I know this is a weird topic to write about on a financial blog, but I have found for myself that I start to spend more when I am not taking care of myself. These are some of the ways I recharge my own battery without spending too much money.

Renewing yourself and self care are super important in this fast-paced crazy world we live in. But when you are on a budget, it can sometimes be difficult to find ways to do so frugally. In a lot of ways, I’m really lucky that I am in introvert and recharge my battery best when I have some “alone” time. Most ways I recharge my mental batteries are pretty cheap.

The best thing I can do for myself and my mental health is to take a long, hot bath with a good book. I love to take baths and I love to read, combining the two is heaven… and it’s free. However, even with adult children, sometimes it’s hard to find the time to take a long bath, but I try at least once a week. I like the time by myself without a care in the world.

Just spending time reading helps me to recharge. Although not always free, it’s definitely a pretty frugal way to spend my time. I love to read almost anything. I read both fiction and non-fiction alike and enjoy them equally. When I am really low, I will almost always choose fiction because I don’t have to think about it. It gives me time out of my own head where I don’t have to worry about my problems.

I love tea. Just sitting and enjoying a great cup of tea in a beautiful bone china tea cup and saucer feels incredibly decadent to me and mentally fills my bucket, for a nominal cost. I have dozens of tea cups and saucers to choose from as well as many flavors of tea. Tea time becomes a well deserved break from every day.

Another way I recharge my batteries and tend to my mental (and physical) health is through exercise. I walk and weight train and both improve my physical and mental well-being for free. I’m not an outdoorsy person, but I love hiking, not because of the nature but because of the physical challenge it gives me. I strength train 4 days a week and I have noticed that when I work out consistently, in general I sleep better and feel better.

I love a myself a good pedicure. It is probably the most expensive thing I do for my mental health, although it’s not terribly expensive. Prior to committing to get out of debt, I got pedicures at least monthly, now I only get two or three a year so they are extra special and feel extra indulgent.  I do have a hair and nails envelope but feel guilty getting pedicures while I still have debt so I don’t get them often, but once our credit card debt is paid off, I think I will revert back to monthly pedicures. I love them. They are time to relax, be by myself, and read a good book.

The last thing I do to renew myself could become expensive if I let it. I love to go to Barnes and Noble, look at books, and sit down to peruse them with a chai tea latte. Unless I have a gift card, I usually only allow myself to buy one book. We don’t have a Barnes and Noble where I live so I don’t do this often, but just like a pedicure, it feels so indulgent.

PS Today I was on an interview panel for work and had to meet my principal at the District Office about an hour later than my usual work time. I chose to wake up, do a longer-than-normal-workout-on-a-weekday and take an hour long bath. It was glorious and just what I needed!