Free Ways to Have Fun!

I get it… Life is really tough right now. With the massive rise in the cost of living here in the UK many people & families have been thrown into the deep end with debt & money worries. For those of us who are self-employed, there is a real urgency to try our best to earn more to stay on top of our bills & to stay afloat financially. It is more important than ever during these stressful times to stay on top of our self-care (even if it doesn’t feel like a priority). But the last thing we want to do is to go out & blow £50 plus on a slap up meal after a week of working hard to earn that money when we know it is needed for our gas or electricity bill!

So, I’ve come up with some FREE ways to relax, switch off after a hard day’s work & look after yourself.

• Get out into nature – Sounds too simple, right? But please don’t underestimate the massive healing power of being outdoors in nature. It’s the perfect excuse to explore another park / nature reserve that you don’t normally visit. You could go alone for some silent reflection (always a bonus after a busy day!), meet up with some friends or take your doggy companion if you have one! I love taking my dog, Chester for walks in new places (but am careful not to drive too far from home due to the fuel prices!).
• Fancy some game entertainment but don’t have a games console? Why not try out one of the many free games that are available online? There’s everything from card games to word puzzles & much more! I have taught myself (slowly!) to play Solitaire & actually find it really relaxing now! Perfect for some post-work (or lunch break) wind-down fun!

• Have a spa hour (or whole evening if you have time!). Raid your bathroom cabinet & look out some pampering goodies – a bath bomb / bubble bath / bath salts & a face / hair mask should set you up nicely. Add some relaxing tunes, a good book or magazine & most importantly a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the bathroom door & you’re sorted for your at-home spa!
• Why not plan a dinner party with friends where you take it in turns to cook? You could even have a different menu theme each month. You don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant to celebrate occasions or just enjoy friends’ company. And yes, permission is granted to still dress up if you want (from your existing wardrobe of course!).

• This leads onto another fun activity you can do with friends – instead of a shopping spree around town – why not have a clothes swap, where you can root through each other’s unwanted items. Or if you still need a high-street outing, why not venture into local charity shops? There are bargains aplenty!
• Instead of a cinema trip why not host a movie night for friends or just to treat yourself? If you have a Netflix / Amazon Prime / Disney plus subscription all the better for accessing loads of fab movie releases for free. Add in some homemade snacks & you’re all set!

• If you have any friends who have a qualification or skill such as massage etc why not arrange to swap skills – you could get a free massage in return for cooking them a meal or helping weed their garden etc.

I hope this post has given you some ideas of ways to relax & enjoy yourself without spending a lot of your hard earned cash! If you try any of them let me know, or if you have any other ideas I’d love to hear them!