Saving Money with Store Brands (Giveaway Contest)

Saving money can occur in many different ways. You can either actively put money aside, cut down on excessive spending habits or save money on the items you buy often. I don’t know about you but I prefer the latter because frankly the other two are just too difficult for me. This is the installment of many posts on how to save money on the things you enjoy. I am by no means an expert and I am definitely not a penny pincher, but I have found ways to spend less on things that I use or do often. It is probably one of the best skills I have ever learned!

Purchasing store- brand products at your local grocery store is one of the easiest ways to save money on items you use everyday. In fact, Shop ‘n Save just came out with a new line of store- brand products called Essential Everyday. This brand features more than 4,000 different products from snacks to cleaning supplies (See full list of offerings by clicking here). I had the pleasure of trying some products for myself and I enjoyed many of them. My favorite items were the Honey Nut Toasted Oats Cereal (comparable to Honey Nut Cheerios), the Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (comparable to Chips Ahoy) and their pasta. Click here for some great recipes using Essential Everyday foods.

I strongly suggest you head to your nearest Shop ’n Save and try some of the Essential Everyday products for yourself! Even better, leave a comment saying which food you are most interested in trying and you may have the opportunity to receive a free sampling of Essential Everyday items! The contest ends Friday, August 3rd so get your entries in soon because who really wants to miss out on free food?

Beauty on a Budget: The Body Bar

I truly believe that living fabulously is possible without spending a fortune. All that it takes is a little know- how and effort. If you’re looking for a place to pamper yourself on a budget look no further than Body Bar, “where everything’s premium except the price!” This wonderful establishment offers a variety of services ranging from tanning to fitness programs at prices that won’t kill your budget.

Whether you’re looking to relax with an hour- long massage, or preparing for your next vacation with a customized airbrush tan The Body Bar is the place to be. This is truly the place for “one stop shopping,” when it comes to treating yourself, according to Director Margarite Labanc. Clients can receive a massage, an airbrush tan, waxing services and burn some calories all in the same location.

Clean and friendly are the two things that Margarite strives for when it comes to the environment she wants her clients to enter.The moment you walk in the door you will be greeted by The Body Bar’s attentive staff members. They truly make you feel welcome and valued.

Your luxurious experience continues no matter which service you choose to receive. Every room is decorated beautifully down to the granite countertops found in every massage room. You’re truly taken away to another place when you step inside The Body Bar as you can see demonstrated in the photo of the massage waiting room below. You can count on every detail to be taken care of down to the scented lotions and hot towels you receive during every massage. They’ve got you covered! You can choose the following types of massages all for the same price of $65: Swedish, Sports, Aromatherapy or Deep Tissue Therapy. First timers get the choice of any of the 4 listed massages for only $40!

Do you have a special occasion coming up? Make sure to get your tan on at The Body Bar! They have two different options for getting bronzed. My personal favorite is the customized air brush tanning that they offer. Fantasy Tan is their brand of choice, which Margarite noted was a very popular line of spray tanning formulas among celebrities and the media. This line offers 5 different formulas that are customizable to your skin tone. I can truly say I have never walked out looking too orange or streaky in anyway. Every time I get an airbrush tan I feel more confident and sexy!

If a spray tan is not your thing you can always tan in any of the 4 different beds that  The Body Bar provides. They sell only high quality tanning products by Swedish Beauty and Australian Gold. Plus, they have great packages to take advantage of!

If for some reason you get all of these services done and you still aren’t feeling up to par then it’s time to take in a fitness class or an intense work out. Cleanliness ranks top priority when it comes to the gym at The Body Bar. They offer world class equipment, including a Viba Body Slimmer, which allows you to lose weight and increase lean muscle mass through oscillating vibration. Plus, you won’t be surrounded by your average gym crowd so you can be sure to stay focused on your fitness needs.

If you aren’t already convinced that The Body Bar is the place to go for all of your pampering needs then let their specials do the talking! They offer several options to save money no matter what you wish to get done. Visit their website to learn more about their daily specials and monthly coupons.

Looking for more deals? Text BODYBAR to 91944 to earn your spot on their VIP List. You get an instant coupon for a deeply discount massage just for signing up! Plus, they won’t bombard you with texts everyday. The Body Bar also has a Loyalty Club, which I am a proud member of. In fact, I’m wishing my birthday would come sooner so I can get my free gift from them!

Even if you don’t live in the North Hills this place is definitely worth the drive. You will receive great service and be treated like a princess for a fraction of the cost you would be paying elsewhere. Book your appointment today!

 

(All photos are courtesy of The Body Bar)

Beauty on a Budget

Looking your best does not have to cost a fortune. I’ll admit I used to spend unnecessary amounts of money on keeping myself up until I realized there are cheaper alternatives if you’re willing to make some time & effort. Just because something costs more money doesn’t always guarantee that it is the best option.

One of my favorite beauty secrets is going to my local cosmetology school to get my hair and brows done. I go to Bella Capelli in Robinson to get my hair trimmed, washed and style all for $10 (not including tip). They do a great job too since they are a Paul Mitchell partner school so they have to live up to certain standards that other cosmetology schools may not have to. I also get my brows shaped there for $8 which is a great price! I had been going to nail salons for a while to get them done while paying more money. To be honest I like the way my brows look when I get them done at Bella Capelli rather than any other place I’ve been in Pittsburgh. This school offers way more than hair cuts and brow waxes; their menu of services features coloring services, chemical relaxers and manicures. In fact, I was just informed today that they have a special where you can choose 3 services for $25. You can choose from a haircut, wash & style, brow or lip wax, facial or manicure. I’m not sure how long this special runs for or any other details regarding it but definitely call to find out! Bella Capelli also has a location in Monroeville but if you don’t live near either of these areas I still suggest taking the drive for an inexpensive day of beauty. They offer both day & evening hours. Visit their website to learn more!

Another money- saving beauty tip I have is to invest in a good sunless tanner. As you may have seen in my “Makeup Bag Video” I use Banana Boat Endless Summer Sunless Tanning Lotion in Dark Color. I absolutely love the color this lotion gives me. It’s never too orange or streaky. Plus, I don’t have to worry about wrinkles or skin problems because it’s sunless! If you apply every few days you will have a tan that people will think you got on vacation.

Drink a lot of coffee and other drinks that stain your teeth? Want whiter teeth? You don’t have to spend hundreds to get whitening treatments and you also don’t have to waste money on white strips. I am not making any official claims but I have been able to maintain my pearly whites using a few inexpensive products. Everyday, I brush my teeth using Crest Complete Gel Toothpaste w/ Scope & my Arm & Hammer Spinbrush. There are a few different types of SpinBrushes but I prefer the Spinbrush Pro Whitening version. I’ve been using a Spinbrush for about 3 years now and would never ever go back to an ordinary toothbrush. In my own personal experience, the Spinbrush is way more  effective at getting rid of plaque on my teeth. My teeth just always feel super clean when I am finished brushing them. More clean than they used to feel with just a normal toothbrush.

Two other products I use everyday include mint- flavored floss and Scope White Mouthwash. Now the floss doesn’t do much to whiten teeth but it gets rid of everything in between my teeth. Plus, it keeps my gums healthy which is important because who wants to smile when you have red, swollen gums? The mouthwash I use is great because it doesn’t have too strong of a flavor. I’ve tried other brands of whitening mouthwashes and I always go back to the Scope one.

Now if these items aren’t enough to get your teeth as white as you want them I have one other thing that I use once or twice a week. It’s called Plus White Teeth Whitener Gel. I originally discovered this product through a YouTube video and I am so happy I tried it. If you buy the kit it comes with a pre-rinse and a mouth tray. I suggest purchasing the kit because it’s only about $8 at Walmart. Plus, Plus White offers coupons on their website. Here is the link to the YouTube video I originally discovered this product on & this will also show you how to use it.

One last thing that I do when I want to save money but still look good is applying store- bought false nails. I swear to you that if you apply these correctly and purchase a length that suits your nails that they will not look tacky. I really don’t have a preference as to which brand I purchase but I do prefer a certain type of nail glue. I do like how the Revlon Nail Glue works so I usually buy this brand. Now they definitely don’t stay on quite as long as acrylic nails but they’re a great inexpensive alternative for when you don’t have money to get your nails professionally done.

These are just a few things I’ve discovered in my journey to keeping myself up on a budget. What are your inexpensive tips & tricks you incorporate in your beauty regimen?