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How to “Treat Yo Self” on a Budget

  • March 12, 2019
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  • Budget Girl
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Everyone’s probably seen those “Treat Yo Self” memes and gifs from the show Parks and Recreation.

The characters escape from bureaucratic lives annually with a “Treat Yo Self” Day every year, where they go out shopping and regardless of price, give themselves everything they want.

Unfortunately the characters buy these treats with credit cards and debt and they cannot at all afford the things that they go purchasing. So it’s really not a good thing to mirror.

So I don’t recommend you ever do that. BUT I absolutely think you can and should treat yourself occasionally and have some ways to do it very cheaply.

Treat yo self graphic

Honestly I’m not amazing at self care. I don’t get spa treatments or my nails done, but there are a few areas, where I do like to treat myself within my budget.

Reading

The first thing I do to treat myself is I take time to read… a lot.

I’m reading at least a hundred books this year and that requires a serious time commitment. I want to read because it expands my mind, it makes me more imaginative, I get to learn things from people who have come before me who are super knowledgeable that I never get to meet in person and also I just love it. But if I don’t take the time for it and actually dedicate the time for it, I won’t do it.

So what I do is I actually schedule myself time to read. Every single night before bed, I take my e-reader and I read it while I’m falling asleep. I also download audiobooks to my phone, which I listen to while I am getting ready for work, on my commute, on my lunch break, and when I’m running errands. I also am able to do this very frugally by not paying for about 98% of the books that I read.

If you’d like to learn how to read for pretty much anything you want for completely free and all the best tips and hacks on how to get like multiple library cards and get on holds list and do all the stuff so that you always have something wonderful to read available to you, check out my “I’m Reading a Hundred Books” video because I’ve got all the hacks.

Quality Coffee and Tea

I like to invest in good coffee and tea, I love it and I save money by making it exactly the way I like it, at home.

I go to the coffee aisle in the grocery store or purchase it from World Market or slightly more specialty shops. I love a good pecan coffee or seasonally flavored brew.

I make it in my espresso maker that I got for $5 at the thrift store with all the add-ins. I add pump foam creamer and regular creamer, and sometimes a little bit of whipped cream on top.

I’ve also recently gotten into tea.

So, I actually went to a specialty shop recently and spent $30 on three different kinds of tea. Pricy, I know, but I’ve really really been enjoying brewing those — especially at night. I add some honey and milk and it’s a really nice way to wind down at night.

Plants

I buy all the plants that I can afford. It’s actually probably too many plants at this point, but I love them. I’m a total millennial — no kids, no house, but I have a lot of plants and I really enjoy them.

I love the ritual of going around to every single one every weekend and watering them, dusting them and generally being an insane person. This is a huge place where I treat myself because often these plants are not the cheapest in the world.

I do have not a plant budget, but I have a personal budget and this is one of the things that brings me the most joy to spend on.

Pictured: Joy

Baths

I recently got a really cool bubble wand from Lush because I just can’t abide paying $8 for a bath bomb. I just won’t do it and I’ve been too lazy to make my own. They can be used for about eight to ten baths and they give this really nice foam. I’m a big fan of a scalding hot bath and reading.

Sometimes I will do a face mask or a hair mask while I’m in the bath and it really makes me feel pampered and also obviously majorly budget-friendly.

Bidet

I got a bidet – this is just a frugal life upgrade, that also treats my booty better and has the fun extra of making my periods more pleasant.

Mine was $35, and was supposed to be very easy to install. It also potentially allows you to save money on toilet paper.

My boyfriend Jacob ended up taking apart the entire toilet to install this thing, but eventually it got put it back together and works. We did have to take a trip to the hardware store for some like better wrenches.

It’s very nice and you end up feeling a lot cleaner. To clarify for those of you who don’t know kind of how a bidet works; you do still use some toilet paper to like kind of dry yourself off but it’s not as much because you’ve been kind of cleaned. Some people use a towel, I just use toilet paper.

My favorite part about it though is that when you’re on your period, it kind of clean things – cleans things out down there for you and it’s very refreshing and I actually tend to get a little like… this is TMI but things tend to get a little like agitated down there for me you know and for a lot of women I know it does when you’re taking in and out tampons and menstrual cups or whatever you use, things just get a little agitated and when you’re also like wiping down there during that time, it’s not fun, it gets a little rough, bidet helps with that, you don’t have to use as much toilet paper, much more clean feeling, you don’t feel like you’re walking around bloody all the time.

You can get this one on Amazon.

Moisturizer

Once I turned 30 I decided I really needed to get serious about moisturizing, but I was a little overwhelmed with the sheer number and prices of most lotions.

So, I tried a bunch of stuff and these are the things that are kind of working for me. I tried out. I currently use:

  • The Ordinary’s “Buffet” serum
  • Aveeno Positively Radiant daily moisturizer
  • Aveeno night cream

I very rarely wear makeup and I feel like this generally helps me with keeping nice looking skin without it. I believe that we should moisturize especially as we’re getting older and it’s a way that I treat myself. I do scoff a little at the prices of most moisturizers and I know that I probably should be investing more in skincare but in the meantime, this’ll do.

Bird Food

The final way I treat myself is actually by purchasing bird food.

This is not something I would have done when I was in my debt free journey, but now that I am debt free, and am stereotypically in my 30s, I like bird-watching.

I hung a bird feeder I got for $1 at a yard sale and picked up a 20 pound bag of feed for $6 at Lowes. We now have blue jays, cardinals, finches, sparrows — so many adorable little birds and they’re getting fat, which brings me joy. I really really love sitting on the chaise on my couch and looking out onto my porch that has all of my beautiful plants on it and watching these adorable fat birds come out and just be on my porch.

It might not be a fancy, bougie life but I’m really enjoying it, and more importantly, I don’t feel guilty about any of these purchases. They are worth the money spent (for me) and aren’t causing me to sacrifice any future wealth for them.

I would love to know what frugal ways you treat yourself and make yourself feel special.

*This post contains amazon affiliate links.

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35 comments
  1. Alyssa says:
    March 13, 2019 at 2:53 pm

    for inexpensive books you should definitely check out thriftbooks.com! they’re awesome

  2. Budget Girl says:
    March 13, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    Thanks so much! I’ll check them out! Thanks for reading!

  3. Marissa says:
    March 26, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    I love your new website! So many blogs I find are not user friendly but this one definitely is. I’m for sure going to refer to this when I’m out and about and I don’t want to stream a video using my data plan. Good job girl!

  4. Sarah Wilson says:
    March 26, 2019 at 5:04 pm

    Thanks for coming over!

  5. Kaitlyn Jenkins says:
    March 26, 2019 at 5:20 pm

    I use paperbackswap.com for books. I pay shipping but is better to send books to someone who will read it rather than have the get trashed or something. I get credits for books that i can use on their sister site for DVDs. Great website and Thank you for all the help. I have been following your channel since i moved from college station and needed to save and pay off debt.
    I really enjoy your videos. They have helped so much.

  6. Marilyn says:
    March 26, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    Love your new website/blog…am late to budgeting and money saving…grrr…but better late than never, right… I appreciate all the youtubers who are putting it out there to help us newbs…

  7. Laura Homer says:
    March 26, 2019 at 6:10 pm

    Loved these tips and recently when I gave my hard working feet abit of a pamper instead of paying someone else to do it I thought of you for a second and this post ? xx

  8. Rebecca says:
    March 26, 2019 at 6:24 pm

    I am with you on the bird see. Our city planted bamboo behind our house to help with water problems oh, and we have so many song birds that live in that bamboo! It sounds like a songbird CD. I love to toss bird seed in there for them. I’m always looking for a good deal on bird seed cuz man it can get expensive.

  9. Bobbie says:
    March 26, 2019 at 8:22 pm

    I love your website! Thanks for the money saving tips, tricks and motivation.

  10. Elizabeth M. says:
    March 26, 2019 at 8:42 pm

    Reading…yes! My leisure reading slowed down after graduate school because I didn’t feel like doing optional reading on top of my required readings. I also noticed that my attention span is shorter nowadays (I’m guessing because of social media and being online so much). :-0 So, I am being more intentional to make time for reading. Love the OverDrive Libby app!

  11. Tania Eitel says:
    March 26, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    Sarah, I love your website. I rarely miss one of your videos and have been following for years. I’m old enough to be your mom and so proud of the decisions and actions you have made to live like no one else, so you can live and give like no one else. Keep up the good work and keep the great content coming. ?

  12. Stacey Stroh says:
    March 26, 2019 at 9:38 pm

    Oh man, I seriously can’t wait to treat myself to a bath. 28 days till I upgrade from my studio apartment to a house with a fiancé! Living in a shoe box and not being able to take a bath was sucky at times but worth it since I was able to cash flow school and tackle some big debts. Thank you for channel and all you do! I can’t wait to do my debt free scream one day!!

  13. Stacy Muniz says:
    March 26, 2019 at 11:02 pm

    I want to be able to treat myself and doing so wisely is important with 2 kids to raise. Thank you for the ideas!

  14. Niurka Garcia says:
    March 26, 2019 at 11:07 pm

    Cool site. ?

  15. DORA WEDLOCK says:
    March 27, 2019 at 12:08 am

    Walks in the park are free and healthy,

  16. Kimberly says:
    March 27, 2019 at 12:57 am

    Great tips!

  17. Rachel Lehman says:
    March 27, 2019 at 1:06 am

    I love your youtube page! Nice, beautiful website too! My husband and I love to treat ourselves with an ice cream cone once a month if we are under by $6 on either the food or misc. budget line. 😀

  18. Jen Branch says:
    March 27, 2019 at 1:43 am

    These are great and affordable ways to give yourself little treats!

  19. Abra says:
    March 27, 2019 at 2:01 am

    Having a 6 year old means I am doing good reading about 15 books a year. I have not gotten into audio books as much since my commute is 10 minutes. I like the website as well. You do great wotk with your business

  20. Alexandria Deaton says:
    March 27, 2019 at 2:05 am

    I love the book hacks! ❤️

  21. Shayna L Hartley says:
    March 27, 2019 at 2:53 am

    I like the new website.

  22. Melissa Graham says:
    March 27, 2019 at 3:34 am

    SO excited that you have a website!! I watch your YouTube videos and love learning how to save money. Love that you are raw and down to earth!!
    What is your favorite plant that is relatively easy to keep alive? Sadly, I do not have a green thumb but LOVE the look and vibe of plants. Feels homey!

  23. Holly leming says:
    March 27, 2019 at 7:00 am

    I love that you mad a blog. I find your tips so helpful. I am a single mom that is always looking for ways to save money and spend wisely. I am have been not so good at budgeting, but watching your vlogs has helped me so much. I am so glad that I found your channel. I would love to get a buday but I am pretty sure my 5 year old would wait until I was not around and make a big mess lol.

  24. Reba says:
    March 27, 2019 at 12:11 pm

    Love reading and gardening too! I switched to a kindle last fall and absolutely love it.
    Also, added my website URL, but it won’t be up until this summer.

  25. Brenda S. says:
    March 27, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    Thank you!! These tips to make it easier to feel like you’re not cheap yourself of something.

  26. Lynn D. says:
    March 27, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    I firmly believe in buying quality coffee! It elevates your everyday routine – plus, the really cheap coffee is kinda sketchy if you look into how it’s processed.

    My other “treat yo self” item is undergarments. Buying them less often, but spending a bit more allows me to get styles that are cute as well as comfy. And that just makes life a little better.

  27. Shelly Akers says:
    March 27, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    Great post! I definitely take time to read. I LOVE amazon kindle books. I always checkout the best free 100 books and go through and download anything I see that I may be interested in. Usually about 20-30ish books every month. ??

  28. April M Wolf says:
    March 27, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    Good for you girl!!! I love watching your youtube, I am sure I will love this as well.

  29. Jo says:
    March 28, 2019 at 12:08 am

    My life has changed drastically recently and so has my budget. Treating myself feels like a guilt trip, but I’m learning self care is important on life’s journey. Prescription sunglasses would be my treat. 🙂 Thanks for the rec in your video,going to check them out.

  30. thisisbeth says:
    March 28, 2019 at 1:07 am

    I think sometimes it’s easy to forget that simple pleasures are a treat! Just spending time writing or sewing are treats to me (I’m still on Baby Step Two, and working two jobs–so free time is kinda a treat!), but I often don’t think of them as such.

  31. Robin says:
    March 28, 2019 at 6:49 pm

    I love putting my library books onto my Kindle and sitting outside. I also buy bird seeds and deer corn to enjoy wildlife in our backyard.

  32. Mallory Layfield says:
    March 28, 2019 at 9:39 pm

    Love the website! My treat yo self frugal goal is to get better at doing my own nails! I’d like to budget to only going to a nail salon every other month (I was going twice a month *insert embarrassed emoji here* lol) and do my own mani/pedi in between.

  33. wendy says:
    March 30, 2019 at 4:13 am

    Congrats on your site! love from Toronto Canada

  34. Michelle Walker says:
    April 3, 2019 at 3:15 am

    On this journey get my financial shizz together I have found ways to treat myself that won’t break the bank. Packing a lunch that I actually look forward to or trying a new budget lipstick is way scaled down from a night out on the town like days passed. Thumbs up to treating ourselves great and not regretting the $ later. ?

  35. Kim says:
    April 4, 2019 at 5:59 pm

    Greetings Sarah…One of my intentional goals for 2019 is self-care! Although a bit of a financial sacrifice, I am getting monthly massages, not for the luxury, but for the back therapy (too many work hours sitting at a desk!). After reading this article, I am encouraged to read more and take a bath. I love the “free” books at the library, and I like your idea about multi-tasking during bath time; great idea!!! My money saving tip for bird seed is to check out the clearance at the grocery store; often they have accidentally cut open a bag and the price markdown in 50%. Congratulations on your new website.

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