexible with your budget. Instead of making a budget, keep track of your regular expenditure for a month or two to get a suitable baseline. You can then evaluate the data to see if your spending is in line with your objectives. Then, based on these findings, they build and revise a reasonable budget.


Remember it is always possible to amend your budget. So, if you find you are always struggling and overspending, adjust your budget to make for the allowances you are overspending on. For example, if you are now spending more on your weekly food shop because of the rise in the cost of living, you might want to adjust your food budget. 

Your Not A Natural Saver

It appears that some people are born savers. They may have financial setbacks of their own, such as neglecting to invest in desirable items, but budgeting is easier when you have a positive attitude about saving and financial self-care. Spenders, on the other hand, may make impulsive purchases and have problems sticking to their budget.


Remember your aim and take another action instead of spending. Setting aside time for self-reflection may be necessary if you want to learn how to stick to a budget and save money. If you didn't write down your objectives when you made your budget, it'll be crucial to do so now.


You may even paste a reminder of what you're striving toward on your bathroom mirror or business cards. Not just how much money you require, but also how you want to spend or feel in the future.


Also, attempt to figure out what makes you make spontaneous purchases. Stress and boredom are common causes of overspending. You can also find yourself shopping and surfing online to avoid doing other things. A smart first step is to become aware of your triggers. Then, rather than trying to stop cold turkey, consider if you can replace your spending habit with something more in line with your objectives.

You Feel you are budgeting alone. 

It might be a two-pronged problem to feel that no one else budgets. For starters, you may believe you can spend as others do, but you haven't seen other people budget. When you go shopping, you only see other individuals who have chosen to spend money, not those who have chosen to stay at home. Even when you're buying online, some sites will tell you however many people are looking at, or have previously purchased, an item you're interested in.


A survey indicated that most people don't talk about their finances, which is somewhat connected. Younger generations are more open to financial discussions, but even 18 to 34-year-olds tend to keep their financial decisions, bankruptcy, and credit card debt to themselves.


Find a community or a money accountability partner. When you start talking to people about money, you'll quickly realise you're not the only one who has issues, questions, or difficulty sticking to a budget.


Regular money meetings with a partner, friend, or close relative who is also budgeting can assist you in finding solutions; think of it as a personal financial checkup. If people are unwilling to talk about money, don't put pressure on them to do so. Some people believe that thinking about or discussing money is mentally taxing.


If you don't have somebody with whom to talk money or don't feel comfortable sharing something so personal, you could explore anonymous online communities. There are smaller subReddits devoted to certain budgeting platforms on the personal finance site Reddit, which has over 14 million individuals ready to ask and answer concerns about money.

Final Words 

Sticking to a budget can be difficult for a variety of reasons, but many of them boil down to having realistic expectations and shifting your attitude to prioritise long-term goals over immediate desires. These aren't only challenging to conquer; putting in the effort can lead to tremendous progress.


Hopefully, this short guide will help you with becoming more financially stable and able to stick to your budget better. Do you have any other issues or solutions that could help others trying to budget? 


Please share some of them in the comments below.


LIFESTYLE: Getting Your Home Ready for a New Pet

 Are you thinking about getting a pet in the near future? Have you already put in a request to adopt a pet? If either of these is true, then you may want to start looking at how you can prepare your home for a new pet. In this post, we’ll be covering some of the most common types of considerations and how you can adjust your home to make it more pet-friendly.


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Are your family members ready for a pet?


Lastly, don’t forget to speak to your family members about the possibility of bringing a pet into the family. Whether you want several small pets or just one family dog, you need to consider everyone else in your home because there’s a good chance that they’ll also be responsible for looking after them now and then. Something like a dog can be a lot of maintenance and it helps if everyone is actually interested in having a dog around instead of it being limited to just you.


In short, speak with everyone in your family about the possibility of having a pet and ensure everyone is on the same page.


Have you decided where your pet will be sleeping?


There are two main considerations when it comes to deciding where your pet will be sleeping; what part of the home will they be in, and what are they going to be sleeping on? For example, you may need to consider Pawpedics dog beds for a dog, a cat tower if you’re bringing in a feline friend or a cage for a hamster. These are the most common places for a pet to sleep, but it’ll depend on the type of animal, their size, and how much freedom you want them to have.


For much larger animals such as a dog, you could even let them sleep with you in bed. This is a great idea if you feel like sleeping with your dog can help you sleep better as well. However, if they toss and turn a lot in bed, then it’s probably going to make it harder for you as well.


Do you have enough pet supplies and furniture?


Almost every pet that you could own has its own supplies and furniture requirements. You’ll want to have the relevant supplies for each of these pets. This can include a good amount of pet food, medication, and also any grooming accessories that they need. You can get a lot of this in bulk by purchasing it online which can save you a considerable amount of money.


However, it’s worth remembering that not every supply is suitable for every pet, even if it has been labeled as such. For instance, your dog might prefer a certain type of food or they might need to eat something like wet food because they have trouble with the harder stuff. Similarly, certain pet grooming products might cause allergies or skin-related issues with some pets, so it’s a good idea to try out various products to see what works best with your pet.



LIFESTYLE: 3 Telltale Signs It's The Right Time To Get Married

 


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Marriage isn’t for everyone - and that’s completely fine. Many people are content being in relationships that aren’t formally bound by marriage. It’s completely up to you whether or not you want to do this. 


Nevertheless, marriage is still the end goal for a lot of people in relationships. It’s something you are actively thinking about in the future. So, how do you know when it’s the right time to get married? 


For starters, there is no ‘right’ time in the sense of a timescale. Couples can be together for months and get married, then live happily ever after. Similarly, some couples are together for over a decade before deciding to tie the knot. You shouldn’t think of things from a time perspective, but more from a relationship perspective. 


With that in mind, here are three signs it’s the right time to get married: 


You trust your partner immensely 

You can’t have a marriage without trust. Do you trust your partner with your life? Do you trust them to always be there for you, and to put you - and your future family - first? If the answer is yes, you are definitely on the road to being ready for marriage. If the answer is no, that doesn’t necessarily mean marriage is always off the cards. You could have an early relationship where trust is still building to the point where you know they’ll always have your back. 


For me, this is particularly important for single mothers. You need to know that you can trust your partner to not only look after you but to look after your child as well. 


You can live together

One of the strangest concepts in life is when partners don’t live together until after they are married. This is seen in more traditional relationships, where you get a house together after you’re married. However, in modern times, it’s just wise to live together before you take your relationship further. 


You never truly know how compatible you are with someone until you live with them and share a place together. You’re constantly around one another, always in each other’s space. You’ll either get on very well - and it brings you closer - or you hate it. If you have been living together and feel your relationship has improved dramatically, it’s another sign that marriage is right for you. 


You’ve had the marriage talk

A lot of people can get carried away by the idea of marriage. In your spare time, you’re looking at engagement rings online and pinning different wedding concepts to your Pinterest board. However, you can’t think about marriage until you’ve had a talk with your partner. 


Speak to them about the whole idea of marriage to see where they stand. Are they even keen to get married? This can be such an important conversation as it lets you know if you’re both on the same page. Obviously, if you are, then it’s another big tick in the marriage box. 


If you’ve noticed all of these signs, it’s a good indication that your relationship is ready for marriage. Now, it’s just a case of personal preference. You’re ready, but when do you want to get married? Perhaps you want to wait until you can buy a house instead of renting one? Maybe you want to save up a certain amount of money before getting married? It doesn’t really matter when you get married; what matters is that you’re ready. 


How to Plan the Perfect Family Road Trip

Family holidays are tough to plan. You have so much more to think about, and the expenses are far steeper than they used to be. This can leave you short on ideas and funds when it comes to your next family adventure.

However, there is another option. The family road trip is something that everyone either looks forward to or dreads. With the right preparation, you can make sure that your next road trip is something that everyone remembers for the right reasons. 

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The Right Attitude

The first challenge that you might encounter is that kids don’t always make the best travel companions. They can get antsy if they’re bored and it’s easy for a pleasant trip out to turn into a painful slog for everyone. 

However, the right attitude can do wonders for you and your family. Simply put, don’t expect too much from smaller children. While adults might be content to sit in a car for hours on end, children will need distractions. 

Another thing to consider is whether your children are travel-sick. If so, then a road trip isn’t the best idea for your family, as the child will be miserable and so will everyone else. Before you decide on a route, factor your family’s unique needs in mind.

By making sure that your children are entertained and comfortable, you can ensure a safer and more pleasant experience. Driving with kids isn’t easy a lot of the time, but you can make changes to help. 

The Right Vehicle

One of the most important aspects of your road trip is the vehicle. The right car should be roomy enough for the whole family to sit comfortably. If you have younger children, then it will also need to be able to accommodate car seats.

As well as space for the occupants, the vehicle should also have enough space to comfortably fit all of your supplies. Whether these are just some snacks for the road and emergency provisions, or clothes and other necessities for a more extended trip, make sure there’s plenty of room in the boot. Nobody wants to have to put up with a bag in their footwell, especially not for a long trip.

The vehicle should also be reliable and in good condition so that your road trip can be as safe as possible. Look for a “new utility wagon near me” to find a great road-trip-friendly vehicle.

The Right Activities

When you’re on a road trip, the idea isn’t just to drive around and sit in the car all day. You want to be getting out and exploring the countryside, getting up close and personal to the sights you’re driving past.

For some families, it pays to swing by an activity centre of some kind, so that the kids have something to look forward to. One great option is a Junior Off-Road experience, which lets your kids explore nature away from the beaten track, with plenty of supervision, of course. As long as they’re having fun, things will run smoothly.