Spa Week: 7 Ways to Pamper Yourself For Less

I love to pamper myself and often times I am just too busy to do it like I used to. I love to sit down to give myself a manicure, pedicure, body wax or just soak in a long, hot bubble bath! Ahhhh, I can feel my body relaxing and the stress floating away just thinking about that!

Recently I was sent some tips to share with all of you. These 7 tips are great ways to pamper yourself for less! Yay! We all love being pampered and if we can save money in the process, well...it's a win-win for us all. Some of these tips are very unique and I can't wait to try them out!

This week kicks of Spa Week, the annual seven-day event where spas, massage parlors and wellness centers offer deals and perks for newbies and seasoned clients alike. Facials, massages and related treatments are beneficial to the body and mind, but are often hard on the pocketbook. In addition to Spa Week specials, check out these tips to pamper yourself for less.

Go Somewhere New -- Most chain spas offer new client specials with one-hour massages costing just $40 or $50 in most cases. If you're looking for an occasional rub down and don't have a strong preference about your masseuse, this is a great option for saving money.

Gift Yourself -- Gift cards aren't just for friends and family during the holidays; you can purchase them for less than face value at websites like GiftCardGranny.com. Look for savings of up to 20-percent off gift cards to SpaWish, SpaFinder, Bliss Spa and many others.

Skip the Extras -- Aromatherapy, foot scrubs and hot stone therapy are popular services offered by massage parlors for an added fee. Since reps aren't upfront about those added costs, always ask and decline accordingly.

Ask About Discounts -- Students, groups and members of the military may be eligible for massage membership discounts. This benefit varies by location for franchise massage parlors but can help you pay a lesser rate for your experience. For example, Massage Envy offers military members $60 off annual memberships, while Massage Heights offers special pricing to couples and families.

Finish with DIY -- Bummed about missing out on those extra services? Finish off your massage experience at home with DIY facials or foot scrubs. SpaFinder offers a Tightening and Brightening Facial recipe composed of common pantry items, while fragrant scrubs for all skin types can be made out of sugar, salt, oil and fruit, as illustrated by this Brit.co post.

Be a Guinea Pig -- Students training to be massage therapists need clients to help them hone their skills. If you don't mind being a guinea pig and offering constructive feedback on your experience, contact your local massage school and inquire about opportunities to be a "client."

Find Daily Deals -- Spa treatments are almost synonymous with daily deal sites as most up-and-coming salons look to boost sales with heavily-discounted promotions. Browse offers on Groupon, LivingSocial, Amazon Local and others, and be sure to read facility reviews before buying.

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 as Good Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. You can follow her on Twitter for daily savings advice and tips.