Get a cheaper haircut or various other salon services from students at a beauty school. Visit beautyschoolsdirectory.com to find one close to you. Along the same lines, you can find cheaper dental services at dental schools and auto repair at vocational schools, too. Quality isn't compromised because professional faculty members are on-site.
The first reader tip shares another service you can find for less:

Lower-cost chiropractic care:

After putting it off for far too long, I called the clinic associated with the chiropractic school near me. A visit is $25, and I had five X-rays for just $125. For people with very low incomes, it can be free. It's a teaching facility, so I had a "real" chiropractor, an intern and a student all helping me. I feel 100 percent better after just two treatments. -- R.N., Florida

Remove labels:

I would like to offer another idea for removing gooey labels and other substances: mineral spirits. I find that it quickly and easily removes all sorts of substances, including the remaining wax in a candleholder. I buy the unscented mineral spirits at the hardware store. It never fails. You just have to be sure to let the used rag or paper towel dry out completely before putting it in the trash, in order to avoid a possible fire hazard. -- Janet Q., Arizona

A friend shared this with me years ago and it does work well, especially on tricky surfaces with a label attached. Use a hair dryer over the label, making circular movements over the whole thing. When you can work an edge loose, gently pull up and keep using the heat on the glue side to loosen it bit by bit. Do be careful of your fingertips, however. -- Donna S., email

Coat with Best Foods mayo and let stand at least 20 minutes. It removes even what Goo Gone leaves behind. -- Norma, email

Shine old wood furniture:

Mix 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. Store in a jar. Apply mixture to furniture with a soft cloth. -- Sheri, Indiana

Chocolate stain on carpet:

To get the stain off of carpet, wet a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and rub on the stain, then blot with a dry towel. -- Piney, email

Summer craft:

Have kids draw on wax paper with Sharpie markers of various colors. Hang their work in the window. It's bright and colorful and looks like stained glass. -- Marnie, Florida

Stain remover:

I mix equal amounts of automatic dishwasher detergent (Cascade) and laundry detergent together with the hottest water the fabric can take in a big bucket. I put all the clothes that need stains removed in the bucket and let them sit overnight. In the morning, I just dump the whole bucket into the washer and run it. Gets out all the stains! -- Tracy, California

Spaghetti sauce on plastic:

I used Windex on a spaghetti sauce stain on a plastic plate, and it took the red color out almost immediately. I could still see where it was, but after washing, it was completely gone. -- M.B., Wisconsin
Note from Sara: Sometimes a denture-cleaning tablet like Efferdent will work, too.

photo by gomainstream