COST CLIPPING

A haircut is not a luxury..that's a given. Everyone, at some point, will need to head to the salon or stylist to get their locks chopped and groomed. Add in special services, like highlighting or getting a perm, and the tab can be hair raising. So where can you go to get a super cheap cut that actually looks good?..Try going to cosmetology school. Not to attend..but to get a cut from one of their students.

"THE FOLLICLE ACADEMY"

One of the most recognized cosmetology schools in the region is Academy Di Capelli in Wallingford. Ranked the #1 cosmetology school by the Reader's Choice Awards, the school not only fully trains it's students in all aspects of cosmetology..it keeps it's doors open to the public. Anyone can swing in and get just about anything a full service salon can offer. And although these are students doing the work...the outcome is high quality and customers that I spoke to were thrilled with the look. A basic haircut will run you only 8 bucks! Even high end coloring and highlighting can cost a third of what a salon might charge.

OLD SCHOOL PRICES

Courtney Rinaldi is a teacher in Wallingford. Her hair is thick and long..so when she used to go to a fancy stylist in Fairfield..she had to shell out nearly 200 dollars. On Tuesday, she sat in the chair at Academy Di Capelli and got a quality highlighting job done for nearly a quarter of the price. Aubrey Collins, a student at Tunxis Community College, doesn't have a lot of money to throw around but she still wants to look her best. She too came in for a styling and it didn't break the bank. How about a manicure for $9..a pedicure for $13..not bad and the students doing the work take it seriously and take their time to make sure the customers are satisfied.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Tuesday 10am-5pm
Thursday 10am-9pm
Friday 10am-7pm
Saturday 8am-2:30pm

No appointments necessary.
(203)-294-9496
950 Yale Avenue Unit 20
Wallingford,CT 06492

For more info on Academy Di Capelli...visit their website: www.academydicapelli.com

"HALL" OF SAVINGS

The small town of Ellington has a big resource for anyone looking for free stuff or big discounts. The Hall Memorial Library on Main Street underwent a major renovation in 1991..it now has 19,000 square feet and 79,000 items. Everyone knows that books are available for free and that DVD's, many being new releases, can be checked out for 2 days at no cost. But look closer and Hall, along with many other Connecticut libraries can offer up even more intriguing values.

DAY TRIPS FOR LITTLE OR NO DOUGH

Leaf through the brochure froom the Hall Library and you quickly find that it's a treasure trove of savings at many of Connecticuts most popular destinations. How about picking up FREE passes to the following attractions:

Dinosaur State Park
Mark Twain House
Wadsworth Atheneum
Lutz Children's Museum

And major discounts at these CT hotspots:

Mystic Aquarium
New England Air Museum
Peabody Museum
Basketball Hall of Fame

THE SAVINGS CAN ADD UP

Susan Phillips is the director of the Hall Library. Out of curiousity..she had patrons fill out forms detailing how much they WOULD have spent on all the various free services the library offers. Between the books,CD's,DVD's, internet access and free passes..one family notched 2 thousand dollars in savings in one month. And for those who enjoy listening to audio books, the library will let you take home an MP3 player at no cost.

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