AIBU to ask for small free/cheap things that cheer you up.

[IDinnaKen]

Bearing in mind that the price of pretty much everything is shooting up, things like a favourite chocolate bar or coffee from the shops as a treat, or a relaxing soak in the bath with some fancy bubble might be out of reach for many soon.

What are some free/cheap things to look forward to?
How are people building up resilience to what will come especially by winter?

I really hope this doesn’t come across as insensitive, but…In all honesty, I feel like so many people I know (myself included) haven’t had to overthink budgets and spending. Not that we live a lavish lifestyle, far from it. But we are comfortable enough to not worry about being able to afford to pay the bills. (Perhaps it is a generational thing… as we haven’t had to struggle to afford things like previous generations.) Now, so many things are changing, we will have to adapt but I'm worried that I won’t be able to enjoy even simple pleasures.

Planting seeds and watching them grow.
Decluttering is the best 'free' thing I do to feel good
Going to the library to read magazines etc

• reading. Kindle & my work has an amazing library for free, up to 5 books a month. Love it!
• walks.

Moving things around in the house ,changing the look of the room.
A good clean .
A lovely candle ,especially a bargain from homesense.
A bargain in general !
A free or 99p book on kindle or from a charity shop.
Looking at pinterest seasonal ie autumn /christmas .

White company shower gel 🥰

@neverwakeasleepingbaby i don’t think that’s free or very cheap!

I love new socks - they just feel so lovely
Cooking a nice meal with a glass of wine in hand
Nice, smelling vanilla candles
Gardening
Body Combat exercise class

A swim somewhere outdoors, depending on where you live. A walk or bike ride with a flask of something hot. Lying on grass with a book. Early night.

Yeah true but it's not very very expensive. It's £9 from Bicester village (obviously lots of caveats about £9 being a lot/not a lot of money to some people)

Watching the Sun rise over the river on the dog walk.

Walk along the coast.

Savouring small pleasant things/experiences that are already there. By which I mean: if, for example, I have a nice-smelling soap, every time I wash my hands I sniff it, really taking in the perfume and noticing the experience of the smell and my enjoyment of it for 20 seconds or so. Or I look for lovely colours in the sky, trees, curtains in other people's windows, whatever and stop to enjoy them for a moment, instead of thinking 'nice' and then rushing on. It's not about thinking I SHOULD be grateful or I SHOULD appreciate this. It's simply noticing when something tiny but nice happens, for just a few seconds longer than I normally would.

Clean sheets on the bed, going for a bath, shaving your legs then getting into said clean bed.

reading a good book.

Sitting on a top deck of a bus and looking at all the shops as you go past.

Listening to a favourite piece of music.

A £1 bunch of daffodils when they're in season.

A walk - particularly good when the cold nips your nose but it's dry.

An hour spent on the phone gabbing with an old friend.

Sitting on a bench watching the world go past and making up life stories for the people going about their day.

Patting a dog.

Sniffing a baby (clean, not shitey)

Growing plants from cuttings (even better if you can swap them for others).

Reading a book - library, overdrive ebooks from library, £1 from charity shop or a swap with a friend.

Dancing round the kitchen and singing to volume to ABBA.

Playing cards for kudos, not cash

🤦🏽‍♀️

I’m a massive saddo - I love sticking an “ambience” on YouTube and sitting with a coffee with it on in the background. I recently discovered it when searching for autumnal things ! Cosy book/coffee shop vibes with relaxing jazz, bliss!

Spotify
Swapping books and magazines with friends.
A nice walk.
Sitting in the garden or a picnic weather permitting.
Brass Bands in the park on a Summer Sunday afternoon it's free.
Lying in bed relaxing.
Might think of some more.

A lovely first cup of coffee in the morning.

A cuddle from our rather distant cat on a day she loves us.

Freshly cut lawn

Playing a board game as a family

Homemade chicken soup

All cheap or free but lovely things

A real fire in the winter

Frosty walks in the woods

Walk and catch up with a good friend

Spending an evening with dh catching up on the week/ day

Forgot these ones

An iced tea or coffee (made at home so not too expensive).

Picking brambles that grow wild locally.

A nice stretch.

Free treats from Olio!

A cup of tea in a proper cup and saucer with a biscuit. An autumn walk with a flask of hot chocolate or coffee. Eating breakfast in the garden. Lighting a candle. Painting my nails. Having a good sort out of a handbag /makeup bag/ drawer etc.

I’ve just found a hedgerow full of sloes on a dog walk. Also found elderberries.

Im going to go back for a forage at the weekend and have a go at making some slow gin. Already have a bottle or two of gin from my Birthday so hardly any outlay !

Also I’m lucky enough to live near the sea so I love to take my book down to the beach with a flask of coffee and some biscuits!!

A leisurely visit to library, then selecting my books for taking home.
Yoga with Adriene videos.
Yoga Nidra with Ali Boothroyd videos- under a blanket, in a dark room- major relaxation!
Inviting a pal over for tea and watching/talking over a movie.

Having a cuddle with my cats.

Making some nice thick chips in the air fryer and dousing them with lots of salt and vinegar.

Having a nice cup of tea (and managing to avoid one of said cats sticking her head in the mug).

Finding a good book at our local free little library.

Writing a shopping list in my best handwriting (strangely satisfying).

Watching the butterflies on my flowers.

Whilst out on a walk spotting cats out on their walks.

Play the music collections you had as a teenager and see which tunes have stood the test of time.

Painting my toenails. I don’t know why, but just looking down and seeing bright toes makes me smile. They’re currently painted orange. The rest of my wardrobe is generally quite plain so a splash of colour always cheers me up a bit