Tell me your inexpensive small luxuries and moments of joy

[sendwineandastraw]

With the price of living at an all time high, it all feels a bit hopeless and dismal atm doesn’t it, I’m even second guessing the price of a pint of milk and loaf of bread and for the 1st time ever had to say no to one of my DC to a social event they wanted to go to as would take us out of our budget...

Beauty treatments, cinema trips and even coffee and cake out are not things I can impulsively decide to do and it’s just making me feel a bit...sad!

I wondered how you all keep morale up and enjoy small life’s little luxuries without breaking the bank, what inexpensive things still bring you moments of Joy...

I’ll start...

I have my back door open, a cake in the oven and I’ve popped a white table cloth in the wash, I’m going to peg it on the line once it’s done and then set up the table outside.

once DD’s get in from school we can enjoy a pot of tea and some cake at in the garden at a properly set table.

A jug is excellent for getting that summer chill vibe feeling.
We use it to make a big pitcher of 'lemonade' or iced tea. I made some iced tea yesterday and the dcs loved it.

Frozen banana ice cream is amazing (look on YouTube for how to do it. Very simple, really delicious and so much healthier than supermarket ice cream)

Day off and just sat enjoying the peace and quiet in my garden, our Bearded Dragon is sat beside me basking in the sun.

What a fantastic idea-hadn’t thought of that!

working from home in the garden today :) so peaceful and the weather so lovely - obviously can’t do this every day but today it’s put a smile on my face

mother inexpensive things we did was make homemade pizza the other day, a lovely activity making the dough and decorating - and definitely a lot cheaper than a takeaway pizza

My low cost treat is sea swimming. Costs are costume and dry robe (gift from DH) plus 10 minute drive to a free 2 hour parking spot. If I feel brave enough to cycle on the busy route will be even cheaper.

Yes to exercise in the garden! It just feels so much nicer.

Self-care - I’m a massage therapist and tomorrow I plan to get my hot stones on and give myself a bit of self-treatment on my hands and my quads, which are feeling a bit sore. You can find self-massage vids on YouTube, it’s nice to do if you have aches and pains here and there. Also, Monday was my day off and usually I’d be super-productive but this week I had a little run, a long hot bath, and read books all day. It was lovely, I just felt completely refreshed.

Twice a week, when I'm not on bedtime duty, I get to do a three hour rambling walk over the hills near our house. I start at 6pm and get back for 9pm. I listen to podcasts or ebooks or music. It's knackering but so enjoyable.

And if you get the app for your local library you can easily reserve them. It’s like shopping. But free!

Also see if your library is linked to an ebook service. Mine (essex) uses BorrowBox and it’s fab! Like a kindle on your phone, but free!

Mine is fresh flowers (or weeds or random foliage!) from my little garden on the kitchen table.

During lockdown I used to treat myself with a long bath with bubbles and a candle.
Doesn't need to be expensive- my favourite bubble bath is a Pina Colada one from Morrisons at around a pound and a rose scented candle from a local
Company around £7.99.

Another vote for the library! Lovely peaceful and mostly free!

I love finding spare change around the house, down the sofa and in old handbags, and paying for my little treats- a coffee, chocolate bar, pint in the local with the cash.

Early morning runs. Coffee in the garden with a book before my partner and DD are awake.

Fresh bedding, an early night and a good book. I can't wait to go to bed.

Mine is mint tea from a proper plant. it's only a supermarket one I potted on so it lasted but it feels so fancy and is probably cheaper than buying mint tea now.

We're also going back to the library and have scheduled it in as a weekly activity, to replace a more expensive activity my DC used to do. We get a pile of books and a dvd each week, then call in at the freezer shop next door and get frozen pizza and icecreams for a move night. (Still costs money, but budgeted for and less then unplanned treats).

Picnics at local beach, river, park or woods is also a lot of fun. Especially if you can invite friends, who will most likely also be glad of a free day's entertainment. DC seem to enjoy running round with other kids just as much wether they're in a field or a softplay.

Last one is probably a little silly, but I absolutely love getting a different sent of fabric conditioner. It's still just the supermarkets own brand but part of me gets excited about it everytime.

Perfume society discovery boxes affordable way to treat yourself to nice perfume… and usually include some niche expensive brands. About £20, so much cheaper than a bottle of perfume, but feels like a real treat.

posh hot chocolate in a flask for country walk I love the £9 whittards hot choc. Obviously not cheap but so delicious and you get a lot more cups than Hotel Chocolat - or buying hot choc out!

cremant is a French sparkling wine, made in the method of champagne and tastes v similar but only £12-15

growing cut flowers you can grow from seed to save money, obviously seasonal- you’ll only get flowers in summer, but it’s much cheaper than buying bouquets

BBC sounds for podcasts which is free instead of Spotify subscription (9.99)

open days at NT/ EH / open gardens at least 3 days out per year for the family, only the cost of petrol and picnic

Had a lovely and completely free 15 minute facial with Clarins at my local department store last week. Book online on the Clarins website, various treatments free, no pressure to buy anything.

Sometimes I have a bubble bath with a £2 face mask sachet from the supermarket and play a YouTube spa music track. Simple but so relaxing.

Your library card will also get you access to free e-magazines.

Yes! Including American ones like Oprah which you don't get everywhere. And all the niche ones, so if you are into Autumn, glassblowing, pugs and basement music, there is almost certainly a specific magazine targeting that combination.

Thank you thank you!

Been umming and arring over a kindle book which is £10! and I've just reserved it for free - got to wait till end of July but I'm not bothered by that

Freshly cleaned bedding + bedroom. Spray something nice around and open the windows. Self- care in the evening including bath, hand cream, painting nails with products you already have and then into bed for a film.

If you can afford the fuel/able to walk- go to a local natural beauty spot with a flask of tea and some breakfast to watch an early morning sunrise.

Go to charity shops with a budget (even just £1 or £2) and get something for you- a little candle holder or a book.

Tea outside in the garden on a nice summers day. I always enjoy a walk locally taking in the trees, shrubs and flowers along the way. Our local charity shop sells books for £1 which is great as I love reading.

@theshadeofgreen

I am with my dc's in Europe next week! Hope you have a fab time.

Clean sheets and freshly shaved legs never gets old for me.

I also enjoy curating a shelf from time to time (... i do realise how wanky that sounds). We randomly have lots of shelves in our house and sometimes I'll pick one and freshen it up a bit by arranging books, photos, plants etc on it. It's very pleasing to the eye.

I live in a rural location and had my door open during a zoom meeting and they could all hear the birds and commented how wonderful it was to hear them. A completely free joy and one I should appreciate more.

Stargazing on a warm summers night is fab too.
The dcs love looking out for the international space station. It's always exciting when we see it go over.

Walking outside but very intentionally noticing different bushes, listening to the birds, etc. I have half a dozen bushes/trees that I 'check' almost daily and I love seeing how they change.

Marking the bridge from day to evening - I work from home and this is a really important thing to do for self-care, otherwise it feels like your work is chasing you around the house. In winter I light a candle and read for half an hour - I do sometimes splash out on spenny candles but more often than not get great bargains at TK Maxx. Summer I sit in my wee garden shed/summer house thing and read.

Tea in bed.
Strawberries and cream.
A Twirl with my morning coffee.