Sometimes we just need a little pick me up. Here are ten ideas to make you feel good about yourself. All of them might not do the trick for you but we hope that there’s one or two that might make the grade.

1. Get a new haircut. Maybe even highlight those tresses. If you can’t afford a fancy salon, turn to the yellow pages for a beauty college close to you. The students are closely supervised and the prices are very affordable.
   
   
2. Call a friend and insist on treating them at Starbucks for coffee. Of course, you should bring a couple of inexpensive magazines along. Our picks are People, McCalls, Redbook & Cosmopolitan.
   
   
3. Visit the major department stores in your area and allow their cosmetics personnel to give you a make over. This is not only good for your spirits, it’s wonderful for the pocketbook. Most cosmetics departments will give you a complimentary makeover. Don’t forget to ask for FREE samples that they might have available. (Remember not to impulse buy!)
   
   
4. Go shopping! This is a unique twist on shopping. Visit Marshall’s, TJ Max or Ross Dress For Less. Take a cart when you enter the store. Look at EVERYTHING.... place anything that you really like in your cart. When you are finished (this should take about an hour and a half or so), abandon your cart and leave the store empty handed. You will have satisfied your shopping desires and feel great about how much money you saved by not impulse buying! This is one of my personal favorites.
   
   
5. Bake a couple dozen cookies, wrap them in pretty tissue or place them in an attractive container and take them to your local nursing home. If you have the time on one of these visits, offer to read a book to their elderly. You’re generosity will be greatly appreciated and you will go home feeling wonderful. Since you’re baking, drop a tissue wrapped batch of cookies to the neighbors who live around you.
   
   
6. Get a friend to go along with you on this one. Each of you must have a specific amount of cash on you. (Say, $25). Choose an area to go bargain hunting in and hit every thrift store in that area. You’ll be amazed at what you will find and have great fun making a decision on what you will spend your money on. Don’t be afraid to ask the store to “Hold” something for you. You would hate to spend your money and then find that the next store had exactly what you want. Shop them all then go back for the great finds that you have a hold on.
   
   
7. This is a perfect day to go to your bank and open a Vacation Account. Many banks will allow a Savings Account with as little as $10.00. Make a commitment to put at least $15 per week in the account. Not only will this make you feel good, you might save enough to go on M.O.M.S. Single Parent Cruise next year! (A Cruise package is in the works for late 2000).
   
   
8. Write notes to your closest friends and relatives. Tell them all the things that make them special to you. This is a feel good thing, not only for you, but for the recipients of those very special notes.
   
   
9. Visit Pic N Sav or your local discount store and buy scented candles. Light them throughout your house and then either curl up with a good book or take a luxurious bubble bath. Either way you can’t lose.
   
   
10. Treat yourself to a movie and make it a comedy! If you’re on a budget, take snacks with you. My purse is always loaded with a short can of Pringles, a twenty-five cent cola and sliced apples.