
In the whirlwind of motherhood, where days seem to blend seamlessly from one to the next, finding time for quick and cheap self-care can feel like an elusive luxury.
The demands of being a mum are boundless, from ensuring your little ones, (or bigger ones) are thriving, to managing a household and possibly juggling a career. In the midst of this chaos, it’s easy to lose sight of your own needs.
I know you can relate. Our days are filled with so much mumming we can barely pour down some cold coffee before it’s time to mum again. But we gotta take care of ourselves too or we’ll lose our marbles!
What If you just can’t manage to chisel out a good amount of time in your schedule? Or what if the bank balance is a little low? Finding some quick and cheap self care activities is the answer and quite often they are free. Remember it all makes a difference. A lot of these are essentially finding joy in small pleasures.
This blog started life due to my love of skincare following my dermatology experience as a nurse. For me, skincare ticks multiple self-care boxes as a busy mum: a hobby, a relaxing “spa” like experience, my physical health (skin is the largest organ of our body) and a useful way to get some alone time.
My skin care routine is one of my quick, and potentially cheap self care (ok, maybe not that cheap!) loves but I know there are many others out there. I’ve put together this handy guide of some quick and cheap self-care ways we can get some “me time” without spending a fortune or neglecting our mum duties.
I’m not just talking about enjoying a bubble bath while the kids destroy the house, locking yourself in the closet with a trashy magazine, or ignoring those whines for 5 minutes while you scroll through Instagram and imagine you’re on a beach vacation far away from Peppa Pig.
No, there are plenty of unique quick and cheap self care ideas here, you’ll wonder why parenting is considered stressful.
Desperate times call for desperate measures!
- 1. Budget For Your Self Care
- Get The Monthly Newsletter
- 2. Use Cashback To Save For Your Self Care
- 3. Take a Relaxing Bath as a Quick and Cheap Self Care Activity
- 4. Take a Relaxing Shower as an Even Quicker Self Care Activity
- 5. Read a Book or Magazine
- 6. Go for a Walk
- 7. Fill your Home With Nature
- 8. Enjoy a Cup of Coffee or Tea with a Mindless Game
- 9. Phone a Friend for a Quick Catch Up
- 10. Have a Play With Your Wardrobe
- 11. Have a Play With Your Makeup
- 12. Include Perfume in Your Quick and Cheap Self-care Routine
- 13. Try Journaling
- 14. Get Dressed in Nice Clothing
- 15. Do a Quick Home Workout Video
- 16. Get Out Into Nature
- 17. Schedule Regular Date Nights
- 18. Give Yourself a Manicure/Pedicure
- 19. Enjoy Your Skincare Routine
- 20. Listen to Some Feel-Good Music
- 21. Baking Some Treats – a Yummy Cheap Self Care Idea!
- 22. Get Yourself Some Reusable Self-Care Products
- 23. Go Get a Spa or Beauty Treatment
- 24. Meditation and Prayer
- 25. Plan a House Remodel
- 26. Take up Knitting
- 27. Light a Candle – The Simplest Quick and Cheap Self Care Idea
- 28. Use An Adult Colouring-In Book
- 29. Enjoy Window Shopping Without Spending
- 30. Do a Jigsaw Puzzle
- Bonus Tip: Let Go of Perfectionism

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First of all, if you have any doubts about finding the time to get some self-loving in, have a read of this blog post. It’s chocked full of ideas to help you chisel some time out of your day for these ideas for self-care
Also, this post discusses the benefits of self care for our well-being and that of our families, before looking at what the barriers in our lives are (both physical and emotional) and what we can do to get around them.
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– UNRAVELING AND RESOLVING THE HIDDEN BARRIERS TO SELF-CARE BLISS
1. Budget For Your Self Care
I just wanted to kick these self-care tips off with a couple of ideas on how to save a bit of money for any self-care ideas you may have.
If money is tight for you, and at the moment who isn’t it tight for, you might feel that you just cannot allocate any of your budget to yourself. But give it a go! If you just save small amounts whenever you can it does build up.
I use an “envelope system”. I’m quite sure it has a different up-to-date name now, but I can’t be bothered to find out what it is and I’m happy with the name I give it! Essentially I take a certain amount of money each month for various things and put it into an envelope account.
For example, I use this to save throughout the year for Christmas, birthdays, car maintenance…….essentially things that I know go out yearly that can’t be done via a monthly direct debit.
A couple of the “envelopes” I save for are my hair appointments and beauty products. It’s not a huge amount for the toiletries – just £5 a month – but it adds up to being enough when I need to stock up.
2. Use Cashback To Save For Your Self Care
Frankly, you are just missing out on money directly to your pocket if you don’t utilise these.
Companies like Topcashback and Quidco will pay you a percentage of the products you pay for if you buy through their sites. I use Topcashback and got myself a payment of £350 a few months back.
Another service is an app called Plum. I’ve not got experience using this……yet (I’ve only just heard about it and will be setting it up stat!).
From what I can gather it’s linked to your bank account and whatever you pay for, it will automatically round that amount up to the nearest £ and put that into savings for you. So if buy something for £7.75, it will put 25p into a savings account for you. Again, that adds up.
I know Plum does a lot more than just that, but that is what caught my eye for now and I will be investigating what else it does.
Save the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves!
If you want to get into the habit of saving, but are struggling to get into the routine, have a look at this post here.
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– GOAL SETTING FOR MOMS: HOW TO SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
3. Take a Relaxing Bath as a Quick and Cheap Self Care Activity
There’s nothing more rejuvenating than a peaceful, indulgent bath when you need to recharge. Running a warm bubbly bath, lighting some candles, and soaking away your stress is considered by most to be the perfect cheap self care experience.
Keeping relaxing bath products close on hand like essential oils or bath bombs is a quick way to grab a 10-minute cheap self-care moment.
If it eats into your self-care time, don’t bother with hunting out the candles and the lighter!
Epsom salts are another good option to put in your bath. The list of what is claimed it can do for us as a home treatment is extensive (bruises and strains, fibromyalgia, ingrown toenails, psoriasis, insomnia and achy muscles), but I should say there are not a lot of studies done to back these claims up.
They do, on the other hand, cause no harm as they have no perfume or chemicals to irritate the skin, and potentially have a placebo effect on the above list……and there is sometimes a place for that in our lives!! You can get this product by following the links here:
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4. Take a Relaxing Shower as an Even Quicker Self Care Activity
This is more my cup of tea! If time is tight, even a 5-minute shower can be relaxing – use nice soaps, let the warm water soothe tense muscles, and breathe deeply.
I’ve not personally tried it but you could try a shower bomb, as opposed to bath bombs, which use essential oils. Because they work with steam rather than touching your body, they are perfect for people with sensitive skin or eczema.
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– WHY BODY SKINCARE MATTERS: IT’S TIME TO GIVE YOUR BODY SOME LOVE TOO
5. Read a Book or Magazine
Curling up with a book or magazine gives your mind a mini-vacation when you’re stressed or overwhelmed. Have some “me time” reads stashed so they’re accessible for short breaks.
Whether you get lost in a novel, learn from non-fiction, admire pretty photos in a home magazine or enjoy a trashy mag when you get the chance (no judgment here!), reading transports you to another world. Providing food for your mind and creativity restores your spirit.
Thankfully books aren’t too expensive, and in fact, can be free if you head to the library
Having the house empty, a stew in the oven, my favorite Christmas candle burning, Bing Crosby Christmas music playing, a roaring fire showing on my TV through YouTube (you’ve got to hunt that out – it’s amazing!) and reading a Christmas home magazine is probably up there as my favourite self-care activity….bliss!
For obvious reasons, it’s not a year-round activity – at least that’s what my husband has told me!!

6. Go for a Walk
This is another one of my favourite self-care activities.
Having a dog means I don’t have a choice but to go for a walk every day, but, again, I’m blessed to have right on my doorstep THE most beautiful woods. Just me and my boy, with either the peace of the woods or a podcast, is honestly the highlight of my day. No one tries to take that me-time away from me either as they know it’s a chore that has to be done
Fresh air and movement are instant mood boosters when you’ve hit an afternoon slump and give you the chance to clear your head. Going solo lets you set your own pace for thinking and relaxing. You’ll get a good amount of vitamin D too.

Love this lad of mine!!
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7. Fill your Home With Nature
Try filling your home with natural elements you can collect for free outside. You’ll be surprised what you can find. I love doing this and do it all year round.
It’s currently Autumn, so right now I have bud vases around the house with little sprigs of oak with leaves that are turning colour. You can also have decorative bowls with acorns or pinecones. All these things can be found on the floor as you walk, especially after a spell of bad weather.
In winter you could have sprigs of holly, small sprigs of pine or even a display of small Leylandii branches in a jug
In summer there’s a never-ending supply of pretty-looking plants or flowers you may have around the garden (I use my lavender bushes for this), and in spring perhaps small branches with emerging buds on them.
I find all of this from my daily dog walks just on the ground (I won’t be scaling up any pine trees anytime soon!), with the exception of the holy – that needs secateurs and gloves unsurprisingly. Holy grows like weeds in our woods so I’m not destroying it for the sake of my living room.
Filling your home, and the process of creating it, with free seasonal nature, can give you a sense of beauty and pride for your home.

8. Enjoy a Cup of Coffee or Tea with a Mindless Game
Take a pause with a warm, comforting beverage. Savouring a hot coffee, tea, herbal infusion or even a hot chocolate with the full works, encourages you to slow down and take mini “me breaks” throughout the day. Make it a relaxing ritual – don’t just gulp it down! Go a step further and get yourself a gorgeous mug.
Find yourself a mindless game you can play on your phone while sipping away. I use a free farming sim game called Hay Day, which is just the cutest one out there. I always look forward to finishing whatever chores I’m doing, sitting down with a cuppa to feed my cows and harvest my soybeans!

9. Phone a Friend for a Quick Catch Up
In our busy lives, we often neglect to connect with close friends who nourish our souls. A quick phone or video call is an easy way to take a “friend break” when you need upliftment. Sharing a laugh or venting about frustrations can immediately boost your mood. Long catch-up sessions are great, but even a 10-minute check-in chat can fill your tank.
10. Have a Play With Your Wardrobe
I’m not suggesting having a spending spree here and I’m also not suggesting you spend hours organising it all, however, if you have the means/time/energy and it works for you, knock yourself out
What I’m suggesting is just playing with your clothes like you did when you were a teenager! Have a rootle through and remind yourself of all the clothes you have and enjoy. Spend some time working out new combinations you’ve not tried before – it’s almost like having a spending spree!
Apparently, we spend 90% of our time wearing 10% of our wardrobe. It’s no wonder we feel like we’re stuck in a wardrobe rut most of the time.
I do this each time I swap over my autumn/winter with my spring/summer wardrobe and vice versa and it’s always good fun. A few years back I got uber organised and made a note of everything I had and the variety of combinations I had worked out……it was such fun and quite therapeutic!
You’ll probably end up discarding a few things, so without even realising it you’ve ended up decluttering your wardrobe – enjoy that feel-good feeling that snuck in too!
11. Have a Play With Your Makeup
Just like playing with your wardrobe, have a play with your makeup stash if you have one. Try the different colours you’ve got but never attempted. Get onto YouTube and learn some new techniques.
I bet you’ll be enthused to get back to wearing makeup when you’re out and about, so it will do wonders for your self-esteem and confidence.
Again, you’ll find yourself clearing out things you won’t ever use. Win-win!

12. Include Perfume in Your Quick and Cheap Self-care Routine
When I was a teenager, I worked with someone who told me they never leave the house without applying perfume, otherwise, they feel naked. That statement stuck with me, and over the years I have agreed with it.
Perfume, beyond how gorgeous those bottles look, has an influence on our mental health, due to the olfactory system (responsible for our sense of smell) being intricately connected to the limbic system in the brain.
This governs our emotions and memories, and the right fragrance has the potential to evoke positive emotions, reduce stress, and even enhance mood.
We all know certain essential oils affect us in different ways, but wearing a favourite perfume can be comforting, lift our mood and boost our self-esteem. Perfume gives us one more way to express our personality – I bet you know someone who has their signature scent!
My favourite part of my morning routine now is choosing which perfume I will wear that day and I will often reapply once through the day if I no longer can smell it.
13. Try Journaling
I love writing……always have done and always will do. I spend way too much time writing texts, and I feel for the recipients who have to spend a couple of hours reading what is essentially “See you at 11am”. That’s how this blog came about – I figured it made sense to write this rather than long text messages.
Anyway, my point is, this is my version of journaling and I can completely understand how it works, especially as I understand journaling is also quite creative. Writing your thoughts in a journal is a great way to get centred and reconnect with your inner wisdom when you feel depleted.
14. Get Dressed in Nice Clothing
This one is more for when our kids are tiny – at least I’m assuming you don’t take the kids to school in your PJs!
This is something I learned years ago when I discovered FlyLady. Getting dressed is step 2 of the beginner baby steps and she specifies it has to be to “lace-up shoes”.
The idea behind it is that we act differently when we are dressed and have our shoes on…..more professional, and after all, raising adults of the future is the most important job in the world.
I also learned years ago to give myself a break from looking like I’m in some high-powered city job, but there are certainly differences in what I wear in the house from daytime to evening. Even though I may not be leaving the house, wearing nice clothes makes me feel good about myself.
It’s nice to know you haven’t got to send the kids when someone rings the doorbell!

15. Do a Quick Home Workout Video
Now this one to me is vital – to be honest, exercise for me is a non-essential activity and my family knows it WILL happen. I’m afraid I’m practically evangelical about it so I will try and curb my enthusiasm!
So many people make the mistake of believing exercise is some big event that involves a whole wardrobe change and a good hour out of your life (longer when you add in the travel time) that costs you the equivalent of a small country’s annual GDP.
WRONG!
I happen to own a second-hand cross trainer in my garage that is about 15 years old, it’s really nothing fancy and it does the job. I also own a living room and a screen that has access to YouTube and other social media. That’s all I need!
The fact that I may only have 15 minutes to exercise does not hold me back. There are a gazillion exercise videos on YouTube in a variety of styles and lengths to suit you.
I’m sure I don’t need to get all preachy about the benefits of exercise on our health, but for the purpose of this subject, I will just say that the feel-good endorphins you get afterwards are addictive!
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– WHY A MORNING WORKOUT SKINCARE ROUTINE IS ESSENTIAL (AND HOW TO DO IT)

16. Get Out Into Nature
We all know there are so many studies done on how good being in nature is, and certainly, the pandemic lockdowns showed us all this. I know I’ve already suggested going for a walk, but specifically, I mean here to go and find some nature, whether that’s to walk in it or just sit!
If you live in the UK none of us are ever that far from a green space somewhere, and if you are in a city there are plenty of parks we can utilise. We don’t have to be near the sea or mountains to enjoy nature. Of course, if you do, get out and enjoy it!
I live in the South Downs in the south of England, and so am very blessed to get easy access to the Sussex countryside. The sound of nothing but skylarks makes my heart sing when I’m up at the top, but just sitting in my garden listening to the birds makes me feel at peace.

My little slice of heaven!
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17. Schedule Regular Date Nights
I know we’ve been discussing self-care in the form of doing something by ourselves, or even with friends, but actually spending quality time with your other half can certainly feel like self-care.
Having time for the two of you to chat without being constantly interrupted can take you a while to get used to!
Finding time for your relationship amidst the chaos of parenting can feel like a daunting task, but it’s crucial for maintaining a strong connection. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, like just a cosy movie night in, but obviously can be as elaborate as a weekend getaway.
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18. Give Yourself a Manicure/Pedicure
I’d hazard a guess you’ve got a washbag in the depths of a cupboard somewhere with a nail file and a couple of nail varnishes.
Granted you won’t be able to recreate nail technicians’ elaborate art, but just filing your nails down to a classic shape and painting them will work wonders. I find this doubles up as a way to stay awake and watch something I don’t want to fall asleep and miss!
Just make sure you’ve got some remover and pads – peeling nail varnish can have the opposite impact on you….
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19. Enjoy Your Skincare Routine
As a beauty blogger, I must sing the praises of skincare as an accessible, enjoyable form of self-care…..and yes it can be a relatively cheap self care idea as there are plenty of affordable and effective skincare brands out there.
The act of nurturing your skin has mental and physical benefits, after all, our skin is the largest organ of the human body!
A regular skincare routine provides a soothing ritual that forces you to slow down twice a day. Mindfully massaging products into your face lowers stress and anxiety levels. What’s more, seeing your skin improve in texture and glow enhances your self-confidence and self-image.
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20. Listen to Some Feel-Good Music
Get yourself a variety of playlists of music for whatever mood you’re in. I have a playlist for summer, a dinner party playlist, a 70s playlist (the best music decade!), a 1950s jazz playlist, a romantic playlist, a Bing Crosby Christmas playlist…….I could go on. They are ridiculously precious to me – crazy I know!
Even the process of creating the playlists is wonderfully therapeutic.
Apart from the Christmas scene I’ve already mentioned, my top self-care activity is having low lighting on in the kitchen, and baking while listening to Ella Fitzgerald or James Taylor – this is the meaning of life as far as I’m concerned!
Trust me, it works a treat
21. Baking Some Treats – a Yummy Cheap Self Care Idea!
While I’m on the subject, baking is an amazing self-care activity. I’m sure you’ve got most of the basic ingredients lying around, if not, a bag of flour, sugar, butter, eggs and baking tins are really quite cheap.
The process of measuring ingredients, mixing batter, and waiting for the delicious smells to fill the kitchen engages most of the senses. Moreover, the end result – a batch of homemade cookies, a Victoria Sponge – brings a sense of accomplishment.
Remember, not only do you get the enjoyment of baking the products, but you and the kids get to enjoy eating them….with the added benefit of it not being chock full of preservatives. Even better, you can’t beat the feeling of inviting friends around and sharing your produce – it shows them how important they are to you.

Yes, these were my creations!!
22. Get Yourself Some Reusable Self-Care Products
Hunt out some reusable products that can bring you joy. They may well cost you initially, but you can reuse them over and over again for no cost. Not only is this good for the environment, but these products can be so much more enjoyable than their disposable counterparts.
A pretty travel mug, dainty handkerchiefs (so much softer on a sore, runny nose), reusable makeup remover pads, washable cleansing cloths – just some of the many ideas you could come up with.
A Silicone Sheet Mask is a genius way to get the luxury of a night mask, without having to use a new one each time you use one.
The idea is it holds your skincare products closer to your face for more absorbency. All you need to do is apply your skin care product, set the mask in place and rinse it after each use ready for your next pamper session.
A couple of Christmas’s ago we got given as a family a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser. Squeal!! It makes seriously one of the best hot chocolate I have ever had (and yes I have done extensive research here – yum) which I have within a minute of switching it on – best present ever!!
You just pour your milk up to the line, tip the chocolate flakes in, pop the lid on and press the button (the only button – so user-friendly for someone who only uses 1 button on their washing machine)

Isn’t it beautiful!? I have it in copper, which you can see in my current hot chocolate spot, but it also comes in white and black. My mum has the white one, which is nearly as gorgeous as the copper one.
You also get an extensive choice of hot chocolate flavours too – mint and salted caramel being my faves, but you CANNOT beat the classic 50% milky. Drool!
It’s not cheap, granted, but we have had it for 2 years now and use it ALL the time and it’s been worth its weight in gold. Many a friend has gone off and bought their own after being given one of these hot chocolates!!
You can pick it up from Amazon by following the link here
23. Go Get a Spa or Beauty Treatment
Granted this is neither quick nor a cheap self care activity, but this can’t be a post on self-care without mentioning the classic self-care of them all.
Tell you what, let’s assume you’ve worked on the first 2 ideas at the start and you’ve found yourself the time and the monetary means!! Alternatively, you could suggest a beauty voucher as a birthday or Christmas gift idea?
Treat yourself to some therapeutic pampering! A massage, manicure/pedicure, facial – the list is endless. You could even look for student discounts at beauty schools. Let someone else moisturize, buff and paint your toes – you deserve it!

24. Meditation and Prayer
Meditation and prayer can profoundly enhance mindfulness, inner peace, and self-awareness. The deliberate stillness of these practices offers immense therapeutic value for overall well-being.
Prayer provides a unique opportunity for a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves. Engaging in prayer can offer solace, reduce stress, and foster a sense of inner peace.
It serves as a powerful tool for individuals to express gratitude, seek guidance, and find strength.
If you’re like me and find it a bit tricky to settle down, there are awesome apps that help you focus on your breathing and learn relaxation tricks.
25. Plan a House Remodel
I’m not saying to actually do the remodel, but just planning it can be such fun and take you away from reality for a while.
You can grab some home magazines if you would like, but just using Pinterest is really all you need…..you can make a virtual mood board all on your phone. I will say though, when I’ve done this, I’ve preferred to have something on paper to properly see what I’ve got. It just works better for me.
Sketch out your ideas – you don’t have to be an artist, it’s just enough so you can tell what your ideas are. Include where the furniture will be placed, ideas for decor, soft furnishings, and colours. Shop your home as you most likely will find you’ve already got some items kicking around.
Over the years you’ve got something you can follow and be more intentional when you’re out shopping. Slowly, you can create that design you enjoyed planning
26. Take up Knitting
Embrace your inner Tom Daley!
So many of us tried this during lockdown, myself included, as it’s another creative outlet like baking that’s therapeutic and gives you a gorgeous product a the end.
You don’t have to create little doll toilet roll holders like our grandparents had, or know someone who’s about to have a baby, thankfully today there are a ton of patterns online for blankets, throws, cushions, scarves and more.
There is an initial outlay on the equipment needed, but honestly, you need needles and a few balls of yarn that you can get for nothing from Amazon.
Just practice with a knit and pearl stitch to see if it’s your thing before purchasing more yarn and other equipment. I’ve found it really is a cheap hobby…….you can even get free patterns from Pinterest.
YouTube, again, is the place to go for free lessons – where would we be without youtuberversity!!

27. Light a Candle – The Simplest Quick and Cheap Self Care Idea
Candles, beyond their warm and inviting glow, serve as powerful catalysts for self-care. Lighting a candle can transform any space into a sanctuary of tranquillity, creating a calming atmosphere that helps to alleviate stress and induce relaxation.
We all know candles can be infused with soothing scents like lavender or chamomile, which can have aromatherapeutic benefits, further enhancing the sense of calm, but even a cheap pillar candle without any smell can give us the same effect.
Engaging in a ritual of lighting a candle can become a symbolic act of self-love and mindfulness, signalling to the mind that it’s time to unwind and focus on personal well-being.
Whether used during a bath, while curled up with a good book or while watching your favourite boxset, candles offer a simple yet effective means to promote a sense of balance and harmony in our hectic lives.
Is there a person alive who doesn’t love a candle?
My current favourite candle is this Mulled Wine by The Crackling Soy – I found this company at a recent Christmas fair in our area, with such a lovely lady who owns this business. It’s divine, but they also have other “non Christmasy” candles.
As their name would suggest, they have the healthier soy wax and a crackling wick which does crackle (I had heard of this but assumed it was a gimmick)
My other treat that I get each Christmas and genuinely lasts me all year is my stunning Jo Malone candle. This year I’ve had the Velvet Rose and Oud, but I will be having the tough decision of either getting that again this Christmas or trying something different.
Amazon sell Jo Malone candles now and this link takes you to my favourite, but there are so many other fragrances
28. Use An Adult Colouring-In Book
No, I’m not meaning “adult” in the sense of the word, before you ask!
I’ve not tried this myself but I worked with someone who did this avidly and she absolutely adored it. I’ve got to say, I should try it, because I think I would enjoy it.
In case you’re not aware, there are colouring-in books that are more complex for adults than the ones you get for kids. They do come in all sorts of designs, and if I were to give this a go I would certainly go for the geometric ones rather than the scene-based ones – it appeals to the OCD part of my brain and my sense of symmetry!
I know there are also colouring-in apps for adults which you could give a try. I’m not sure this would work for me as much as the paper version, as you just tap the colour and then the slot for it to fill. It does work for my sister-in-law, however, so I should give that a try as well.
I’ve had a look at the options out there and I reckon this is the one I would get if I were to buy one……and I think I might have written myself into doing so!
29. Enjoy Window Shopping Without Spending
Window shopping, the art of strolling through stores without the intent to purchase, can surprisingly become a therapeutic form of self-care. This allows you to indulge in the visual feast of displays and to catch up with the latest trends, without the pressure of making financial decisions.
The act of meandering through shops, admiring products, and envisioning how they might fit into your life can be a delightful escape.
A word of caution though: if it gives you the opposite effect of sending you on a massive downer, because of all the lovely things you won’t get your hands on….don’t do it!
30. Do a Jigsaw Puzzle
What are the chances you’ve got a jigsaw puzzle at the back of a cupboard somewhere? I bet you have, and I bet you never thought you had a form of cheap self care cluttering up your cupboards!
Give it a try. Engaging in the meticulous yet rewarding activity of playing with a jigsaw puzzle is a surprisingly effective form of self-care. It’s another one of those creative activities you can just switch your mind off with or listen to a podcast while doing.
Assembling the pieces requires patience, creating a meditative experience that allows the mind to unwind from the stresses of daily life. The repetitive nature of sorting and connecting the puzzle pieces can be therapeutic, promoting a sense of accomplishment with each fitting piece.

Bonus Tip: Let Go of Perfectionism
The drive to do it all perfectly and meet impossibly high expectations can quickly lead to burnout. Remind yourself that no parent or employee is perfect, no household is spotless, and no day goes exactly as planned.
Aiming for “good enough” is okay! Let the small stuff go, ask for help, and stop comparing yourself to unrealistic standards. Reducing perfectionism and guilt creates space to breathe and replenish.

While being a mum is incredibly rewarding, it’s also extremely demanding. We spend so much time caring for our families that we often neglect our own needs. But regularly taking time for self-care, even in small ways, allows us to be the best version of ourselves.
I hope this article has provided you with simple, budget-friendly tips for taking moments of indulgence amidst the craziness of motherhood. My advice is to start small – maybe with just one new self-care habit per week. Then you can build on your self-care list.
Over time, these little acts of self-love will add up to make a big difference in your mood, stress levels, and ability to care for your loved ones.
You deserve to feel refreshed and appreciated. So treat yourself to a relaxing bath, enjoy a warm drink in peace, dance to fun music, or any other quick and cheap self-care activity that feeds your soul. Don’t wait for the perfect time or occasion. Do it for your loved ones, but most importantly, do it for you.
Don’t forget to read my related posts…… or at least bookmark them for your next “me time”! This blog post is chocked full of ideas to help you chisel some time out of your day for some cheap self care love, and this post discusses the benefits and barriers to self care, and ways to overcome them.
Tell me, what is the one thing you would do with your time if you found yourself with a morning on your own and you wanted to make damn sure you used it for yourself? Let me know in the comments below.
Related Posts:
– PRIORITISING SELF-CARE – 21 UNIQUE WAYS FOR ‘ME TIME’ AS A MUM
– UNRAVELING AND RESOLVING THE HIDDEN BARRIERS TO SELF-CARE BLISS







Fab tips here! Thank you for sharing!
You’re very welcome!
I love these tips! I try to incorporate several of these like a bat, walk outside, etc. but I love your mention of perfume. I love perfume and it resally does make me happy.
I’m so pleased you liked them! Perfume is just the best accessory……I also love it when I’m with someone else who’s wearing it!