Ways to save on self care

When it comes to saving money, it’s easy to pinpoint the biggies – eating out and mindless spending on Amazon. But it’s hard to know how to save money while trying to practice the art of self-care. I mean practicing good money management is a form of self-care so it doesn’t make sense to overspend. But what does make sense? How do you practice self-care on a budget? Here are a few ways to save on self-care to help stretch any budget.

1. DIY Mani and Pedi

Okay, I know this falls under the “self-care” category, and so you may freak out but hear me out. The thing is, the last time I went into a nail salon, it cost me more than triple what it used to. It had been a decade since I had my nails done, and I had a gift card, so I thought I’d treat myself. Uh, well, even with the gift card, I spent way more than I had planned. I don’t know when getting your nails done became so expensive, but dang. 

Anyway. I so I started watching a ton of YouTube tutorials on DIY manis and pedis and I bought the starter kit from Olive and June (which was way cheaper than what I paid last time at the nail salon). Here’s the deal. I know that getting your nails done is a treat. However, if you’re trying to save money so you can pay off debt or build up an Emergency Fund, it’s a temporary sacrifice to DIY. And honestly, it’s not nearly as difficult as I had convinced myself for years it was. It takes a little practice and patience, but it’s totally doable.

2. DIY Dye Your Hair

Did I just give you a heart attack? Once again, I know this one is hard, but honestly, getting my hair colored at the salon was costing us a FORTUNE! I went 10 years without dying my hair, and then in 2019 decided to try Balayage. I totally fell in love with it! However, the last time I got it done – with a tip was nearly $400. 😱 And that was it. I just couldn’t justify it anymore. But even having the stylist just color my hair – a basic color with no highlights was still over $100 with tip. It was just too much. So I went back to box dye. And you know what? No one – and mean literally no one has even noticed that I stopped having it colored in the salon. 

3. DIY Date Night

Okay, so my husband and I have been married for 14 years, and we have three kids. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to make date nights happen. I also know that sometimes we don’t have the brain power to come up with a fun date night – especially one that fits the current budget. So for our anniversary this year, I bought us the Naughty and Nice Bundle from The Adventure Challenge. It’s seriously so much fun! Granted, not all of the date night ideas are “cheap,” but it’s easier to plan date nights and fit them into the budget when they are already planned for you! I highly recommend this bundle and a Polarid-style camera (I bought one off Amazon instead of getting the one TAC offered). It’s seriously so much fun! 

4. Reduce Your Mental Load

This one’s a little different as it isn’t a DIY, and it’s not something that’s talked a lot about in the world of self-care. However, this one is super important, especially if you’re in a really busy season of life or you’re a parent. It’s so important to put into place systems that help reduce your mental load. For me, I didn’t even realize how important this was until my 22-year-old car had to go to the shop for 3 weeks. I ended up borrowing various friends’ cars, and something that I had not even realized was how my car trunk organizer, which I’ve had for YEARS, saves my mental load.

You see, my trunk organizer has sunscreen, bug spray, a picnic blanket, emergency snacks, plastic grocery bags (for wet, dirty, or otherwise soiled clothes or shoes), spare hats, and of course, jumper cables. The funny thing is I didn’t realize how much I depended upon that organizer to keep things out of my head. Every time I took my kids to the park to Bible study or to a friend’s baseball game, I was constantly trying to remember all.the.things. That’s because I didn’t have my car, which usually had all of these things in it. 

The point is – to come up with systems that reduce your mental load. So whether that’s a trunk organizer with all the things you may need while out and about or its rail hook system that houses all the backpacks/purses/dog leashes/etc. that you could need. Or even if it’s something entirely different – put it together today. It will save your sanity, and to me, that’s the best kind of self-care. 

5. Getting Sleep

Did you just laugh? I know, I know. It’s tough to get the right amount of sleep. If you’re a parent, you’re probably kept up at night by at least one kid. And even if you’re not a parent, you might be dealing with a lot of stress so the thought of getting enough rest is crazy to you. But hear me out. It is so vital to your overall health – not just your mental health and self-care but physical health as well. So here are my best tips for getting enough sleep:

• Brain dump. If you struggle with racing thoughts and all.the.things.you.have.to.do then I recommend doing a brain dump. Keep a notebook and pencil by your bed and “dump” out everything on the paper that’s running through your head. Doesn’t matter what it is. Write it down. This will clear the mental clutter in your mind allowing you to rest more peacefully.
• Sleep aid. I personally love using magnesium lotion before bed. It helps me fall asleep easier and stay asleep. And the best part? I can use the lotion on my children as well. 
• Stretching. Stretching before bed has been shown to help relax muscles and release stress before going to bed. 
• Blackout curtains/eye mask. Black-out curtains are amazing I can’t recommend getting some enough. I promise your sleep will improve if you do. Also, make sure to keep a comfy but effective eye mask in your suitcase for when you travel and don’t have access to your blackout curtains. 

6. Be willing to ask.

I know that I’m writing this right now in the middle of summer, but Christmas is only 21 weeks away, so it’ll be here before we know it. And I’m guessing you have at least one birthday every year, right? Well, how about instead of telling your mother-in-law you don’t need anything for Christmas, you instead tell her what you need. Want a gift card to your favorite salon or spa? Ask for it. Need new bath towels? Be willing to request it.  This not only saves you money but allows your loved ones to give you what you actually want or need instead of scratching their heads trying to read your mind. 

Saving money on self-care doesn’t always have to be about DIYing something. Sometimes it’s just a willingness to be real with others and allow them to love on you. 

What are some ways that you save on self-care?

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