Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to treat yourself, but not everyone has a lot of money to spend on a special day. If you are looking for ways to celebrate your love with yourself, then check out this list of free or cheap valentine’s day ideas!
Set your intentions.
The first thing you should do is set your intentions. What exactly are you going to treat yourself to? Is it a full-on spa day with a massage, facial and mani-pedi? Or perhaps some retail therapy is more your style?
Whatever it may be, make sure that when you do this for yourself, it’s something specific enough so that when the day comes around, there’s no doubt in your mind what exactly it is that you’re treating yourself to (and no excuses because maybe “spa” didn’t fully capture the mania of relaxing on Valentine’s Day).
In addition to setting clear intentions for what kind of self care experience(s) you’re hoping for on Valentine’s Day, be realistic about how much time and energy these things will require. If being pampered at the spa sounds amazing but realistically would take all day long (and then some), better take into account other commitments or ideas of what else might be fun before committing wholeheartedly!
Likewise with spending money: if buying gifts for others takes precedence over spending money on yourself because they mean more than anything else in life right now—then go ahead! But don’t feel guilty if prioritizing them means skipping out on something nice for yourself just yet; there will always be another chance later down the road when things settle back down again.”
Treat yourself to a new scent.
Treat yourself to a new scent.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to treat yourself with something luxurious, like a new perfume or cologne, body lotion or even candle. If you have sensitive skin like me and don’t like wearing scented products on your skin, try a new scented candle instead! You can also try out diffuser oils which are very popular right now. They come in different smells and are easy to use because you just put them into water and it will diffuse throughout your home while still smelling amazing!
Create a self-care checklist.
- Write down a list of things you like to do, and then go through the list and rank them by how often you do them. If you’re willing to make time for something on this list but it requires more organization or effort than just grabbing dinner at your favorite restaurant, mark it as more important than the others.
- Consider creating your own self-care checklist so that every month, week or day of the year is filled with activities that nurture your mind and body. The same way we schedule doctor’s appointments in advance and grocery shopping once a week, create a recurring reminder in your calendar so that self-care becomes part of your routine (not just something “special”).
Watch a feel-good movie or TV show.
This is a great opportunity to watch a feel-good movie or TV show. You can use it as an excuse to finally binge-watch your favorite series, or if you’ve been meaning to see something but just haven’t gotten around to it, now’s the time. If you prefer movies over TV, check out our list of the best feel-good movies ever made or go see one of these movies in theaters this Valentine’s Day!
For those who are feeling adventurous: try watching something completely new! A lot of people don’t realize how many great shows there are out there that they’ve never heard about before. It may seem daunting at first, but once you get started, it’ll be hard not to keep going from one episode after another until all 10 seasons have been consumed in a flurry of excitement and romance (or whatever else happens on Netflix).
Indulge in your most favorite food.
Indulge in your most favorite food.
No matter what that might be—a slice of cheesecake from a local bakery, homemade chocolate pudding, or an ice cream sundae with all the fixin’s—there are many ways to enjoy it. Do you love dining out? Dine at a restaurant where you know they make their own desserts, like the world-famous Baked Alaska. If you have time to go out but don’t feel like making reservations or getting dressed up for a fancy meal, try taking advantage of happy hour specials and indulge in small plates (they’re easier on the wallet and stomach). Or maybe you prefer staying home for Valentine’s Day; if so, do some research online before heading to the grocery store so that your kitchen is stocked with everything needed for baking something decadent!
Get a new book, magazine, or kindle book.
It’s time to treat yourself. You’ve been good all year, and now it’s time to reward your hard work with a little bit of self-love. The best way to do this is by getting something new (or new-to-you) that you want for yourself.
You can get your hands on a book that’s been on your wish list for ages, pick up the latest issue of your favorite magazine or newspaper, grab an e-book from the library or bookstore, or even buy a brand new one from Amazon if you feel like splurging!
Plan an indoor picnic to enjoy some alone time.
- Pack a picnic basket. You’ll need food, of course, but also some wine and candles.
- Find a nice spot to spread out your blanket and then get comfortable with pillows and blankets.
- Get the movie or show you’ve been meaning to watch started so it can entertain you while you eat—and don’t forget the popcorn!
Wear new comfy clothes and pamper yourself at home.
Wear your favorite comfy clothes. Buy yourself a new item of clothing that you’re excited to wear. Get a massage, whether or not it’s Valentine’s Day weekend. Make some time for yourself to relax and unwind, even if it’s just for an hour or two. Get a manicure or pedicure — again, no need to wait for February 14th!
Meditate, do a yoga class or go for a walk in nature.
Meditation is a great way to treat yourself. It helps you relax and calm down, but also gives you more focus. Try it for five minutes every day and see how it makes you feel!
Yoga is another great way to treat yourself. It’s a good way to get your body moving, which will make you feel better about yourself and help with any aches or pains you might have from working out or other activities. Yoga also helps relieve stress, which can be very helpful on days like this when there are lots of things going on in your life that make it hard not to worry about everything that needs doing!
Go outside—there’s nothing quite like walking through nature while enjoying fresh air (and maybe even some sunshine!) on Valentine’s Day!
Make a spa day out of it and pamper yourself with some face masks and body scrubs.
If you’re looking for a way to treat yourself, try creating a spa day at home. You can use face masks and body scrubs to pamper yourself. And if you have time, watch a movie while you are pampering yourself! If you don’t have time for the whole process, get a manicure or pedicure instead of making your own spa day at home.
You can buy new clothes or accessories too if they’re on sale during Valentine’s Day!
Create an anti-vday playlist with your favorite songs.
It’s the perfect time to listen to music.
Research shows that listening to your favorite tunes helps relieve stress and anxiety, so why not lift your spirits by putting together an anti-vday playlist? Make sure you choose songs that make you feel good. You can also add in some sad or angry tracks if that’s what feels right! If there’s a song that makes you want to dance, then it belongs on this list too.
You can treat yourself without spending a lot of money!
If you’re looking for an inexpensive treat, then look no further. Here are some great ideas that require minimal effort and cost so much less than dinner out with your significant other:
- A new scent. If you love perfumes and colognes, pick up a new one to try out. You can get some great deals by visiting perfume stores during the wintertime when many people stop wearing fragrances as they tend to be warmer scents. Or sign up for samples of luxury brands such as Chanel or Calvin Klein on their websites!
- Create a self-care checklist! This is something I started doing recently just because it was something fun I could do every evening before bed while watching tv shows or reading magazines (or both). It’s not expensive at all—just pen/paper/stylus—and it forces me into thinking about what things make me happy so I can plan how to incorporate them into my life more often. Plus, who doesn’t like making checklists? Maybe even write down some of what makes YOU happy! It would be really helpful for others who may need ideas for Valentines Day gifts too 🙂
Conclusion
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to treat yourself! You can do this by using what you have at home, or even just doing something really simple like taking a nice walk in nature. Whatever you choose, just remember that this day is about you and your well-being.
