Nicki sets out armed with her Live Active Rewards keyring, to investigate what bargains and deals she can find simply by being a member!

I was busy working away one rainy afternoon recently when Kelly from LAL’s marketing department popped up in my inbox. Would I be up for doing a Live Active Rewards blog that showed off some of the great offers that could be picked up in Perth City Centre?  Let’s have a think about that…. Shopping, eating out and treating myself all in the name of work? Ehhhh… Okay then!

I have to admit, I’m one of those people who was super excited about Live Active Leisure’s members’ rewards scheme when it launched and yet I have hardly used it since. It’s one of those things that just falls out of my head.  First job then was to click onto Rewards in order to plan my day and make the maximum savings possible.

WOW! I really hadn’t been on for a while! There are loads of great new businesses on board with fab offers and deals (including two Edinburgh based hotels - short break in the city here I come!) and they range from haircuts to new clothes, days out with the kids to relaxing massages for some me-time.

My roots were crying out for a hair appointment and as Copperfields Hair and Beauty offers 10% off from Monday to Friday, I reckoned this was a great place to start.   Appointment booked for 10am, I headed into town early and stopped off at Blend Coffee Shop for my first deal of the day – 15% off of a pot of tea and a croissant with butter and jam.   They open at 8am every day and although it was quite quiet at this time, you still get a sense of that great chilled out vibe they’ve created.  After a flick through the papers over breakfast I head to Copperfields already having saved just over a quid. (I picked up some of their delicious granola and chocolate bars to take home!).

The hairdressers is one of my favourite ways to spend a lazy couple of hours.  I’d decided to go for a change this month and booked in with Hayleigh for a cut and Ashely for my colour.  Both girls are previous L’Oreal Colour Trophy winners and they gave me some sound advice on transforming my grown out bob into a sleek, blunt look and a cool, balyage colour. With promises of fabulousness and a reassurance I definitely wasn’t too old for this, they set about my locks.  I completely LOVE my new do, and have had loads of compliments since.  I bagged £15 in savings as I also picked up some shampoo and conditioner on my way out the door.

Now, I am of the belief that any kind of shopping that requires you to feel good about yourself should be done after a trip to the hairdressers. It’s a psychological lift.  Armed with a sharp new do I head for Eva Lucia to try on the new skinny jeans that Lori has been raving all over social media about.  Promises of a great bum (without three hours in spin class…) are good enough for me and so impressed with the fit was I that I bought two pairs and wrote a full review for Small City – check it out here! (http://smallcitybigpersonality.co.uk/The-Perfect-Skinny-Jeans-Waven-Perth)

I’m now starving; croissant worn off and a refuel needed I head for McEwens Café to meet my sister.  They’re offering LAL rewards members buy one get one free on homemade soups in the Home Cafe or Upstairs Restaurant and we head for the latter passing make-up counters, shoes and other tempting purchases to get there!  The soup is delicious and we wash it down with coffees and some of their amazing cakes…. I’m hoping these jeans keep their promise of ‘fitting all shapes well’. 

While in town I decide to make the most of my day out on the Rewards and head to Miss Forsyth to be properly fitted for a sports bra; 20% off of their Freya range is too good to pass up.  A good sports bra is an essential piece of kit for us girls and you really will notice a huge difference if you go for a proper fitting.  The team in Miss Forsyth are experts at what they do and they’ll know just by looking at you sometimes what styles will fit you best.  Well worth a visit for all the runners and gym goers out there.

There’s really only thing to do at the end of a rewards day… reward yourself with a nice bottle of gin! Just a few steps along from Miss Forsyth you’ll find Exel wines who offer 5% discount on all their goods.  They sell great wines that you won’t find in the supermarket and a whole host of artisan spirits and craft beers that have been made by passionate producers.  Including the wonderful Strathearn Gin that is perfect with elderflower fizz and a slice or two of cucumber…  Please note, this does not count as one of your five a day!

While looking through the rewards I was so impressed with the number of great shops and businesses offering services.  I already take advantage of the amazing Wellbeing Membership from Lynne McDonald therapies – aka Magic Hands McDonald - and love, love, love my monthly massage.  I’ll be heading to Richards when I replace my bike tyres for 10% off and I reckon our next team day out may well be at Nae Limits - 10% off a tumble in the river and then again on their delicious sarnies at Rivers Meet after your activities.

If you’re a Live Active Leisure member and would like to take advantage of these great savings then head over to the Live Active Rewards page for a full list of businesses.