How To Pamper Yourself On A Budget

12 Ways to treat yourself without breaking the bank

You do not have to break a bank to feel good and pamper yourself after a long week. A do-it-yourself spa day or a relaxing evening at home is a great way to set aside some of your time without spending a lot of money. It is also possible to spend time with others or by yourself around town without bringing along your wallet. Here are twelve cheap ways to pamper yourself without consuming time or using a lot of money.

Set Aside Time For Yourself

You might not have time for a whole day of pampering; however, even fifteen minutes or an hour is enough to indulge. Put aside any distractions such as a computer, phone, or work and let your family and friends know that you will not be available for a short time. Sometimes you have to get away by yourself to help in clearing your mind and take some good, deep breaths away from anything that is stressing you. As you settle for a relaxing activity or sit down for some alone time, take fifteen minutes to stretch your body so that you feel rested.

Exfoliate Your Skin With A Homemade Body Scrub

You will save money by creating your own coffee or sugar scrub to freshen up your skin. Simply scrub off any dead skin cells. Using a mixture of natural ingredients like sugar, canola oil, and essential oils are better for your skin compared to commercial brands and cheaper.  An easy, repeatable recipe mixes one cup of sugar, about a third cup of oil, and twenty drops of essential oil. These measurements can be tweaked based on your preference for oil content or fragrance. Then apply the mixture anywhere on your body like face, elbows, feet, and hands. You can replace coffee grounds for sugar, and coconut oil is another excellent moisturizer instead of canola. Citrus zest is an inexpensive and equally potent ingredient to substitute for essential oils. Be cautious, though, since these ingredients can be abrasive if you have sensitive pores or skin. For a personalized and fun, add body glitter or edible food coloring to the mixture.

Soak in a warm bath

If you have a bathtub, top up with water that is as hot as your body can handle. Add a quarter cup of Epsom salts and drop in anywhere from ten to twenty drops of essential oils while filling the tub for a homemade soak. To have a complete spa upshot, apply a hair and face mask before you soak so that you can wash away everything off in the shower. Another cheap method is to add a can of coconut milk, twenty drops of lavender oil, and one tablespoon of almond oil to your bath water afterward. Make your bubble bath with four ounces of castile soap or liquid mixed into four cups of water, three ounces of pure vegetable glycerin, and several drops of a liquid scent. Mix them in a sealable container and add them to the tub while it is filing.

Call a friend for companion

Is there somebody you haven’t talked to in a while? If you are a mom, put the kids down for a nap or a quiet time and give the person a call. Save it for the weekend if necessary, and make your husband take care of the kids for a while. You can then enjoy a long chat that is mostly about your friendship, not your kids. Feel happy since you have remembered old parts of yourself and gotten a verbal hug from an old friend.

Coconut oil& lavender+fuzzy socks

Generally, the average person takes around 7,500 steps per day. All of this running around and walking can leave us with some pretty sad, sore feet. Give your feet some pampering before bed by slathering them with coconut oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil, and then put on a pair of thick, fuzzy socks. The coconut oil will help keep your feet smooth, and the lavender essential oil will help you relax and fall asleep. You can also use aloe vera infused fuzzy socks.

Treat yourself with a massage

While massage is considered part of taking care of yourself in most Asian societies, it is still regarded as a luxury in the United States. There are many high-end services in the US, for instance, Soothe, a new service, promises to send you a five-star masseuse within one hour, beginning at $99.

Nevertheless, if you are inclined to travel a bit and search, there are many better options available in terms of price and variety of service. For instance, a Massage Envy membership is only $59 per month and incorporates a one hour massage per month. They have more than one thousand locations across the United States, so there is a high chance there is one near you. Massage Luxe day spa introductory pieces begin at only $39, for the first time customers, for an hour, another great deal you can take advantage of.

Another excellent option is visiting the Chinatown area of your city if you stay in a major town. You can get excellent Thai or Qui Gong massages for $40 or less in relatively expensive cities such as LA, NYC, and Miami by going to a local hole in the wall massage parlor. Believe it or not, while you might get all the luxuries of a high-end spa, the masseuses are excellently trained and very thorough.

Have a cup of coffee or tea

You might do this every morning; however, do you really enjoy it? Set out to enjoy it this time. Select a nice-flavored beverage instead of the plain old usual stuff. Take it to a comfortable spot and sip it and enjoy it. It is not about getting up, getting your caffeine fix, or simple hydration. No, it is all about a quiet moment with a soothing, delicious drink.

Hair and nail salon

Spend $15 to $30 on hair styling from a quality place. The spring and confidence in your step you get from looking good are priceless. A good stylist can understand what you want and make you look younger and give you a better look, thus making you feel more confident. This carries through to everything you do all through the day. You can try Fantastic Sam’s hair salons. There are more than 1,250 of them located all through the country, and they encourage you to bring a photograph of a hairstyle you love. The stylist will then make adjustments based on your type of hair, the shape of your face, and other factors.

Use hot towels to open your pores and relax your muscles

Take a hand towel or washcloth and soak it in water, then ring out the excess water. Pop the towel in the microwave for about sixty seconds and wrap it around your face, feet, hands, or anywhere you feel tense or sore. Steaming your face opens up the pores to prepare for a face mask, and the warmth will give you the spa feeling.

Eating out

There are various excellent deals for dining out. This might include happy hour discounts if you can arrive early to special nights where children eat free. For instance, Red Lobster happy hour prices are incredibly discounted as opposed to their regular prices. Monday through Friday from three to six in the evening, they offer $5 apps and $3 drinks, which is deeply discounted compared to their regular prices (where applications are $9.99 and up).

If you have kids, various places allow them to eat free as long as you order one adult meal. The catch is that you have to ensure you go on the right night. One of the best deals out there to save money is at the IHOP restaurant. For kids who are twelve and younger, you will receive a free kid’s meal with an adult entree from four to ten at night. TGIF and RedRobin have similar deals; however, you will need to check with your local chain to see which days they offer.

Give your body some love by exercising after a long day

Wind down by taking a jog, walk, or take your bike through your neighborhood to work up a good sweat. A little exercise or yoga is a great way to detox and get ready for a hot shower or spa night before bed. Bring your friend or a dog along if you want a motivation or companion buddy.

Take a short drive to an attractive location

Make the most of a day and drive to a nearby park, overlooking to enjoy nature or a body of water. Double-check that you have adequate gas for a round trip and then stream out of town towards your destination. If you do not want to be concerned about filling up gas, you can take a quick walk on a nearby trail. Ensure you drive with the windows down to enjoy the wind or crank up some tunes. Do not forget to pack enough water and lunch. Pampering yourself does not have to be costly, and the overall benefit you can get to your self-confidence and physical health is immeasurable. Whereas it makes sense to save money per month and live within your means, it is also essential to have a budget for yourself and allow yourself to spend a little bit of money guilt-free per month.