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.

Kids at school, dog with ex, take the day off work and tell no-one.

Did this on my birthday and on random sunny day, the feeling of calm, no "things to do" just pure relax.

First time went shopping (didn't buy anything), second time just lounged in the garden.

Planning a lot more of those!

For those that fancy dabbling in a bit of online comping it’s really easy...

Lots of brands/businesses run competitions to promote their product through the social media channels, (I do better on Instagram) search #ukgiveway or #ukcompetition and it will bring up lots, the more comps you like and enter the more your algorithm will show. Generally to enter it’s a like/tag and share which you can do to your stories.

You can enter as you see but I prefer to save (which I sometimes helps your chances of winning in itself) and put them in date order and then enter by days folder just before they end (again this does seem to up your chances of a win)

I find it helps to tag the company in your comments, also using emojis to make your comments/tags seen and stand out.

My account isn’t carefully curated by any stretch of the imagination but I do like to take pretty pictures and I always tag brands. I occasionally use products I have won in my pictures and always mention the company in the description. Businesses are very happy with free advertising so I think helps when they are lookgom to pick their winner.

I’ve been doing it for years and have picked lots of little tips along the way but you put as much of as little effort in and a win will come along eventually.

I have loved this thread. I’ve been to the library 3 times since I posted. Gosh they’ve published some shite lately but never mind. Any good book recommends?

Cuddling on the couch with DH and the DCs under a blanket with the lights off, a movie on and a giant tray of snacks.

jelly babies. Everything made better instantly.

Lessons in chemistry- nearing the end of this book, thoroughly enjoying it

We go for a walk together in the evenings which is nice. I use the Readly App for magazines (currently using the free trial) We have a National Trust membership for £9.50 a month which we utilise alot but always take snacks. I love gardening and have recently been given a lot of stuff to plant which is good. Last one was an initial expense (Velvetiser) which was £85 but now we’ll treat ourselves to hot chocolate at home which will be about £1 a cup, far cheaper than Costa/Pret. If we want to use the machine even cheaper, we buy the 30p bars of chocolate from Aldi and grate it in there 😆

@AgathaMystery promising young women …..and the neopolitan triology - starting with my brilliant friend

Thank you! Will get on it!

I love this thread! I think finding joy in the simple things is actually the key to happiness!

I love:

a garden picnic - all you need is a blanket and lunch feels special! The kids love it too

drawing a picture just for fun. Sometimes me and DH will do a timed drawing competition- eg who can do the best portrait of the cat during the adverts

lighting a few candles and reading after the kids are in bed. The calm and quiet is just blissful

re the summer drinks thing - buy a lemon, slice it and freeze the slices in a sandwich bag. Then for instant special summer drink just pop a frozen lemon slice in. Ice and lemon in one 😎

DH and I sometimes do a massage swap (no really. It hardly ever turns into another free and fun activity 👀 😂)

late night cup of tea in the garden . Take a candle for extra loveliness

This one is a little bit pricier because we live so far from the sea, but in the summer holidays we pick a good weather day when we’re both off work and set off at the crack of dawn to the beach - we take a cool box packed with a picnic lunch, loads of water, the beach tent and all the sand gear, then we spend the whole day on the beach with the kids. We Set off back late afternoon so we can have supper at home before bed. It’s like a holiday in one day and the only thing we usually buy while we are there is an ice cream each and the parking. Obviously fuel cost is going to be higher this year but it’s still worth it on balance and the amount of joy we get back is enormous.

But my top top favourite free thing to do though is put some music on loud and dance round your living room full out. The four of us often do this after dinner and we are all always smiling and laughing by the time we finish our little disco 😂

A cup of coffee sat quietly after the school run.

Listening to the radio when I'm cooking and dancing round the kitchen.

Agree with feeding the birds and having a birdbath.

On a Friday evening after DDs are in bed, DH and I pour a drink, light some candles and chill out on the sofas listening to music. It's my favourite part of the week and signals the weekend.

Going on a walk listening to a podcast.

Eating in the garden whenever possible.