As a woman, you definitely understand what I mean when I say that beauty doesn’t come cheap. From makeup to manicures to haircuts, maintaining your appearance can really put a dent in your budget.

In a 2013 report, it was found that a woman will spend approximately $15,000 on beauty products in her lifetime. That’s a staggering number considering beauty products and services aren’t something we necessarily need to survive (although I might disagree).

Even so, beauty is fun! Plus, it’s hard not to splurge on it every now and then. If you’re on a tight budget, here are five beauty tips to help you stay beautiful without breaking the bank.

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salary inflation
Getting an annual raise or a promotion that comes with a higher salary is a great feeling. It makes you feel appreciated for what you do, and, if your finances were tight, it brings a sigh of relief.

What’s the first thing people tend to think of immediately after a raise? What to do with the extra income, of course, and usually, where to spend that sum. It’s not the immediate reward that’s the biggest problem though. Going out to a nice restaurant, taking the weekend away, or even purchasing an item you’ve had your eyes on for a while (assuming it isn’t a Lamborghini) is nothing to feel guilty about.

It’s when a little extra monthly income turns into an excuse for lifestyle creep (also called lifestyle inflation) that you need to really guard against.
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overspending money

When we see a great deal, we are inclined to think that we are “saving money.” Some store receipts even help with this illusion by giving you a total of your “savings” at the bottom, so you can see what a savvy shopper you are.

However, in many cases, you might just be overspending when you think you are getting a good deal. Here are 3 ways you could be spending more than you should — even while thinking that great “deal” is “saving” you money:
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“It’s amazing that parents get angry with their teens and adult children for not using a credit card wisely, but those same parents have invested nothing into helping their child understand anything about personal finance,” says Eva Baker, the founder of the blog TeensGotCents.

Baker is well-versed in the importance of teaching kids about money since she is a teen herself. Her own mother has encouraged her efforts to learn about money, and blog about what she’s learned in order to help more teenagers learn about the importance of developing good money habits as early as possible.

Do you talk to your kids about money? When was the last time you helped them save towards a goal, or talked about the importance of budgeting? Do you model good financial behavior as a family?

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money visualization

A while back we introduced the MoneyNing Manifesto for financial success in the New Year. Its purpose is to empower and motivate you to financial success next year.

Another powerful technique we’re introducing to change your money mindset is visualization

If you look up visualization online, you’ll find page after page of “self-help” gurus shilling the idea that you can achieve your goals through the simple act of picturing their achievement in your head.

According to them, if you see yourself achieving your goals, you eventually will.

While there is scientific evidence to back this theory, it’s buried beneath countless pages written by Internet marketers. These guys have been touting this method of turning impossible dreams into easy reality for years.

The data, however, is there, and the method does work.

But, this is a financial blog, not a self-help blog… so you know where we’re going with this, right?

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Just Google the term “get rich” and you’ll see a ton of results for ways to get ahead as easily as possible. And it’s not just get-rich-quick schemes too. There are now a growing number of legitimate money-making opportunities on and offline.

Still, there’s a gap between the number of people obsessed with getting rich and those who achieve this elusive benchmark. After all, the road to wealth is filled with hurdles — whether circumstantial, mental, or emotional.

Circumstances can be hard to overcome, but I think our biggest problem sits between our ears. You can be in the right place at the right time, with everything going for you, and still not get ahead. If desire and even circumstances aren’t enough, how do you know you’re prepared to get rich?

I think these seven signs can be good indicators:
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