A spa day or fitness class on the cheap

Or why not take both? Massages, facials, Pilates and even prenatal yoga will be discounted next month.

By Donna_Freedman Aug 27, 2010 10:08AM

Just because the bathing-suit season is almost over doesn't mean you can go back to overeating and under-exercising. And hey, all you sun worshippers: How's your hair and skin after a couple of months under the broiler?

Here's help: Hundreds of spas, day spas, and yoga and Pilates studios across the country are offering deep discounts during "Wellness Week," which takes place Sept. 20-26.

That's still a month off. So why worry about it in August?

Because appointments for those deals are being booked right now, that's why. And at 50% off or $50 per class/treatment, these indulgences won't last long.

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Just think: A yoga or Pilates class might energize you into continuing a healthier lifestyle. This can help keep you from sliding into the winter blues and/or the weight gain that often occurs around the holidays.

A little luxury like a facial or aromatherapy massage is a great gift, either to oneself or a friend or colleague. (Personally, I think we all need a massage.) Note: The spa treatments must be used during Wellness Week itself, but class schedules vary.

Seriously: Lots of people don't need more stuff, but would revel in a little pampering.

Bing: What is Pilates?

If you choose to tip, remember that the gratuity should be a percentage of what your bill would normally have been, rather than the special price.

Here are a few other ideas for lowering the price of indulgence:

Social buying: Companies like Groupon and Buy With Me offer discounts of 50% to 90% on a wide array of products. Spa and salon deals pop up all the time; I've gotten hour-long massages for as little as $35, and $100 worth of spa services (which can also include massage) for $50.
Cash-back shopping. Order SpaFinder gift cards through companies like Fat Wallet or Mr. Rebates and you'll get a 4% cash-back.
Free gift card programs. You can earn Amazon.com cards with points from Swagbucks or MyPoints; save these up and splurge on a $100 SpaFinder gift card through Amazon. Or buy a smaller SpaFinder card directly from MyPoints.
Girls' night. Get together with friends for facials or manicures. Talking about boys is optional.

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Editor Bev O'Shea lives and works in the foothills of the Appalachians. A former copy editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Orlando Sentinel, she joined MSN Money in 2007. She's a fan of sunsets, college football and free shipping, among other things.

Having worked as a writer, reporter and editor for more than 25 years, Editor Julie Tilsner is the sort of person who can't help but correct grammar in Facebook postings and on billboards. She's written for BusinessWeek, the Los Angeles Times, Parenting, Redbook, AOL and others. She lives in Los Angeles County with her family and loves to drink wine and practice yoga, although not generally at the same time.

A writer for MSN Money since January 2007, Donna Freedman won regional and national prizes during an 18-year newspaper career and earned a college degree in midlife without taking out student loans. She also writes about smart money tactics for magazines and on her own site, Surviving and Thriving.

Mitch Lipka has been warning people about scams and shining light on questionable business practices for more than 20 years. Mitch, the consumer columnist for The Boston Globe, has also been a reporter and editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Consumer Reports, South Florida Sun-Sentinel and AOL. He won the 2010 New York Press Club award for best consumer reporting online and was honored in 2011 for his reporting on child product safety.

Marilyn Lewis is an award-winning writer with a passion for getting readers clear, straight information that helps them stay out of financial trouble. A former reporter for The San Jose Mercury News, she works from her home in Port Townsend, Wash. Contact her at MarilynLewis@Outlook.com.