One reason why many people don't reach their financial goals or aren't able to save money is because they don't know what they want to do with the money. Do you want to save for college? Buy your own laptop? Buy a car? Deciding what you want to do with your money is the first step on the path to saving it. If you're having trouble figuring out what you want to do, consult the people who know you best: your parents and close friends. Brainstorming with other people who know you very well can help shake loose your own thoughts and re-awaken your dreams and goals. Once you know what you want to do with your savings, you can figure out how much you should be saving each week or month, depending on when your allowance, paycheck or other source of income is made available to you.  A good rule of thumb is to save $1 out of every $3 you get. Saving one-third of your income might seem like a lot, but it's the only way to really build up your savings into something. Saving one-third or thirty percent of whatever money you receive is one of the best saving strategies out there. Once you start, it will become a habit.  Also consider how much you want to have and when. This will help determine how much you need to save each week or month. If you want to have $100 in one year and you get $5 allowance a week, setting aside about $2 each week will get you to that goal. Getting a savings account is a great way to keep your money save and even earn a little interest on what you save. In addition, having a bank account can encourage good savings habits.  If you're under 18 years old, your parents will probably need to be on the account. A joint account is one way that many banks offer accounts to kids. Your parent(s)'s name(s) and your name will be on the account for liability and legal purposes. This may seem like a downside, but it may also make it harder for you to spend your money at will since your parents will know if you make a withdrawal.  Look for banks with minimal fees and balance requirements. Many banks have a "Young Saver" option with low or no fees.  Keep in mind that some banks may only offer custodial accounts, based on the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA). These accounts are investment vehicles that have restrictions on when a child can gain access to the account and its funds (typically 18 or 21, depending on the state). If this is the only option at your bank, try looking into another bank for a standard savings account or waiting until you are a bit older.  If you don't want to open up a bank account for whatever reason, you can create your own "bank" by putting your money in a locked container and giving your parents or another trusted person the key.  Better yet, so long as you trust your parents to control your money, they can open a new account in their names and deposit the money for you. Developing and sticking to a budget is only possible if you know how much you have to work with. Figure out and keep track of how much money you have coming in from different sources (e.g., allowances, gifts, earnings, babysitting money, etc.).  If you have a bank account, keeping track of how much money you have is easy. You can find your bank statements online or you can go into your bank branch and ask. Print and keep your bank statements in a binder to help keep track of your savings progress. This will also be useful down the line when you have to do your taxes or keep track of your mortgage. There are also smartphone apps that make it easy for you to deposit money into your account. Many banks now allow clients to take photos of checks with their smartphones and deposit them into their bank accounts. Save receipts or keep a chart of all purchases made, even food. List the date, item, and amount spent. That way, you know exactly where your money has gone. There are also personal finance apps that you can download to your smartphone and use to log your spending. Some even let you take photos of receipts that are then calculated in the app. This is a great way to learn about your spending habits.

Summary: Think about what you want to do with the money. Choose a savings goal. Ask your parents to help you open a savings account. Keep track of how much is coming in. Keep a spending log.


Find a deep conditioning treatment that's right for your hair type. There are many products on the market, and while they're all made to restore moisture to hair, you should find one that's tailored for your specific needs.  If you have kinky, textured hair, look for products made specifically for kinky hair. If you have fine hair, look for products that are described as "light" or "weightless." Products made with heavier oils will make your hair look weighed down. If you have curly hair, look for products designed to keep your frizz at bay. Use a gentle shampoo that won't strip your hair too much. Avoid shampoos made with sulfates, which are abrasive cleaning agents that cleanse hair of its natural oils and lead to dryness and breakage. Squeeze a dollop about the size of a quarter into your hands and rub your hands together.  Then apply the product to your hair, beginning about halfway down the shaft and moving towards the tips of your hair.  Then spread the any product that remains on your hands from the roots to the tips. Pay special attention to the tips, which tend to get drier than the rest of your hair. If necessary, use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the product. Deep conditioning treatments require at least 10 minutes to get to the core of each strand of your hair.  Check the instructions on the product you are using, as some may suggest being left on longer, but most should work in 30 minutes or less.  You may want to keep the conditioner in place by covering your head with a plastic shower cap, but this is optional. Some products suggest using hair dryer to heat up the product in your hair, which allows it to get absorbed into your hair more easily. Use a blow dryer on a low setting to direct hot air at your head and thoroughly heat up the product. Make sure the hair dryer doesn't get too hot, since you don't want to melt the plastic cap if you are using one. Remove the shower cap and rinse your hair with cool water, which will tighten the hair shaft and make it look shiny. After rinsing, towel dry your hair gently, then let it air dry and then style as usual. Your hair should be bouncy, glossy and well-conditioned. Wait a few days before shampooing your hair, so that you don't negate the effects of the conditioning treatment by washing it out.
Summary: Choose a product. Wash your hair. Apply the deep conditioning product. Let the product set in. Apply heat. Rinse out the product.