01 Dec 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Daily Deals, Events & Activities, Family, koopik, Save Money, Vacation
We all tend to save for trips, small and big, however most people don’t realize you can save while on your vacation too! With the abundance of deal sites covering every major city in North America and abroad it is easy to find a deal in your next vacation spot. Think of the money that you could save as a way to double up your vacation time without having to break the bank!
Whether you are planning on packing the family into your minivan or taking a short flight somewhere you will start planning for it ahead of time. We all tend to do research on sites like Expedia or Kayak for flights or car rentals but neglect to spend as much time comparison shopping for activities and events.
Once your destination is chosen check out koopik’s deal section and sign-up to receive a daily email with all the best deals in that city. Since koopik brings in more than one deal site you get a range of options from all the big sites (i.e. Groupon, Living Social) as well as the smaller regional sites that specialize in that particular city.
Many of the deals revolve around family outings and, if you like, you can set your preferences for that city so that you only get deals from the Events and Activities category to narrow down your search. Then simply wait for the right deals to fall into your lap and voila you have an itinerary in the vacation spot of your choice that won’t cost you an arm and a leg!
13 Oct 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Bikram, Daily Deal, Detoxification, Fitness, Health, Hot Yoga, koopik, Save Money, Weight Loss
For those who haven’t heard of it, Bikram Yoga spawned an upsurge in popularity for yoga and hot yoga in particular. But the real question is why is hot yoga so much better for you? And why has it been welcomed with open arms by western societies as the key to health and well-being?
Detoxification
For anybody who has tried it this one may seem obvious. You start sweating the minute you start unrolling your mat. This is great, especially for those of us who live in the city and inhale multiple toxins on a daily basis. You simply sweat out some of those toxins instead of your body absorbing them.
Weight Loss
Now some of you may be shaking your head at this, thinking as I did originally, that sweating out some water weight does not lead to permanent weight loss. However, it is much more than that. Once you try hot yoga you will understand that the way it elevates your heart rate is no laughing matter. I am a runner and I like to push myself however I have to say that my heart was racing as I struggled to hold the poses the first time I tried it. It got easier though and I got to enjoy it, especially as I realized the weight loss element was actually true.
Fitness & Well-Being
Yoga is an all round good form of exercise of both the body and the mind and hot yoga is no different. It helps to clear the mind while at the same time improving your overall fitness and flexibility. The heat aspect of Bikram’s and others has been applauded as it allows the muscles to relax further than usual and allows you to stretch farther and longer than you thought possible. As Tula Hot Yoga & Spa owner, Isabel Lambert puts it, “It’s really for people who want a more intense workout-those who want to develop strength, flexibility and tone along with a cardiovascular workout.”
Now that you have educated yourself on why you should be doing hot yoga check out some daily deals to do a practice run. I will be the first to say that it is not for everyone but I do encourage you to take at least 3 classes before you decide one way or the other. I mean with all those benefits it doesn’t hurt to try, right?
11 Oct 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Anti-aging, Daily Deal, IPL, koopik, LED, Photo Facial, Save Money, spa, Treatments
Photo facials are treatments for your skin using some kind of light-emitting therapy. There are two main types – one using LED (Light Emitting Diode) and the other using IPL (Intense-Pulsed Light). They are used for different types of skin issues so before you book your treatments make sure you read below to see which one is right for you.
The way photo facials work is by using light pulses to rejuvenate your skin and so it is sometimes referred to as photorejuvenation. Levels of light energy are customized to your skin and the light is absorbed by the damaged tissue leaving the rest of the tissue intact. It’s a simple, non-invasive treatment that really will take years off your face and give you a glowing complexion.
If you are looking just to treat the following then the IPL treatments will likely be best:
- Age or brown spots
- Broken capillaries or Spider Veins
- Discolouration or Hyperpigmentation
- Rosacea and Redness
- Enlarged pores
On the other hand, for the following issues the LED light will be the better way to treat:
- Fine lines and wrinkles by boosting collagen
- Acne by killing the bacteria that causes it
The treatments will leave you with a more youthful looking complexion and improved skin texture in a way that regular facials just can’t do! That is your beauty tip of the week – please enjoy and feel free to leave comments letting us know how the photo facial treatments went. Go to the daily deals section to save money on the treatment and find a spa or clinic in your area that specializes in it.
05 Oct 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Buytopia, Charity, Daily Deals, Fundraising, Good Karma, koopik, Save Money
If giving to those in need creates good karma then Buytopia has it in spades. One of the unique features of this daily deal site is that they have taken it upon themselves to give back from their profits at an astonishing rate.
Group buying sites tend to get a commission or a cut of every voucher purchased through their site. Buytopia’s claim to fame is that they will give 50% of those proceeds to charity! Talk about giving back to those in need. Most companies do donate to a cause but not many of them give nearly that much. Buytopia has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars but this year they have really stepped it up a notch.
This presents a great fundraising tool for charities too as they can join the Buytopia affiliate program as well. That means they can offer deals for 50-90% off and make money back on every purchase made through their link. It’s a great, no fuss way to raise money and the donor will get to save money on something they needed or wanted in the first place.
I know we at koopik feel great associating with Buytopia and I encourage you to pass the word on to your friends and family. Everybody wins as they get a product or service at an excellent discount and half of the proceeds will be donated…good karma all round!
04 Oct 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Daily Deals, Diode, IPL, koopik, Laser Hair Removal, Lasers, ND:Yag, Permanent Hair Reduction
With so many deals out there for laser hair removal it can get confusing and even downright intimidating when it comes to choosing which one is right for you. There are so many different kinds of lasers and options to choose from it can be a bit of a puzzle.
Skin & Hair Colour
The first factor to consider is what type of skin you have as the laser is more effective on certain skin shades. The reason being is that the laser targets the melanin in the hair and the darker the hair the better. As of now, laser hair removal is mainly targeted to those who have brown or black hair. Those who have pale to medium skin and dark hair get the most effective results and either IPL or Diode type lasers work. For those with darker skin and dark hair though the ND:Yag laser has been shown to get the best results.
Hair Texture
Laser hair removal is most effective on thicker hairs and is not recommended for fine hair. Also, hair grows in three cycles but the laser treatments can only “kill” the hair follicle when it is in anagen stage, or when it is currently growing. This is part of the reason that you should work with your laser technician to work out the right schedule for your treatments and stick to it.
Body Part
Laser hair removal is effective on all areas of your body where you grow hair. However, some areas react more quickly than others. For example, the face or underarm areas typically require more treatments than arms. Also, it is a good idea to go back in for a yearly “touch-up” especially when the hair on that particular area of your body is very coarse or stubborn.
Timing
The amount of time you have to devote to this is also a factor. Each body part has a different time schedule but it can be a lengthy process so if you are planning on treating your legs you will likely need 5-8 treatments, spaced 6 weeks apart. That means the whole process can take up to a year. Having said that, having permanent hair reduction is well worth it in the long run.
Considering that laser hair removal can be a bit of a financial commitment it makes sense to look for ways to save on it. Luckily, koopik will almost always have a laser removal deal in your neighbourhood so sign-up or check it daily to find the best one for you.
02 Oct 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Budget, Daily Deal, koopik, Save Money
Budgeting does not have to mean you need to stop spending money. It is simply a tool or exercise that helps determine where your money is being spent versus how much income you are bringing in. It’s really easy to do and just requires a bit of commitment to get started. Everyone, from a struggling student to a lawyer with a six-figure income should have a budget or a plan on how his or her income is going to be spent so let me show you how to get started.
First things first, you need to figure out where exactly your money is going each month. Most people can tell you offhand what they make in a given month and it is often fairly regular. However, if you ask someone where they spend the money they can usually only name off the large expenditures like rent, utilities, insurance, etc. The small little items like that daily newspaper with your morning coffee can be overlooked as it’s simply become part of the routine (or perhaps it is just because you use pocket change to buy them). This leads us to the first step: make a list of everything that you purchase or pay for over a 2-4 week period in a small notebook or in your phone.
Once that is done review the list and categorize your spending. Start with the larger fixed expenditures like rent, mortgage, cable, utilities, phone and insurance to name off a few. Then take a look at the expenses that vary and put them into basic categories such as entertainment, groceries, dining out, drycleaning and so on. Once you have done this for the whole month you will have a better idea of where and how you are spending.
The final step is evaluating and perhaps looking at where you can cut costs or add more money to the savings portion of your budget. If you don’t have a savings category yet now would be the time to start and it doesn’t have to be a large commitment to begin. If you have a fair amount of debt start working on whittling it down without incurring more.
This last step is the most useful part of having a budget as now the control is in your hands as to where the money is going and at the end of the day you will feel better for having done this exercise. Happy budgeting!
28 Sep 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Buy Here-Save There, Deals, eBucks, Everybody Buys, Flash Giveaways, koopik, Save Money
Everybody Buys is a daily deal site that offers a BuyHere – SaveThere program which many business owners and customers are raving about. They have taken a different approach to their daily deal model. On traditional group buying sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, the companies often keep up to 50% of the proceeds from the featured deal. Everybody Buys provides a second option where the business keeps 100% of the revenue when vouchers are redeemed.
The best part is that right now in celebration of the launch they are giving away $5 in Ebuck$ for the BuyHere – SaveThere program. The way to use for us consumers is quite simple – you can use your Ebuck$ to save anywhere from 50-100% off the deals that participate in this program.
For example, there is a Wanda’s Belgium Waffle deal going on right now you can get 55% off a pack of 4 chocolate and caramel waffles by using $1 of your Ebuck$! So, you are not paying up front out of your pocket for a voucher and then waiting to use it. You simply use your Ebuck$ to lock-in the discount or sale price and then can redeem it at your leisure.
Also, Everybody Buys will be doing Flash Giveaways periodically so it pays to keep atop of their deals. If you don’t want to clutter your inbox with too many deal site emails you can always just sign up for one email with koopik and then get access to the best deals offered by our partners including Everybody Buys.
21 Sep 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Daily Deals, Discount, KGB Deals, koopik, Save Money, Soviet, Spy
Like its namesake, the Soviet spy agency, KGB focuses on gathering information or “intel” as they called it. Unlike the original KGB they are much more inclined to share, especially as it relates to deals for people all around the world. Their deal site is active in both Europe and the US…for now.
You might think KGB is an odd name for a deal site, I know I certainly did. Then I read up on where this company originated from and I understood. They are the information mavens. Starting out as specialists in directory assistance they rapidly expanded to include services in call completion, movie listings, train schedules, price comparisons and a specialized “Ask Anything” service for landlines and mobile phones.
By March of 2011 KGB Deals was active in over 100 cities globally and was touted as the third largest daily deal site in the world. It offers its members deep discounts and rewards for referring friends and family. Also, they offer instant deals so you don’t have to wait until a minimum number of deals are bought before you get your voucher. They will email it to you within 15 minutes of making the purchase and you are free to spend it immediately on yourself or your loved ones.
Koopik is happy to affiliate with KGB Deals and offers you all their best deals in your city. Just as the original KGB extended its reach across the globe, I have no doubt that KGB Deals will follow suit, at the very least when it comes to offering you great savings at your favourite, local businesses.
20 Sep 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Ballroom, Belly Dancing, Bollywood, Daily Deals, Dance, Dancercise, Fitness, koopik, Salsa
How would you like to be as fit as the instructors you see on Dancing with the Stars? Now you don’t need to classically train or spend hours in the dance studio to make it happen. Research shows that you can burn anywhere from 200 to 500 calories in just one session depending on what kind of dance you are participating in.
Getting fit is an important part of our lives these days. Indeed we are getting more and more creative in how we accomplish this: yoga, pilates, kickboxing and now dance or dancercise. These are no longer just for those serious about pursuing a career in dance. Daily deal sites are making these lessons both affordable and accessible to the general public.
There are many different varieties of dance that you can pursue and each have their own benefits in terms of fitness:
1. Salsa Dancing: one of the most popular dances in the world offered by most dance studios in one form or another with health benefits ranging from increased agility to improved muscle tone.
2. Bollywood: a fun and energetic dance from India which allows for a great cardio workout along with increased coordination.
3. Belly Dancing: originates from the Middle East and provides excellent toning and balance benefits.
4. Ballroom: gain confidence, style and grace while learning the waltz, foxtrot and more.
5. Dancercise: focus on increased agility and coordination through a combination of exercise and dancing designed to burn excess fat as it merges traditional aerobics with dance moves.
There has been much research done on the benefits of dancing and all point to an increase in your health. Regular dance sessions have been linked with a lower risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, strengthening of the bones in the hips and legs, a lower chance of dementia and, of course, weight loss. In fact, dancing the night away can burn more calories than biking or swimming!
15 Sep 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Affordable, Car Share, Convenient, Easy, Save Money, Zipcar
I used to be under the mistaken impression that Zipcars are just a fancy new urban-based car rental company. Actually they are a rather unique car share service operating in the US, UK and Canada. Over lunch the other day, I spent 20 minutes trying to convince a friend that I needed a car in the city and came out more confused than ever. Do I really need to own, insure and pay for a vehicle when there are so many other alternatives?
Zipcar is my favourite of them all as it is really affordable and, most importantly, convenient. Not only are there multiple pick-up locations around cities and all over campuses, but also multiple businesses are putting aside ‘Zipcar’ parking spots much as they have ‘Handicap’ and ‘Parent’n’Tot’ spots. That’s prime parking real estate right there! They cater to different situations by providing a wide range of vehicles that you can choose from. Zipcars are a great option whether you are cruising around the city in a mini running errands or using a pick-up truck to move yourself to campus.
The way it works is fairly simple:
1. Join: apply for membership and get a Zipcard.
2. Reserve: can be done online or by phone and for a couple of hours or the whole day.
3. Unlock: walk to the car and the Zipcard gets you into the driver’s seat…literally.
4. Drive: do what you need to do and return the car to the same parking spot afterwards.
Gas and insurance are already included in the daily and hourly rates so that’s one less headache you need to deal with. Beyond convenience though, for most people using a car service like Zipcar will save a ton of money over owning your own car. Trust me, I’ve crunched the numbers.
19 Jul 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Daily Deal, koopik, Laser Therapy, Painkiller, Save Money
Throw out those bottles and bottles of medication lining your shelves, instead take a look at the newest method of pain management: lasers! Now we all know that lasers have been used for some time in hair removal, esthetics or vision correction. However, the latest round of laser therapy promises to take away chronic and acute pain in just a few treatments.
Clinics that deal in holistic healing and those that are focused simply on laser therapy are popping up everywhere. One that we have spotlighted is the Sarah Haunch Laser Pain Therapy clinic which is right now offering an amazing 93% off 4 Treatments and an Assessment! This is especially exciting for those who deal with the chronic pain of migraines, arthritis or carpel tunnel syndrome just to name a few.
For those of us who are increasingly becoming more and more health conscious this alternative to traditional medicine and drugs may be just what we have been looking for. Drugs and traditional painkillers can achieve the same result but it tends to be temporary and can be accompanied by side effects. Finally, there is a method that may lead to permanent reduction or elimination of pain without having to take potentially hazardous drugs!
20 Jul 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Daily Deals, Doggie Daycare, Doggie Yoga, Grooming, koopik, Pets, Save Money
Apparently with doggie daycares and spa’s opening up it isn’t so unusual to be worrying about your puppy’s chakra. When Fido looks down or mangy take him off to the groomers and he not only looks better, but there also seems to be a new, light spring to his step.
Owning a pet and caring for it properly is not a light undertaking – it costs money and time. Both of which are often scarce in our busy, full lives. In cases like these it’s not a bad idea to search out deals to take basics like grooming off your hands. Metro DogStop in Toronto is offering just that right now at half-price. They offer grooming services and work hard to pamper your little pup from head to paw!
What’s next…doggie yoga? At least Fido won’t have any problems with ‘downward-facing dog’!
21 Jul 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Adrenalin, Adventure, Barrie, Daily Deals, Family, Horseshoe Adventure Park, koopik, Maze, Ogo, Save Money, Ziplining
We are all adrenalin seekers at heart. This is not just a passing fad or a one-off situation. People are forever looking for new adventures and excitement to break the monotony of our everyday lives. Lately, I’ve realized that I am no different and in my search for something new and fun I came across a whole place that is devoted to “adventure!”
Adventure sports have been gaining in popularity for years. In the Greater Toronto Area there is actually a whole park geared towards adrenalin junkies. The Horseshoe Adventure Park is located in Barrie and right now they are offering their Super Pass for only $19. This is the perfect deal for me especially since just to go ziplining there costs $24 and this pass includes that and a whole lot more! Not to mention this fantastic Ogo that they have where you climb into a giant ball and roll down the hill…who could ask for more? In addition, they have a maze, a climbing tower, tubing in the winter and whole host of other outdoor activities.
So off I go now to find another activity where the only purpose is to see how far I can push the boundaries. After all there’s nothing better than chasing that thrilling feeling when your heart races and all your senses feel alive! Who’s game…?
26 Jul 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Botox, Daily Deals, koopik, Rejuvederme, Rejuvenation, Save Money
I was recently at a botox party and as I looked around the room I was surprised to find that the average age was late twenties to early thirties. Before this I had always been under the impression that botox was for older ladies and movie stars. Boy was I wrong. These days people are using botox almost as a preventative measure…
The way that botox injections work is that they cause the muscle to move into a relaxed state. It is not permanent and does require regular treatments but there have been studies showing that muscles, which normally tend to contract and remain in a “knotted” or tight state, can be retrained through this procedure to remain in a more relaxed state. This is when something called “muscle memory” comes into play.
So ladies if you are interested in fighting the natural effects of gravity, environment and age this is the time to do it. Right now Rejuvederme is offering 20 units of the treatment at only $99! These days the earlier you start the less need for more costly procedures down the road. And, let’s face it, we all enjoy looking younger and more refreshed!
27 Jul 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Coupons, Save Money
Honestly, in this day and age I don’t have the time or the energy to go through flyer after flyer or email after email just to save money. Now, though, there is an easy way to save money and time. Couponing is the wave of the future and online deals are even better.
Whether you’re looking to get a 2-for-1 deal on your favourite shampoo or, looking to save money on all your favourite activities, group buying sites and coupons are the way to go! All you need to do is sign up for a daily deal site, like koopik, where they grab all the best deals from all the other sites and combine them all into one site. No need to check out multiple sites or emails anymore. Now one email will rule them all.
1. You can choose your city or region.
2. You can choose your preferences so that only those items in certain categories show up in your email or feed.
3. Click on the one you want and the deal is yours!
That was easy – now if only they could come up with something that convenient for getting through airport security!
05 Aug 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Culture, Events, My Fair Lady, Save Money
Shows, musicals and plays can run you back a fair bit but by narrowing my search to arts and entertainment on koopik I found some great shows at more than half off!
When I moved to this city I decided I was going to take the money I normally spent on cable TV and redirect it to entertainments that would get me off the couch! Luckily, help was not far off as a couple of the big theatres and venues in the city are right around the corner. With so many shows to choose from it can be difficult to narrow it down but when I see a good deal for one of them it is impossible to resist. I feel great as now I’m getting cultured without spending an arm and a leg!
Next step, find some lucky sucker to drag along with me to My Fair Lady. I guess we’ll leave that one for another day…
29 Jul 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Convenience, Daily Deals, Lord of the Rings, Save Money
No, we don’t have hobbits, humans, elves and dwarves teaming up to fight the evil forces of Mordor. But we do have one site where all the deals are collected from all the major deal sites conveniently in one place! It’s a simple concept really: instead of signing up individually to all the daily deal sites like groupon and living social we bring the deals to you.
Koopik came up with a way for all our customers to get exactly what they want when they want it. And you can do it by subscribing to one daily email – yes just one! It brings you all the local deals in your city and out of those, you can sort it so that only the ones in your preferred categories ever make it to your email or the site when you sign in.
If your mission is to make your life simpler and save money at the same time then this is the site for you. So say goodbye to cluttered email boxes and endless searching…the quest has come to an end and you have won!
10 Aug 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Daily Deal, Free Stuff, Reward Points, Save, Spread the word, SwarmJam
Pssst – spread the word SwarmJam is having a daily deal where the savings get sweeter with every sale! One of the best things about daily deal sites is that they offer anywhere from 50-90% off a great product or service. SwarmJam is actually taking it a step further and has a number of progressive deals as well where the savings increase the more people buy.
Most people have by this point bought something through a deal site. Or, at the very least have been referred to a deal by a friend. This is essentially how you are going to get the most bang for your buck. The more people that know about it and buy, the more you (and they) are going to save.
Very rarely will you find these products at such a deep discount and in some cases you can actually get stuff for free! When you bid on items or make purchases through SwarmJam you earn points on your account – think of it like virtual money. Through special auctions you can use your points to bid and end up with free swag. I mean just by referring a friend I can earn 1000 points!
Whether you just pick up a regular deal off the site or go for one that gets progressively cheaper the more that people buy, there is no question that SwarmJam leaves you with more money in your pocket. So, swarm the deal, spread the word and save! 
23 Aug 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Daily Deals, koopik, neighbourhood, pie, Save Money
Sick of getting constantly spammed by all those daily deal sites? Well the answer is right in front of your nose: koopik! Koopik takes care of all the gathering and sorting of the deals from the numerous deal sites out there so that you only have to view one site or email to find all the best deals in your local area.
1. Sign up from the home page with your email address. Now you only need to view one email a day with all the best daily deals from all the major and local sites.
koopik: Your One-Stop Shop
2. Choose your city so that only the deals in your neighbourhood will be filtered through.
3. Set your preferences…there’s not much use in you hearing about pet products if you don’t have any!
4. Voila! You are set-up now and can check out and purchase only the deals that apply to you. Once you’ve locked that money-saving voucher down send out a facebook message or tweet your followers to pass the savings on!
If that isn’t easy as pie I don’t know what is…hmmm pie. Maybe I’ll go check it out right now to see if I can find a yummy dessert place by my house 
17 Aug 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: China, Daily Deals, Dragon's Den, TeamBuy, Tuangou
Group buying in China has been gaining steam for quite some time now and Tuangou is a social commerce movement in Asia that inspired TeamBuy’s concept. It appears even big-ticket items like cars and houses can be bought at a discount if enough people buy into them at once. Mercedes-Benz actually sold over 200 Smart Cars in just 4 hours by posting them on a Chinese group buying site!
TeamBuy’s founders thought it would be a great concept to bring to Canada and this daily deal site actually has its origins right here in Toronto! They are one of the first local sites to pop up in Canada as they launched in late 2009 not long after the Groupon craze was sweeping the US and major Canadian cities. Their unique premise was not only that they were local and Canadian, but also that the deal goes live once a minimum number of offers are received so that businesses actually have more of an incentive to offer steeper discounts than just 50% off!
If you want to take a trip back in time to see how this small, local start-up hit it big just check out this link to CBC’s Dragon’s Den where TeamBuy made their initial pitch.
24 Aug 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Daily Deals, dealticker, koopik, refer a friend, Save Money, spa
With all the daily deal sites out there it is hard to choose which ones to sign up for so I thought I’d make it a bit easier for you. One that I love to use is Dealticker as they actually reward me for referring a deal on. The funny thing is I am already passing deals on to my friends. I mean if I find 88% off a spa package I am sure my girlfriends would be more than interested to hear about it. It’s a no-brainer.
Dealticker pays a commission on each deal that is referred to a friend by you. You can take the commission one of two ways:
- Use the credit towards future deals on the site
- Get a cheque mailed out to you for cash
My personal favorite is using the credit on the site because that means the next deal I pick up won’t be just 50-90% off but essentially free. I mean as far as deals go you can’t beat free!
If you’re anything like me – and if you’re reading this you probably appreciate a good offer like I do – then taking the time to save money is important to you. Dealticker offers that basic service and then takes it a step further by rewarding you for helping your friends find the same deal. It’s a win-win situation!
01 Sep 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Baking Soda, Clean, Green, koopik, Laundry, Save Money, White Vinegar
Raiding your cupboards can help you stay clean and save money at the same time. Cleaning should not cost you an arm and a leg. It is an activity that you do so often that it can be ridiculously expensive if you let it. The key is not to. The best part about being green in your home is that you can use basic household items to both disinfect and make your house spickety-span!
I don’t know about the rest of you but I tend to spend a fortune just to get my house clean. I mean if you buy into the hype there is a special cleaner that you MUST have for your toilet, another one for glass, another one for wood and so on. Now people have begun to understand that the best way to clean is to use water combined with simple white vinegar!
Some of my favourite ways to be green around the house are:
1. All-purpose cleaner for glass, wood and everything in between: Half portion of white vinegar and half warm water.
2. Laundry: Use a cup of white vinegar in your wash to whiten, brighten & soften your clothes eliminating the need for harsh bleaches or fabric softener.
3. Deodorizing: Baking soda takes care of smells and can be used as a scouring agent for any tougher messes.
4. Floors: Steam with water to disinfect and leave your floors sparkling clean.
By using these simple techniques and household items you are not only saving a ton of money on your cleaning supplies but are also being green by not introducing toxins into your home. So spread the word and share with all your friends and family on how to be green, shiny and spotless all at the same time.
13 Sep 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: CND, Deal, Fashionista, Frugal, Jan Arnold, Manicures, Save Money, Shellac
Still going strong...
Shellac nails are the new generation of manicures and pedicures as they don’t smudge, break or chip like others. They are apparently the “superman” of the nail world. In the beauty world there always seems to be a new and better solution. But how much better is this one?
Shellac CND’s co-founder, Jan Arnold, calls it a hybrid solution that “combines the strength of gel with the beauty of polish” and claims that it is the best of both worlds. However, just because everybody else was raving about this product did not mean I was going to take it at face value. Not after the Brazilian Blowout bombed so spectacularly!
I had to go check it out myself but, being the frugal fashionista that I am, I didn’t want to pay full price on an untested product. I hit up my favourite deal site, found an offer in my city and made my way to the salon. Once there I picked out a nice, dark colour (Dark Ruby) just so I couldn’t miss it in case it chipped. Two weeks later I am happy to report that the claims that they made were true.
My favourite part of this new Shellac Manicure is that my nails are much stronger with it than with any of the other gel polishes used by salons. Chipping colour is always a pain. But, when the actual nail chips due to prolonged damage from regular acrylic or gel then back to the salon I go, usually much sooner than I had budgeted for it. Now I am staying within my beauty budget and still looking polished!
14 Sep 2011
by Rupi Randhawain News & Updates Tags: Deal, Ethical Deal, Go Green, Green Living, Group Buying, Sustainability
Put your money where your mouth is and shop ethically with Ethical Deal. They focus on saving consumers money by offering group deals at major discounts, but they choose deals from companies committed to furthering the ‘go green’ movement. They have taken group buying to a new level.
The concept of green living is not new but is rapidly gaining momentum amongst North Americans and the rest of the world. Ethical Deal operates out of the major cities of both Canada and the US. They strive to make it easy, fun and best of all, cheap, to find or do green stuff in your city. The advantages to using Ethical Deal for purchasing products or services are clear:
1. Promotes green living in your city.
2. Group buying aspect saves money.
3. Provides alternatives that many people aren’t even aware of.
4. Simple and easy to use website with only one green deal featured per day.
5. Offer ethicalDeal Dollars when deals are referred to a friend.
So, next time you are looking for a healthy snack for your pre-schooler or an organic spa treatment for yourself take a look through their deals and find the one that works for you. After all, social responsibility applies to all of us and every little bit helps to make our world a more sustainable place.
