It helps to be frugal

After a long day of work, I plopped my exhausted body down on the couch for a little rest and relaxation.

Just as soon as I was able to take off my shoes, my daughter hit me with a bullet.

"Will you highlight my hair?" she asked. "I bought everything from the store and you could do it really quick since my hair is shorter."

About 45 minutes after dinner, the dye was coming out of the bag.

My daughter set a bowl, a brush, color stripper and creme developer in front of me.

"Ready?" she said.

I started at 6:30 p.m. By the time I stripped her dark hair with chuncky highlights and added a color to give it a tri-tone look, it was 10:25 p.m.

The long day had turned into night and I was getting really tired of doing hair.

But then my youngest daughter let out a heavy sigh.

Oh, you know what that means. I want.

"Do you want me to do your hair?" I asked the youngest girl.

"Well, I don't know..." she said. "I don't like all that light color and I'm trying to let my hair grow down to the middle of my back, and if it doesn't come out nice what will we do... "

By this time I was getting tired and had no patience to coddle a child.

"Do you want me to do your hair?" I asked again but more sternly.

"Well, only if you want," she said with pleading eyes.

By the time I added the rest of the black cherry dye to her already dark hair, it was 11 p.m.

Both of the girls' hair turned out stunning. They were both happy and glad to get it done.

Now, I'm not a hair beautician, nor do I have any sort of formal training.

I learned how to color hair because I'm cheap.

I didn't want to pay someone $70 to do hair when it looked so simple. So, after several years, I've learned an art. I haven't mastered it, just learned it.

Being frugal with three girls and a boy is something I've learned very early in their lives.

I've saved clothes, purchased items on clearance when they were too large for the kids and have taken in used clothing.

Until I become a millionaire, I'll go to garage sales, shop at thrift stores, and yes, be giving my girls highlights until 11 p.m.

I'm cheap and I love it.