I discussed in my last post how much I love beauty products. At the risk of sounding completely and totally shallow, I also love spa services. (Not shallow! Deep! Deep, pretty reader… Yes, you’re soooo pretty…… What? Shallow? Me? Nooo…)
However… Spa Services? Not frugal. Not in the least.
I’ve hit on some ways to save on regular things I need fairly often, as well as a way to splurge:
It’s all about the students.
Normally, a woman that I love from my church cuts my hair. She does such an amazing job. However, now that I’m home for the summer, she’s far, far away. (An hour or more.) Gas is very, very expensive. I had to figure out a way to get my hair cut before I left for camp. The solution? The Aveda Institute of Chapel Hill!
Yes, that’s right. For $19, I have a haircut scheduled next week. A student will do it, under the supervision of his or her teacher. And, best of all, this is the school where my current stylist trained. (I really hope she forgives me for cheating on her… So far away, Stylist I love deeply!)
I am also a sucker for a massage or a pedicure. Now, the Aveda institute is still a wee to expensive for my blood, so, when I’m at school, there’s a local manicure college and a local massage college I hit up on a fairly regular basis. For $20, I can get a 45 minute massage. Mm. Bliss. For $5, I can get a manicure. I’ve never had any problems with the fact that they’re students performing these tasks. They’re usually upper level students, in some sort of clinical class, and they know they’re stuff. I have found, actually, that they tend to be more attentive to my needs, because they are so eager to please.
So, let’s review:
- Haircut for $19 instead of $50. (Which I gladly pay when I’m closer because I love my stylist!!!)
- Manicure for $5 instead of $15.
- Massage for $20 instead of $100.
xoxo,
SassyBelle
Jill B said,
June 3, 2008 @ 10:20 am
You may be in too big a place for this, actually, but around here we have student discounts GALORE. Not huge, but every bit helps when you’re out to enjoy the things you can. People love to think they’re supporting the school. You can ask anywhere “do you have a student discount”.
This may be a touchy subject as well, but if you have reasonable health insurance (which I’m lucky to have right now), we have a good chiropractor in town, who also has a masseuse on staff. I can get an adjustment and an hour long massage for my co-pay (all in one, not one co-pay for each).
I will add that an Aveda-trained salon/school is much better than others. We have a beauty school here and I’ve seen some TRAGIC results for it. I’ve also seen tragic results in “qualified” professionals trained by them – luckily the manager saw from across the room and saved me before I was too far gone on one occasion. It’s the expensive Aveda Salon on a very occasional basis for me. I love their philosophies, and my stylist is good.
Maria said,
June 3, 2008 @ 11:34 am
Whenever I go to those student stores, I’m usually OK when they do my hair, but my eyebrows are never quite waxed the way I like. I still go because $5 is better than $15, and it’s never BAD.