5 Ways To Treat Yourself That Won’t Break The Bank (Part 2)

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:2-3

Hello, everyone! Sorry for the late post, but I just moved into my college apartment on the 18th and have taken a bit to settle in and get used to the schedule and environment here at a new university. But now that I feel acclimated, I’m back to posting and interacting with you all!
Now that the semester has started, I know that self-care has been my favorite way to maintain my sanity, but I cannot always afford the nice self-care stuff or experiences, so I’m always trying to come up with cheap ways to make me feel special.

If you like this kind of content and want more ideas like these, check out my first post of this series, 5 Ways To Treat Yourself That Won’t Break The Bank.

Use some scented bath salts or bombs

I have not been secretive about the fact that baths are my favorite way to unwind and are possibly my favorite thing in the world, period. Nothing is quite as soothing as a tub full of welcoming warm water, and that experience is only elevated by some herbal, relaxing bath salts or a colorful, foamy bath bomb. And the best part is that these components will make each bathing experience unique in terms of scents and textures!

My favorite part of taking a bath is leaning back in the water and letting myself be weightless, floating in the water, and letting my mind drift wherever it wants. It helps a lot with anxiety, so if you have had a particularly stressful day, this is the method I recommend most out of the five on this list.

Take a walk through a park or trail

I know that you might be thinking, “Belen! That is not at all relaxing!”. And while most of the time I would agree with you, a walk through a park or nature trail is not what I picture doing to ease stress, but, if you haven’t noticed yet… FALL IS UPON US! It is almost the perfect weather to go on exploratory walks without sweating your skin off or getting twenty mosquito bites.

Being out in nature is very soothing. Seeing the animals in the park going about their day is strangely amusing and therapeutic. You can bring a book, journal, or even a full picnic to enjoy the beautiful natural landscape.

Buy a scented candle

I cannot tell you how FUN candles are. The way the scent fills the room and the flames bask the atmosphere in a mellow light is just addicting. I, for one, love to stare at the flame as it dances on the wick. In addition, it provides a nice distraction from constantly thinking about assignments, grades, and to-do lists.

I recommend going to a candle store instead of just buying a candle off of Amazon because half of the fun is smelling all the different candles before deciding which one will be coming home with you. But, of course, be careful where you leave the burning candle, especially if you live in a house frequently or permanently occupied by pets or small children.

Buy that one item you’ve been eyeing

I know online spending is not synonymous with cheap ways to treat yourself, but just hear me out on this one, okay? We all have those Amazon items we either saw on TikTok and added to our wishlist or just have been wanting for a while but haven’t worked up the nerve to hit the “purchase” button for. And hopefully, at least one of these kinds of items on your list is under $30 (shipping included).

It is like getting a present for yourself because you get to “unwrap” it once it arrives at your house. However, ensure you are not using this self-care method frequently because those few orders of cheap items can add up to loooong bills from Amazon.

Meet up with a friend

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of school or work that you forget to interact intentionally with your friends, especially if you generally have to go out of your way to see them. Reach out to one of your friends whom you have not seen yet! Invite them out for coffee or lunch. If you tell each other your price range for the get-together, you can ensure that no one is spending more money than they planned.

And, hey, the dollar meal exists for a reason, people. And you can always cook something for both of you and meet up at a local park. This idea is more self-care for the soul, rekindling a connection you might have been neglecting. It might drain you socially, but you will feel lighter and less lonely after meeting up with one of your favorite people.

That’s the list! I hope you enjoyed this sequel to my previous post from a while back. Do you have any cheap self-care ideas that I didn’t mention in either part of this series? Tell me about them in the comments!

Please like, comment, and subscribe if you connected with my post and if would like to see more of my crazy, exciting journey through life with Christ and mental illnesses. Every interaction I receive here means a lot. Thank you, and God bless you!

Until next time!