Projecting an aura of wealth, success & being "in demand" is merely a matter of doing an attitude makeover - which is free - but looking & feeling your most fabulous certainly helps. Frugalista Vicky Oliver, best-selling author of "THE MILLIONAIRE'S HANDBOOK: How to Look and Act like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not"
1. Shiny-Up Those Tresses
Is your fringe looking frazzled? Instead of blowing a stash of cash at the hairdresser, head to the grocery store for a container of mayo. Wet your hair & comb half a cup all the way through; cover with a shower cap and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then hop in the shower and use your regular shampoo to wash out the mayo. Voila! Salon-conditioning at bodega prices! (image)
2. Look Sleek
Since 99% of diets are doomed to eventually fail, a more reliable fix is to get in the habit of dressing thinner. Wear heels, the higher the better - every inch visually subtracts a good three pounds - and rocking monochromatic outfits means you look an additional eight pounds thinner. Dusting some contour powder on your cheeks will subtract another two pounds. That's a total of just under 20 pounds!
3. Dress & Walk Tall
To enhance your natural elegance, think long - as in clothing that elongates your body. Start with your own closet and look for pieces that draw the eye up & out, like, say a slip dress which can be paired with skinny pants or leggings for a quickie catwalk-worthy look. "Cheat" your way to longer legs and additional stature with skirt that sit higher than your natural waist, and layer on some dark tights which help create an unbroken line. And once you're sartorially streamlined, stand up straight! Models aren't just born skinny - many also learn to walk tall.
4. Sleep Your Way to Gorgeous
Before squandering a fortune (you don’t have) on Botox injections, special serums & other pricey potions, try getting more high-quality sleep. The easiest way to find out how much you need is with a snooze diary. After you wake up, write how how much rest you got and make careful notes about your mood, energy & health. And compliments. If friends suddenly start asking if you've “lost weight” or what you’ve been doing to look so fresh, it' s good indicator that you've found your optimum sleep amount, which is one of the most potent anti-aging secrets ever.
5. Perfume Yourself Spiritual
If someone gifts you with a fragrance that doesn't make you swoon, you can still put it to use by adding a few drops to a steamy bath. It may work better with your personal chemistry that way and you won't be throwing away all the money spent on the perfume. Ancient Egyptians believed that perfumes could help one attain spiritual perfection, while modern science has discovered certain scents can lift your mood! Citrus-based scents may help promote happiness; rose scents may promote calm; the scent of bergamot may relieve anxiety and stress. Experiment with otherwise unwanted gifts of scent and you may be surprised to discover one that soothes your soul and helps promote your well-being. (image)
6. Twitter a Dose of Glamorous
Thanks to Twitter, it's now possible to get great insider-tips some of the most glam stars on the planet. Many a tweet-happy celeb loves to share a steady stream of insider dish on everything from dressing elegantly to skin, hair, clothing & makeup pointers. And all for free. Ain’t life tweet?
7. Make Over Your Online Image
Those department-store makeovers purport to be free until the end...until the inevitable hard sell at the end. Instead, take the initiative to give yourself a makeover for free: on your Facebook, your Twitter profile & your LinkedIn (the Summary section). Email former colleagues and ask them to recommend you & your work. If you're entrepreneurial, make sure your Twitter links to your company's site. And that FB pic & status...do they really represent? Just by updating your Social Media profile - which is free! - more people will reach out to you and help juice up your social life without you having to spend a cent!
For more tips from Vicky, be sure to pick up a copy of "The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act Like a Millionaire, Even If You're Not" which is available at Amazon.com.
- Lesley Scott
[Note: the links to Amazon.com are affiliate links.]
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