I’m a firm believer in rewarding yourself, for whatever you’re accomplishing. Finish a big project at work? That deserves a mini celebration on the weekend. Crush your gym goal? A new gym outfit seems fair. Eat clean all week? Binge all weekend.
The moral of the story is that rewarding yourself after reaching a goal or achieving a success is such a great feeling…for everything except your waistline and wallet. Have you ever noticed that we often treat ourselves with things that are either really unhealthy or really expensive? While these rewards feel great at the time, they often end up causing more stress (think: a giant visa bill and a stomach ache). Once in a while big splurges are okay, but it’s also fun to incorporate treating yourself on a regular basis. So I’ve come up with 10 ways to TREAT YO SELF for under $10. These mini-splurges and rewards are sure to make you feel good!
1. Take a Bath (but a really good one)
Can we just all agree that baths are the best? There’s no better way to relax after a long day and on the plus side, your sore muscles (from all of the workouts your crushing) will thank you too! Up your bath game by investing in a bath bomb from Lush, which run between $4-10. They smell amazing and different varieties can do everything from soften your skin to help you get over insomnia!
2. At home mani-pedi
I always have my nails painted, but when I actually take the time to do a full mani-pedi, complete with soaking my hands, shaping cuticles, scrubbing, polishing and moisturizing, I feel like a new woman (plus, I like to show off my hands and feet a whole lot more). Take your $10 and invest in a new nail polish shade or an awesome hand and nail cream.
3. Face Mask
Nothing is better than the feeling of your skin after using a face mask. I’m a big believer in masks and have a few that I keep in regular rotation. You can opt for an DIY version (ingredients should cost less than $10) or pick up one from Sephora for $8. Cucumber slices for your eyes are optional…but encouraged.
4. Adult Colouring
This is the year of adult colouring and we are NOT upset about it one bit. Colouring is a proven creative outlet that helps to relieve stress. Luckily, our friends at Zen Colouring Pages are the best and have some FREE printable pages that you can check out. They also have some amazing colouring books for sale on their site, including this Drake Colouring Book which would certainly be worth blowing the $10 budget for. As Drake would say… YOLO.
Zen Colouring& Planet Coffee are also hosting a weekly Coffee & Colouring Club on Tuesday evenings! More information available here.
5. Fresh flowers
With Spring just around the corner (please, please let this statement be true), bringing fresh flowers into your home is guaranteed to boost your mood. Not only do they look pretty, but they smell amazing and will instantly brighten up your home. Pick up a $10 bouquet and they should last at least a week, if not longer!
6. Pure Yoga Drop In Class
We all know yoga to be a huge stress-reliever: an hour for yourself where you’re encouraged to let go of the outside world and focus on your body/mind/spirit connection. For many people, the zen feeling after leaving a yoga class is the perfect “treat yo self” reward. Luckily, Pure Yoga Ottawa offers drop in classes on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. for only $5!
7. Movie Night
Going to the movies has gotten super expensive. Admission and a snack can set you back nearly $20/person. But, luckily, there are a few places in Ottawa that show “second-run” films, at a discounted price! Rainbow Cinemas, Cinestarz Orleans. Admission is only $6 for adults ($5 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and their snacks are considerably less expensive than the bigger theaters.
8. Coffee Date
Think about your favourite coffee shop. Chances are you whiz in and out during the workweek hustle. But there’s something so nice about visiting a local coffee shop with no time frame. Bring whatever book you’re reading, podcast you’re listening to, or grab a friend for a catch-up sesh, all while enjoying a handcrafted bevvy (less than $10 unless you’re drinking liquid gold) that trumps your standard Monday-Friday black coffee. Some great spots around town: The Ministry of Coffee, Equator Coffee Roasters, Morning Owl Coffeehouse, Planet Coffee.
9. Have a glass of wine…or 4.
It’s well known that you don’t have to pay $30 for a good bottle of wine. While we usually stay in the $13-18 range for wines on the regular, there are some workhorses that are priced under our $10 budget. My mom swears by this white wine and this red is always a safe bet, both sneaking under budget. You can also try a small version of a more expensive wine, like this Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc.
10. Throw a dance party (with a fresh new playlist)
Maybe all your friends need to treat themselves too. And as we’ve learned from Grey’s Anatomy, there’s really nothing better than dancing it out. Take your $10 and download a few new songs to spice up your iTunes and curate a new playlist and then invite your friends over to shake it. Or, subscribe to a streaming service or search around on Youtube for a free playlist and save your $10 for a bottle of wine. It will make the dance party that much more fun, I promise.
Moral of the story??
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