When my husband’s job required us to move from a small city in Montana to Denver, Colorado, I had visions of our cost of living skyrocketing. After all, Denver is “Wall Street West”, the big city, a major metropolitan area! As it turns out, I’ve discovered that all of my fears were completely unfounded.
Food here is less expensive. Several companies compete for your cable, telephone and internet business so those prices are cheaper too. We’ve also managed to find a home that we would have never been able to afford in Great Falls, Montana. As if all that weren’t enough, I’ve discovered that the luxuries are cheaper too!
We can go to dinner at the Outback Steakhouse or Red Lobster for the same amount of money it would have cost us to order pizza in Montana. But wait! There’s more!
I’ve discovered the joys of beauty schools!
I’ve never been one to spend money on pampering myself. In another lifetime, when I was a mover and a shaker and on the news a lot, I used to spend a good deal of money keeping my nails done and my hair cut and styled (and, yes, covering the grays). In order to stay at home with my son after he was born, I had to cut some extras out of my budget. I gave up the expensive hair stylist and the nail technician. I dare say they missed my business too. I was a pretty good tipper.
So here I am in the big city and still on a budget but they have the most amazing thing here: beauty schools!
Did you know that beauty school students need people to practice on? Yesterday, for the first time in years, I got a full set of acrylic nails but instead of paying the $40-$50 I would have paid in Montana, I got them for only $5.99. OK, so it took two hours and mine was the first set of nails this lady ever did, but I got a bargain! I know how I like my nails shaped and don’t mind doing it so, after she was done and graded, I went home and filed my own nails the way I like them. She still gave me a great set of acrylics, pink and white, that I can buff to a shine and have a French manicure that lasts for several weeks. This same school also does hair color, cuts, facials and pedicures CHEAP. After all, at a beauty school, you’re only paying for the product. The student’s time is free.
I wouldn’t recommend a beauty school treatment right before a big event. For something like that, you really shouldn’t skimp. But for something that is just a little luxury for you, maybe an afternoon out and away from the kids, a $10 European facial (that’s the one with the massage) or a $10 pedicure really can’t be beat!
So, for all you frugal folks out there who miss the pampering that big money buys, I would highly recommend checking out your local beauty schools!
Here are a few things to remember:
1. Somebody has to be a beautician’s first! It might be you. Relax. They are being graded and are under some stress to do a good job.
2. Call for an appointment. These can generally be done same day, but always call to be sure.
3. Don’t be in a hurry. A student will take much longer than a seasoned pro.
4. Be kind. Whether you notice or not, there is an instructor lurking to see how your beautician-in-training is doing and he/she will be graded on the work they do for you. If your student does a good job, stick around for the few extra minutes it will take for her to show off her work to her advisor.
5. Leave a tip. Just because you got the work done cheap doesn’t mean you should skimp on the tip. A good rule of thumb for a beauty school is to tip what you paid for the service. Something you should remember is that students talk about their clients just like real beauticians do. Beauty schools, like real salons, keep files on their clients. If you want good service next time, tip a little extra. I guarantee it will pay off.
All in all, I would highly recommend that you visit a beauty school and get some personal pampering on the cheap. It is a great way to give yourself (or a friend) a little something special without breaking the bank.