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Free Self Care Ideas

October 4, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to self care without spending a lot of money.

It’s no secret that self care is important!  If our physical, mental and emotional needs aren’t being met, then we won’t be able to feel or perform our best in all of the many responsibilities in our lives. Often times we might feel like the only way to self care is to spend a lot of money….you know, more of a treat-yo-self mentality.  But, I’m here to remind you that you do not have to spend any money at all to take care of your needs!  Below are some free self care ideas to help you feel more renewed and content.

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Cheap Ways To Self Care

You do not need to go out and buy all of the newest and greatest objects in order to self care.  You can self care for cheap using the ideas below.

1.  Take A Bath

One of my favorite ways to self care for free is to take a nice, long, hot bath (emphasis on hot).  There is just nothing better than soaking all of your worries and stresses away from the comfort of your own bathtub.

If you want to splurge a little, buy some inexpensive bubble bath or a bath salts.

2.  Go For A Walk

Fresh air and exercise are both so important for our mental health.  If you are feeling down, make sure to take some time out of your day to go outside and walk.  Even if it’s just a short walk down the road, it will do you good!

3.  Take A Break From Social Media

I love social media and think it’s a great way to connect with others….I mean my entire business started from instagram!  But!  I also know that social media can begin to affect our mental health in a negative way if used excessively.

If you are ever feeling low mentally or emotionally, I recommend taking a break from social media.  The break could be anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks.  I always feel awesome after taking these breaks!  It’s the best time to focus on being present with my surroundings.

4.  Have A Dance Party To Your Favorite Music

A good old fashioned dance party is one of the best ways to boost our mood.  So, crank up your favorite music and move your body!  You don’t even need to be in a group, some of the best dance parties can happen all by yourself in your home or car!

  • Related:  How To Listen To Audiobooks For Free

5.  Declutter Something

I know that cleaning and decluttering are not the first things that come to mind when thinking of free self-care ideas.  However, tidying a space in your home can truly help clear your mind.

6.  Read A Book

There just isn’t anything better than getting lost in a good book (where are my fellow book nerds at?!?!).  Take some time to relax with one of your favorite books, or try a new one.  Let your worries drift away as you focus on the story.  Don’t forget that you can check out books for free at your public library!

Some of my favorite books are:  The Orphan Keeper, Pride and Prejudice, The Secret Keeper, Before We Were Yours, Listening For Lions, and Little Women.

7.  Keep A Journal

Have you ever tried journaling?  It can be a very therapeutic way to release stress and worries.  Start a journal and write about all of your fun memories, your favorite activities, things you are looking forward to, your feelings about the day, goals for the future, etc.  

There are so many ways to keep a journal.  You can start one online, use your Notes App from your phone, or buy a pretty journal to write in.

8.  Take A Nap

Sometimes all our body needs is some extra rest to feel ready to tackle the day.  Give yourself an hour or two of peace and quiet and take a power nap.  It’s ok if you don’t even fall asleep, laying and resting in a quiet place is often enough to give us the self care we need.

  • Related:  How To Exercise For Free (or crazy cheap!)

9.  Watch The Sunset

Take a drive or walk to a place where you can watch the sunset.  Enjoy being in nature and set your worries aside for a few minutes.

10.  Try A New Workout

Get your endorphins up with an at home workout.  I’ll be the first to admit that it’s hard for me to make time for working out, but whenever I do, I feel so much better mentally!  There are so many free workouts you can find on YouTube.  I love Grow With Jo, Yoga With Adrienne, and Pop Sugar Fitness.

11.  Meditate

I’ll be the first to admit that I use to not like the idea of meditation.  But, that was before I actually understood it.  Now, I love resting my eyes and mind for 10-20 minutes of meditation.  It can make a huge difference in my mood for the day.  You can find free meditation exercises on youtube that will guide you through the process.

12.  Drink A Large Glass of Water

Self care also includes taking care of our bodies, and drinking enough water is one of the best things we can do for our bodies.  When we drink plenty of water we will have much more energy and feel better for the rest of the day. If you are feeling down, pour yourself a large glass of water and take care of your body!

13.  Watch Your Favorite Movie

One of my favorite free self care ideas is to watch your favorite movie or tv show.  There is nothing better than snuggling up on the couch, or in your bed, and let your mind turn off as you enjoy some on screen entertainment.

  • Related:  Cheap At Home Date Night Ideas

14.  Call A Friend

Don’t forget to make time for your relationships, it does wonder for our mood.  I love calling up my sister and discussing the things that are on my mind, letting her ease my worries and listening to her advice.  It’s a vital form of self care!

15.  Pick Wildflowers

Bring nature indoors with some beautiful wildflowers!  Maybe you have flowers in your yard, or can pick some from the side of the road.  Either way, try to pick a big bouquet of flowers to bring inside.  Put them in a vase or a jar and place them somewhere you can see them regularly.  There is just something about nature that renews my soul!

16.  Invite Friends Over

Give yourself some self care by inviting over a few close friends.  You could host a game night, clothing swap, movie night, BBQ, book club, or just get together to chat and munch on some snacks!  Taking the time out of our day to spend quality time with others is really good for our mental health.

17.  Give Yourself An At Home Mani or Pedi

Give your hands and feet a nice soak and then paint your nails with a fresh new color.  We love using this UV light nail dryer for fresh gel nails!

18.  Light A Candle

Candles are such a great way to change the mood of your living space.  I instantly feel happier when I smell the crisp pumpkin spice scent from my candle and can watch the beautiful light of the candle flicker in the dark.  This is such an easy, but wonderful way to self care!

19.  Get Dressed Up

There is just something about looking our best, that makes us feel our best!  So, take an hour or so to dress in the clothes that make you feel amazing, fix your hair, and give yourself some glam makeup.  Even if you are just running errands or sitting around at home, you will feel amazing!

Self Care On A Budget Is Possible

You can give yourself the self care and treatment you deserve, without spending a lot of money.  I hope you try a few of these ideas today.  And, don’t forget that you are loved, you are important and you matter!  Tell yourself that 3 times every day!

 

 

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I hope you enjoyed these free self care ideas!

How To Listen To Audiobooks For Free

May 13, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check out the best free audiobook apps.

Any other book worms out there??  I love to spend my free time reading a good book.  This year I set a goal to read 50 books as part of a reading program my library runs.  So far I am sticking to my goal, but only because of free audiobook apps!  They have helped me so much in finding time for a book.  I’m busy (aren’t we all) and some days I just do not have the time to sit down on the couch and read.  With an audiobook I am able to listen to the book while I’m washing dishes, folding laundry, driving in the car, etc.  They are the best!  A lot of people ask me how I can afford all of the audiobooks I listen to, but here’s the secret:  I have never bought an audiobook in my life.  All of the books that I listen to are done using free apps (I love free!).  Today I am sharing my tips all about how to listen to audiobooks for free.best free audiobooks apps

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Libby

Libby is seriously my favorite free audiobook app and I use it every single day.  This app is very user friendly and easy to use.  All you need is the free app and a library card!

How It Works:

  • Download the free Libby app to your digital device.
  • Sign up using your library card.  If you do not have a library card contact your local library.  They are free to get and sign ups are really quick and easy.
  • Once you are signed in you can browse thousands of audiobooks and eBooks.
  • When you find the book you want, simply click “Borrow”.  If the book is available it will instantly be made available for you to listen to.
  • Because Libby is connected to the library there are a limited number of copies for each book.  When the copies are all in use you will need to click, “Place Hold.”  You will now be in line for the book.  When it’s available it will be checked out to you.
  • You get to have your audiobook for two weeks before it needs to be returned.  If you need more time to listen, you can renew the book for another week (just as long as nobody else has a hold on it).
  • Lastly, listen and enjoy your audiobook.  After two weeks your book will automatically be returned, no need to worry about a late fee (yay!).

I love using Libby for so many reasons (it’s user friendly, it’s free, and all of my favorite books are on the app).  It does have a few drawbacks though.  The biggest is there is usually a long wait for the most popular books.

Check the app regularly for your favorite books (I usually browse weekly).  I have found if I reserve a few books each month, I will always have one or two available to listen to.

If you are wanting to listen to a book immediately, select “Available Now” in the Preferences section when you are browsing for books.  This helps narrow down the search to books you can listen to in the moment.

Overdrive

Overdrive is a very similar app to Libby.  It connects to your library card and offers thousands of free audiobooks.  In my experience though Overdrive was not very user friendly and I didn’t enjoy using it at all.

There is a plus side to Overdrive!  It is compatible with more devices than Libby is, including Kindle Fire, PC, MACs, etc.  This makes it easier for everyone to listen using their favorite method.  I know a lot of other people who love and recommend Overdrive, so maybe it was just me!  If your library doesn’t connect to Libby, try Overdrive!

LibriVox

LibriVox is an awesome app and website devoted to providing the public with free audiobooks.  The selection is a little limited, but you will find many classics and popular books including Little Women, Pride and Prejudice and Gulliver’s Travels.

The books are all read by volunteers, which is fantastic!  But, it also means that some readers are a little more boring to listen to than others.  Try out a sample or two before deciding on a book, I have heard some great readers!

Audible

Fair warning, Audible does cost a monthly fee for unlimited audiobooks.  It’s not a place I would recommend to most people.  However, I have used their free one month trial before and loved it!

Loyal Books

Another great public resource for audio books is Loyal Books.  It offers a huge selection of free audiobooks and ebooks.  The site is very similar to LibriVox with volunteer readers.  Loyal Books will offer you a few different titles though, so it’s great to check both places.

Hoopla

Another app that uses your library card for audiobooks is Hoopla.  Hoopla is a very user friendly app which gives you access to ebooks, audiobooks, music and more.  You do need a library card, but everything offered is free!

  • Related:  10 Free Things At The Library

Amazon Prime

Did you know an Amazon Prime membership not only offers you free shipping, music and movies, but also free audiobooks?  That’s right!  Prime membership gives you access to thousands of audiobooks to listen to for free (for paying members).

If you are already paying for a prime membership, be sure to take advantage of their free books.  I personally don’t think it’s worth paying for a membership JUST for the books.  However, I did use their free 30 day trial membership and loved listening to free books during that time.  If you want to try it out, sign up for the free 30 days.

YouTube

You can find thousands of audiobooks for free right on the YouTube app!  Check out these YouTube channels for a huge selection of audiobooks:  Free Audiobooks, Greatest Audiobooks, and Priceless Audiobooks.

Audiobooks.com

Audiobooks.com has a huge selection of audiobooks, but it does require a monthly subscription.  Fortunately, they offer 3 free books with your 30 day trial!  You can sign up here!

In Conclusion

There really is no reason to pay for audiobooks with all of these free audiobook apps available.  Remember that not all audiobooks are created equal.  Some reads have been really boring and hard to get interested in….others I haven’t been able to turn off.

For me, it comes down to who is reading the book and what the genre book is.  A non fiction book is really not enjoyable for me to listen to, but I love fiction.  And, there have been many books I have turned off because I didn’t connect to the readers style.

Don’t give up if you don’t enjoy your first few audiobooks.  Try a few genres until you find what works best for you.

 

Related Articles:

  • 21 Free and Frugal Kids Educational Websites
  • 9 Money Books That Will Change Your Life
  • 7 Apps That Will Help You Save Money

 

Be sure to pin for future reference:

How to listen to audiobooks for free

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I hope this helped you learn how to listen to audiobooks for free!

Hello! I’m Melanie!

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