Convince me that massages are a smart investment! Please!

[tiffany85]

I really want to get a massage by a professional. I've never done it before but it seems divine! As far as spending money on physical relaxation goes, I've only had 5 pedicures in my life. They were great but doing them at home is wayyyy cheaper and nearly as enjoyable. But I can't massage my entire body.

Here's a bit about myself... I work about 40-50 hours per week at a computer. I'm by no means 'pull my hair out' stressed' but I do feel anxious most days. I make about an average salary for someone in my location. Around 40k/year.

How can I justify getting massages? I could do Groupon to save some green. Or I could just find a boyfriend.. ha.

[FIREseeker]

We need a dating forum like on MMM haha.

I would do it this way... let's say a 1hr full body massage costs $50. You get them once per month. How can you make more than 50 extra dollars per month? This way, you get your massage, and actually earn more money from it. Without the massage, you would be too tired/stressed to make the extra dough.

[FLA]

they are constantly on Groupon, I would sign up for living social and crowdsavings, same kind of thing.

if your back hurts a bit and your insurance covers it, my chiropractor had a massage therapist give you a massage at the end of the visit. Sitting all day is bad for your back, maybe this could work, lol

[ua_guy]

It's important to call a professional massage what it is. It's probably better categorized as an expense, rather than an investment.

That said, having expenses are fine, as long as they fit within your budget for discretionary items. Compared to drinking away your anxiety with alcohol, or smoking, massages are probably a comparable alternative in terms of cost--without the adverse health effects.

Finding a massage partner (just a friend who you might trade non-sexual massage with) or boyfriend who enjoys touch isn't a bad idea, either, to save money.

[Tabs]

If you really enjoy massages, and don't mind being a bit on the adventurous side, I would recommend searching out local massage schools. Lots of people out there are trying to get certified have to give X number of people or hours of massage as part of their training requirement.

You would be helping those people by volunteering to be their test subjects er I mean recipients, in return for a nominal fee or perhaps even free. Call them up and see if you can't work something out. At the very least, they should be able to point you where to look next.

[tiffany85]

they are constantly on Groupon, I would sign up for living social and crowdsavings, same kind of thing.

if your back hurts a bit and your insurance covers it, my chiropractor had a massage therapist give you a massage at the end of the visit. Sitting all day is bad for your back, maybe this could work, lol

I hadn't heard of crowdsavings. Thanks for the tip. Maybe I'll start getting alerts from Groupon and LS as well.