Spa Savings: A Guide to Getting Pampered at a Discount

by

Andrea Woroch

After a long day, there's nothing like surrendering to total relaxation with a spa treatment that soothes, soaks and rejuvenates. Indulging in a massage or facial, however, is a luxury not everyone can afford -- or so it seems. Here are seven ways to get pampered without overindulging your budget.

 

1. Wellness Week
Today kicks off SpaFinder's Wellness Week. From now through Sunday you can indulge in your favorite treatment for just $50, or at savings up to 50-percent off, along with various free events. Find out which spas and salons are participating in your area by visiting SpaFinder.com.

2. Off-peak Perks
Weekday mornings are slow for most spas and salons so you can generally find deals during the morning hours. Call ahead to find out what discounts are available and take advantage of these off-peak perks.

3. Search for Savings
Consumers cut back on luxury services during tough economic times, so spas look for ways to boost business by extending specials offers to attract old and new clients. To find these exclusive deals, sign up to receive e-newsletters from your favorite spa or follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Alternatively, you can score up to 13 percent instantly by purchasing discount gift cards to SpaFinder from sites like GiftCardGranny.com.

4. Cut the Extras
Basic services like a massage or facial can be affordable as long as you skip the extras. Spa service providers may try to bump up your bill with enticing add-ons like an extended body treatment (extra 30 minutes), or perhaps an invigorating body scrub. Though the cost of these treatments seem minimal, the fees quickly add up, especially after you factor in gratuity.

5. Get Group Discounts
Many facilities will extend discounted rates for groups of five or more on various services and treatments. Organize a Sunday spa day with your gal pals and work with a spa manager on group pricing and package deals.

6. Student Savings
You don't have to be enrolled in school to enjoy student savings. Many massage and spa schools offer great rates or sometimes even free services from their students who need to practice their skills. These are extremely affordable resources for great spa and beauty services.

7. At-home Spa
Though chemical peels are best left to the experts, there are plenty of basic services like facials, manicures and body scrubs that can be done at home. To get the full spa experience, set the mood with soothing music, scented candles and bubble bath. For tips on perfecting the at-home facial, consult "7 Tips to Having a Spa Quality Facial at Home."

Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. From smart spending tips to personal finance advice, Andrea transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers. She has been featured among top news outlets such asGood Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more.  Follow her on Twitter for daily savings advice and tips. 

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The Salad That Takes Your Breath Away

Normally, I don't talk about how much I love food. I don't think about food. I look at food as something we need in order to live. Except when it comes to hubby's salad.

Something about hubby's salad.

I am not the only one who thinks that way. I mean other family members will eat hubby's salad. Once when I was posting, my mom says come to the table to some salad. I had said when I am finished, read here to find out what happened.

Hubby's salad recipe:
1 serving

1 tomato
1/2 jalapeño pepper
1/2 green onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 baby cucumber (very important)
1 Tlb spoon of olive oil
Sea salt for taste

Finely chop the tomato, cucumber, jalapeño, garlic, green onion all at once. The finer the ingredients are chopped, the tastier they become. Add a pinch of sea salt your mixture, so the can soak through giving you the juice of the mixture. Mix everything together. Put the mixture in a bowl , and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

This salad tastes great with French bread and a slice of fresh Mozzarella cheese.

Sahtain or Bon Appetite!

A Decorative Inspiration

My mom had always been an HGTV fan, and now she has been introduced to Pinterest (should I be worried?).

She is always looking for ways to decorate her home. One day, my mom had an idea. Here is her idea that she proudly placed in her formal bathroom which goes with the theme color browns. She put her soap dispenser in a vase and filled it with seashells which were collected from beaches including Aqaba, Jordan.

I think my mom did a great job! I will pin her photo which I am sure she will repin.

AmEx Offers Free Mentorship Opportunity for Small Business Government Contractors

Government contracting has proven a viable means of opening new revenue streams for small businesses. In fact, small business contractors are more likely to exceed $1 million in revenue versus their non-contracting peers with nearly half (47%) earning revenues in excess of $1 million versus the 5% of all small businesses that have achieved that level of business success. For novices or those looking to diversify their work in the space, however, identifying a mentor to help navigate these muddied waters can prove difficult. Not anymore.

Image via Wikipedia

Small contractors across the country now have an opportunity to take part in the Victory in Procurement (VIP) mentorship program from American Express OPEN. Participants will be educated on a host of topics, including the GSA schedule, business certifications, teaming arrangements and the importance of networking. 

The mentorship program consists of 12 hours of one-on-one virtual communications with a government contracting experts Lourdes Martin-Rosa, American Express OPEN Advisor on Government Contracting, and/or Dona Storey, American Express OPEN Advisor on Procurement. To apply, interested business owners will need to fill out the VIP Mentorship Application, and email toVIPMentorship@mbooth.com. Applications will be due by May 1, 2012.

Each mentee that completes the program will be awarded a certificate of achievement and an online badge to be displayed on their website.  Mentees will also be given free PR during the program. Additional information on the program, including a link to the application and details on the mentors, can also be found at http://www.openforum.com/governmentcontracting/resources/mentor.

The VIP Mentorship program is free to business owners as part of American Express OPEN's Victory in Procurement™ (VIP) for Small Business initiative - a national program launched in 2009 designed to help small business owners capitalize on the enormous growth opportunity provided through government contracts. Since 2009, OPEN has mentored twelve small business owners looking to grow their business through government contracting.

Related articles

• Small Businesses Working Harder for Federal Contracting Opportunities (openforum.com)
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Guest Post: Five Ways to Save When You Buy Organic

by

Stephanie Nelson

1. Compare organics' prices at your local stores:  Check out the store brands in the organic department and compare prices between stores to find the best deals.  Most supermarkets have store brand organic items, Whole Foods has an extensive line of store brand items, and even wholesale clubs have organic produce and grocery items. Store brand organic items' prices may be no more expensive than name brand conventional items.

2. Learn the “Clean 15” and the “Dirty Dozen.” The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit public health advocacy group, provides a free Pesticides in Produce Shopping Guide (ewg.org). Download the list or the app to see which items contain the least and the most pesticide residue. I stretch my dollar by selectively purchasing organic versions of the “Clean 15” such as onions, avocados, sweet corn, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, watermelon and purchase conventional versions of the “Dirty Dozen.”

3. Shop the bulk Department. Stores provide containers and let you scoop out the perfect amount of an item that you desire to purchase. Look for organic beans, teas, grains, flour, oatmeal, or spices to buy this way and you are less likely to waste food. Don’t assume every item in bulk is cheaper, bring your calculator and compare prices by the ounce or pound to pre-packed items.

4. Use Coupons. Start with the “Grocery Coupon Database” at CouponMom.com as a guide by searching for the term “organic.” Pick up in-store coupon booklets, such as Whole Foods' booklet or print the coupons from the Whole Foods website. Check out manufacturers websites. We found printable coupons at more than 50 organic online sites. Earth Day is soon, so be on the lookout for “Go Organic for Earth Day” coupon booklets in stores.

5. Grow your own savings. Nothing beats the price – and the taste- of a tomato you harvest from your own backyard or even your deck. Short on space? Purchase cheap plant containers at garage sales or flea markets. You can also make your own container out of old buckets, jars, plastic trash containers, ceramic pots, or other cleaned containers you have around the home. Growing staples like lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and herbs can provide the most bang for your buck.

Stephanie Nelson is the Coupon Mom. Her web site,  www.CouponMom.com,  has 6 million members, and she is established as the nation’s top expert in couponing across the country. She has been called ‘”the rock star of the recession” by the Washington Post and her book, The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, is a New York Times best seller.

Related articles

• 5 Tips for Using Coupons (faithfulprovisions.com)
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• Save Money with Not So Extreme Couponing (themogulmom.com)

Can Meditation Help Women Vets Overcome Sexual Trauma?

In honor of Women's History Month, the David Lynch Foundation is holding a forum hosted by CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien which will explore this question: Medication or meditation: Which is more effective for women veterans battling to overcome the nightmare of military sexual trauma?

The women's forum will discuss research and clinical applications of the Transcendental Meditation technique for abused women veterans, as well as for teenage girls who have been rescued from a life of prostitution, and women and girls who suffer unimaginable horrors in violence-ridden regions in Africa and around the globe.

The other panelists include Tara Wise, executive director of the National Women's Veterans Association of America; Lois Lee, founder and president of Children of the Night; Rita Cosby, Emmy-award winning TV anchor and daughter of a WW II POW; Joni Kimberlin, producer and director of Third Fire Films; and Pamela Shifman, director of Initiatives for Girls and Women NoVo Foundation. 

According to Dr. Peeke, published research shows Transcendental Meditation reduces anxiety, depression, substance abuse insomnia, and impulsive, violent behavior. Research on veterans of the Iraq war found a 50% reduction in symptoms of PTSD among meditating veterans.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, the David Lynch Foundation's Operation Warrior Wellness, and Third Fire Films.

Related articles

• Can Meditation Save Us? (foxnews.com)
• CNN's Soledad O'Brien Crashes Her Clown Car (tammybruce.com)