What makes the biggest difference to how you look??

[namechangesubject]

I'm naturally lazy . I used to make effort with my looks but have gradually over the years turned into a complete slattern. Think raggy nails, no exercise, forgotten how to be stylish and have a diastasis recti so tight clothing doesn't look right, so I live in baggy jumpers and jeans.

I want to fix this now, want to feel somewhat good about myself again.

The problem is I have hardly any money. I'm low paid and almost everything goes on bills. Also have debt and DC so any spare I do get I feel bad about spending on myself. Need to focus on what actually makes a difference.

The only things I think I can do for free is drinking more water and exercising at home with YouTube videos, though not sure I'll do the exercises correctly!!

So otherwise can I ask what do you think makes the biggest difference to how you look in order of importance and what doesn't make much difference in your opinion??

Thanks

Daily quick fix = hair
Ongoing (for weight, skin) = diet / nutrition

For diastasis recti, cycling works miracles.

My hair! Makes a world of difference to how I look when it's properly highlighted and shaped. Also going out for walks, I notice my skin pallor looks better and also drinking lots of water and eating lots of fruit and veg helps my skin enormously

Hair cut regularly , washed and styled daily .
Clean neat nails , natural.
Lipstick to suit your colours.

Being slim.

I spend quite a lot in looking good, but if I start putting on the pounds the one thing that really makes the difference is losing them.

I’m also a fan of light Botox.

Hair
Skin
Brows
Toned

My weight.

Some sleep.

Clean shiny well brushed hair. Clean skin and teeth. Short neat nails, not bitten.

No major finance required.

Sleep
Exercise, especially weight training

Groomed eyebrows frame your face.
Clean filed nails.
Hair cut and style that suits you and keep it looking nice.
Iron your clothes.
Dress for your shape.
Blusher and looks gloss makes my face look fresh.

On a daily basis, putting contacts in instead of wearing glasses, and light make up instead of none. Also blow drying my fringe so it bounces instead of looking sad and saggy.

Longer term, taking real care over the clothes I buy so that even my lazy day clothes fit and suit me and throwing out old clothes with holes in so I can't wear them!

Thanks everyone.

I have fine hair and spend about £80 a month already on hair dresser and products which I've honed over the years to keep it from going so flat. That may not sound like much to some but for me it's nearing my maximum 'self care' budget.

Also contact lenses are £20 a month. I could get better glasses but since I'm so short sighted a decent frame and getting the lenses thinned I don't think I'd save much.

I guess I've already spent all I can feasibly afford just on hair and eyesight!!

Diet/Nutrition - Mandalayblonde is there a specific diet?? I try to eat five a day and limit carbs to moderate levels and take the odd cheap multivitamin and cod liver tablet. I'm a healthy weight (top end of range BMI 23) though I have to watch what I eat to maintain that now I'm older.

@Therollockingrogue ooh that's interesting. I can't afford surgery for my diastasis so I just do the recommended exercises, to no effect really. Any specific type of cycling or just cycling in general??

From the advice of this thread I'm also going to drink more water, sleep more, take time to do (cheap) make up, and actually file my nails and iron my clothes.

Re clothes I've no idea and no money, but at least I can start making the effort to iron the clothes I have and cull everything with stains or that is from years back when I was a size 6/8. I spend about £15 a month maybe on clothing so I'll keep that up. This month - new bra. My sisters often give me their old clothes, and I don't wear them much because I find fault with them cause they are not exactly what I'd choose. I'm going to stop this and just make the most of them.

Being slim. Fake tan helps massively too though.

For me, I can look pale and mousey if I don't colour my eyebrows, lashes and lips. A bit of blusher and highlighter helps. Aldi skincare is good, works just as well as high-end creams and potions.
Clean hair, blow-dryed by me is fine, with a trim 3x a year ( local hairdresser working from home so not expensive) If I wasn't as grey as I am now, I would use henna occasionally for colour and shine.
Highlights are ridiculously expensive to have and maintain, so don't bother unless you can do it yourself or maybe go on a model night.
The other thing is clothes in the right colours- for me that's black, grey or vibrant. Muted and beige/camel tones make me look ill and plain.There are loads of online apps to ascertain the colours that will work best for you- try those if you are not sure.
Finally, clean shoes/trainers and unchipped nails.

Eating well and keeping weigh in check
regular exercise - to be toned - plenty of cheap options eg running, YouTube videos, swimming
Decent regular haircut
Dying grey hair (home dye fine IMHO)
Decent clothes that fit, don't need to be fancy, t shirt and jeans looks great but buy decent quality
Moisturiser - that's more long term but needn't be expensive
Time to relax as then you'll sleep better and feel better = look better

A proper fitting bra! Instantly makes you look slimmer with fabulous boobs!

I've just seen your post where you say you spend £80 pm on your hair, and you're not even happy with it!
Ask around, I'm in London and pay £30 3 or 4 times a year for a haircut. Can you find someone else to do yours cheaper and more effectively?
Then you'd had some spare money for other things.
And if you don't like your sisters' clothes then either get rid of them ( ( can you sell them) or maybe you could adapt or dye them? You don't have to wear clothes you don't like. There's probably a reason you wouldn't have chosen them, and a reason they are getting rid of them- fit, colour, fabric?
You could look in charity shops for things you do like. Is it that you don't know what you like?

Couch to 5k.

It's free and it'll make a bigger difference (both mentally and physically) than anything else you could try.

Get your brows threaded/wax and tinted if needed. And get your lashes tinted.

You don’t have to deal with makeup but it instantly makes your face neater. People will notice you look better but won’t be able to work out why because it won’t look like you are wearing makeup.

The hair spend includes cut, colour, products and extensions (for volume not length). I'm happy with it, it just costs so much. Envious of people who have thick swishy hair and can look good with just a wash and a trim. Mines is naturally blonde and so fine and fluffy it's like babies hair, it goes flat ridiculously quickly and I don't have a dainty face.

Yes, I think it's that I don't know what I like or what suits me. In my early 20s (the last time I made an effort with clothes) I used to be experimental, most stuff looked good due to youth. Now older and with the bulging tummy, I've no idea what suits me / how to incorporate trends / colours which suit me.

I'm thinking I should find these things out and then go on eBay or charity shops with my £15 a month. Right now I literally only wear dark skinny jeans and black/navy t shirts. It's a running joke with DP.

My sisters, one is a size below me but wears baggy stuff, one is a size above me. The clothes they give me are just stuff they don't want anymore (they've more income than me). They are good enough, but I'm just like 'too long' or 'too casual' lol, I should find a way to incorporate them as I'm grateful for the help.

nails - free of charge to do it at home
hair - I spend about 10 pounds on lush shampoo every 2 months. I have really fine hair and nothing really helps that. So won't waste money on hair products. Occasionally i put on an egg/olive oil hair mask, maybe 2x a year. And even that doesn't really help but it feels like I've done something extra.
hair coloring is about 10 pounds in boots and they are easy to apply
I have a bob(ish), have to get it cut maybe 1x a year. Lot of saving there :)
clothes: instead of buying many fast fashion things, save up for 1-2 quality pieces. tank tops and t-shits are fine from primark, but sweaters and good trousers are a must. Gap has ~25gbp(ish) jeans, so not really expensive, but they are durable and stylish...mostly.
I used to wear/do make-up. Only buy a couple of things, but again: save up and buy better brands. Cheap ones are a waste of money. Brands I like are mostly Mac and Bobby Brown. Given how I now have 1 foundation, 1 anti-circle thingy, a powder and 2 small palettes (black/grey and green/orange are my colours) it was not really a fortune to get them. And even though they say you have to throw them out after year, I've used them for more than 2 now and the foundation is only now starting to show signs that I'll have to buy a new one soon.
Shoes - it makes a lot of difference! Even if it's just a pair of converse - make them look new, keep them tidy and clean.
My going-to-work and look beautiful daily routine is the simplest possibly: shower, deodorant, brush teeth, put on clean and fitting clothes and my doc martens style boots (or mary jane's in the summer) and a BIG smile.
Even in t-shirt/jeans, if it comes from inside it'll make all the difference you need. You just have to find what triggers your inside glow. Mine is music (thankfully it's really cheap :)) and chocolate.

Hair
Clothes - well fitted and right for your body shape & size
Body - slim & toned with diet & exercise
Teeth - a nice white straight set of teeth makes a lot of difference

Eye make up and washing hair every morning