Small (inexpensive) things that make you feel happy.

[JudgementalCat]

Slightly inspired by the keyring thread: what small things do you have that make you feel more put-together? I have two:
• a small pencil case, so when I go to meetings I'm not scrabbling about in the bottom of my bag, and
• I got rid of my tatty old shopping bags and bought some in nice colours with ridiculous 70s patterns on them. They always make me feel happy when I use them.

I think after escaping a long and unhappy marriage, I am now enjoying finding joy in the small things.

Tidied wardrobe last night, was great to see it clean!
Also wasn’t raining lovely and was great to see a bit of spring!
reading a great book at the mo and have an interesting one on audio from the library for the car

I have a gorgeous mug that I drink a lovely hot cup of tea slowly on a weekend morning which makes me really happy!

Making a huge batch of winter soup (carrots, onion, celery, swede, spices, stock, red lentils), portioning it up and putting it in the freezer. It costs almost nothing, tastes great and keeps me going for ages. I enjoy spending time in the kitchen listening to the radio too.

I have fancy mugs / glasses that I drink all of my drinks from, it’s such a simple pleasure and they look so good - just makes me happy!

Maybe I should have specified Style & Beauty in my original post... 😆

I buy myself flowers, I love having a fresh bunch in the kitchen and it always makes me smile. Makes my kitchen look a bit brighter too. I currently have yellow roses that cost £2.69 from Lidl

@JudgementalCat absolutely with you on the pencil case - I also keep my work keys in it.

Like another poster a nice mug for morning tea - bone china.

A bubble bath - they don't need to be expensive bubbles - radox will do.

Cat spoons like this (they are much cheaper from Amazon). I have a couple in silver and blue which hang on my utensil jar used for salt and special coffee stirring! They make me smile!
Gold Cat Spoon

A tinted lip balm is good. Even just a Vaseline or Burt’s Bees. A small act of self care and a bit of colour to the lips makes me feel a tad more put together.

Feeling clean-hands, teeth and hair in particular.
If I think I have done a decent job on my make up.
Looking at my healthy (after years of athlete's foot) toenails.
Agree with the tidy wardrobe

I’ve just bought the mouse keyring after reading that thread! I’ve got a leather slim pencil case. Good kitchen roll brings me joy.

I’ve had this plain summer dress from Boden for about twelve years. I get tons of compliments when I wear it. The colour, style and length all work for me I guess. A stylist would probably know why - I don’t!

I think this meets the “inexpensive” brief in the OP when cost per wear is considered.

A walk in the sun. Big coat, comfy shoes, big sunnies, headphones on and podcast playing.
It's a welcome reset to my day.

However the best I feel all week is the drive home from the gym. From an overweight and unfit couch potato to a healthy weight and fitter person, I have carved out my gym time as proper self care. 20mins weights, 20 mins cardio, 10mins sauna, 5 mins swim, 15 mins steam room, 15 mins jacuzzi. Then 10 mins everything shower, lotion and potion, under eye masks and hair dry. I walk out of there 4x a week feeling Amazing. it's a complete bargain at £27pm.

My leopard skin scrunchie. I've always just used a basic bobble to put my hair into a pony tail. Adding a silky leopard skin scrunchie over the top makes me look instantly glam.

I have a Paul Smith swirl pen that I bought in Bicester village years ago for £30.
I love using it.

Nice socks. Ones that are comfy and match my outfit.

🧦

Crikey! Where is this gym at £27!!!!

Jo Malone Bath Oil. I think a small bottle is about £20 and lasts for ages. I love it.

I second the nice shopping bags!

Getting my nails painted - it’s £22 and lasts ten days. If I paint them myself they’re chipped by days end.

New knickers - I’ve got a wardrobe full £500+ outfits and realised I was often wearing faded, tatty underwear. Now I refresh regularly. Normally just M&S but I love having all new pretty knickers.

multiples of basics - doesn’t so much make me happy as less stressed. There’s a couple of things I use all the time (eye drops, lip gloss, tweezers/spiral threader, cuticle oil) and i have 4-5 sets they live in my car/home desk/office desk/handbag/gym bag so I’m never without.

In same vein I also have two separate toiletry bags for gym/weekend away and longer trips. Completely separate to my day to day stuff. I can just grab and go.

Flowers in my home and nice candles do it for me

A sheer lipstick from & Other Stories that was half price. It’s no more than a tinted lip balm but comes in a gold tube that always lifts me.

Pack of two custard tarts if I go into M&S and eating them both during the day with a cup of tea. Lovely treat. 😁

Organising my wardrobe into wearable outfits.
Finding something amazing and cheap in a charity shop.

S&B ones;
Honing down my make up to things which I know I’ll use until they’re finished:
Mac Teddy eyeliner and a Mac matching eyeshadow
Urban Decay Nildew eyeliner and eyeshadow
All below £25 each and last ages, and it means I can be ready really quickly as I only have two colours to choose from.

Bubble bath - a big bottle of Simple unscented lasts ages and is super bubbly

Uniqlo cord crescent shaped bag - looks good, fits loads in, easy to carry- I love it

Second Burts Bees lip balms, but also would add Clinique Black Honey (and they do a small lip balm sized version now for sticking in your coat pocket)

The Ordinary rosehip oil

Not S&B

Jugs full of daffodils

Premier Inn pillows

Sunshine after weeks of rain

An hour alone in a good hipster cafe with a book, coffee and cake