Like any average human being, I must be money-conscious.

I really wish I did not have to rely on money as much as I do, but I have student loans, a car and a credit card to pay off. On top of that, basic survival needs cost money (i.e. rent, groceries and gas) and my cats are spoiled.

I do not allow myself to panic (too much) when it comes to finances, but at times I wonder what I have to do to get my bank account to a less laughable number.

I love to spend money on vacations and food; however, I know when to kick my saving mode into high gear (and that time is now.)

My spending habits reflect my ability to justify an absurd amount of useless purchases, but as the great duo, Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford once said: “treat yo’ self,” and that is how I wish to live.

I thought my budget would completely cut out any hope for me to treat myself.

Refusing to accept that fate, I found myself enjoying simpler parts of life and decided that it is possible to remain frugal and “treat yo’ self.”

Here is a list of some of the cheapest ways to spoil yourself so that your bank account and sanity do not reach disastrous levels.

Start your day on a positive note

I’m not trying to sound cliché, but seriously, a bit of a positive attitude can really change your day.

The best discovery I made to start my day a bit happier was purely accidental: I decided to freshen up the laundry in the dryer while I showered, and surprised myself with a fresh, clean towel and robe that were heated up to perfection. The stress of the day ahead immediately melted away.

Self-care

This is such an important part of life, whether you are on a budget or not. However, I cannot justify spending money to pamper myself with a manicure/pedicure, a gym membership or calling off work just to relax.

But, I did find the time to sit down and paint my own nails while deep conditioning my hair with coconut oil. All things I already owned, so no money was spent (this particular occasion.)

Do nothing

I don’t mean ignore all of your responsibilities but maybe plan your next day off to make a cozy blanket-nest, make a delicious breakfast and fire up your favorite streaming site. Find a new show to binge-watch, an old show you totally forgot existed or all of the movies you’ve stashed away into your queue that you have not had time to watch.

There is just something so satisfying about planning out an entire day of laziness.

Read a book

OK, this sounds like something your parents would say to you when you claimed you were “bored.”

Except, I genuinely love to read, and at times, I let life get too busy until I realize how long it has been since I devoured a good book or two. If you think reading is not fun, please hear me out before skipping ahead: you just have not found the right book/genre to keep you entertained enough. If you like to watch movies, listen to music and have favorite television shows, then chances are reading can be fun for you. All of the entertainment you watch started as a written story in some form or another.

Rearrange your favorite space

I’m sure you have a particular part of your living space that just feels cozier than the rest or maybe your bedroom is your ultimate sanctuary.

Take the time to tidy it up and even move some things around to make it feel newer. You’ll find more reasons to hang out there to do some of that “reading” I mentioned previously.

Explore where you live

Whether you’re in a small town that seems like it has nothing to offer, a bustling city full of people you’d rather avoid or an area with more farm-life and trees than there are humans, you will always discover something new about where you live.

I did not realize that the large park a short walk away from my house was one in which I had not spent time in since I was much younger, and Dom had not ever seen. We sat down in that park one warm afternoon while a small, local music festival was going on across the street. We posted up where we could hear the bands perfectly and had some snacks, all without spending any money.

Do something creative

I know that serious crafters and artists would say that creativity is not cheap, but I am not saying you should spend the money you have been saving on supplies for advanced projects. Just start drawing, coloring or writing and you’ll surprise yourself with how much less you care about the finished product when you just enjoy the experience.

Pro tip: spend a few dollars on a cheap bottle of wine (if you are of drinking age) or make an awesome hot beverage if you don’t drink, find a cool design online and get a cheap paint set.

Invite some friends over and indulge in a DIY “paint and sip” night (instead of spending $30 to $40 per person to go to a paint and sip class, that probably offers the same cheap wine, but for double the price).

Make a new playlist

Music is a necessary part of my daily life. You can usually sign up for music streaming on various platforms for free (with commercials, but beggars can’t be choosers). Take time to discover some new artists and put together playlists to match every mood. Just having new tunes all in the same place will make the days of penny-pinching feel more adventurous.

Bake or cook something

I don’t like cooking, but I do enjoy baking treats (and eating them). I check out Pinterest boards for all kinds of baking ideas (some more involved than others) and see what I can do to make it my own. I like baking because the ingredients are typically items I already own or buying a boxed mix is super affordable. You do not need to have the best kitchen equipment and top-notch ingredients to successfully master a simple brownie or cake. Besides, the reward at the end makes all of that hard work much sweeter.

I know that saving money can be tough, and living on a tight budget can seem like torture (especially when you keep declining invites from friends to go out and do costly activities).

Just look around at what you already have, or find some cheaper alternatives, then you will realize that you do not need to recklessly spend money just to be happy.