With a little maintenance and care, your expensive purchases can go much further ... meaning you'll actually save by splurging on little luxuries!
1. If you're getting a mani, ask for an extra coat along the tips where it tends to wear. Also, instead of choosing one of the salon's shades, take your own polish along with you so you can fix any chips yourself.
2. Dropped a bomb on a winter coat, but can't bear the thought of dragging it out again after wearing it every day for a month last year? To cure severe wardrobe fatigue, buy some pretty new buttons, rebutton it yourself and you'll fall in love with your coat all over again.
3. After a facial, leave skin bare for as long as possible. "The most common mistake I see is the application of make-up after a facial," says Svetlana Strbac, The Observatory Hotel's spa manager. "Treatments are usually performed with creams that are more luxurious than the ones you'd use at home, so it's best to leave it to work with your skin rather than suffocating it under make-up."
4. Even expensive shoes will incur damage on the soles and heels. Don't wait until they've reached the point of no repair. As soon as you notice them getting a bit mangy, head straight for a cobbler to get them reheeled.
5. We'd probably skip on the meal at a posh, fancy restaurant, but if you've gone out for a cheap Thai meal, take any leftovers home. Okay, so you'll feel like a tightarse, but when you're munching on Pad Thai while your co-workers are eating tuna salad, who'll be laughing then? Your stomach, that's who.
6. Throwing a soiree? Here's how you can make all that pricey gin or vodka last. Instead of serving martinis (which would probably be decimated before all your guests arrive!), make a punch with chopped fruit, fresh juice and homemade lemonade.
7. If you've just had your hair salon-dyed a rich, dark shade, try to resist washing it for the next 72 hours. This will lock in the colour. If you've gone blonde, use a shampoo specifically designed for lighter tones to keep it from going brassy.
8. Make like burlesque star Dita Von Teese and treat your lingerie with the respect it deserves, or you may have to deal with Revenge of the Underwire. Always hand wash items and let them dry flat in the shade. "Machine washing causes the elastane — which is important for keeping firm support — to degrade quicker. Plus, delicate embroideries will last longer if cleaned gently by hand," says Dianne Taylor, Gazal Underwear's group brand marketing manager.
9. Want to extend your holiday for a little longer without forking out more coin? Many hotels are happy to let you checkout later than your allocated time if no-one is due to occupy the room after you. Just ask when you check in and you might score yourself a free sleep-in!
10. If you've scored a bouquet of blooms from a guy, firstly, send us his number 'cause the last ones we got were at school in Year 5. Secondly, cut the stems of the flowers at an angle if they aren't already, remove any leaves below water level, and keep them out of direct sunlight. Thirdly, sit back and be thankful!
By Cleo Staff
