We all want to look great. For those with a high profile public job, it’s even a necessity. So how do we pull this off? The Frugal Duchess has a few ideas.

Her number one bargain basement tip? Baking soda. She describes it as beauty in a box, and in the previous link provides a comprehensive list of things you can do with it to beef up your beauty routine, including hair care and tooth whitening.

Another low cost tip? Unplug from the daily grind. Stress is a leading cause of beauty problems and as Sharon describes in her article, numerous areas of your physical appearance can be affected. Skin, hair and nails are high on the list.

Got another frugal beauty tip? Sound off below.

Photo Credit: Frugal Duchess

Considering it was forbidden to me growing up, and the fact it took me until nearly my senior year in college to give it a go during a particularly grueling final exam week, coffee and I have grown quite close.

I make sure I have access to the good stuff even while living life on the road as a cyber nomad. I drank so much of the stuff while working in classroom education that I had to research what to do with all the extra coffee mugs I had collected over the years.

 I’ve researched how to roast coffee myself (although I’m still trying to squeeze it in), and how to save money during business trips by shopping smart at Starbucks. It’s also one of my favorite beverages to serve during cold weather parties and get togethers. As a warm drink, it feels cozy. Also, if people are wanting to indulge in spirits there are several that fit nicely into the category of hot coffee cocktails. Hot beverages can’t be consumed as quickly and voraciously as cooler cocktails, making them a more responsible host choice. And for morning meetings or brunch gatherings? All you need to do is get yourself a catering sized coffee urn and break out the spice bar and sambuca to offer a hospitable coffee bar on the fly. Bagels, whipped cream cheese and fruit round out the offering with little to no stress for the person hosting the event.

My husband and I have also started enjoying French pressed coffee, to my great delight. Between the aromatherapy of freshly ground beans and the fuller flavor, it sets the stage for my morning meditation quite nicely. Coffee’s also an affordable way to get together with friends and host business associates, whether in your own home or in the city at a stylish spot. It’s a generally accepted form of hospitality that bridges cultural and income bracket gaps, making it a reasonable comfortable gesture to make.

Even those who don’t indulge in caffeinated beverages are usually comfortable meeting at a coffee shop and ordering something else, as “getting together for coffee” is usually more about the getting together than it is about the coffee. Do you have any thoughts on the cultural outreach aspects or daily rituals of coffee as a lifestyle element? We’d love it if you’d join in the conversation below. Recipe Pairing: Pumpkin Pie Latte

 Photo Credit: Itinerant Tightwad

Let’s face it. It takes more than providing for the basics to keep a family happy and balanced. Fun is a huge part of the equation.

Looking for a few fun and affordable family activity ideas? Sharon’s put together a list of ideas for entertaining the kids on a shoestring. As a mom of three, she’s a pro when it comes to pulling off a family event affordably. Family reunion activities are also popular during the summer. Finding yourself faced with several rainy days in a row? Try an at home puppet show or creatively preserving some family heirlooms to be handed down. Other ideas would include free admission days to things like botanical gardens, museums or a day at the beach. Got your own great idea for affordable family fun? Feel free to contribute your suggestion in the comment section below. Enjoy the rest of the summer, everybody!

Photo Credit: Ajawin