With such a slow economy, it is better to spend wisely and not to waste money on the unnecessary. But you still need a break, a mini vacation of some sort so you can feel relaxed and pampered. Having a spa at home is easier than you think. All you need are some essential oils, a bottle of mineral water, meditation mp3 which is freely available on the web, and an hour of your free time. Voila! That's all you need! But before you go, make sure you do the following:

• Turn off your cell phone. You should be able to enjoy a personal, calming experience without the disruption of marketers and colleagues.
• Drink a lot of water before the bath
• Light some scented candles
• Play some slow, calming and soothing music

You can even upgrade your experience by replacing tap water with bottled mineral water. It would be nice too if you add some ice cubes and lime. Coconut water is another perfect drink for a home spa.

Add a few drops of essential oil into the tub. Camomile, sandalwood, roses and lavender all have claming effects. It is essential that where you are is quiet. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to have a quiet time and get disrupted by some non urgent issues. If you have kids, communicate to them in advance that this is the daddy or mommy time, ask them to come to you only if it's urgent and let them play with their toys while you set things up.

When everything is set, it is your time to get into the tub. Slowly let go of all thoughts, and completely immerse yourself in the scented water, take note of the body sensations, notice how your mind and body completely relaxes. I suggest after 15-20 minutes soaking in the water, you get out and drink some ice water. Dry yourself with a big, thick towel and lie on the bed. Now it's a perfect time to enter into a deeper state of relaxation through a guided meditation.

Sites like selfhelptree.com offer free guided meditation, which you can download to your laptop or mp3 player and take it anywhere you go. If you are new to guided meditation, it is an ancient practice which will lead you to a state of deep relaxation with positive imagery. Many meditation practioners reported higher level of self acceptance and lower level of depression after meditating for several weeks. Their experiences have been confirmed by many medical and scientific studies. Meditation has been more popular in the east coast among rich housewives,celebrities and atheletes but now everyone does it. I hope you enjoy this private treat at home.