20 inexpensive self-care activities

Taking a walk is great self-care in so many ways. It lets you move your body, get outside, and clear your mind. The only expenses required are a good pair of walking shoes, comfortable clothes, and maybe headphones so you can listen to something while walking. 

Self-care isn’t just taking a moment to yourself; it’s creating and living a healthy lifestyle. Prepping your meals for the week is a great way to get away from screens for a moment and do something that will make your life easier throughout the week. It can also help you save money by reducing impulse meal purchases. 

You can spend money on a meditation app if you want, but you don’t have to. There are all sorts of guided meditations online for free; you don’t even need guidance if you don’t want it. You can meditate entirely on your own. 

Yoga is in the same realm as meditation when it comes to cost. There are apps you can pay for, videos you can watch online for free, and ways to do it without any help. Learn some go-to flows, or just work on staying static in your poses. 

Reading is another great self-care activity that can be as expensive or as cheap as you want. If you prefer to buy your books, go ahead. But you can borrow them from your local library or swap them with friends and family. 

Journaling is a fantastic way to care for yourself. It’s great for your mental health, and it can promote creativity. You can journal with just a notebook and a pen as an inexpensive route, or you can use markers and fun stickers to make it a little more fun, though that does cost a little bit more. 

Whether you’re listening or playing, music is a great form of self-care. Practice it more deeply by learning an instrument. You can purchase one second-hand and watch lessons online for free. 

Biking can do everything for your mind and body that taking a walk can; the only difference is that you need a bike. For an inexpensive bike ride, purchase a second-hand bike or find a cheap one online. If you don’t plan to do it often, look into a local rental store. 

Yes, taking a bath is that cliche self-care example, but it is for a reason. Bathing is super relaxing and can help alleviate stress. As long as you don’t expect a single bath to solve all your problems, it’s a great self-care activity. 

Coloring is another wonderful and inexpensive self-care activity. Coloring gets your creative juices going and engages your mind and hands without a screen involved. You can make it costly using expensive books and colors, but it can also be a cheap activity if you opt for less expensive items. 

Scrapbooking can be a pricey activity, but it doesn’t have to be fancy. Print off a few pictures, cut them out, glue them into a book, and write your memories from the photo. It’ll brighten your spirits as you reminisce about fun times in the past. 

If you’re struggling with something specific, it can help to talk to someone about it. Therapy can be very expensive, but joining a support group is free and can connect you with others going through the same thing. 

If you want to learn more about your community, find a local free museum. It will likely be a quick visit, but it will get you out and about and be educational. You can take a friend for social interaction or go solo to get to know yourself better. 

Volunteering is a great way to meet other people, serve your community, and focus on something positive. It only takes your time, and it can lead to interesting connections and cool opportunities. 

The only cost required for baking is buying the ingredients. Almost anything can be made with a mixing bowl, a spoon, a pan, and an oven, and most ingredients will last for months, so you won’t have to spend much money to continue trying new recipes. 

Watching a comfort film is always a great activity to help you feel better. Thanks to streaming services, nearly every movie imaginable is free to stream; if not, it can likely be rented for just a few dollars. 

There’s lots of criticism of personality quizzes, and rightfully so. But when used correctly, they can be helpful tools to better understand yourself and find more unique ways to care for yourself. As long as you don’t make a personality quiz your holy grail, they can be helpful. 

Face masks can be an expensive habit, but if used as a one-off activity to add a little extra flair to your skincare routine, they’re a great self-care activity. Just read the ingredients carefully so you don’t use one that will do more harm than good. 

Napping is about the least expensive activity possible. You’re not spending any extra money and getting much-needed rest. It’s a win all around.

If you have clean running water, take advantage of it. Staying hydrated isn’t always viewed as self-care, but it is, and it’s important. It improves how your body and mind feel and function and can be made into an activity by trying different bottled water brands or testing different infusion combinations.