In honor of my birthday I decided to pause a moment and take a look in the mirror and assess the situation. This may sound funny, but I don’t regularly take the time to “take care of” myself, and as usual I have been letting some things go. No doubt some of you fellow moms can relate…

First up: Hair Color

Cost ~ $7.33

Give or take a few pennies; I’m going by memory. As cheap as this is, I don’t even do this often enough. My hair is very strange: dark at the roots on top; blonde on the sides. It actually looks like I dye my hair if I don’t color it.

I’m not against professional highlights by any means. (Unless it’s putting you into debt or keeping food off the table. Ahem.) I’ve had mine done many times myself. Right now, that’s just not where I want my money to go.

Next Up: Facial Hair Removal

Just keeping it real here, people.

I got some Surgi-Cream (“The professional depilatory!”) at Wally-Mart years ago. If memory serves, it cost under $10. If I actually used this stuff as often as I should it would undoubtedly be gone by now…

Hey, at least I’m naturally blonde. (Mostly, that is.)

(This photo is not of the product I have. I would post a picture of what I use, but my camera is loaned out to a teenager even though it should have been returned by now.) (Long story.)

Finally: A Way Overdue Haircut

Unfortunately, I did not have a coupon this time.

Cost: $13.00 + $4 tip

I think I’m going to grow it out a little, but still keep the long layers. What do you think?

Oh, and Mustn’t Forget: I Shaved My Legs

Cost: $0

It’s been a long, cold winter, people.

(These aren’t my legs, either.)

Last, But Oh, So Very Not Least: A MASSAGE

Cost: $60 + $10 tip

Oh. My. Word. Worth every last penny.

A friend referred me to this particular massage therapist. She’s a physical therapist by day, and I’m sure that helps her be an even better massage therapist. I would definitely recommend her. If you are in the Dayton area and would like her information, just let me know.

From My Kids

I’d love to show you a picture of the drawing my daughter made me, complete with candy taped all over it and a sign, “One a day for each of us” (You know, like a vitamin) and a picture of the two of us.  Despite her big brother telling her to stop with the candy all ready, because he’s grumpy like that, which led her to tears and drama and OH MY. (I think he was just jealous because he wasn’t in the picture.) (When all he needs to do is swipe a piece of candy anyway like his little brother does.)

Thing is? I wasn’t even there for all of that! Because I was at my massage. And Conner was babysitting. Which he did for free because it’s my birthday and all. And I would take a picture and show you what Olivia made me but did I mention that I don’t have my camera? (Even though I should by now?)

And Peter? Well, he’s just so darn cute, you know? I think he helped with the candy…

Total Birthday Breakdown: $94.35 (plus candy)

Now pardon me while I go rinse the oils off my body. I just had a massage, don’t you know.

We most decidedly do not. For better or for worse, I cut my kids’ hair.

(Please don’t judge based on this photo. I had just started.)

Of course I have no professional training! And it takes me forever, but the labor’s cheap.

And yes, I cut my teenager’s hair, too. So far, so good. But he’s at that age where I had to promise him I wouldn’t post his picture. He’s got me figured out.

He was happy with his haircut, though. So that’s saying something.

As for this little devil?

Still just as handsome as ever.

Changing Subjects: Our Debt Snowball

After working the preliminary budget for January, I have figured $1749.76 will be able to go toward the debt snowball this month.

I’m really putting myself on the line here. Have I mentioned that I’m not really that good with numbers? And that doing a budget is still trial and error a full eight months after starting this snowball?

Yea. The Hubs already came home with something from Home Depot yesterday that I had not factored into the budget. Oh, I’m not blaming him or anything, I promise — no sarcasm, I pinky-swear. We’ve had these bathroom projects going on forever and he needed something to help him get the job done. Preferably before he deploys. I’ll keep you posted. And I’ll update the figure above as it changes. Which I’m sure it will more than once.

At least our haircuts are free.

I’d been carrying this coupon around in my wallet for awhile and putting off getting a haircut — pretty much the story of all my natural adult life.

Always having to look for a new hairdresser is, by far, one of the hugest drawbacks to moving around so much.

I’ve gone back and forth over the years to paying a lot for haircuts… to paying next to nothing. In my experience, paying more for a haircut doesn’t guarantee you’re getting a better haircut.

Like the one I got yesterday. $6.99 at your run-of-the-mill strip mall chain salon. It was a no-frills affair: spray on a little water and snip away. No styling, no fuss. And I’m totally fine with that for now. In the two years we’ve lived in Ohio I haven’t had my hair cut by the same person twice. And for the most part, I’m okay with that.

Salon Loyalty
Only in two places we’ve lived have I been loyal to a specific hairdresser. One was in Maryland, just outside of DC. I happened across Angelo in one of those salon chains in a giant mall. He was of Iranian and Italian descent, and his family wanted him to become a doctor. His haircuts weren’t terribly expensive (by DC standards), but I also splurged for professional haircolor and highlights. As a former medical student, Angelo loved the process of mixing the chemicals for the perfect hair dye. I probably spent almost $100 each visit — I know I tipped him well — and that was almost ten years ago. Since I was working full-time, I felt I was totally justified to spend that kind of money on myself.

The other place was in Italy. So far as I knew there were only two places for an American to get their hair cut where we lived and know what they were getting: on base with all the G.I.’s; and off-base at at Antonio’s little one-man shop. Antonio’s mother was Irish and he spoke English with the most endearing mix of the American accent he picked up from all of his military customers mixed with a touch of Irish brogue. He owned that little shop, yet still lived at home with his parents — not at all uncommon for a 30-something Italian.

I don’t recall exactly how much I spent on a typical visit to Antonio, but I also paid for highlights so I know it wasn’t cheap, the dollar being what it was even then. I think I tipped him more than what I paid yesterday for my entire haircut.
Is One as Good as Another?
In my experience, you can find very good hairstylists at a cheap chain salon about as well as you can at a higher-end highfalutin one. The key, really, is the hairstylist — not the place. That being said, finding these stylists can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Usually, about the time I finally come across a good fit, it’s time to move again.

And I’m not above asking people where they get their hair cut. In fact, one of the best haircuts I ever got was by a woman who cut hair in her own home — or she’d come to you, it didn’t matter. Of course, right after I found her, it was time to move.

I seem to have come full circle in what I’m willing to pay to get my hair done. For me, saving in this area is a no-brainer while we’re on this debt-free journey of ours… Though my tune may sound a little different if it meant giving up my loyalty to a hairdresser I absolutely loved.

Do Tell
So here we go — How much do you pay for a haircut? Are you loyal to the same hairdresser? Do you splurge for professional hair coloring, or does yours come out of a box? (Or do you prefer to go au naturel?)