Blog Posts by Woman s Day

woman screaming in officeBy Margot Gilman

We've all entertained fantasies about telling a lying, lazy or downright mean boss that she can take this job and do you-know-what-with-it, but dreamland is exactly where such musings must stay. Whether you're leaving of your own volition or being asked to go, how you handle yourself can have serious repercussions for you for years down the road. By age 44, the typical American worker will have changed jobs about 10 times, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and a negative parting can haunt your future job-hunting efforts, says Alexandra Levit, a workplace consultant and author of Blind Spots: 10 Business Myths You Can't Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success. Sure, revenge tastes sweet, but if you're leaving a job anyway, you might as well end on a high note. To make sure you do-and pave the way for long-term professional success-don't do the following. Photo by Thinkstock.

1. Get emotional. A supervisor's mistreatment is painful to live

happy woman at computerBy Myscha Theriault

Step 1

Cheapism.com

First, visit this site, which offers a wide range of products and thoughtfully written reviews to help customers get the best-quality inexpensive items for their hard-earned money. You can read articles in the merchandise categories to narrow down which model mattress, computer or stationary bicycle you're interested in, and see how the item stacks up against its competitors. Photo by Getty

Step 2

Nextag.com and Bizrate.com

Now that you know what you want, compare prices at Nextag.com. You can search by product or category to find the online retailer offering the best discount. (Take shipping into account, though, as costs vary from seller to seller.) BizRate.com allows you to browse department store-style (for shoes, say, or home decor) and compare prices of similar items.
Related: Find out which 9 buys are cheaper online.

Step 3

Extrabux.com and Ebates.com

Next, head over to one of these cash-back sites,

By Woman's Day Staff

Love Your Locks

Achieve salon-quality results from a box by following these 7 simple tips. Photo by Shannon Greer; Hair & Makeup by Elisa Flowers for Ba-Reps.com.

1 Skip the shampoo

Don't wash for 24 hours before coloring, or you'll remove the natural oils that help protect your scalp from chemicals. (And rinse extra dye with water only-shampoo can strip color.)

2 But be sure to condition

Use a deep conditioning mask the day before you dye. It will help ward off any damage, and color looks more vibrant and deposits more evenly on moisturized hair.

3 Read the directions

Many women ignore them or just go by the pictures. Pay close attention to the processing time. Leaving dye on for even a few minutes too long can give very different results.

4 Don't go extreme

Never attempt to change your color to more than three shades lighter or darker than your natural base. To make a drastic change, the formula needs to be customized by a pro.

woman writing holiday cardsBy Arrica Elin SanSone

Some holiday traditions such as trimming the tree or lighting the menorah haven't changed much. But almost every other long-held custom has evolved. Shopping for gifts? Do it online in your PJs. Sending a card to your BFF? Done in ten seconds from your smartphone. "What doesn't change is our need for kindness and courtesy," says Cynthia Grosso, etiquette expert at the Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette, Inc. in Charleston, SC. "Even in our fast-paced world, good manners matter because they make people feel valued, which makes you feel good, too." Here are the new holiday etiquette rules you must know (don't worry; they're more relaxed than the old ones!).

New rule 1: It's okay to send e-greeting cards.

"Many people send online cards because they want to be green and save time and money," says Lizzie Post, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-author of Emily Post's Etiquette, 18 th Edition. "There's no reason you can't do it, though

woman holding credit card

By Dawn Papandrea

With holiday shopping season in full swing, it's easy to let your guard down and fall prey to a credit card or identity thief. "People get busy and careless," says Beverly Harzog, credit card expert and consumer advocate. To avoid the hassle of trying to repair a damaged credit record that results from someone stealing your account information, make sure you don't make any of the following mistakes. Photo by Thinkstock

1. Letting your card out of your sight too long. Have you heard of skimming? "That's when someone swipes your credit card through a device called a skimmer, which records your credit card information so it can be replicated onto another card for fraudulent use," explains John Ulzheimer, President of Consumer Education for SmartCredit.com. The big problem with skimming: It's hard to prevent. You send away your card with restaurant servers all the time, right? When possible, such as at a retail counter or a small eatery, keep a close watch

woman drinking champagne aloneBy Stephanie Emma Pfeffer

It's not easy being single during the holiday season. Between couples canoodling at cocktail parties, intrusive questions about your love life (or lack thereof) from well-meaning family members and midnight kisses on New Year's Eve, the romantically unattached may feel like hibernating until January 2nd . It can be even more difficult if you're newly single. But experts say there are plenty of ways to boost your solo spirit. "Don't think about the holidays as something painful you have to 'get through,'" says Elaine Rodino, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in State College, PA. "Know how to have fun regardless of whether you're part of a couple." Here's how to manage your expectations, handle the holiday hype and emerge unscathed.

1. Create new traditions. If you've recently gone through a breakup, separation or divorce, you probably associate certain memories with your ex. Don't recreate them. "Experiencing holidays the old way can be

black friday shopping at the mallBy Kate Ashford

It's hard to ignore the massive advertising and media frenzy urging you to "Save Big Money!" on the Friday after Thanksgiving. And with practically everything on sale, how do you know what's actually worth waking up at the crack of dawn for? Focus on only the best bargains so you're not tempted to buy in the heat of the moment. Photo by Tony Page/Getty.

1. Start tracking store sales in advance. Follow your favorite retailers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest a week or two before Black Friday. Not only will they reveal details about sales before they happen, many stores will also offer exclusive discounts on those sites. In the past, stores like RadioShack have offered savings to shoppers who "checked in" with the brand on Foursquare, a common smartphone app.
Related: Discover the 10 things you didn't know you could rent.

2. Shop online in the wee hours of Thanksgiving. Many sellers activate their online deals the day

girls shoppingBy Lauren Fenton

Whether your friends and family are hitting the mall or searching for bargains online, the day after Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to host an open house for people to take a breather, compare notes and recharge for the next go-round of shopping. Keep it casual with a lunchtime party that gives early risers the chance to stop by their favorite stores in the morning and share their best finds with guests who have decided to sleep in. A menu of leftovers means none of your hard work preparing the perfect turkey goes to waste. Photo by Getty Images
Related: Try 8 calming foods that ease stress.

Game Plan

Focus the party's activities around ways to make bargain hunting less hectic.

1 In the week leading up to Black Friday, have guests clip coupons and scan circulars for deals. Then everyone can swap information about the best ones they've seen.

2 Mall parking can be a nightmare on Black Friday. Arrange a pre- or post-party carpool as part of your event.