7 Best Frugal Self Care Ideas On A Budget

Stress directly affects the body and mind and can cause headaches and exhaustion. Some believe it can also cause weight gain, muscle and joint aches, and diseases. Self-care can help.

Debt is stressful.  When you are always wondering how you will pay the electric bill because your checking account is in the negative again, you are stressed.  

Or that beautiful SUV you drive every day makes you choose whether to pay its payment or buy groceries, so you just put those groceries on the credit card.

Getting out of debt is also stressful. Because you have to restructure your mind, habits, and behaviors, it might be fun for some at first.  

Having long-term goals can be challenging.  Getting out of debt is not usually something that can be done in two days, two weeks, or even two months.  We, as consumers, have racked up too much debt to receive instant gratification from this one.

You must be dedicated and intense about your goals to get out of debt.  That means a long-term commitment.

Time For Self-Care

We need to take care of ourselves, whether we are working a deadline at work, taking care of littles, dealing with an aging parent or grandparent, or getting out of debt. We need a way to decompress regardless of whether we are a mom, a dad, a partner, or single.

Taking care of yourself will make you a better human. It will allow you to relax for a minute, enjoy being you, and return to the task with vigor and enthusiasm!

Self-care doesn’t need to cost a lot.  It may not need to cost anything, or it could cost a couple of Benjamin’s.  No matter the price tag, it is a necessary component of life.  Self-care needs to be a priority.

Financial Wellness

Financial wellness, for me, means less about the actual budget and bill paying and more about your relationship with money.  How do you feel about money?  Do you think that it is the root of all evil?  Do you believe in “mo’ money, mo’ problems”?

Or do you welcome money into your life, feel grateful for every penny, and choose to use it for small, kind tasks?

Financial Wellness, for me, is not about having a lot of money.  It is about being grateful for what you do have and being able to manage it with grace.  If you were to control someone else’s money for them, would you do it the same way you handle yours?

Take the time to care for yourself, be less stressed about your money, and have a calm mind to continue your debt-free journey.

Favorite Self-Care Ideas For Under $3

Coffee At Home

My favorite is a few hours at home with nobody around but a good book and a cup of coffee.  De-stressed and blissful.

Cost $0

Get A Pedicure

There is not much that can beat a good foot rub for me.  I will forgo meat for days if it means having money for a pedicure.  Many places around me offer a pedicure for $25, and they may not be the best spas, but they do a pretty good job.

Cost, with tip, $30

Sit Quietly Near the Water

Water has a fantastic effect on the mind, whether at the ocean, near a pool, a lake, or a river.  It doesn’t even matter what the weather is. If you can find water and sit for a while, you will feel renewed mind, body, and spirit.

Cost $0

Lunch With A Friend

Have lunch with someone who renews your spirit and gives you faith in humanity.  Think about the kindest person you know and ask them to meet for lunch.  Decide that there will be no negative talk the entire time.  There will be no shop talk or complaints.  Just talk about all the good in the world, laugh a little, and chat about hopes and dreams.  You will leave feeling great!

Cost under $30

A Movie With Someone You Love

It can be your husband, child, or dog, but curl up on the couch, find a happy movie on Netflix, pop some popcorn, or open the chips and dip. Just give yourself a couple of hours to not think about anything else except how funny Melissa McCarthy is!

Cost $0

Coffee Out

I love bookstores.  I love bookstores more if they also serve coffee.  If I need to escape for a few hours, I will head to Barnes and Noble, grab a Grande Soy Latte, and run my fingers through the books.  Something very peaceful and calming to my soul about the smell of coffee and books all mixed: grab a couple of magazines and flip through them while finishing up.  It’s ok.  They don’t mind!

Cost $4.89

A Walk

Most towns or neighboring towns have a great walking path.  I have one to the north and one to the south, about twenty minutes from me.  Getting outside when you feel stressed or anxious and breathing the outside air is beautiful.  Take an audiobook (rented from the library), a podcast, some music, or nothing, and lose yourself.  Allow yourself not to think. Let go of negativity and fill your mind and heart with joy for that hour.  Just walk out your front door if you don’t have a walking path.

Cost $0

Final Thoughts

Taking time for self-care is essential no matter what stage of life you are in and what challenges you have ahead of you.  Self-care will help you create a state of financial wellness for yourself and your thought about money.

Financial wellness is the entire package, and self-care directly relates to that. If stress-free, you can create financial wellness for yourself and your family.

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