Everyone deserves to take the time to treat yo self! Taking care of yourself is essential for your emotional, mental and physical well being. Budget and self care are usually not in the same sentence. When you think treat yo self you don’t usually have a budget in mind, if you know what I mean. In this article I will share some budget friendly self care ideas that can also save you money for your financial goals!
Setting financial goals like paying off a house and student loans requires a budget and actually sticking to it. So things like manicure and pedicures are things that have to be sacrificed in order to accomplish those goals. Therefore, I have found some Thrifty & Crafty ways to treat myself (see what I did there?! 😅😉). So keep reading for some of my budget friendly self care ideas. ENJOY!
1. Read a Book
Reading a book is the only way to travel anywhere completely for free, if you like non-fiction. I personally enjoy non-fiction but have recently started listening to more self-development audio books with Audible. I pay a monthly subscription with Audible and they have thousands of options. Some of my current favorites are Loving What Is, You are a Badass and You are a Badass at making money. Click here for a complete list of books that I highly recommend!
Nonetheless reading a book can be a great way to unwind and relax, so pick up a book or sign up for Audible which is less than the price of a hardcover book at Barnes & Noble.
2. Listen to music
Whether you are listening to some music at home or taking a drive and jammin in your car, music always makes people feel good. I love listening to music and having my own personal concert, it’s fun and the dancing can be a good workout depending on the type of music you like.
3. Color
Any other adults out there find coloring as a relaxing as I do ✋✋?! What am I saying of course there are, if not adult coloring books would not be so popular! If you have not jumped on that bandwagon yet I highly recommend it! I love coloring with my kids, it is such a family friendly activity that does not break the bank.
TIP: You can also try some adult coloring book apps for more convenience, not as fun as the real thing but still relaxing.
4. Visit a friend/ Call a friend
Bonus if it is a friend that you have not seen in a long time
People can easily get busy in their day-to-day, stepping back to meet up with a friend is always rewarding. You can catch up, talk goals and future plans. Sometimes life gets away from me and I don’t get to meet with my friends or loved ones as much as I would like to. So taking the time to meet up with a friend for lunch or happy hour can be really rewarding.
5. Crafting
This activity had to make the list. Crafting absolutely makes my soul happy. The best thing about crafting is that you can be as creative as you want to be, there is no right or wrong. I can sit for hours (yes hours) playing with photos and scrapbook pages and creating cute and unique ways to display my photos. However crafting can be anything from scrapbooking, sewing, cooking, woodwork and even painting. So look around your home and let your creativity flow with the endless possibilities that crafting has to offer. You can also check out the blog for some fun DIY and Craft inspirations!
6. Work out/ Go for a run
Going for a run or working out at home is a great way to take care of your physical health and it’s completely free! Being fit and healthy is really good for your mental health as well! It gives you the confidence and strength to accomplish any other pending goals you have for the day!
7. DIY mani and pedi
Bonus if you have a friend or daughter to do each others nails and have a girls night.
There is something about having a fresh mani and pedi that gives a boost to your self-esteem. But it can get pricey after a while so instead why not do it yourself. I am not saying you should never get a manicure and pedicure every once in a while, but in order to accomplish your financial goals it might be a wise decision to cut back.
8. Take a bubble bath with bath bombs
I love stocking up on bath bombs from my favorite discount stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx. I love to run a bath get some candles going and put some of my favorite music on. I feel relaxed and refreshed after a nice long bath, completely worth the wrinkly skin. So next time you happen to be in these store don’t forget to pick up a few extra bath bombs for yourself!
9. Take a long Shower
Not into baths? Then take a long shower instead. Go ahead and splurge and put two coats of conditioner for some extra silky hair. Also a great opportunity to shave your legs so you come out the shower nice and smooth (a luxury that I don’t practice very often 😅).
10. Bullet Journal/ Journaling
Planning and accomplishing goals go together like Thrifty & Crafty (I did it again 😅). But on a serious note I have just recently gotten into bullet journaling. There is just something so satisfying and relaxing in planning and doodling in a journal.
Growing up I used to love to draw and doodle in my notebooks but as an adult I get to draw and doodle with purpose! Pick a day out of the week to sit down and think about your weekly goals. Write them down in your journal along with a daily to do lists and an attack plan to knock your goals out of the park! I promise you will feel so accomplished and satisfied.
11. Take a nap
Take a break from the busy lifestyle that is your life and take a very well deserved nap. I don’t do this often because I just sometimes feel like I don’t have time for a nap because of my ever-growing to do list. But… sometimes you just need to take a pause and recharge.
12. Play with makeup
Putting on a full face of makeup and nowhere to go, why not? I love playing with makeup and experimenting with different looks. It is not only therapeutic but it can give a boost to your self-esteem and make you feel beautiful like the beauties you are.
13. Clean, brighten, and pamper
After you are done playing with makeup, you can also indulge in a little at home spa session with face masks to relax. There are many options you can choose from and are pretty reasonably priced at Ulta and Target.
14. Breathing Exercises/ Mediate
A great way to become more self-aware of your mental health is mediating. They recommend you meditate for 15-20 minutes daily to help clear your mind and become aware of negative thoughts that may be jumping around your head. This is something that I am still trying to implement and make a habit of. It can be hard to completely clear your mind for a full 20 minutes when there is so much information at your fingertips. But continue to practice, it will be worth it!
15. Grateful List
What are you grateful for? Write a list of all the important things in your life that you are grateful for. Things that make you smile and you can’t live without. It is always good to be aware of the things that you are grateful for especially when you are having a rough day. Lists like this can really put everything in perspective and make you appreciate what you already have and just be thankful for being alive. Go ahead and give it a try!
16. Vision Board/ Goal List
Writing your goals down encourages you to make a plan and take action in completing them. I write down goals every year but put them in a journal where I don’t see them as often as I would like. My goal this year is to complete a vision board for my office that I can update as my goals change throughout the year. Make sure to follow me on Instagram to see what I come up with!
17. Write a letter to your future self or your kids
Bonus if you do both
What advice or positive thoughts do you want to say to your future self or if you have kids to your kids when they grow up.
I feel like as I get older and learn more and more, I want to make sure that I pass all that knowledge to my kids. Even just the memories of what they were like. Write some of the darndest things that your little ones have said over the years and give it as a gift for your kids 18th birthday! It will be such a nostalgic and awesome experience for your kids to read the letter you gave them.
Also think about your future self give yourself some encouraging words or advice on a specific situation that you make be going through right now. It is always good to think about your future and how a current stressful situation may affect it. 9 times out of 10 you realize that it is not that serious and that everything will be fine.
18. Watch your favorite movie
Everyone has a movie that makes them feel good. Classics are my favorite, movies that make me relive my childhood. This is a nice way to stay home and relax and save some money at the same time. So next time you want to do something for yourself. Go ahead and cuddle up with your favorite blanket pop some delicious popcorn and enjoy some of your favorite movies.
19. Positive Affirmations
Repeating positive affirmations daily gives you confidence and positive vibes to help you feel better. I love to write positive affirmations in journals and also on sticky notes that I see frequently throughout the day, it helps me stay motivated and strong 💪.
20. Go through photo albums/ scrapbooks/ old home videos
As a natural mamarazzi, I have tons and tons of digital photos and prints. I love making albums and scrapbooks, but I can never seem to have the time to reminisce as much as I would like. But sometimes sitting back and looking at wonderful memories is all you need to make you feel better. Make a night out of it, take out some photos and old home videos and have a fun memorable family night in.
21. Retail Shopping
Yes retail shopping can be on a budget friendly list. Everyone knows that shopping can be very therapeutic but depending on the stores that you shop at the bill can add up pretty quickly. Consider shopping at the thrift stores or the clearance section of some of your favorite stores.
22. Play some App games
I enjoy playing app games every once in a while, I specifically enjoy challenging games like Love Ball (current favorite) or candy crush. There are so many app games available now a days that I am sure that you can find something that can pique your interest. Just don’t forget to time yourself because you can easily get caught playing for hours if you are not careful.
23. Play board games with your friends or family
Another great way to relax and enjoy your loved ones is board games! One of my favorite things to do with family or friends when we have a get to together is play games. There are family friendly games you can play with your kids for a fun family game night. There are also some very hilarious and mildly inappropriate adult games for when you have want to have some friends over for a game night. Either way board games are always a fun time.
24. Declutter/ Organize
Nothing beats having an organized house or work space. I always feel like I can conquer the world when my office is more organized. Try decluttering or organizing a space in your house that you spend a lot of your time in, I promise you won’t regret it.
25. Have Sex
Yes, everyone deserves some sexy release time and it’s okay to say it. 😉
There you have it beauties these are some of my budget friendly self care ideas that will help you both relax and save money. Have any other treat yo self ideas that are budget friendly leave them in the comments below, I would love to hear them!
Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook so you don’t miss a thing! Also don’t forget to share this list with someone that you think would benefit from these ideas.
Be kinder to yourself beauties,
