How to save
money, or not

For example, I probably have more than a dozen bottles of nail polish that I've only dipped into once. The colors probably looked great at the store, and might not have looked too bad on my nails, but then something better came along and the next thing I knew, the bottles were collecting dust on my vanity.

Later, I'll pick up one of those bottles and wonder what ever possessed me to buy such an ugly color. I'm the same way with lipstick and mascara, or even food. I'll buy something, try it, decide I don't like it and leave it in the fridge until either my boyfriend eats it or it becomes so disgusting that I have to throw it away.

At least I can resell the books that I buy and never read, and the video games I never play.

Makeup is the biggest issue, though, with clothes and shoes a close second. And some of it is expensive stuff. My favorite brands are M.A.C, Stila, Urban Decay and Lancome -- one product can easily cost 20 bucks.

I'M NO beauty expert but I've learned some expensive lessons, and I hope that by passing them on, I can save others a little bit of money. Or make them smile.

Lesson 1: Green eye shadow. One current trend is to have your makeup and jewelry match your outfit. So if you wear a bright blue dress, you would wear bright blue jewelry and bright blue eye shadow and nail polish.

I tried this with a dark green skirt and black top. Thus I discovered that I never should have bought forest-green eye shadow. When paired with my dark hair, fair skin and dark under-eye circles, my eyelids looked more bruised than beautiful. So if you have my coloring, stay away from dark green. Money spent: $15 to $20.

Lesson 2: Foundation. I don't wear it often; thankfully, I have decent skin. But the more important reason is I can't get the color right.

I bought two CoverGirl foundation sticks in different light shades, and both make me look like I followed the Marilyn Manson theory of pancake makeup.

I advise you not to buy a foundation until you have tried it out under every possible lighting scheme, including the awful greenish fluorescent lights you find in gymnasiums and some offices. Only then will you know whether it looks good. Money spent: at least $12.

Lesson 3: Lipstick. I'll see a nice color in a magazine, buy it, try it and discover that it's a warm color and I look better in cool ones.

I haven't figured out how to accurately tell if a color is warm or cool, but I know to stay away from brownish tones. They just make my teeth look yellow.

I guess you just have to try and try again. But try before you buy. Money spent: Who knows?

Oh well. Live and learn, right?