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Business & Tech

Frugal Family: Hair's Some Savings for You!

"Cutting back" on haircuts can save a bundle over a year's time.

Haircuts aren't cheap unless you frequent chain hair salons like Main Event, SuperCuts, Great Clips, MasterCuts, and Hair Cuttery. And even then the costs add up--particularly when you multiply them by the number of people in your household.

Most people are OK with taking their kids to these places for a $10-15 crop, but how much would it save you in the long run to do your own clipping at home?

I sat down and did the math.

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Luckily for me, I have three boys to consider and only myself when it comes to the "fancy 'do." And in my case, I don't color, perm, highlight or style my hair on a regular basis. I'm too frugal for that.

Plus, I've been blessed with genes that have saved me from grey hair into my mid-30s. We'll see how long that lasts!

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For our family, haircuts are just routine maintenance and nothing fancy.

The boys occasionally go to "Miss Amanda" at one of the local salons, but only when I feel like splurging. It costs about $10 for a typical buzz cut. My husband USED to go to a local barber for a cut with a comparable cost.

But when I realized that I was fully capable of buzzing him myself, I thought I'd invest in a pair of clippers and give it a shot. After all, $10 here and $10 there can add up over a year's time.

In our family, three boys cost a minimum of $10 per haircut. Add in the tip and we’re up to $13. Usually we cut their hair every 3-4 weeks. Let’s just say they have 12 haircuts in a year. At that frequency, minimally, it would cost our family $468 per year for their simple buzz cuts.

Naturally if you prefer a longer style, you might want to take a class in styling or even check out YouTube for instructional videos on how to cut hair.

The clipper I use is a Wahl, which we purchased at BJ’s. However, a quick search on Amazon.com revealed the same item for just under $22 with free shipping. That’s the cost of two haircuts, but it will save you bundles over time.

In regards to a woman’s cut, I’m sure there are many who would rather leave it to a professional, and that’s OK!

My trick is to space out my haircuts as long as possible. Whereas some women get at trim every 6 to 8 weeks, depending on their style, I can often go 10 to 12 weeks without looking too shaggy.

Again, every little bit helps, and if I can save myself one or two haircuts a year, it’s like saving almost $100. Add that to the $468 and we’ve got a nice chunk of change to use on other lifestyle expenses.

Now 'buzz off' and see how much YOU can save by following this week's Frugal Family tip!

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