28 Ways to Treat Yourself Without Spending Money

You worked hard this week, your boss stressed you too much, or your customers were a pain in your back were the reasons you spent money to treat yourself every day for the past weeks.

Treating yourself doesn’t mean you need to dine out all the time, buy a new dress or a new pair of shoes.

The truth is you deserve to treat yourself and it’s also important that you do but that doesn’t mean you have to open your wallet every time you do it.

More than 60% of Americans can’t come up with $500 in case of an emergency, so finding ways to treat yourself for free is a good way to start saving.

You might just discover that at the end of the day you might feel even better when treating yourself without spending money.

Here’s a roundup of 28 ways to treat yourself without spending money.

1. Read, read and read again

Pick up a book and start reading. Set aside some time and catch up on those books you never ended or never got around reading. You read all the books in your home library? Borrow new ones from friends or go to the public library.

There are a lot of resources available for ebooks as well. I recommend you download the free Kindle App and sign up for the free trial of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. You’ll get 30 days to read any books for free.

2. Write

Sit down and do a brain dump. You can write about you awful day at work, the weather, maybe some fiction, start a gratitude journal or write down some powerful affirmations. Those might help you when you’re feeling low.

3.Create some art

Not a naturally born writer? Then use the pencil to draw.

Is drawing not one of your talents either? Start coloring! There are these cool adult coloring books that you can start having fun with and you don’t need to go out and spend money on them. You can find free adult coloring pages online.

You can even try your hand at painting. If you have kids just sneak they paint and brushes and create a state of art.

Abstract painting is the real deal so you can’t get it wrong.

4.Have fun with your kids

Get to the ground level and let it go… there is nothing better than remembering to be a kid. Those paints are theirs in the end,  so have fun together creating that state of the art. Play some game or take them out to the park.

5. Take a nap

You know what they say… you just need to sleep on it! Everything gets better after a good nap.

If the weather permits it,  sleep outside in a sunny place and breathe the fresh air.

6. Just do nothing

Treat yourself to a day off and do absolutely nothing. It might actually be easier said than done but try your best. Just sleep in and be lazy!

7.Meditate

Make time to meditate! Do you know your brain is working all the time?

Take the time to meditate and clear your thoughts, become more self-aware and gain inner peace.

It might be harder in the beginning but the multiple benefits of meditation are worth the try.

8.Exercise

Sometimes the motivation is not there but you will feel accomplished after you do it.

No need to pay for a gym membership; there are plenty of great fitness videos online. If you like to be in nature put on your running shoes and go for a run!

9.Take a Walk

Put on your hiking boots and go outside. Go for a stroll and give yourself some time to reflect and enjoy nature. Take a well-deserved break from technology by going out to enjoy the great outdoors. There is nothing better than breathing clean and fresh air. It’s easy, inexpensive and is beneficial to your mind and body.

10. Take a long bath

Take that music in the bathroom. A full tub of warm water can work wonders for your body. If you have the “bubble maker” kind of tub, how my son calls it, you have your own private mini spa.

11. Watch a movie

Snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie or two. Sometimes I do my nails while at it that way I know for sure I am not ruining my freshly painted nails.

12. Find free events around your city

Check your local newspaper or your cities website for free events around your town. No matter where you live there’s most likely a list of free events that you can find.  Take advantage of fairs, farmers market, free concerts or a discounted fee or free entry days at museums, theaters, galleries or zoos. Campuses are another source of free and fun events.

13. Listen to music

It has been scientifically shown that music can help you focus better and that is a good way of relaxing and improving your mood. If you have no spare time for music, background music has the same effect.

14.Declutter and organize

While this may feel like work, it is something might actually relax you and give you some time to put all those hectic thoughts in order.

Coming home to a clean and organized home after a long day at work is going to make you feel welcomed and help you relax.

You can get rid of all the stuff that you no longer use and make some extra money selling it, or maybe find some new uses for some of the things.  You might be lucky and find stuff that you even forgot you have.

15.At home spa day

In order to pamper yourself, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to do it. Have an at-home spa day, you can even call your girlfriends over and enjoy it together or even better have it with your significant other.

Create your own nourishing facial and hair mask with ingredients you already have in the pantry.

Soak your hands and feet and give yourself a mani-pedi.

Give yourself a foot massage or have your partner do it for you.

16. Make sure you enjoy some self-pleasure

That foot massage your partner was giving you can become more than just that.

17.Have a cup of your favorite tea

Have some quiet time with a cup of your favorite tea and maybe that book you didn’t get a chance to finish yet. You can also take out your finest china.

18. Eat that chocolate

Enjoy your favorite dessert, if you don’t exaggerate is ok even if you try to keep or lose weight.

19.Play night

Don’t ever forget to be a child, there is nothing better to keep you and make you feel young.

If you invest in entertainment make sure it has a good return. My husband loves to play board games and watch movies so our go to at home entertainment is either or.

We see the board games as great investments, some of the ones we have are out of print and in a couple of years, their price tripled. On top of the financial benefits, we are also having fun and will be a great way for our sons to develop logic, reasoning skills and improve their critical thinking.

You don’t have to buy brand new games you can find used ones at your local thrift store for a couple of dollars.  Libraries also have board games you can use.  

20.Craft

Even if you don’t have craft supplies at home you can still find some project that can be done with what you have around your house.

You can transform your clothing with just needle and thread or you can completely change the look of your old bitten up end table with just a spray can.

21.Practice some Yoga or learn a dance

Turn on Youtube, find a dance tutorial and let loose. It can be very fun and you are working out at the same time.

22.Practice your makeup skills

Find a makeup tutorial and try to learn a new makeup skill.

23. Do your hair and makeup

Nowhere to go? Still, do your hair and makeup, it will make you feel more beautiful and boost your confidence.

24.Volunteer

Treat yourself by helping those in need.

25.Redecorate

There is no need to go out and spend money to make your home like new. Move your furniture around, switch the decorations and wall art from one room to another.

Go online and find some awesome free printables for some new wall art.

26. Listen To a Podcast

Is there a certain subject that you are passionate about? More than likely you will be able to find a podcast about it. Just sit down, relax and enjoy it.

27.Have a Few Screenless Hours

Give your eyes and brain a break and get some worth relaxation.

28. Open a Saving Account

You need to make sure all the money you saved with all these new ideas to treat yourself has a safe place to go.

You are worthy of treating yourself but you are also worthy of being financially stable for years to come. Instead of treating yourself with small worthless stuff why not save the money to fulfill a bigger dream you have.

What is your favorite way to treat yourself without spending money?