Being a stay-at-home mom means that money around our household is a little tighter than usual, and sometimes sacrifices must be made in order to stick to our budget.  Of course, clipping coupons, shopping for sales, etc. are great places to start, but often a savvy stay-at-home mom must be even more creative.

For instance, I love having occasional trips to the spa for facials, pedicures and other relaxing procedures, but this luxury is no longer in our budget.  Instead of cutting this wonderful "me" time completely out, the answer is just to find a budget-friendly way to bring the spa to me when I can no longer afford to travel to the spa.

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda has a host of ways for you to stay fresh and beautiful, for a fraction of the price.  Keep reading to find out more!

I was thrilled when I received the Arm & Hammer Beauty Basket, for it had an entire arsenal of beauty products designed to exfoliate my skin, jump-start my home pedicure, rid my hair of product buildup and relax me from head to toe.  I couldn't wait to get started, and the great thing was that my husband wanted to join me in having a night of pampering!  He's such a good sport!

The first thing I did was begin reading the Arm & Hammer Beauty Tips guide included in the basket.  I couldn't believe all of the wonderful ideas and uses for Arm & Hammer Baking Soda listed here!  I already knew that baking soda was a naturally-occurring substance found in all living things, which helps to regulate pH balance, but I never contemplated incorporating this product into my beauty regimen.

Here are a few of my favorite new uses for Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, which are sure to supplant some of your more expensive beauty products:

Facial Scrub and Body Exfoliant

For smooth, radiant skin, give yourself a gentle facial and body scrub with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda.  Make a paste of 3 parts Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to 1 part water.  Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate skin and remove dead skin cells.  Rinse clean.  Gentle enough for daily use!

Hair Care

Get rid of product buildup by sprinkling a small amount (quarter-size) of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo.  Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly.  The Arm & Hammer Baking Soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

Soothing Bath Soak

For a relaxing ending to a long day, add 1/2 cup of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration.  Your skin will feel silky smooth!

Home Pedicure Foot Soak

Start your home pedicure by dissolving 3 tablespoons of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in a basin of warm water and soak feet.  Gently scrub with a paste of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda.

Hand Cleanser

Soften skin with a paste of 3 parts Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to 1 part water.  Forget the harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with 3 parts Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to your liquid hand soap.  Then rinse clean.

Clean Brushes and Combs

For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda.  Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in a small basin of warm water.  Rinse and allow to dry.

Natural Deodorant

Dust Arm & Hammer Baking Soda under arms as needed to feel fresh all day.  The magic of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda actually absorbs odors instead of just covering them up.

WOW...now that's one versatile little box!  Because Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is so inexpensive too, now anyone can stay relaxed and beautiful on a budget!  Try some of the recipes I've listed above or discover even more ways to use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on their website.