What's cheap and would cheer you up?

[whatausername]

Just that really. What inexpensive thing would perk you up? Feeling a bit joyless at the moment.

A good streaming service to watch your favourite films/shows.

A cup of tea followed by a scenic ride on my newly repaired bicycle!

What do you like, OP? Can you have/do it right now to get some joy happening?

A chat on the phone with my sister or a friend.

A costa coffee (ok expensive for what it is but still only £3/£4) with a shot of syrup for a treat. Being able to drink it with both hands free and an hour to myself (no baby).

A bunch of daffodils for £1
A walk in the hills or at the coast
A new book on kindle

I can't actually remember. That sounds rather melodramatic but I really can't right now. I'm hoping this thread sparks some inspiration or a memory. Want to prioritise little moments of happy and see if I can get back to my old self.

If time wasn’t an issue and it was by myself it would be all about self care. Cheaply, that would be exercise followed by a nice shower running through and products that I already have. I’d Blow dry my hair rather than letting it dry by itself! I’d have already tidied the house so I could sit and read for a while before heading out for a nice long walk with the dog in the afternoon. Come home, jammies on and chill in the evening. Bliss!!

A bunch of daffodils
A really good cup of coffee (my favourite blend .. happy to drink it at home)
Had a lovely day out yesterday... wandering round the charity shops on a sunny day, didn't buy much apart from a jigsaw, book and a box of my favourite soaps - usually around £15 but £3 in the charity shop.
A delicious meal ... doesn't have to be expensive, just something I like
Time on my own .. not having to share the remote
An early night with a good book.

I actually think this is what I would do whether I wanted to do it cheaply or not - the only thing I might add if I had the luxury of some spare cash is a nice fridge full of fresh food for healthy snacks and meals

Walking somewhere new so I see different things. Can just be residential streets but unfamiliar ones. Talking with a friend on phone or on walk or in a cafe. Watching funny animal friends.

Aldi's salted caramel cookies and a new book or tv series to get lost in.

A swim
A walk at the beach and an ice-cream (or a flask of tea).
A good exfoliate. You can easily make your own with olive oil and sugar. And then plenty of body lotion.
picnic with a friend
Take yourself on a date - go to
the cinema or theatre to see something you want to see.
Watch a good movie with a nice glass of wine
Plant something
A bath, fresh bedding, and a good book
Wardrobe clearout
shoes clearing
Kitchen disco

Cheap stuff:

Daffodils. £1 in the supermarket.
Bubble bath.
My favourite magazine.
Nail polish.
A mostly cocoa bar of chocolate.
A trip to the nearest park or beach or children's farm if you're not totally broke (it's not only children who like animals!).

Free stuff:

Putting on fresh bed linen
Watching a favourite film
Tidying up (I can't relax around mess)
Starting a new book (from the library)
Hot chocolate or tea
Sitting in the garden

Last monrh, DH and I went to a comedy show for a £10 each and had a belly full of laughs.
Was such a treat and a hair down occasion.

Bunch of daffs.

All of the above.

A nice smelling shower gel and /or bath oil. I scour the reduced section in pharmacies and use my Boots points for the Sanctuary shower oil.

Bath night, body scrub and moisturise.

Cuddling my cat

Fresh sheets on the bed

In this moment, a McDonald's breakfast delivered on Uber Eats. In general, a spare hour or so on the sofa with a book, a cup of tea and some chocolate digestives

A walk in one of my favourite places followed by tea and cake
Tea from the teapot at home with some nice cake or biscuits under a blanket watching an old favourite like the BBC Pride and Prejudice
Decluttering and selling on Facebook/ Vinted etc and watch the sales come in
Batch cooking to music
Doing some yoga
A hot bath with a Coke Zero and chocolate followed by a clean bed and a tidy bedroom
A re read of a favourite book

A galaxy

Some new pyjamas

Go to a free museum on your own for some peace and thinking time. Potter round a street market. Try a new recipe from scratch. Listen to comedy podcasts. Buy one new book from WH Smith or Waterstones and enjoy the choosing as well as the reading. Or go to one of these book shops, choose all the books you want but then order them from your library. Go on a long walk to somewhere like a nice coffee shop you have read reviews of and then treat yourself to a cake or hot drink when you get there. Buy an adult colouring book and some new felt tips. The other day, I actually sat in my living room for nearly two hours singing along to the karaoke versions of old songs I used to like on my phone, it was really fun. Do an exercise video.

If you like reading magazines and have a tablet and a library card, get a Libby app.There are Hundreds of UK and US magazines for free on the app with no catch! I am hooked! So a nice coffee and a magazine session on Libby is my go to pick me up treat.
You can also borrow ebooks for free but there is a waiting list for good ones. Magazines are instantly available though.

A box of Mars bar ice creams for breakfast in bed.

i haven’t got any though. But I do have a box of creme eggs in the fridge. And the children are not awake yet.

Free things would be, lazing in the bath (well the hot water isnt free, but ykwim) lazing on the sofa playing a word game on my phone, cleaning the house, I love sitting down after a full house blitz. Watching one of my favourite movies, Freedom writers, beaches, pursuit to happiness, the fugitive, the help. I literally watch the fugitive once a month. Its amazing.
Love a good book!

Cheap, a large bar of dairy milk whole nut, a tube of mini eggs, a bug bag of chocolate peanuts whilst watching The Middle, Judge judy or The Apprentice or GordonRamsay kitchen nightmares.
A meal at the Asian buffet restaurant. Mind you, when it was just me and hubby we would go and have a great lunch for £12 together donkeys years ago. Now with 6 quid it's over 70 to dine in, but 35 for takeout. And that way we can go home and watch Annie the 2014 one or Zootopia or jumanji whilst enjoy veggie spring rolls and satay skewers.
Also love a heritage museum local to me that is set up like an old village and it's just fab for £32 for us all and under 5s get in free. So that's my younger kids sorted.
Love to treat myself to even just a £1 candle or some cheap body spray if in somewhere like Wilkinson, asda or the Range.
Love Ben and Jerry's
Love a trip to the garden centre. Rarely buy plants but love to look at them. Only a few quid in petrol and the kids like to look at the pets section and the large outdoor bit with all the fish.
Love a mooch round charity shops collecting books, old mcdonald style figures and toys from the happy meal back in the day!.....

Now with 6 kids, its 70 to dine in*