Womens Day
Being a Woman Doesn’t Have to Blow Your Budget
Being a woman can be expensive when adding up money spent on make-up, skin products, clothing, handbags, shoes and a host of grooming services such as hair salons and nail bars.
“Women are often caught in a trap of spending on themselves without taking into account how much it is actually costing them,” said Eunice Sibiya, head of consumer education at FNB.
While it is unlikely that you will be convinced to completely cut out spending on beauty, it is a good idea to review expensive habits and see if there is a way to reduce costs.
These expenditures can cost thousands of Rand every year and the end result is not always obvious.
First you need to understand what you are actually spending on your beauty regime.
Add together all the trips to professionals during the month, which includes your hair, nails and other beauty costs. Also add up the amount of money spent on actual products and clothing.
“Compare this amount to money that you save every month or use towards paying off your debt.
“There is not much point looking after your image now if you aren’t looking after your future finances.”
Here are some expenses that you can cut down on or even cut out completely:
• Clean out the bathroom cupboard. Take a look at the difference between your bathroom cupboard and your spouse’s or even a male friend’s. You will most probably find it overflowing with various products including make-up, facial creams, perfumes and lotions. Make-up, skincare products and perfumes can be very expensive.
“And if you take a close look, you will probably find duplicates, or beauty care products that are half-used or haven’t even been opened.”
It is worth doing a full audit of your bathroom cupboard. If you have unopened bottles consider regifting them.
“Once you have cleaned out your bathroom cupboard, think very carefully before making your next purchase of another lipstick, perfume or lotion,” said Sibiya.
• Ditch the monthly salon visits. Women spend far more money on hair, nails and beauty care compared to men. Monthly trips to the hair salon or nail bar become very expensive.
“Using professionals for beauty is where women really start to rack up the unnecessary bills,” added Sibiya.
Most, if not all, of the professional beauty services can be done at home. This month try buying a bottle of nail polish you like and do your own nails. The majority of people won’t notice and it will help keep your bank balance healthy.
The same goes for hair care. Try choosing a hairstyle that is easy to maintain.
“It doesn’t mean that you should never get your hair done at a salon, but it is worth considering if having a hairstyle that is high maintenance and requires frequent trips to the salon is really worth the expense.”
• Shop smartly. Expensive clothes, shoes and accessories can make a big hole in your budget. The way to stop overspending at retail stores is to have a plan of action.
“Where we tend to fail is when shopping on impulse, which is nipping into a shop and coming out with new shoes or a dress without having budgeted or planned for it,” said Sibiya.
The best way to curb this is to firstly, avoid unplanned trips to retail stores altogether, or if you find yourself there don’t buy the item impulsively but come back the next day.
“Most impulse shopping are items we rarely need so waiting until the next day will more than often stop the buying of unnecessary clothing.”
• Another suggestion is to make use of end of range sales. There is no need to overspend on beauty. Smart planning, budgeting and being organised will go a long way to reducing expenses and start paying off debt or saving, which will have more impact on your life in the long run.
Entrepreneurship and Flexibility: The Big Trade-off for Women
One of the biggest reasons why women leave the corporate world to start their own businesses is the idea of having more flexibility to manage family and household responsibilities.
In “The Hidden Factors: SA Women in Business” research report, carried out by the Sage Foundation and Living Facts, 59 per cent of respondents had bought into the promises of self-employment; being paid to do what they love; to work when they want; and to use their skills to build their own businesses rather than someone else’s.
However, the research also found that, when it comes to entrepreneurship, time is in short supply – at least in the beginning. In fact, 19 per cent of women actually returned to corporate life because a nine-to-five job gave them more flexibility than self-employment.
“Flexibility is one of the drivers of becoming an entrepreneur. However, without adequate support structures in place to manage the administration and the financial side of the business and assist with family commitments, flexibility is eroded and entrepreneurs feel overwhelmed. Corporate provides a more structured environment – with both business support internally and a more defined line between work time and home time, allowing women to better manage their roles and responsibilities,” said Marylou Kneale, founder of Living Facts.
But those who stuck it out and put in the long hours in the first crucial years of business development, said that the hard work is worth it.
Once their businesses were thriving, they eventually got their flexibility back and so much more such as financial independence, a sense of purpose, and an important role in growing South Africa’s economy and empowering other women.
“Many women don’t realise how much time goes into starting and running a business and, often, a corporate job actually gives them more time to spend with their families. Many would-be entrepreneurs find it difficult to strike that balance between work and their personal lives.
“Changing gender stereotypes of who does what in a family and women overcoming their own reluctance to ask for help are key changes that could encourage female entrepreneurship,” said Joanne van der Walt, from Sage Foundation.
Those who have found the sweet spot between entrepreneurial success and flexibility said the secret is time management and prioritisation.
They offered the following advice to women who are considering venturing out on their own:
• Focus on your core business and delegate the rest. If someone else can do something better and cheaper than you could do it yourself, outsource it.
• Buy time by automating as many business processes as possible such as billing and accounts receivable. Streamline payments and accounting processes with reliable, secure online solutions.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Lean on your support network to help manage the household responsibilities. Arrange a carpool with other parents; ask your partner to hang the washing up or cook dinner this week. Everyone wants to see you succeed. Let them help you do that.
Entrepreneurship is hard work. Initially, you won’t have the flexibility you crave, but remember why you’re doing it in the first place.
When you realise your dreams of becoming an entrepreneur and when your empire starts to take shape, it will be so worth it.
Cocoa Rose Beauty Salon
At Cocoa Rose Beauty Salon we specialise in relaxation and pampering, focusing our attention on creating a comfortable experience with quality treatments. At Cocoa Rose clients can count on professional and friendly service. Apart from waxing, manicures, pedicures, as well as lash and brow tinting, our therapists provide individual specialised services.
Karen Rabie, owner of Cocoa Rose, specialises in skincare treatments such as facials, collagen induction treatments, skin peels and Microdermabration. Microdermabration involves gently moving an industrial diamond filled wand across the facial skin. Movement of these diamond tips combined with vacuum pressure loosens and partially removes the outermost epidermal layer of the skin. This helps improve the appearance and circulation of the skin, giving it a healthy glow. She also stocks Babor, Sans Soucis, Theravine and Essel, using these high-quality products in all of her treatments.
Karen is a specialised somatologist with over 30 years of experience. After operating a small at-home salon, she opened the welcoming doors of Cocoa Rose in 2005. Currently, Cocoa Rose focuses on skin care therapy and will surely leave you and your skin feeling renewed and rejuvenated.
To feel fresh and hydrated after a relaxing facial –
Contact Karen at 076 991 7714 or 011 454 6737
Marinda Pretorius is a qualified nail artisan specialising in the corrective and reconstructive sculpting of arthritic nails and toenails. With her extended experience in nail art, Marinda does both acrylic and gel nails primarily using Young Nails Products, leaving your fingers feeling like an art piece. She also offers Medi-Heel pedicures and is an expert in lash extensions.
In addition, She is a Live Life Lean agent, offering a range of product including, but not limited to, The Secret Fat Burner, Ripped Beauty and Ripped Beast.
Marinda trained and qualified as a nail artisan in 1991. In 2009 she converted to Young Nails Products, and went on to open a Training and Distribution centre in Cape Town. Although Marinda is a trained Young Nails Educator, she now prefers using her professional expertise on her clients in Edenvale.
For happy feet, happy hands and long lasting lashes –
Contact Marinda at 082 459 3925 or 011 454 6737
Women’s Month Specials:
Pampering Express Facial (including steamed cleanse, mask, serum and short massage) with an express pedicure* and a hot stone massage.
Includes your choice of gluhwein, coffee, tea or hot chocolate
R580
*excludes varnish
Embellish Hair & Beauty
Embellish Hair & Beauty is a salon dedicated to consistently providing hight customer satisfaction by rendering excellent service, quality products and an enjoyable atmosphere at an acceptable price. We specialize in Beauty treatments and Hair (still looking for someone to rent a chair)
Owned by Franzette dos Santos who herself is in the industry for approximately 15 years. Franzette and her team of beauticians, has what it takes to make your venture a memorable one
Pilates and Yoga World
Pilates and Yoga World is a Pilates and Yoga Studio. Based in the heart of Bedfordview it provides a retreat from the busy lifestyle of Joburg. It offers over 10 classes of Pilates and Yoga a week, taught by an experienced Pilates and Yoga teacher. Here, the classes have a relaxed atmosphere and the students who join become part of the community. Pilates and Yoga World offers classes for all ages and genders. Classes are adapted to the strength and abilities of all the participants.
Pilates classes are focused on conditioning the body through routines which emphasize the balance and development of the body through core strength, flexibility and posture awareness. It is recommended for athletes as well as seniors and people who are at various stages of physical rehabilitation.
The Yoga classes follow Hatha Yoga practices and vary from classic Hatha Yoga practices to Vinyasa flow, Yin and energizing and fun practice of Aerial Yoga.
Hatha Yoga is a branch of yoga that focuses on attaining mastery over the physical body, emotions and mind, by practicing postures, breathing and meditation.
Yin Yoga is a slow-paced style of yoga, with postures that are held for longer periods of time. It is a practice in stillness, patience and non-reactivity. Through yin yoga we become adept at self-care.
Aerial Yoga combines traditional yoga poses in a hammock. It allows you to perform various yoga poses that maybe difficult to do on the ground, but easier in mid-air. It is fun and acrobatic.
The most important benefit in both of these practices, Pilates and Yoga, is the practice of self-love and taking care of your body and mind. It is the storm in your mind – the mental stress, negativity and endless inner monologue – that causes so much of emotional suffering and ill health. It is by teaching intellect to become quiet, one can become happier and healthier.
Natasha Cordeiro is the owner and Pilates and Yoga teacher at Pilates and Yoga World.
Before starting my Pilates course I was stay-at-home mom. I started attending Pilates classes, as part of my personal fitness. The more I learned about it and noticed how it changed me, the more fascinated I became with it. Through Pilates you first purposefully acquire complete control of your own body and then through proper repetition of exercises you gradually acquire the natural rhythm and coordination with all your subconscious activities.
Natasha has been teaching pilates since 2009. She has training in pilates pathologies and injuries related to the spine, shoulder, hip, knee, foot and ankle. She is qualified to teach adult males and females and children- catering to the different needs required for each individual.
In her years of practice in pilates, she has helped people with lower, upper and middle back problems, neck issues and shoulder injuries. She has worked with post-stroke patients and helped them with their recovery.
Since 2011 she has been working with young children and can help them with various issues such as low-muscle tone, lower and upper back problems and posture corrections.
In 2013 she completed her Yoga Teacher’s training and later on Yoga Teacher’s training for children. Aerial Yoga teacher since 2015
She opened her own studio in 2010. Natasha’s passion is inherent and she lives, eats and breathes pilates and yoga. “Since I opened my own studio I have been dedicating all my time to the work I do there and I am constantly updating my knowledge. At my studio I teach group and private Pilates, group and private Yoga, Aerial Yoga, Ball Pilates, Posture Correction and rehabilitation from various injuries.”
For all of us women life is a balancing act. How do we fit many priorities and importantly, our own well being. We often forget that we have to be strong , healthy and live with vitality for ourselves and for the people we love. I am a mom, blessed with a beautiful 12 years old daughter and for me it is an important priority to say that yoga and Pilates are game changers, and both provide instant benefits in terms of flexibility and core muscles strength.
I love what I do and I love helping people to achieve their own personal goals, whether it is starting exercise for the 1st time, recovering from an injury or simply strengthening.
I enjoy getting to know each person in my studio, whether it is in private or group classes and making the exercise work for them. Some people enjoy the combination of yoga and Pilates and they get the benefits of both. I also studied Thai massage and often incorporate these routines in my classes.
Life is to be lived and my pleasure is to enable people live their lives as fully as possible, no matter what is their starting point. I feel blessed to be able to turn my passion into my carrier.
Yoga is not only for adults. For those of us, including me, with teenage children, it enables us to teach them how to reduce the stress levels that are so common at this stage of their life.
Through self awareness and physical exercise there are great benefits to be gained in self-confidence, body confidence as well as concentration and focus.
One of my important objectives is to inspire the next generation to stay the distance and not give up.
Lucky Dogs And Cats Grooming Parlour
Lucky Dogs and Cats is a specialised grooming parlour that boasts a 45 year reputation.
We believe that regular, thorough grooming is an essential element in every dog and cat’s health and well being and that is why we have sourced the most qualified groomers in order to offer your pet the best possible treatment in a friendly, skilled and professional environment.
We pride ourselves on surrounding your furbabies, both canines and cats, with skilled and experienced staff as well as treating them with the same level of care as if they were our own.
Come pop in and have a peek and we will be more then happy to accommodate you.
Making Your Furbabies Look & Feel Great
Shelley D
Shelley D Hair and Beauty is a one stop hair and beauty salon. We aim to offer our clients a relaxing time with professional and affordable hair and beauty services.
