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How do you treat yourself without spending money?

40 replies

MoonMane · 31/08/2021 06:52

I have to tighten my belt. A lot! But I've been getting by these days by treating myself (hence why I now have no money). What do you do for yourself that makes you happy and feels special without forking out for it?

OP posts:
Egghead68 · 31/08/2021 06:55

Go for a walk somewhere beautiful.

Have a long bath

MaitlandGirl · 31/08/2021 06:57

I stay up after everyone else is in bed and watch my choice on the TV (the stuff no one else likes) or sit outside with headphones on and listen to music / watch old auditions from America’s Got Talent or The Voice.

Ricekrispie22 · 31/08/2021 06:57

Yoga

Eileen101 · 31/08/2021 06:57

Long hot bath with a book.
An evening relaxing in front of the TV when the kids are in bed instead of doing the house jobs.

echt · 31/08/2021 06:58

Does your local library have ebook/audiobook/DVD loans? Libraries are a godsend.

ivykaty44 · 31/08/2021 07:08

go for a bike ride

MyOtherProfile · 31/08/2021 07:10

Walk by the local lakes, either on my own for some peace or with a friend.

Spend an hour on the sofa reading my book in the middle of the day.

SandysMam · 31/08/2021 07:10

Definitely reading! Nothing like ten minutes with an amazing book instead of doing the washing up!! Ask friends if they have any good ones to lend you or as pp above says, use the library.

Crayfishforyou · 31/08/2021 07:13

Blow drying my hair really carefully

Russell19 · 31/08/2021 07:14

Pamper session at home.
Nails painted, face mask, nice creams etc.

Hobnobsandbroomstick · 31/08/2021 07:20

But I've been getting by these days by treating myself (hence why I now have no money).

What sort of things have you been spending on?

Not really what you asked, but would changing your mindset about buying things help? Becoming a bit more minimalist?

I like DIY pamper sessions, baths and long walks with an audiobook for cheap treats. Maybe take up a cheap hobby to distract yourself? Start something like couch to 5k?

pumpkinpie01 · 31/08/2021 07:23

Face pack, body scrub ,pedicure then glass of gin

HumbugWhale · 31/08/2021 07:31

I make a nice hot drink and sit and watch the birds on the feeder for 10 mins while I drink it.
Nice walk.
File and paint nails.

AttaGirrrrl · 31/08/2021 07:39

Right now, I’m sat in my front garden drinking coffee and eating breakfast. It’s not special coffee or breakfast, but taking time to myself - to sit outside and get fresh air before the daily chaos starts - always feels like a treat.

Flask of coffee and a walk to somewhere beautiful, friend coming over to share a bottle of wine, putting ice in my drinks… simple things can feel ‘treat’ like.

EssexLioness · 31/08/2021 07:51

Wake up and immediately make a cup of coffee and take it back to bed before starting my day.
Love reading but need to get back into doing this more.
Watching the birds and wildlife in my garden.
Long country walks and recently taken up jogging which I love and is my me time
Long baths, though this is more of a winter thing for me

leavesthataregreen · 31/08/2021 07:52

Join a library, get out some really absorbing novels, curl up on the sofa with a massive cup of tea and read by lamplight. very good on rainy days.

Buy a bag of fresh coffee and brew yourself a cup every morning. heat milk in the microwave and use a small cafetiere to make barista frothed milk by half filling it with warm milk and pumping the lid up and down until the milk is thick and foamy. Costs about £2 a week for a massive latte or cappuccino every morning.

Try Treacle Moon or Waitrose own brand bubble baths for cheap but good scents - lime or clementine and giner for about £2 each.

Go for walks at dawn, sunset or the Golden Hour (late afternoon when the sun gets very rich and yellow. Walk slowly and literally stop to smell the roses, rub lavender between your fingertips, watch a caterpillar or beetle cross the road, listen to birdsong, stroke a cat. Spot wild hares, foxes, deer if you live in the countryside.

Track down some good yoga videos online (Adrienne is good) then take your mat (or if you don't have one a blanket or beach towel into the garden and do a twenty minute stretch.

Light a candle and find a good meditation track on youtube. (Jason Stevenson has a nice voice.)

Get a notebook and start journalling - you can make a bucket list or write a gratitude list or plan a holiday - something uplifting.

Look at seasonal bucketlists online. They often have inspiration for free or low cost things to do e.g. go blackberrying and make a crumble or plant bulbs for spring (bags of gorgeous daff bulbs in our local garden centre for £2.75)

On Spotify or Youtube have a memory lane session and play all your favourite songs and the hits from when you were a teenager, or the time in your life when you felt most carefree.

Have a pamper session. Facial steam, do your brows, manicure and pedicure, paint your nails, body brush and then massage with any body lotion or cream you have already.

AttaGirrrrl · 31/08/2021 07:54

@leavesthataregreen - I’d like you to organise my life for me please Grin

Failing that, I’m going to copy and paste your list and work my way through it.

Teflondreams · 31/08/2021 07:54

Go for a long walk in the countryside
Beach trip
Hot bath and a good book
Bake cookies

leavesthataregreen · 31/08/2021 08:04

[quote AttaGirrrrl]@leavesthataregreen - I’d like you to organise my life for me please Grin

Failing that, I’m going to copy and paste your list and work my way through it.[/quote]
Grin Grin Grin

Mintjulia · 31/08/2021 08:12

Crisp new sheets and a siesta. Feels totally decadent if you are short of sleep. Smile

GuyFawkesDay · 31/08/2021 08:16

Find a local dog that needs walking via borrow my doggy or the cinnamon trust

Long walks
A good book and a cuppa.
Homemade scones still warm with butter
Hot bath
Home manicure (oil and caster sugar scrub, soak, cuticles, file and buff, paint my nails)

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 31/08/2021 08:22

Combination of fresh bed sheets, shaved legs, hot water bottle and book - always feels like a treat to me.

A lie in, followed by a childfree breakfast at home - DH having taken the kids out somewhere.

GoodMorrowFairMaiden · 31/08/2021 08:35

Walks in the forest
Walks with friends
Download free books onto kindle. Feels like you’ve bought something.
Boxset
Use up all your nice toiletries that haven’t been used.

MoonMane · 31/08/2021 08:41

There are some amazing suggestions here that I'm going to enjoy working my way through! Wow @leavesthataregreen you are so organised - I'm going to take a leaf out of your book

OP posts:
Egghead68 · 31/08/2021 15:18

Buttered crumpets feel like a huge treat but cost pennies.