15 Cheap Ways to Pamper Yourself

As people get busier and busier, it’s so important that we practice self-care. These 15 cheap ways to pamper yourself are perfect no matter what your budget is!

There’s really no other way to put this – as a society, we’re constantly busy. Jobs seem to expect you to be available more and more often, especially with everything you can do virtually now. Put that on top of raising kids, getting household chores done and working on your side hustle (yes you need one), and I’m already feeling exhausted!

But while constantly tending to the needs of others, we can often fall into the trap of neglecting ourselves. This happens to me all the time and you can feel it starting to wear on you.

Burnout is a real thing. Where you work so hard, never really taking time for yourself, and eventually you just burn out. This is how you get the Monday blues!

Your motivation dies. You snap at your family and friends. You have increased anxiety and depression.

By just taking some time out every day for ourselves, we can greatly reduce the chance of burnout. Note that you’ll also want to take days off (perhaps a vacation) periodically to completely disconnect from work (a social media detox is helpful too!).

It’s easy to tell yourself you don’t have time for self care (even though it is one of the habits of successful people). It’s also easy to say you just don’t have enough money for it (even though there are plenty of cheap ideas for a girl’s weekend!).

Well first off, you NEED to take the time for yourself. It’s the only way you can recharge…and you need to recharge to be better for your family, your boss, and/or your business.

And if you don’t think you have the money for some of these, here are some ways you can make $100 fast.

There are plenty of cheap AND Free ways to pamper yourself (you can even have a DIY spa day!) – you just have to think outside the box.

15 Cheap Ways to Pamper Yourself

1. Give yourself an Ayurvedic head massage

A few years ago I received a gift card for a massage at a day spa. I looked through the different massage options and decided I’d give the Indian head massage a try.

IT.WAS.AMAZING.

I left feeling so relaxed – all the tension in my head and neck was completely gone. Unfortunately, I can’t go to the day spa for a head massage every time I want a little pampering (I wish!) but the good news is, you can easily learn how to give yourself and Indian head massage.

2. Take a hot bath

Taking a little time to have a hot bath can do wonders for your stress levels. Play some relaxing music, apply a face mask, and take a nice, long soak.

Guys, this is for you too. Baths are not just for women. A nice long soak in a tub of warm water helps you to relax and can relieve muscle pain.

Try adding these bath bombs to my bath water – they’re just like Lush bath bombs but they’re about $2-$3 each instead of $7-$8 like Lush bath bombs. You can also use bath salts for detox and relaxation.

3. Go for a walk outdoors

Spending some time in nature is be a great way to pamper yourself. Taking a nice, long walk outside helps to clear the mind while also getting some exercise (which is another great way to de-stress).

Personally, a nice long walk in nature helps me feel immensely better and is my favorite way to disconnect. Turn your phone off when you go to avoid distractions. Just be.

Don’t fret if it’s too hard to get into nature. We used to live in the city a couple years ago, and I loved to take time to stroll the city streets as well.

4. Drink a cup of hot tea

Steal a moment of time in the morning before the kids have woken up, before leaving for the office, or in the evening after kids are in bed and you’re done working and make yourself a cup of hot, herbal tea.

Just relaxing for a few moments while sipping on herbal tea is a great way to relieve stress. Try this herbal tea sampler to find the one you like best (I like peppermint!).

5. Fuzzy socks + coconut oil & lavender

Fact: the average person takes around 7,500 steps per day, and with all the new fitness apps out there, many people are doing a lot more than this. Plus, you may have a job where you spend hours on your feet.

All of this running (standing) around 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 putting on a pair of thick, fuzzy socks (these aloe vera infused socks are awesome).

The coconut oil will help keep your feet smooth, and the lavender essential oil with help you relax and drift off to sleep (learn the benefits of essential oils).

6. Write in a journal

Take the time to write down your thoughts, feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams in a journal. It doesn’t have to be an expensive journal, although I do love writing in a pretty journal.

The point is that the simple act of putting your thoughts on paper can go a long way in helping to improve your mood and well-being. Try to make journaling a regular thing to maximize these benefits. These 52 journal prompts can help you get started.

7. Buy yourself a special treat at the grocery store

Next time you’re doing the grocery shopping, buy yourself one of your favorite treats. This could be a candy bar, a container of particularly juicy strawberries, a block of your favorite gourmet cheese… whatever catches your eye!

When you get home, hide it away somewhere where your partner and/or kids can’t find it. Then, when everyone is asleep in bed, take the time to savor your favorite treat in peace.

One of the benefits of working from home – doing this becomes exponentially easier! Just be careful not to overindulge in junk food because that can leave you feeling bad too!

8. Light a scented candle

Lighting your favorite scented candle can be an instant mood booster. Even better, is a wooden wick candle. When the wick burns, it makes a crackling sound reminiscent of a wood fire. I find the combination of the beautiful scent and the crackling sound to be incredibly relaxing.

9. Do some yoga stretches

I was first introduced to yoga several years ago and have practiced on and off. I’m definitely not an expert yogi but I do find that I feel a lot more relaxed after a yoga session.

Even if it’s just a quick 5 minutes first thing in the morning, it really does make a difference. Here are some excellent yoga videos for beginners that you can practice at home.

10. Give yourself a DIY pedicure

After you’ve gotten your feet nice and smooth from the fuzzy socks + coconut oil, give yourself a DIY pedicure. I love having brightly painted toenails, but I don’t love spending $40 or more on a pedicure. (Although I will sometimes splurge during the summer and get a pedicure.)

You can buy a Foot File for less than the cost of one salon pedicure, a bottle of your favorite nail polish, and pamper yourself with a DIY pedicure.

11. Put Together a Bouquet

There’s something about fresh flowers in the house that’s so… I don’t know… Peaceful? Refreshing? Glorious?

Sometimes I’ll buy flowers from my local grocery store (they’re often reduced on the weekend afternoons) but other times, I’ll just cut some flowers from my yard and put together a beautiful bouquet. Even if none of my plants are flowering, I will just cut some branches of greenery and display those – they can look as beautiful as flowers!

12. Make a DIY Face Mask

I try to do a face mask at least once a week, usually on a Sunday afternoon after a nice long shower (where I also detox my hair). And it’s best not to do stuff while your mask is on.

This is the time to relax. I put on some meditation music, either sit or lay in a quite room, and just let my mind go. Try these DIY masks, or buy one of these masks:

• Clarifying mask for acne prone skin – this mask may seem pricey, but it lasts forever!
• Brightening mask
• Moisturizing mask
• Anti-aging mask

13. Sign Up to Learn a New Skill

Basket weaving, coding, vlogging, hand lettering, Spanish… Learning something new is an excellent way to pamper yourself and achieve a feeling of accomplishment. And the good news is, with the advent of online courses in virtually everything you can think of, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, Udemy has thousands of online courses starting at as little as $15.

14. Binge Watch trashy TV

Ok, I have a confession – I LOVE trashy TV shows. I am a HUGE fan of shows like Gossip Girl, Dynasty and Real Housewives of Orange County. Don’t judge.

But I actually don’t get the time to watch much TV at all, so I try to set aside an hour once or twice a week to watch one of these shows. I know TV is not the healthiest way to spend time, but it’s a great way to slow your brain and get outside yourself.

So go ahead, don’t feel guilty about wasting an hour or two watching your favorite TV shows!

15. Get an Awesome Deal on a Massage or Facial

If you’ve got a bit of cash to spend on pampering yourself (but still want to save a ton) then check out Groupon deals on everything from massages and facials to restaurants and hotels. I’ve found deals at 50% off on Groupon!

It’s so important that we take the time to look after ourselves.

I encourage you to take the time to pamper yourself every single week – even something as small as sitting down for a moment, relaxing, and lighting a scented candle can make a big difference in your overall well-being.

What do you do to pamper yourself? Leave a comment below and let me know!