Is the Price of Relaxation Stressing You Out?

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Do you usually find yourself stressed during the holiday season? Is trying to find inexpensive but nice gifts making you ache all over? Save your hard-earned money and don't spend it trying to pamper yourself for the holidays. Instead, use these ideas from my frugal bath and beauty guide "Pretty for Pennies" to ease your holiday stress.

• Before your bath, make a batch of Hot Oil Treatment and take it to the bathroom with you. Lock yourself in the bathroom, put on some soothing music and light a candle. Put the Hot Oil on your hair and wrap.
  
  
• For a milk bath, mix 3 cups dry milk and 5-6 drops essential or fragrance oil. Mix ingredients and add 1/2 cup to your bath water. If you don't have dry milk, try adding two to three tablespoons of baby oil for a relaxing bath!
  
  
• Eyes looking a little rough around the edges? Try cucumber slices or tea bags on the eyes to help reduce puffiness. Try it for half an hour while soaking in the tub.
  
  
• To save money on manicures, don't get them so often. Instead, use a nail buffer to shine nails between manicures.
  
  
• An easy way to remove cuticles is to rub them with oil. Then gently push back the cuticles.
  
  
• For aching feet, make yourself an Herbal Foot Bath or rub a peppermint lotion or salve on your feet. Wrap a warm towel around your feet and enjoy.
  
  
• Go to the local beauty school to have manicures, pedicures and facials. You can feel pampered without spending a fortune. Five bucks is a great deal for a facial!
  
  
• After Christmas sales can offer many great deals on bath and beauty products. Purchase nail care kits after Christmas at half price. You can get several polishes and tools for $2-$4. If you family loves to receive perfume, cologne or aftershave, stock up after Christmas when gift sets are on clearance. Give for Mother's Day, Father's day, Birthdays, etc.
  
  

Hot Oil Treatment

2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Heat ingredients just until warm. Spread on wet hair, especially the ends. (Place only on the ends if you have oily hair.) Wrap a warm, wet towel around hair for 30 minutes to one hour. Shampoo and rinse.

Alternatively, put this on before a shower and then put on a shower cap. Let the hot water from the shower run on your head to warm the oil. You may also use a blow dryer instead of the shower. Be careful not to make it too hot.

Herbal Foot Bath

Use any of the following dried herbs*:

lavender
rosemary
sage

Mix herbs and place in a small cheesecloth. Fill a bucket full with warm water for your feet and add herbs. Soak away all the pains of the day! Make several at a time and keep on hand after a long day.

* A few drops of scented oil may be used with or instead of herbs.

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Tawra Kellam is the author of Dining On A Dime: 1,000 Money Saving Recipes and Tips (formerly Not Just Beans). Dining On A Dime will help you shop smarter, by cooking simpler meals and by making your own basic cleaning products and beauty aids. For free tips and recipes, visit LivingOnADime.com/

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