Along with finding helpful living essentials at your local flea market, you can also pick up really cheap home decorations. You might be surprised at how those $1 table vases and figurines can be transformed into seriously chic accent pieces. Here are a few tips for spray-painting your flea market finds:

• Search for ceramic or wood vases or plates to use for spraying. You can also spray-paint glass jars and containers with really cool results. Try not to be distracted by the colors of the original item, and concentrate on the shape and form of the figurine. We couldn't pass up these finds at our local flea market that rang in at $1 total!

• Before painting, wipe down with a damp paper towel, removing any grime or dust stuck in the grooves. Allow the item to completely dry, and then select a color to use for spray painting. White is elegantly chic, while using a pastel blue or green is fun and fresh too.
• Take the items outdoors, and lightly spray with paint. You'll need to apply at least three to four coats to get a nice and solid covering of paint. Don't rush, and do light coats; they keep the paint from dripping or pooling, which can alter the shape and design of your cool figurines.
• Let completely dry before handling, which can take several hours. Display the painted figurines on bookshelves, mantels, or special corners of your home.

• Book an exciting Summer vacation with less stress — Smart Living
• Say goodbye to The Office with series finale pictures — Entertainment
• What job do we hope David Beckham never quits? — Fashion
• See 40 photos that will make you miss Prince Harry — Celebrity
• Try this Cannes-approved sea bass recipe — Food
• Turn your cleanse into a cocktail — Fitness
• Gmail features you cannot live without — Tech
• The 24-hour backyard makeover — Home
• Welcome your baby boy with a beautiful nursery — Moms
• Take note of the dos and don'ts of nail art — Beauty
• What to do when you don't like him back — Sex & Culture
• Animals you should be following on Instagram — Pets
• Video: Get Nina Dobrev's bikini body — Fitness

Who doesn't need more money? We've given you many ideas to earn extra income, but sometimes there are intangible factors you may or may not have control over that affect your salary. Thankfully, we have scientists hard at work in their labs trying to figure out the answers for us. Here are various results of research studies of the things that impact income:

• Height: An Australian study found that 6-foot men earned $1,000 more than guys who were two inches shorter. "Taller people are perceived to be more intelligent and powerful," says the study.
• Regular exercise: People who work out regularly, according to a study in the Journal of Labor Research, earn nine percent more than their couch potato peers. Perhaps your monthly gym membership is literally paying off.
• Popularity in high school: Being well-liked in high school isn't something we can change right now, but if you were one of the cool kids, you're in luck. A National Bureau of Economic Research study says people who were among the top fifth most popular students in high school, earn a 10 percent premium on salary four decades later compared with the bottom fifth.
• When you marry: College-educated women who marry past their 30s make more income, while men who marry earlier see more financial benefits, according to a study by the National Marriage Project. One reason could be: women who marry earlier tend to have kids earlier as well, which forces them to take a break from their career during a period when they'll see a lot of growth. As for men, perhaps those who marry earlier tend to be more secure and confident than their single friends, leading to higher productivity.

Read on for more.

• Ways to save on amusement and theme park tickets — All You
• Lower your voice to sound more authoritative — Corporette
• Stop going into credit card debt for the sake of “points” — The Billfold
• How I cut my spending in half to take a job I loved — LearnVest
• The basics of budgeting — DailyWorth
• Real world princesses who don't need Disney glitter — HuffPost Women
• How to enjoy a budget-friendly Summer in Paris — Broke Girl's Guide
• 2 investing concepts everyone should know — Wise Bread
• How to pay off student loans — Real Simple
• How to get rid of ants — Lifehacker

Front-loading washing machines are energy efficient and use less detergent than top-loaders, but they sometimes have a tendency to harbor mold and unpleasant smells. By giving your washing machine a quick clean once a month, you'll keep your front-loader fresh, which means cleaner clothes, too. This eco-friendly method doesn't use bleach, costs only pennies to make, and comes together with ingredients you already have on hand.

Keep reading for the directions.

Have you ever heard someone's money-saving trick and thought it sounded absolutely insane? There are plenty of strange ways to save a buck or two. What's really great, though, is when it actually works. Head over to our partner site Wise Bread for some crazy yet effective forms of penny pinching:

I've been called many things in my life. Some good, some not so good. But I can't say I've ever been called crazy when it comes to being frugal. So, as I'm not getting any younger, I thought it was time to bring out a list of 10 crazy frugal schemes and earn the sobriquet. Some of these plans are certainly more "out there" than others, but all are worth a try, I think. Put some of them to the test and let us know how you get on.

Related: The Enemies of Frugality

And, if you have some even crazier ideas, chime in. While I was writing this article, a friend of mine told me they sometimes skip buying lunch and eat free samples from the grocery stores. It may save a few bucks, but that’s not my style. Anyway, on with the list.

Read on for more.

• Look ahead to some of the exciting shows coming this Fall — Entertainment
• Get inspired by darling wedding dessert tables — Food
• The Great Gatsby cast kicks off the Cannes Film Festival — Celebrity
• Channel the South of France for your nuptials — Sex & Culture
• Fashion proof that Victoria's Secret's picks are the sexiest stars — Fashion
• The new furniture line that is raising the bar — Home
• How to fake a professional blowout at home — Beauty
• Watch amazing documentaries in mere minutes — Tech
• Decorate your graduation cap with these creative ideas — Smart Living
• Ways to keep your kids on task with their chores — Moms
• Don't let allergies slow down your run — Fitness
• Video: Get rid of acne scars for good! — Beauty