MONEY-SAVING TIPS--NAIL POLISH: IT'S NOT JUST FOR NAILS

Nail polish. It’s not just for adorning the tips of your fingers and toes. Every woman knows that a dab of clear nail polish will stop a run in a stocking from continuing to run. However, nail polish can be used in various other ways from everything to saving money, saving time, and even preventing paper cuts on your tongue. Yes, you read that last one right! So instead of tossing those half-empty bottles of thickened polish or colors you decided didn’t quite work for you, put them to use in other ways. Here are a few ideas:

1. Are you someone who has to carry around a key ring loaded with keys? How often to you stand in front of a lock, trying one key after another before you successfully open the lock because so many of those keys look alike? Dab different colored nail polish on the heads of your keys to tell them apart. Choose colors that correspond to the locks: red for your front door, silver for your car, etc. or match up the first letter of the color to the first letter of the item, like green for gym locker or orange for office.

2. Ever notice how the labels on prescription meds seem to smudge and fade over time? If the medication is one you don’t take daily, you might forget when you were supposed to take it or how. On an empty stomach or with food? First thing in the morning or before going to bed? Paint several coats of clear nail polish over the labels, and you’ll never face this dilemma again.

3. Have you ever had a can of shaving cream leave a rust ring on a bathroom counter, tub, or shelf? Brush some nail polish around the bottom of metal cans that get exposed to water, and you’ll never be faced with this problem again.

4. If you have little kids or grandkids, you’ve probably discovered holes in your window screens from time to time. For some reason kids love to poke at screens. Maybe it’s the springiness of the screens and/or the sound they make that fascinated them. Replacing the screens is costly but not plugging up the holes lets in bugs. Repair the screens by covering the holes with a patch of fabric slightly larger than the hole. You’ll need one piece of fabric for the inside and a second piece for the outside of the screen. Secure the fabric to the screen with several thick coats of nail polish to keep bugs out.

5. And now we get to those paper cuts on your tongue. They usually occur from sealing envelopes. And man, do they ever hurt, especially if you make the mistake of eating something citrusy before the cut heals. Of course, you can splurge and buy self-sealing envelopes, but they can be extremely costly, especially if you often have to mail quite a few envelopes. Instead, seal your envelopes with a swipe of nail polish and save your tongue.

Looking for other money-saving and household tips as well as quick and easy dinner recipes? Check out We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips.

The authors who contributed to this book are a rather creative and resourceful bunch when it comes not only to carving out time from their busy lives but also saving money. And a percentage of the profits from the sale of the book will be donated to No Kid Hungry.

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BEAUTY WITH NICOLE-- MAKE-UP EXPIRATION DATES

Make-up is expensive, and if you’re like me, you don’t want to throw out a half-empty container of mascara or bottle of foundation, but beauty editor Nicole Emmerling has some very good reasons why you shouldn’t hold onto cosmetics past a certain point. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia! Most of us are very conscious about checking expiration dates on food products. We don’t purchase a gallon of milk with tomorrow as a sell-by date, and we toss anything in the fridge that looks or smells odd. Unfortunately, most of us don’t do likewise for our cosmetics. Make-up has a shelf life. It doesn’t last forever, even though most contain preservatives to extend their shelf life. (Note: Natural make-ups contain no preservatives and have a much shorter shelf life.)

Keep in mind that your make-up and make-up applicators come in daily contact with germs from your hands, face, and mouth. Every time you apply make-up, you run the risk of cross-contamination, promoting bacterial growth, and causing infection. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your make-up stays as contamination free as possible.

Below I’ve listed a general guide for various cosmetic products, but here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Just like with food, if it looks or smells odd, through it out.

2. Toss out anything that’s over 2 years old.

3. Can’t remember when you purchased the product? When in doubt, toss it out.

4. Many products won’t have an expiration date printed on the container. Take it upon yourself to mark the container with the expiration date after you purchase it.

5. Never use your fingers to apply make-up. You’ll contaminate the product in the container. Clean make-up brushes in warm sudsy water every couple of weeks, and use disposable sponge applicators to lessen the growth and spread of bacteria.

Typical shelf life for non-natural cosmetics:

3-4 months
mascara
liquid eyeliner

Up to 1 year

concealer
cream and gel cleansers

water-based foundation
nail polish

Up to 18 months
oil-based foundation
cream blush
cream eye shadow

Up to 2 years
powder
powder blush
powder bronzer
powder eye shadow
pencil eye liner
lipstick
lip liner
lip gloss

Thanks, Nicole! I guess it’s time to toss that purple eye shadow from before the millennium!  Anyone else have make-up that qualifies as an antique? Post a comment to be entered in the drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author this week. -- AP 

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE--10 TIPS TO A BETTER DIY MANICURE

As you all know by now, I have zilch in the way of disposable income. One of the first things that went bye-bye was my weekly nail appointment. I know with the economy being what it is, many of you have also had to cut back on or give up that luxury altogether. For that reason, I’ve asked Nicole drops by today to offer some tips on manicures and pedicures for those of us now doing our own. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia. Here are a few tips I’ve culled from various nail techs:

1. Always buff nails after filing.

2. Before applying polish, make sure you swipe your nails with a nail polish remover soaked cotton ball to remove any excess oils or soap on the nails. Oil and soap left on nails causes polish to peel.

3. Never shake your polish bottle. This causes air bubbles to form in the polish. Instead, roll the bottle between your palms.

4. Always apply thin layers of polish. Use a basecoat first. Then two thin layers of polish, waiting a few minutes between each coat. Finish with a thin layer of top coat.

5. To apply polish, first stroke the brush down the center of the nail, then along each side.

6. Applying polish to the edge, underneath the tip of the nail will help prevent chipping.

7. Are your nails yellow or stained? Try a drop of lemon or lavender oil on each nail, then buff out the stains.

8. Don’t cut your cuticles. Cuticles protect the nail bed. Push the cuticle back with a cotton covered orange stick.

9. Apply a thin layer of topcoat to your manicure every morning to keep your polish from chipping.

10. Always wear rubber gloves when doing housework or gardening to protect your manicure.

Thanks for the great tips, Nicole! Maybe our readers have tips of their own they’d like to share. Let’s hear from you. Post a comment to be eligible for a free book this week from our Book Club Friday guest author.-- AP