Do you look after yourself?

[Puffypuffin]

I can't afford beauty treatments but I do my own nails and toes. I spend time on them and they look nice if I can blow my own trumpet. A friend complimented my nails today and asked where I had them done. When I said I do them myself she was horrified and told me that I don't 'look after' myself properly. My hair is always done, a bit of make up if I feel like it, clean and ironed clothes etc. When I asked her what she meant (because she made me feel like I look like a bag of shite frankly), she said that she values self care more than I do because she has beauty treatments weekly, fortnightly massages, reiki, personal trainer etc.

I can't afford any of that, nor do I have the time to be honest, but is this really what 'self care' is? To me it's just looking after yourself in the best way that you can.

I do most of my self care at home myself too with the odd treat. It's a great skill to have.

Self Care: Hmmm, almost autumn, I should probably get onto the vitamin D.

Spunking your cash up the wall: Better get my chakras aligned and pay someone to paint my nails.

I only ever wear decent red lipstick. I remove my make-up when I get home from work and I moisturise morning and night but...

I'm very overweight
I drink far too much red wine
I very definitely do not get my 5 a day
I do little in the way of exercise
I colour and cut my own hair.

What a catch, eh? lol

I get a pedicure about four times a year. I didn't til I was about 45. I get a facial every other month if budget allows . In my group of friends (around 50-65 years old, affluent enough to have had kids at private school but not rolling in it), it was our default group birthday gift to give a voucher for a mani/pedí or facial. That's because most of them considered it a treat, not a regular thing.
And doing it yourself is ultimate self care! I wouldn't bother if I had to do it myself.