Get a flight upgrade.
Chances are, you like to travel. And even if you don't, you're probably going to be jumping on a plane sometime—so why not make the ride a little more fun? Knowing how to increase your odds of moving into first class without paying the big bucks is a skill you'll thank us for. We checked with SmarterLiving.com, did a little research of our own, and here's what we learned:

	Become a frequent flier. Your airline is more likely to favor you if you've proven that you are loyal. Take advantage of frequent flier programs and keep track of those mileage points. When airlines give away empty first-class seats, they often start with their frequent fliers first. You can also use your mileage for an upgrade.
	Buy an upgrade. It might not be free, but you'd be surprised at how much cheaper it is to buy an upgrade once you're on the flight than it is to purchase a first or business class ticket.
	Dress well. You never know when seats will become available, and you want to make sure you look the first-class part when they do. So leave those sweats at home!
	Let the clerk know if you're on a special trip. Birthdays, honeymoons, anniversaries—they might just translate into special treatment!
	Get voluntarily bumped. If you give up your seat for a discount or some other compensation, it might just end up as a first class flight.

Get luscious, flirty lashes.
While makeup trends vary from season to season and from face to face, every girl should know how pull off that "come hither" look with her eyelashes. We talked with celebrity makeup expert Shalini Vadhera to learn how she achieves luscious, thick lashes on her famous clients:

	Start by curling your eyelashes with a good eyelash curler—Shiseido or Shu Uemura have great ones.
	Use a lash underbase, like Origins Underwear for Lashes, or just close your eye and lightly tap some loose powder on the lashes. This will help your mascara give double the results.
	When applying mascara, find an applicator that has a larger wand for thicker lashes and a thinner wand for longer lashes. My favorite is L'Oreal Voluminous (I use it on every single celebrity I work with).
	To avoid clumping, wipe off any excess mascara on the wand with a tissue. Apply on the top of the lash first in a downward motion and then under the lash in an upward motion to create volume and fullness. To get great length, hold the wand upright and apply mascara in an upward motion. To get the appearance of false lashes and bigger shapely eyes, apply mascara in an outward and upward direction, pulling the eye out.
	Give your lashes one more curl with the curler, and you have fabulous lashes!

Say a few phrases in your parents' mother tongue.
Maybe your eyes glaze over when your dad starts speaking in Hindi or when your grandmother admonishes you in Gujarati. Or perhaps you can speak Urdu like a true native. Whatever the case, learn how to speak a few basic phrases in your parents' original language. It will make your parents feel good to know you appreciate their heritage, you'll seem more sophisticated, and you just may impress that important uncle or auntie with your language savvy and land yourself a job, a mate or just some respect. If you're completely clueless, here are some web sites to help you get started:

	Bengali
	Gujarati
	Hindi
	Kannada
	Konkani
	Malayalam
	Punjabi
	Tamil
	Urdu

Bargain with the best of them.
Haggling is a skill that's practically in our ancestors' blood, but it's not only useful back on the subcontinent. While you may not be able to talk your way into paying five dollars for your new favorite lipstick at an upscale department store, you'd be surprised how handy knowing the art of bargaining can be when it comes to negotiating things like rent, your salary, and big-ticket items or even lower-priced ones at independent shops. Here are some basic guidelines to remember:

	Do your research. Know what the market rates are for whatever you're negotiating—whether it's a car, your rent or that fabulous purse from a trendy second-hand shop. Determine a fair price, and then go for the kill.
	Stalk your prey. Watch how your salesperson interacts with other customers—is one more likely to let you make a good deal than the others? Also, focus on the salesperson's weaknesses—on what aspects is he more likely to give in?
	Stick to your guns. There are always a few obstinate folks in this world who just won't yield—but if there's room for leeway, your salesperson will probably be amenable to a little compromise. When you're in the motherland: If you've stated loudly and emphatically that you won't pay one anna over 300 rupees for that jora—well, then don't. Walk out. Many shopkeepers will lower their price as you walk through the door. Here at home: The same tactic applies—just be a bit more gracious about it.
	Make a deal. Some sellers are obstinate about not lowering their prices—so try a different tack. If you're in Pakistan buying a two-piece suit, ask the merchant to throw in fabric for a dupatta at the same price or for a little extra. You can also bargain for an extra service, and some merchants will lower the price if you give them a larger advance or pay in full. And finally, following the lead of Costco and Sam's Club, buy in bulk: Ask your salesperson to lower the price for buying two or more items.

Make a good cup of chai.
We're not talking about the Starbucks "chai tea lattes" and the like. We're talking about a good, strong cup of tea our parents and grandparents would approve of. You'll score points if you know how to brew the best of this desi delicacy yourself. Here's our step-by-step advice from (of course) the mother of Nirali editor Deepa Kamath.

	Put 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup homogenized milk (you can substitute with 2% or even skim milk if you want to lighten up) into a pot and bring to a boil. Add one crushed green cardamom and one to two cloves. Finally, add one teabag per cup, two if you prefer a stronger flavor. Once the mixture starts to bubble, turn the heat off, and cover the teabag(s) to steep. After five minutes, strain and add sugar to taste.
	Don't have whole spices? Add a pinch of store-bought masala to your milk and water. You can find them at your local South Asian grocer or online.
	Another option is to add some sliced or crushed ginger to the water and milk before boiling.
	Really in a hurry but still craving some desi flavor? Try Lipton's ChaiLatta. Although it's a westernized version of a desi classic, it's still good for a quick fix.

Fix a flat.
We don't care if you're Indian, Bengali, Pakistani or somewhere in between—every self-respecting Nirali woman should know what to do if she ever finds herself with a flat tire. Yes, this might seem daunting, but it's really not that bad. Here are some sites that provide simple steps that can help you in a jam. Print them now and stow them in your glove compartment for later:

	eHow.com
	PageWise

Don't think you can do it? Fix-a-Flat is the perfect rescue remedy to keep in your car. An aerosol inflator that also seals the leak, Fix-a-Flat provides a quick solution to your pressing problem—at least until you can get your car to a mechanic.

Stay connected.
So you have a sister in San Francisco, cousins in Karachi and a mother in Mumbai? Every Nirali woman should know how to keep in touch—while also keeping in funds! International calls aren't cheap, but neither do they have to break your budget.

One easy solution is to select a calling card available from a plethora of sites off the web. Sites like www.1st-usa.com and www.callingcards.com offer rates to India from as low as six cents per minute, while rates to Pakistan start at 14 cents per minute. How it works: Just register an account with your favorite site. When you need to make an overseas call, pick out the best card for you, enter your credit card info, and your PIN is mailed to you within 10 to 20 minutes of your order.

Feeling really adventurous? Get rid of your landline altogether. With the growing proliferation of voice over IP, companies like Vonage are attracting a number of customers by providing them cheap long-distance rates. With plans ranging from $15 to $50, subscribers get unlimited calls to the US and Canada, plus low international rates: three cents a minute to London, 17 cents a minute to India, and 26 cents a minute to Pakistan. How it works: If you have a phone and a broadband Internet connection, you're set. Vonage mails you a free phone adapter that plugs into your phone and connects to your cable. You get to keep your old landline number—in fact, Vonage lets you choose any area code you want from their active list. In other words, if you want a DC area code, but live in Kansas, you can have it. Vonage also claims that you can take the phone adapter with you anywhere in the world—so let's say you decide to take a summer trip to steamy Sri Lanka—just take your phone adapter with you, and if you have a broadband connection, you can call home to the States for the price of a local call.

Buy the right bra.
Whether you've got "mosquito bites" or "juicy, juicy mangos," as the line goes in Bend It Like Beckham, a properly fitted bra is a key component to feeling healthy and dressing with style. A good fit will help you avoid dreaded underarm bulge, underwire lacerations and upper back pain. Here are some tips to help you find lingerie you'll love:

	Visit the lingerie department of a department store, or a store that exclusively sells lingerie, such as Victoria's Secret. Often, these stores will have trained bra fitters to help you through your sizing dilemmas.
	Baring it all in front of the sales associate too much to handle? Check out the Playtex web site, which offers measurement instructions and a calculator that does the math for you.
	Another option is Playtex's new line, "Thank Goodness It Fits," which offers half sizes for those who are in between the standard cup sizes.
	Remember that bra size isn't a constant; weight gain and loss, aging and pregnancy can all change your measurements. Be sure to reevaluate every six months.

Know how to say no.
As brown women, we're often taught to be gracious, polite and helpful to others. And while those qualities are good in moderation, no Nirali woman should feel like she's a pushover. Here's how to say no when you simply can't take on another request:

	Keep your response short but firm. Don't give in to pressure.
	Make sure there is assertiveness in your voice.
	Your nonverbal gestures should also convey a sense of firmness—make eye contact and don't use an apologetic tone of voice.
	Suggest alternatives (that keep you out of the picture).
	If someone persists, repeat your position in an alternate way.