Category: Budget Tips

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Nail Hack to Save You Money

Who doesn’t love a manicure?! Especially after nail salons were closed for so long up in CT, our nails desperately needed a little TLC.

While we used to be proponents of all different types of nail treatment, we have been staying the course of regular polish for all of 2020. Don’t get us wrong – we have tried all the soak off gel, UV gel, Dip powder and acrylics out there. But our nails became so damaged and brittle from each one, we decided to take the year off.

Right before new years, we bought the Essie Gel Couture 2 step set. It has been life changing, and no, we’re not being dramatic. Together, these polishes will keep your nails colored for 10+days. Its really incredible. And it is so easy to get off – just use acetone like you would on regular nail polish.

But what if you don’t want to do your nails at home (or every time you do, they look like a kindergartner had a field day)? That’s where this hack comes in!

Head to your local salon and get a regular manicure. They should run you around $10-13 bucks, already a $22 difference from most soak off gel services. Make sure your nails are really dry before leaving the salon, or you will smudge them and that’s a no-no. Then, either right when you get in your car or as soon as you get home, swipe the top coat polish from the Essie set over your polish. Don’t worry, if your nails are really dry it wont take anything off!

Meighan’s nails 6+ days after her manicure

This will keep your color in tact on your nail and prevent any chipping, even if you are rough on them or type all day. Trust us, Meighan has been using this trick for over 6 months now and can usually get 7-10 days, sometimes more, of chip-proof nails. Honestly, with this hack (and the $264/year savings), we may never go back to gel!

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Chic and Casual Look For Less

We love finding dupe outfits of celebrities or supermodels in order to look good, but at a certain price point. That’s why we love highlighting #looksforless, to help show the world that looking like a celebrity doesnt have to cost you your first born child.

For today’s look, Brianna took a classic Hailey Beiber outfit and switched it up. A simple Blue and white button down can do no wrong, and Hailey styles hers over her shoulder for added dramatics. Brianna keeps hers more modest. Pair with a quality denim jort and some sunnies and you are good to go! To get closer to Hailey’s exact look, slick your hair into a low bun and add some hoop earrings.

Be careful – people may do a double take when they pass you on the street in this outfit. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

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Curly Girl Transformation

We both have had curly hair our entire lives, but did not know how to properly take care of our luscious locks until recently. Brianna always had fine, frizz-less waves and curls that fell nicely but had no volume. Meighan was the total opposite – volume, frizz, and coarse curls galore. Not knowing how to properly care for our hair led to years of heat styling and eventually hair loss/breakage. Enter: The Curly Girl Method.

If you have heard of #curlygirlmethod before, you likely know its where people give up shampoo for a “no poo” style treatment, but may not know much else. That was us too! Meighan began looking into this method seriously around October 2018. She noticed clumps of hair would fall out when she showered, even though she was not washing her hair daily. After looking into a few options, she decided to try to tame her natural curls until her wedding in August of 2019. She made an appointment at a local DevaSalon in Connecticut to pick the stylists brain and learn all about her hair. It was an incredibly informative experience, and the first time anyone has ever dont a dry cut on her head.

After her experience, she began experimenting with curly hair products at home, completely purging herself of all hair care to date. Through trial and error, she was able to get some curl definition with slightly less frizz than before, and in a matter of weeks she was well on her way to finding her first wash routine.

2 months in to Meighan’s curly girl journey

During this time, she talked to Brianna about her experience. While Brianna’s hair is completely different than hers, she knows that there is a curl pattern and she might benefit from a Devacut as well. Brianna ended up going to get her hair cut in early 2019 by a Deva certified stylist, and began experimenting with curly hair products as well.

While we are both still in the transformation process, and occasionally still use heat styling tools so we are not full curly girl, we have seen a dramatic increase in the texture and style of our hair. Our curls are fresh and full of life, which was never the case before.

Brianna’s pre- and post- curly girl method transformation
Meighan’s pre- and post-curly girl method transformation

Now, it is not uncommon for curly hair products to be well over $20 a bottle. The price alone could deter someone from trying to achieve healthier, natural hair. Plus, with a curly lifestyle comes some lifestyle changes like replacing towels and pillowcases. But do not worry! Although the process is 100% trial and error based on your hair type, we have compiled a list of all of our favorite curly hair products under $20. Yes, you read that right, it can be done. Take a look at our must have list to get started on your curly girl journey!

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Sunday Savings on Amazon!

One of our favorite things to do is help people save money – that’s why we started our Instagram page! We love being able to find discounts or sales on some new and needed items – to keep you up to date on the latest trends while also keeping your bank account in the positive!

We love highlighting some of our favorite staples every Sunday, as we find that’s primarily the lazy days of the week. And when your sitting on the couch scrolling your phone, you’re more susceptible to online shop, which is a seriously dangerous habit! Instead of falling victim to the Facebook and Instagram ads you see during your scroll, we compile a list of items ALREADY ON SALE to help make that spur of the moment add to cart a little easier to swallow. This week, we browsed Amazon deals to compile our Sunday Savings Amazon

  • Scalp Scrubber: This is seriously a lifesaver for anyone who gets scalp build up! Being curly girls, we understand the struggle of scrubbing your scalp until it becomes raw to make sure all the product is out. This little tool helps immensely with that tedious shower task.
  • Lark & Ro Dress: Ok – so this brand is a recent find but their dresses are so comfy! They are a soft, stretchy material but perfect for traveling and staying wrinkle free! This dress in particular is under $30!
  • Meal Prep containers: Everyone needs these because everyone should be prepping food out for the week. This will help you stay on task for any weight loss/healthy eating program you may be on. The key to success is the plan!
  • Dimmable Ring Light + Tripod: How do we take photos of ourselves? Ask no more, because the secret is this bad boy. We love that it is USB powered and has 4 different light settings!
  • 6 piece Towel Set: Who doesn’t love redoing their home while they are stuck in it for 5 months? We are definitely on a redecorating kick, so this price point is the perfect place to start with home remodels! Look out bathroom, you’re about to get a whole lot prettier!
  • Air Fryer: If you don’t have an air fryer yet, you are really missing out. One of our favorite kitchen gadgets, we have never cooked a bad thing in it yet!
  • Bralettes: If you are like us, you have been spending A LOT of time in loungewear since being stuck at home. Enter, a bralette perfect enough to make you forget all other bras existed! That’s this bad boy right here. It’s going to be really difficult to clasp a bra again.

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Dollar Tree Dinner Party

One of the things we love doing the most is entertaining. However, The Q has really thrown a wrench in those plans. So while we dream of better days when we could all gather in a non-socially distanced manner, we are strategically planning our next themed event.

When browsing the weekly circulars, we noticed that our holy grail of budget stores – Dollar Tree – had the cutest Mediterranean Style dishes in a navy blue and aqua color palette, which is to die for. It also matches Meighan’s patio set so you know we are all about it.

From there, we ran with the Mediterranean inspo for our next summer get together, even if it is only with one another. The aqua galvanized tub which is perfect to pour ice in and keep your drinks cold. The colored tumblers for your iced teas or the blue stemmed glasses for your sangrias. Or our favorite – the ombre blue candle as a centerpiece for the table, to tie it all together.

How cute is this set?

Did we mention each piece is only $1 each? Right? At this price point we may just re-do our dinnerware with every themed party we throw! But seriously, Dollar Tree comes in clutch and is a great store to look at for some inexpensive home accents that pack a big punch.

You can shop all these pieces and more at your local Dollar Tree or online and have your own end-of-summer Mediterranean Inspired dinner party, too! It’s easy to be #bougieonabudget with the Dollar Tree!