1. Tutor

Websites like Tutor.com provide online opportunities for those who possess strong content knowledge in subjects like english, math, science, or social studies at the level you wish to tutor. Most websites cover elementary grade through first year college, and for most subjects, an applicant must be a college sophomore or higher or have graduated from an accredited University. Bottom line, if you sucked in school you should probably stay away from this one – you won’t be doing any little kids any favors.

Pay: Their most active chemistry tutors earn anywhere from $800 to $1600 a month.

2. Pet sitting/dog walking

If you’re good with animals, you can make decent money taking care of peoples pets when they’re out of town or by dog walking if you have a flexible schedule.Use Craigslist to post your availability, put posters in local animal hospitals, or join a site like Sittercity.com.  Be prepared to deal with cats that might scratch you and dogs that take forever to pee.

Pay: In NYC, dog walkers generally charge about $20 per walk and $10-$15 per half hour for pet sitting. I feel like that’s more than people pay to watch their kids, and this is very likely much more enjoyable.

3. Bartender/waitress

In NYC, this is pretty much the go-to job for every struggling model/actor who generally ends up making more money in this side job then they ever will in their glamorous day job (and I know this from personal experience). Especially if you live in a bigger city, working at a busy restaurant or bar can mean a very nice paycheck. Hours are generally flexible, so you can work nights and maybe even meet some interesting people along the way.

Pay: This really varies depending on where you work, but working in nightlife can have a huge payoff if you can handle the hours and annoying drunk people.

4. Catering

Ah another favorite among NYC youth. In big cities there are always so many different events going on that require people to hand out tiny little fancy caviar bites and champagne to people with too much money. There are also positions open to cook if you’re any good at that.

Pay: In most places, this pays $10-$15/hour, but in NYC you can get paid anywhere between $25-$40/hour for events.

5. Turn your car into an advertisement

Websites like freecarmedia.com can get you paid up to $400 a month depending on the advertiser you are matched up with. You simply register online, and if you match an advertiser’s criteria, your vehicle will be either fully wrapped in a vinyl decal or just the rear window will display an ad. The catch is that you’ll need to learn about the product so you can answer questions people may ask, and you’re required to drive a certain number of miles a month. You’ll have to live in an attractive demographic area and drive a decent car – and make sure you never take the offer if you have to put any money out – that’s a scam.

Pay: $300-$500 a month

6. Sell people’s stuff on eBay

I personally did this for a little while, and it was a great way to earn a little extra cash. If you have a knack for selling things on eBay (and if you don’t, you can just read my Tutorial), you can charge 10-15% fee for all the items you sell for people. You can generally just work through word-of-mouth with your friends getting rid of their old unworn designer shoes and bags. Everyone has something in their closet they no longer use that is worth some money, but don’t have the time or patience to list it themselves. Just be prepared to deal with answering potential buyers questions and ensuring whatever you sell is shipped and tracked properly.

Pay: For example, I sold a friends old Louis Vuitton Purse online for $900. I took $90. Not bad for 20 minutes of taking pictures/listing and then sending it to the buyer.

7. Work Freelance

If you have a marketable skill like graphic design, writing, PR or SEO – many companies would prefer to hire freelance workers than to have to pay people to work full time with benefits. There are multiple web sites where you can post your resume and search job listings, including elance.com, ratracerebellion.com and flexjobs.com. Some sites charge a commission or a flat fee to access the listings, but others are free.

Pay: Varies widely depending on the type of work you provide, but freelancers generally get paid more per project than salaried workers (on average $25-$75.hour).

8. Rent out your place

The popularity of sites like airbnb.com have made it easier to rent out your place to people you can trust when you go away. Especially if you live in an attractive city, you can make great money renting out your home while you’re not there. If you have a hard time picturing strangers in your bed, then this isn’t an option for you, but if you’re just fine burning your sheets when you get home then maybe this is worth a shot.

Pay: Varies depending on where you live and what your place is like.

9. Run someone else’s errands 

On TaskRabbit.com, you search listings of errands posted by people in your area that include everything from data entry to event planning to assembling or repairing furniture.

Pay: What you’ll make varies depending on the chore (grocery shopping is $35 on average, house cleaning is about $60)

It may not be very glamorous work, but a side job can really pay off and sometimes even be enjoyable. Do you have any other suggestions for great work you can do on the side?

So while I do believe in buying expensive pieces, I almost always find those pieces for less online. More specifically, I find them for the best prices on good old eBay. Some people aren’t believers, and while I did a whole tutorial on how to find stuff on eBay like a pro, I thought I would put together a little compilation of my recent favorite finds, just so you can see my personal savings for yourself. These are the best eBay purchases I ever made.

1. Herve Leger Bandage Skirt: Retail $950 – eBay $200

This skirt was originally listed for $275, and I loved it. I own a couple of the lower-end versions from BCBG, but even those are about $140. I sent the seller a message letting them know that if the skirt did not sell at their asking price, that I would gladly pay $200 (shipping included). I had a deal, and I friggin love this skirt. I threw in a pic of me wearing said skirt just so you can see how much I friggin love it. It had all the tags attached and was brand spanking new. How is it possible for them to sell it for so cheap, you ask? Don’t ask questions. Enjoy your expensive skirt.

 2. Equipment Button-Down: Retail $210 – eBay $57.89

I wear button-down shirts like it’s my uniform. I get so much wear out of them that I don’t feel so bad investing in better quality shirts. J. Crew makes nice ones, but Equipment is my new weakness. Their shirts are well made and well tailored, but I still think they are out of their minds to charge over $200. For this reason, I check eBay – and guess what? I pay less than half the price – almost 1/4 of the price actually. Just as in the prior situation, I have no idea how they are able to sell it for so cheap. It could have been a remorseful purchase (didn’t lose those extra lb’s or the color looked terrible on them). I really don’t care. I just enjoy my expensive shirt.

 3. Louboutin Very Prive’s: Retail $845 – eBay $300 

I admit, I have a weakness for Louboutin’s. It generally doesn’t fit into a frugal lifestyle, but I’ve always saved up for these gems, and I’ve always bought them on eBay. I had my eye on these for a while – they were sold out everywhere in my size, but I knew the metallic would go with everything and they were worth keeping an eye out. Some people would never consider buying used shoes, and for the most part I agree. Shoes that have been worn a lot can often form to a persons feet, and since your feet are not like their feet, the shoes end up doing damage – or even worse may compel you to remove them in a nightclub – which should never, ever, ever happen. These beauties, on the other hand, were very lightly worn. I could tell by the condition of the bottom of the shoe that very little red had worn off, so they were likely only worn a couple times and some rich person was cleaning out their closet. SOLD.

4. Helmut Lang Leather Jacket: Retail $795 – eBay $99.99

This was another amazing eBay purchase. I had been wanting a light colored leather coat, and Helmut Lang does jackets the best. I had been checking up on eBay and got super lucky that no one else had bid on this with only hours left to go. I’m assuming that this is because the condition was listed it as defected – but as you can see from the picture below, it really isn’t that noticeable and was absolutely worth the $695 in savings.

eBay Search Tips

* Use StuffAlert.com to set up an alert for what you’re looking for, and the site will alert you when something matching your search is listed.

* Be specific with your search. If you want a black helmut lang leather jacket S (for size small) – search exactly that. If you can only afford less than $400, then indicate that in your search, and then save the search so that you can easily search it again the next time you’re online. If nothing comes up for your specific search, remove the color to have more options – sometimes sellers won’t add those details to their headings.

* Don’t be scared to ask the seller if they are willing to sell to you for a reasonable price under the list price if their item does not sell by the end of the auction. Just send them a personal message – they almost always reply either agreeing or with a counter offer.

* Don’t be scared to buy used or without tags if the item is listed as in excellent condition, and the photos reflect that as well. Usually if the item arrives in a condition that is not represented, you can return it to the seller or file a claim with eBay to have your money returned.

* Watch your item and bid at the last minute. The eBay app makes this even easier to do on the go. The last thing you want is to get stuck in a bidding war and overpaying for a used dress you could have bought cheaper new. We get excited. It happens.

Do you have any good eBay success stories? I would love to hear them!

The Trend: Vintage

Mint Polca Dot Top Frame $12.99 - amiclubwear.com

The Trend: Diva

Mossimo square sunglasses $16.99 – Target.com

The Trend: Cat Eye

Aldo “Caledonia” $12 – aldoshoes.com

The Trend: Reflective 

“Prime Mars with Polycarbonate lenses” $19.99 - stunglasses.com

 The Trend: Look how hipster I am

Asos haf round sunglasses $20.36 – asos.com

If your face is…

Square: Round or oval shades will soften your jaw.

Heart Shaped: Rounded glasses that dip between the eyes, or inverted triangle shapes like aviators.

Long: Wide, oversized frames will hep to break up your face. Cat-eyes will also help to draw attention up

Oval: Congrats, you can wear just about anything since your face is uniform from top to bottom.

Other great sites for sunglasses:

Asos.com: Prices start at $17 with free shipping and returns.

Framesdirect.com: Many brand name frames with a price-match guarantee and discounts on every purchase.

Glasses.com: Find perscription pairs with free shipping and returns, plus you can try on looks virutally with their phone app.

Monocleorder.com: Join this club to get acccess to vintage and indie brands – your first purchase gains you membership and after that you get 50% off every order.

WarbyParker.com: For every sunglass purchase they donate a pair of optical glasses to someone in need. Sweet.

Now we just need summer to get here…

So how do you get over your fears of asking for what you deserve? Try following these tips for how to properly ask for a raise.

1. Keep a running file of your accomplishments: You should be doing this anyway so that you’re prepared when work reviews come around. If you haven’t started, start now. Build your case with specifics you can quantify, focusing on the value you bring to the company.

• How much new or repeat business did you bring in?
• How much traffic did you bring to their web site?
• How did you save the company time or money, or earned it more exposure?

2. Make yourself stand out: The weeks leading up to your raise request, you need to put in extra effort to make yourself more visible than usual. Your bosses get caught up in their own work and can often fail to notice all of the great work that you’ve been doing.

3. Research what your job is worth online for free:

• GetRaised.com – an amazing service that will tell you if you’re underpaid, and if you are, it helps you lay out a logical raise request that includes data that supports why you should get a raise. It even gives you this info already formatted as a letter to your boss. They walk you through the process of submitting your letter, having a meeting to discuss compensation, and getting your raise. 
• Salary.com – use their salary wizard to find comparable salaries, and posts educating you on salary negotiation.
• PayScale.com – input info about about your job and unique background and skills, and they give you a precise look at what you should be getting paid

4. Have the right timing: 

• Don’t catch your boss off guard by asking for a quick chat. Send a formal request to meet to discuss your work and future with the company.
• Ideally you want to try and time it right after you’ve done something great for the company
• Try to catch them earlier in the day before they get the chance to get tired, cranky and less willing to work with you on your raise.

5. Ask for more: Some experts suggest asking for 10% more than the mid-range, but keep in mind your company’s size and your experience. No matter what you’re asking for, always bump it up – so if you want a 10% raise, ask for 15% knowing that they will try to negotiate you down (score if they don’t).

6. Don’t accept no!: If the answer is no, ask for other benefits. Things like more vacation days, bonuses or child-care allowances can often be negotiated as part of your compensation if the company insists they can’t give in to a raise. Talk with your HR department to learn what options you could come to the table with. If there is no budging, be sure to ask what needs to be done on your end for them to see more value going forward. Ask them to be as specific as possible and don’t get offended when they point out where you need improvement.

7. Leave these things out:

• Never involve what your co-workers make
• Never mention the personal reasons why you need more money.
• Never threaten your boss with taking another job.

Remember, the worst thing you could do is not ask for a raise. You need to keep your bosses aware of the value you bring to your company and why your pay should reflect that. As with all things in life, you get what you have the courage to ask for. Goodluck!

1. Take mini time-outs during stressful days:

• Talk to a friend – talking out your problems and gossiping helps to calm you down and distract you from your stressors.
• Update your music playlist – our brain’s pleasure centers light up when we hear music, boosting productivity.
• Watch some funny videos on YouTube – laughing lowers your blood pressure and reduces stress hormone levels.

2. Don’t take on more than you can handle & better manage your time: Whether in your personal or professional life, learn how to say no if too much responsibility pushes your limits. Planning ahead for things can also really help reduce the stress from always being late!

3. Reframe problems and look at the bigger picture: Try to view stressful situations form a more positive perspective and ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. If it won’t matter in a month or year, it probably isn’t worth getting upset over.

4. Focus on the positive: Taking a moment to reflect on all the things you can appreciate in your life can help to keep things in perspective.

5. Don’t try to control what you can’t: You can’t change the behavior of other people. Focus on what you can control – like YOUR reactions. Learning to forgive and letting go of anger and resentment will help you out big time.

6. Try deep breathing exercises: When you’re feeling overwhelmed, deep breathing can help decrease stress hormones. Count down slowly from 10 to 0, following each number with a deep inhale. Exhale like a sigh, allowing your belly to slowly deflate.

7. Take a good stretch: Spinal twists increase blood and oxygen circulation throughout your body, which helps you feel more rejuvenated. Sitting on a chair, just twist to the right and left, exhaling as you do and deepening it each time.

8. Exercise and eat healthier: It may seem like a pain, but exercise actually helps up feel-good endorphin levels and reduce pent-up stress. Getting to the gym first thing in the morning will help you to have more energy throughout the day, plus you’re more likely to make it happen in the morning before your day wears you out. A proper diet will give your body the energy to properly deal with stress – so try to keep a balanced diet throughout the day (starting with breakfast!)

9. Trade coffee for water: Caffeine dehydrates you and can make you feel anxious and jittery. Although you could feel a shot of energy from your shot of espresso, when your body is dehydrated you end up feeling much more fatigued.

10. Get a good nights sleep: Any amount of sleep deprivation will mess with your mental performance. It’s important to get your body on a sleep cycle by going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday so that your mind and body can rest, rejuvenate and be better prepared for another day filled with stress!

All of these options involve streaming internet services from your computer or a device, so you will also need to make sure you have an internet package with enough speed to support the streaming.

The different TV/movie subscription services are priced as follows:

• Hulu (free) – Hulu Plus: $8/month
• Netflicks: $8/month
• Amazon Prime: For $79 annually, you get unlimited movie and TV streaming

Find free episodes of your favorite shows:

• btvguide.com
• Sidereel.com
• Crackle.com
• Network sites like Fox and NBC have full episodes for free

HDMI Cables

How it works: If you have a good internet connection that is fast enough to stream video, you can stream services like Netflix and Hulu right onto your TV screen from your laptop AND get access to all of the free services listed above.

Initial price: $6 and up for the cables

Cons: It can be a little annoying to have to connect your computer using bulky cables, and you cant’ do other work on your internet while you watch television. I’ve heard of people buying an inexpensive computer to use for this purpose only.

Aereo

How it works: The newest kid on the block, Aereo is currently only available in certain cities, but by assigning you a “tiny antenna” they are able to allow you to stream LIVE broadcast content onto your computer. If you pretty much only watch shows on big networks, you can now watch it online as just like you would be watching TV – oh, and you can DVR episodes too.

Initial price: Compare their plans here, but pretty much you can pay-per-use $1/day, or subscribe for $8/month or $80/year.

Cons: Right now it’s only available in NYC, but that should be changing soon. Since you’re streaming live, you also have to watch the commercials – but with all the money you’re saving, I would say that’s a fair exchange.

AppleTV

How it works: Buy the box, attach it to your TV and use it to access iTunes, alot of the network shows and your streaming services like Hulu, Netflix and all of the sports subcriptions (even live games). People usually choose this option because they’re already familiar with apple’s interface.

Initial price: $99

Cons: iTunes charges $0.99 for show rentals and movie rentals start at $2.99 for SD and $3.99 for HD. TV show rentals are 48 hours, movies are 24 hours. Having a time limit on your rental kind of sucks, and purchasing is expensive. If you do purchase and build a big library, it can take up alot of room on your computer. Plus, why do you need to own the shows? I mean unless you just need frequent glances at Jon Hamm’s package on Mad Men. I don’t do that or anything, I’m just saying.

Roku

How it works: Like AppleTV, the box allows you to stream many free internet TV and movie channels and subscription services onto your television at home. Click here for the full channel lineup http://www.roku.com/roku-channel-store.

Initial Price: Roku starts at $50 for a basic box up to $100 for their newest box that includes things like a remote with an earphone jack and motion control for video games.

Cons: You can’t watch same-day shows at their usual time

Don’t be afraid to leave cable. They don’t treat you right, and you deserve better. You should probably try watching less damn television and do something productive anyway.

What craigslist is best for:

Electronics: People are upgrading their devices and getting rid of old (but still great) one’s all the time. Buying and selling older generation apple products, cameras, speakers, etc is a great use for Craigslist.

Furniture: New Yorkers especially learn the value of CL since we move apartments so often. Whatever you are looking for, in NYC there is a really good chance you will find it. I sold every last piece of furniture from my last apartment (even a broken ikea dresser for $40) and was able to start all over with even better gently used West Elm furniture for my new place. I even was able to find all matching pieces from a few different people. Just make sure you have a friend with a van who can help you move (I had to hire someone since I hadn’t strength trained enough to carry solid wood furniture.)

Bikes/Kids stuff: These are also things that people are buying and selling frequently and it saves a ton buying them gently used.

Buying stuff:

1. Learn how to search & do it often:

People are posting hundreds of listings every day, so you need to have some dedication to your search if you want to save money. If you are looking for a birch wood end table from Pottery Barn, do a search for exactly that. If nothing comes up for a super specific search, try leaving out “birch wood” or “Pottery Barn” or go for just “end table” to see what comes up. You never know how people will decide to describe their item, so you may have to use several different search terms. Since people in your area could be posting what you’re looking for often, you may need to be checking a couple times a day.

2. Search in your price range & negotiate

You can save time by searching in the price range that you want to spend, but if there aren’t many options coming up when you use this feature, scrap it and remember that you can always try and negotiate with sellers. Many will put O.B.O (or best offer) – and even if this is unsaid, many people will take a lower offer just to get whatever they are selling off their hands. Don’t offer something ridiculously low, but if you’ve seen it being sold by others on CL or used on eBay for less, you know you have some negotiating power. When you actually have the product you’re buying in your hands, if you see some wear and tear you can also always use that to help negotiate the price down.

2. Get all the info before leaving your house:

If they only posted one picture, don’t be afraid to request more (and make sure it’s of the actual item). If the dimensions aren’t included in the post, be sure to ask – it’s not always easy to judge size from a picture. If it is a larger item, make sure that the seller lives in an elevator building or can help you move it if needed. I had a terrible experience buying a bed frame in the city where the seller didn’t take it apart and it got destroyed when they tried to shove it in the elevator. (I still took it for half the price they were asking and then bought furniture markers to repair the scratches, but lesson learned).

3.  Be safe

* Have an email exchange with your seller so everything is documented, and meet in a public place for the transaction.

* If you are buying furniture from someones home, bring someone with you so you’re not in some strangers home with a creepy doll collection and a scary old dog alone.

* Be sure to test the product and make sure it works before you give them money and leave.

* If you meet the buyer and the product isn’t what you were expecting or is more damaged than you were led to believe, don’t feel bad about walking away, and always have exact change (since most sellers accept only cash and will not have change on hand).

Selling on Craigslist

1. Make sure you have a good title

This is what the search engine will use to find you. Make sure you keep it simple and specific – if you are selling a bike, don’t just say “Yellow Bike” – be sure to put details in the title like “Women’s Schwinn Miranda 26 inch Moutain Bike” so you attract the buyers that are looking for exactly what you are selling. Avoid saying things like “great deal” or “really nice” – you can add that in the description.

2. Writing your description

I personally always cheat on this one. I will google the product I am selling and find ready-made descriptions online, either from the manufacturers site or another site selling the item. This usually means the dimensions are already provided for me, but if you’re unable to find them online be sure to measure the item yourself and provide as many dimensions as possible. I also like to detail what the item originally retailed for – that way it always seems like they’re getting a great deal.

Be sure to cover the condition of the item and point out any noticeable wear and tear. Even though it should be obvious, I also always make sure to clarify that it is pick up only and cash only. If the price is negotiable, state that as well.

3. Figure out the price

You can easily do this by doing a search on CL for similar items to see what people are asking. You can then adjust your asking price based on if the condition of your item is better or worse. If no one is selling something similar, do a google or eBay search for your item to see what the going price is right now. You can’t consider the price you originally paid, because just like a car – once it’s used it loses a good chunk of its value. You can try setting it at a slightly higher price followed by “or best offer”, or if you just want to get rid of it, set it at a slightly lower price than everyone else to help generate more interest. You know what this thing is worth to you  - so decide the lowest offer you will accept so you can better negotiate with people who may try and low ball you.

4. Always include pictures

Be sure to take flattering pictures of whatever you are selling in a good light so buyers can see it clearly. Taking the picture against a solid background is always a good idea – no one needs to see all your dirty underwear on the floor in the background. Try to shoot as many angles as possible, and be sure to capture any visible wear and tear or defects so that buyers can’t use this as a reason to offer less money when they meet with you.

5. Be safe

I personally like to use the anonymous email feature so that my personal email is not made public. When you’re meeting with sellers, be sure to meet in a public place – if they are coming to your home, make sure that you’re not home alone.

What are you waiting for? Start taking advantage of the best local marketplace that you can access from the comfort of your living room couch.

Complete Spa Sonic Skin Care System for Face and Body Polisher (Retails for $69.99)

This is a great little tool that mom can use in the shower or for washing her pretty face. It comes with 4 attachments – a small brush for the face, a large for the body, a pumice stone for rough areas, and a facial sponge for micro-dermabrasion and reduction of fine lines. The penetrating actions promotes the rapid absorption of skin care products and leaves skin smooth and firm.

If you think you have terrible luck but still want to grab this for mom, the Spa Sonic will be the Daily Deal on Target.com April 30th for 40% off regular price – Check out the link here

Facebook.com/SpaSonic  - Twitter @SpaSonic

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our grandparents grew up in a time when you had to learn to be resourceful. Things were fixed and not replaced, women made their own clothes, and neighbors shared one phone. Things were purchased because they were necessary, not because they were simply wanted – and guess what? No one would ever have dared to refer to your Nana as a cheap-ass.

 So where did we go wrong? Research from Ohio State found that People in their late 20s and early 30s carry significantly higher credit card debt than older generations and pay it off way more slowly. Much of this can be attributed to the rising costs of education, but the bigger problem in my opinion, is our generation’s fear of looking cheap.

Success is naturally equated to wealth, and no one idolizes someone who is not successful. On top of that, the American Dream has morphed into a whole other level of status and luxury. We see rappers in chinchilla jackets popping Ace of Spades champagne in their videos, not driving a Toyota and having game night in with their friends. Kanye said it best– “What you think I rap for, to push a fu@#ing Rav4?” In the pop culture of today, having the appearance of wealth trumps actually having any money. What needs to be understood, though, is that people who are really wealthy actually attribute frugal (or “cheap”) habits to getting and staying there.

The number one quality of successful people is living below their means, and this means being frugal. For example, there are 1,138,070 millionaire households living in homes valued under $300,000, yet at the same time, 86% of people driving the most expensive “status” cars are non-millionaires.

People who actually have money are not scared of looking cheap – that’s how poor people think, and it keeps them poor.

I’ve personally lived in NYC for nine years, and I saved a reasonable about of money working as a waitress and a model. It’s true – I was fortunate to have fit the bill for these particular jobs, but it’s not like I was booking $30,000 campaigns. I just lived in an affordable apartment, I never took taxis, and I never feared being labeled as cheap. Did people call me cheap because I always looked for better deals and watched my spending? Sure, but while they racked up their debt in an attempt to show everyone how well they were doing, I was putting myself in the position to have the money to invest in my future – to create more opportunity and success for myself.

Who knows, maybe this is what will separate the rich from the poor, like a survival of the fittest. Those who know to sacrifice will be the ones who ultimately live in comfort, and those who feared looking cheap while they were rocking Louboutins and Gucci loafers will ultimately live in their parent’s house when they’re 35. Wondering where you fall in all of this? Well the next time you put your credit card down, ask yourself what kind of American Dream you’re investing in.

1. Quit Smoking

Despite the fact that it is a disgusting habit that makes you smell terrible, yellows your teeth and costs ALOT of money, smoking also ages you like a mo-fo. When the smoke itself hits the skin, the cells already start to change. It damages the collagen and elastin in your skin which are the keys to providing the elasticity to your tissue that keeps it all tight. This means that you get saggy and wrinkly at an eccelerated rate. Smoking also constricts the blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutriets to your skin, so the cells can’t regenerate as quickly. The area around your mouth and eyes will probably go first from all that squinting. Not cute on so many levels.

2. Eat the right food

Foods that contain antioxidants have been shown to neutralize the free radicals in our bodies that break down our wonderful youth-making cells. This is why it’s important to load up on a diet high in vitamins like C and E and beta carotene that help us defend ourselves against all the bad stuff that turns us into wrinkly messes.

* Eat colorful veggies like leafy greens, carrots, red peppers etc.

* Blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, and raspberries are all loaded with antioxidants, which save cells from premature aging

* Cold-water fish like salmon reduces inflammation on a cellular level (if you hate fish you can take fish oil supplement insead)

* Drink lots of green tea & drink as much water as possible. Water flushes waste out of our system and acts as an internal moisturizer.

* Use olive oil – it’s high in monounsaturated fat and antioxidants which can help you better absorb the nutrients in your food and make your skin glow.

3. Beware the sun

This is a tough one for me. I am a huge fan of sunbathing and getting that nice, healthy glow. The problem is, the effects of a nice tan are short term. In the long term, the sun destroys our collagen and elastin, creating what experts call photoaging. Scary. The more damage that is done, the harder it becomes for your body to produce new collagen to replace what was lost. Don’t believe me? Check out this picture of a 69 year old truck driver who’s left side of his face was exposed to the sun while driving for 28 years:

Um, crazy. Be sure to wear a moisturizer with at least a 30 SPF every day. I’ve also gotten into the habit of wearing big sunglasses to protect the sensitive skin around my eyes – even when I’m laying out at the beach (which I shouldn’t be doing).

4. Stress less

I know this is easier said than done for most people. The next time you’re stressing out, remember that your mind is sending signals to your body to produce the stress hormone cortisol which breaks down collagen. This is not good news for your skin. Also, when your body gets all worked up, most nutrients and oxygen will go to the major organs to protect them – not your skin. Getting rid of anxiety will help you to sleep better and ensure you don’t get those nasty frown lines. Here are some tips:

* Don’t take on more than you can handle & better manage your time: Weather in your personal or professional life, learn how to say no if too much responsibility pushes your limits. Planning ahead for things can also really help reduce the stress from always being late!

* Reframe problems and look at the bigger picture: Try to view stressful situations form a more positive perspective and ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. If it won’t matter in a month or year, it probably isn’t worth getting upset over.

* Focus on the positive: Taking a moment to reflect on all the things you can appreciate in your life can help to keep things in perspective.

* Don’t try to control what you can’t: You can’t change the behavior of other people. Focus on what you can control – like YOUR reactions. Learning to forgive and letting go of anger and resentment will help you out big time.

 5. Get moving

Not only does exercise help ward off a ton of different diseases and prevent you from becoming overweight, but it also greatly reduces the effects of free radicals and inflammation that causes signs of aging. It also assists in the reduction of high cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure levels and helps to modify the hormones that impact the aging process, including reducing blood insulin levels and increasing those amazing anti-aging hormones. On top of that, getting in your cardio promotes blood flow to the skin, which helps increase the rate of new cell growth and the production of natural oils and moisture. Not only will your face look young, but you’ll have an ass of an 18 year old. It’s an all-around win situation.

Papaya mask: This fruit has a ton of carotene, vitamin C, essential minerals and the enzyme papain – so it is a natural exfoliant and moisturizer. Peeling off a strip from the outer layer and swiping it on your skin can help lighten the skin, minimizing the appearance of age spots. Papaya also opens pores, leaving skin feeling soft and with a healthy glow.

Cleanse with honey: Many of people don’t know that honey contains a ton of antioxidants and also contains anti-bacterial properties, making it a gentle, affordable everyday cleanser. Just add a little warm water to make it easier to use and gently rinse it off. You can even add some brown sugar to make it an exfoliating wash. It rinses right off, and can even be used to aid in treating mild breakouts

Grapes around the eyes: Apparently grapes have an acidic formula that help to act as a sort of natural peel if you mush them up and use a cotton ball to apply them around your eyes. Rinse after 5 minutes.

You can get so many natural home anti-aging remedies just by looking them up and finding which ones work with whatever you have in your house. Hopefully applying some of these techniques to your daily life will save you heavy doctor’s bills (and looking like Joan Rivers) in the future.