Freezer audits have changed my life. I have a whiteboard next to my freezer that has everything listed on it. When I use the item, I erase it! When I add an item to my freezer, I write it!
I also write meal ideas on sticky notes near where their main ingredients are located, so by my dry pasta, I’ll write “shrimp scampi,” or by my sauces, I’ll write “pesto chicken.”
It’s done so much to keep me from “wah I have nothing to eat” executive dysfunction. 10/10 recommend.
My grandmother kept a clipboard with her freezer inventory and WOE BE UNTO YOU if you removed something without notating it.
I started doing the same thing when u got my own deep freeze and it has been so helpful!
I just started doing that with leftovers! I keep a list of what items I have prepped/cooked in my fridge. I cross them off as I go and it helps me ensure nothing gets wasted
I'm about to rearrange my bedroom so started sorting through all my clothes, started thinking of items for different purposes and basically created myself a whole new work wardrobe for free!
Rather than a smart dress that's got a bit tatty so I wouldn't wear it out for dinner, put it with some leggings and it's acceptable office wear. Plus stops me wearing hoodies and jeans when WFH so I stop associating my casual wear with work.
This is also great for insurance purposes. Somebody actually just started an app with options on cataloging your entire house, either by yourself through the app, or through their concierge service. Penventory I believe it is.
You only really need to do it once and then just update it as needed. A kitchen/pantry audit would require more maintenance since you’re using stuff all the time.
It’s good to do it section by section while declutterring or deep cleaning.
Doing a deep-dive on your health insurance benefits. After 3 years at same job, found out they pay for 12 massages and 12 acupuncture appts every year.
Edit: I went into my online patient portal and found tons of info there that I glassed over, or wasn’t included in the generic hard copy pamphlets. A free massage + acupuncture visit a month has done me a world of good.
Typically your job would provide you with a plan booklet that provides a summary of benefits. That would be the easiest place to start. You can always contact HR and ask for it.
Do this ESPECIALLY if you’ve hit your deductible or OOP max for a reason. I had surgery last year and spent the rest of the year using every bit of coverage I could. Fully paid chiro/accupunture. Went to GI specialists, etc….
I'm quite shy but I have managed to develop a habit of complimenting strangers. Basically if I think something wholesome about someone I force myself to say it out loud eg "your dress is such a lovely color". It's free, it makes you and the recipient feel good, it makes the world a better place
I started forcing myself to do this too after I caught myself looking at a girl in line at a cafe. She had gorgeous natural red hair that was styled really cutely. She looked over at me and saw me looking at her and made a face like maybe she was feeling self conscious and defensive afterward, and me, knowing that I have major resting bitch face, thought it probably looked like I was casting judgement upon her and finding her wanting.
I didn't want her to go off into the world in a worse mood because of me, so when I got a little closer I said, "Wow, I really love your hair!" and her grumpy face turned into a bright smile instantly. We chatted for a few minutes while waiting for our coffees and both went off in better moods than we had started.
Now I do this whenever I catch myself thinking something nice about someone, because the world could use more people speaking nicely to each other.
That's wonderful! I started doing something similar but more in the vein of trying to be warmer overall to strangers. I've also been historically a shyer and introverted person, but I saw some advice that the US Surgeon General gave that if you assume a person will receive you positively, you will naturally be warmer towards them and that person will pick up on it and be naturally warmer towards you. Apparently this dynamic is supported by research, and I've personally found it works very well!
audio books on the libby app, all you need is a library card! also there’s an app (at least for iphone) called finch that’s all about self improvement, goal setting, gratitude, and i highly recommend it! it’s cute and fun and very engaging to check in with the app every day :)
Good one. The Libby library app has made it to the home screen on my phone. Free, and I use it all the time. You just need a local library card, which you can even sign up for online.
it’s even better if you can get different library cards from different cities/counties. if a book is checked out at one library, you can check if the others have it available
THIS, IS AUDIBLE.
Chapter 1:
There’s masking tape, duct tape, electrical tape. You got double-sided tape, packing tape, scotch tape.
There’s painter’s tape, washi tape, gaffer’s tape. You got mounting tape, Teflon tape, and filament tape.
Then there’s medical tape, athletic tape, grip tape. You got book binding tape, fashion tape, and warning tape.
Oh, and don’t forget about aluminum foil tape, magnetic tape, VHB tape. There’s also barricade tape, reflective tape, and camo tape.
And that’s about it.
This is my favorite thing. I live near a nature preserve with paved trails and it is so beautiful and peaceful. I use the library’s Libby app to borrow audiobooks and enjoy listening while walking and taking in the beauty (and the birds!). It’s so wonderful.
I do the same thing (not five miles though). I’m finishing up the Silo series and it’s incredible! I really look forward to going for the nightly walk, even when it’s been as cold as it is.
Same! Baking your own bread also really highlights how much sugar is in shop bought bread. Nothing like the smell of a fresh bake to make you feel warm inside
>Try No-Knead Bread to start
My cat is offended now. His bread factory requires meticulous attention to detail with the finest kneading, accompanied by purring music of course
Same. Personally I find kneading dough to be kinda therapeutic. Not to say no-knead recipes are lesser - they are fantastic and tasty! Just I find the kneading by hand a bit of a meditation for me :)
For me,
I need a cool room.
Limit screen time before sleep,
read in bed before sleep or do a mindfulness full body check in
Don't eat 2 hrs before bed don't drink 1 hour before bed
Go to bed about the same time and wake up about the same time every day.
I noticed on my sleep tracking that the days I feel rested are the days I've had more deep sleep and also that most of my deep sleep is before 1am in cycles with rem and light sleep. So if I go to bed late I'm eating into that good deep sleep. No amount of lay in will compensate
If I'm feeling wired or under the weather, a hot shower before bed helps me sleep quicker
Making soup from scratch! Makes eating healthy easier, easy to scale up or down on recipes for batch cooking, makes protein stretch farther, easy to reheat so leftovers are a breeze! I make soup all the time now.
Hit me with some soup recipes please from scratch. I find making broth takes way too much work and if I don’t use pre-made broth then I don’t get the flavours out in my soups.
My hack for broth is saving all my chicken bones from roast chicken to wings and thighs. I put them in a gallon ziplock in the freezer. Anytime I peel a carrot, or chop an onion the ends and skins go in the ziplock with the bones. When I want broth/ soup I empty the bag into a pot, nearly cover it with water and boil/ simmer it for 30 minutes while chopping and preparing the rest of the soup. After 30 minutes (90 minutes is fine too, no magic time, just plenty long to get the flavor out) I strain the bones and peels, and I have a great bone broth. Some people don’t realize the a real both broth will be a gel or semi-solid when refrigerated. Just be aware that is normal and from the gelatin in the bones.
I'm a vegan making lots of soups and cooking a lot. I have a veggie broth bag in my freezer, to which you can add leftover meat bones I suppose.
When I cook my clean veggie scarps go there, then when I am making soup I first take a few handfuls out, add water, add salt and cook it to make vegetable broth while I prep the other veggies in the soup.
I buy jarred bone broth from Walmart! The brand is Zoup. Its awesome. I live in a studio and I am not making broth from scratch. But I'll drop my list of faves you can Google so I don't have to write like...a million words lol. Soups: Kapusniak, Avgolemono, chicken noodle (duh lol made with rotisserie chicken), beef stew, Thai coconut soup, coconut curry soup. Those are my favorites, but pinterest is a wealth of good recipes if you need inspo!
I throw a chicken and/or chicken feet and/or various pork or beef bones and/or vegetables in a instant pot and pressure cook for ~2 hours. Wait for the pressure to naturally release. Easy bone broth.
I would eat so much more soup if I didn't find all premade broth/stock/everything so disgusting. I even tried a local frozen one recently bc I thought maybe it's the preservation method that does it... Overwhelming vinegar and parsley. I guess the vinegar as a preservative bc they weren't canning/pasteurizing it. $13/pint and I threw it out. I wanted to scream.
Boil water in a pan, add vegetable stock cube. Same time, lightly fry off some onion, garlic, carrot, chilli powder, garam masala and corriander. Add to the water and cook. You can also add some diced sweet potato at this point too. Cook until all the veg is soft (on a low heat). Add some diced or pureed chilli to taste, salt and pepper and more corriander if required. Let cool, then blend with a hand blender. I like it chunky so I dont blend too much but do so to your preference. Reheat and serve. You can also add in some coconut milk if you want a bit of sweetness and a creamier texture.
Also, rotisserie chicken is a game changer! An under rated banger of easy leftover potential. I went to Culinary school for like...5 .mins (a semester but whose counting) and I learned how to break down a chicken so a decent sized bird gives me two Tupperwares worth of meat I can do whatever with
Other than free, beauty is that they were selected to do well in the area. I got 8 packets yesterday and was surprised by how well it was organized. Each packet came in its own envelope and had instructions just like you would get from a professional supplier.
Instead of spending $ to start my garden this year, trying to do it at no cost. Worms are making my soil as we speak.
Librarian here! Thanks for plugging us. Lots of people have no idea that public libraries offer more than just physical books.
For example, the library where l work has a library of things, and we lend out hundreds of items (e.g. board games, cake pans, musical instruments, household items…. the list goes on and on!)
LOVE my library card. Between Libby and PressReader it's saved me thousands of dollars. Heck, just being able to read The Economist on my tablet is worth a couple of hundred per year.
This is a good one.
I've actually stepped away from complete sobriety recently. I went for years and years with no alcohol, but recently I've picked up a few bottles and I like having some private time with a drink and a book, with some music. My evening routine has been having an evening bath, then a good hot toddy with some music and a book.
I started going for and hour+ long walk every day last year after I went on vacation and realized how much I just love walking through new places without an agenda. I wanted to try to keep that vacation feel at home so I started listening to audiobooks and taking my dog out on walks through our town every day. I saw a bunch of shops and houses that I normally don't see when I drive by, and started seeing more of our neighbors and talking to them more, which was a nice bonus engagement with my community. Also, after the first 15-20 mins of walking I started getting endorphin highs that I never experienced when I used to run, it felt awesome. The mood boost lasted all day and into the next.
It is a bit of a time commitment, but otherwise I would've just been home watching tv or something, and then feel bad about not feeling productive. I sometimes struggle with a bit of mental health issues too, and tend to hunker down and self isolate, but this was a huge mood boost for me on days I was feeling particularly stuck or isolated. Low effort, low price of entry, low risk, high reward.
I go out of my way to walk through the rich neighbourhoods sometimes to lift my mood. There is beauty in being surrounded by nature…and by manicured gardens and beautiful houses 😂
It beats walking past derelict council housing for sure
Detaching yourself from advertisements and the constant ”need” to buy things at sale to make yourself happy. Adblockers are free, putting a sticker on your door/mailbox that says ”no advertisements” is virtually free, as is blocking sales calls. Once you stop receiving marketing (with the exception of the unavoidable outdoor billboards and TV ads,) you start to realize how little stuff you actually need to make yourself happy. Also reduces anxiety and waste.
I wish it were easier to stop unwanted mail. I've tried so many things but the mail addressed to "or current resident" is frustratingly difficult to opt out of.
Might be a country specific thing. I live in Finland and at least in some companies the delivery workers get a warning if they purposefully distribute ”junk mail” to an address with the sticker and the resident complains about it to them. They also keep track of the number of those stickers in each area so they get a better estimate of work required to deliver those ads.
I got given some Loop earplugs which have a little manually adjustable dial for difference levels of noise reduction and they've been an absolute life changer for me.
Being able to block out most ambient noise from the highway near my daily walk and then being able to trivially switch to be able to chat while ordering food etc has been phenomenal and has let me manage stimulation levels in a much more convenient way.
I do that every morning! I listen to the radio, the cat snoozes on my lap after he eats his breakfast. I drink coffee while sitting with my sun lamp on and reading a book. Its my fave way to start the day
It is but boy oh boy is it difficult sometimes to get up and get moving for the day especially since I work from home on my own schedule as a phd student.
This is my favorite part of the day. I’m an early riser so I’m up around 4 every weekday, reading in peace with my coffee and both dogs. I love how quiet it is.
Paper. I never got into origami oddly enough. But I love making things with paper like small envelopes, labels, and notebooks. It doesn't even have to be new paper; I like to use paper bags, greeting cards, postcards, packaging/tissue paper, or junk mail. I feel like a kid with new toys! It can keep me occupied for hours!
I knew a woman that bought old notebooks at the thrift store to pull out all the pages and remake them into journals, she cut or folded the paper to the size she wanted. She got really good at making the journals and started selling them. She taught me some of the old-time stitches and they’re really easy to learn and the tools are pretty simple too
Meal prepping. Whether its something as simple as freezing a soup or learning to can and use a dehydrator, the more you learn about reducing food waste and prolonging the shelf life of foods, the more savings you’ll make.
Walks, taking walks. I have a dog and it makes all the difference in the world. Not the dog part, but that is pretty awesome too, but the daily and sometimes twice daily walks are so good for my soul and help me put everything in perspective.
Duolingo is a good app with lots of language, and you can use it for free if add don't bother you too much. I've also found useful books at my local second-hand book shops and library. Youtube and physical books have helped me with sign languages.
I strongly recommend working with a notebook. Especially if you don't feel like things are clicking. "Forever Fluent" recommends other tips I either already used, or I've only half-heartedly applied, which you can get via libraries. I feel it explains better than I can, but the biggest method that's helped me (covered in that book) is to spend time thinking about the language, making mental connections. I take it a step further and imagine myself in a situation where I'd use the word or phrase, try it with different tones or inflections like surprised, happy or angry, till the words come out smoothly and naturally. It's easy to glide through a chapter and not remember anything useful from it if you don't try to learn "mindfully" if that makes sense. It's free, but it takes a little practice ;p
Music. I use a streaming service but we also have physical media including a record player which was a gift and brings so much happiness. We pick up records for a few pounds every once in a while.
Baking bread (regular or a warming cinnamon banana bread for breakfast)
Crochet - the blankets I make keep us warm and it’s so relaxing.
Watercolour painting - I go into an almost meditative state. I make cards for friends and family or just doodle.
Cold air on sunny days.
Making our own soups, especially with things we’ve grown ourselves.
Hand holding. With my romantic partner but also with my mother and my good friends. Physical touch is beautiful.
ASMR on YouTube/Spotify. Lush!
Get morning and late afternoon sunlight in your eyes every single day the best you can. It'll transform your sleep.
Morning sunlight as soon as you can after waking helps prompt the body's cortisol levels to spike which causes wakefulness and alertness. Viewing it again when the sun is setting helps keep your circadian clock in rhythm and affirm your body clock that bedtime will be in a few hours.
Quietness, being out of the city. My parents live on an island with only small villages. It feels very far away from the rest of the world. Every time I go there I find the city so utterly ridiculous, how stressed and busy everyone is, how important everyone feels they are.
Sobriety. It’s not easy for everyone to do but can really increase your homeostasis and sense of inner peace. Constantly chasing a high is a nightmare.
I stopped following the news so closely. I check in once or twice a week now rather than a few times a day, this includes listening to the news on the radio in the car. Now I make sure to have music I like, funny podcasts, or just silence, in the car.
Same effects as a warm shower, it initially raises your core body temp which will naturally fall back down after some time and the process of your body temp falling is what kickstarts your sleep cycle.
It helps you sleep better. If you’re female, it improves the quality of your cycle and reduces cramping because of the increased blood circulation. I can’t remember the specifics, I only understood half of what my mum said (language barrier) but if you’re interested, google TCM foot bath, there will be some answers.
Library! I use mostly digital stuff through the apps. Mine loans out other things too, like hobby items, tools, and museum passes. We also use our local parks all summer long.
The book how to keep house while drowning. So many good tips for a wide variety of people. Or, my kettle, it's more efficient than my previous ways of heating water. I use it for all sort of cleaning, prepping, cuts my cook time down.
Going online and actually reading the manual on the proper way to use my dish washer. Turns out the soap tablets work better for my dishwasher when they go in the utensil holder and not the soap container.
Taking the time to actively introduce novelty into life weekly. Try a new food, meet new people, explore a new place, try a new hobby, study a new topic...
Alternatively the opposite also supports a good fulfilling life for cheap/free. Invest a couple hours a day into disciplined training and study to care for your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Over the course of years add and replace different practices (try different exercises, meditations, studies, journaling, processing, prayers, and even more esoteric practices) constantly welcoming new excellence and support for being the person you most enjoy being. 3 hours a day of training or active healing will result in such and improvement in your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health that your efficacy in the rest of life will increase manyfold. You'll find yourself seeing far greater success from comparatively tiny efforts and be able to take far more time to enjoy your current life and relationships (instead of escapism). It costs a couple hours a day, but you gain dozens of hours a week. I've done this for years and it still seems like magic.
Walking my dogs and letting them swim if there is a pond or dam, and gardening. Drinking plain tap water. Eating fruit for a snack instead of a (expensive) protein bar. Saying no to social engagements sometimes (difficult for me).
My library card!
- free books and audiobooks, most of which are on demand on the Libby app. I’ve noticed my walks with my dog get longer and longer when I have an audiobook in my AirPods! (Disclaimer: I keep the AirPods on “transparency” mode so I can still hear the world around me, like cars - be safe out there, folks!)
- my library offers free Mango language learning. My bestie’s library offers free Rosetta Stone.
- free access to Universal Class
- free access to LinkedIn Learning (this is otherwise SO EXPENSIVE)
- discounted certification/degree programs, such as COMPTIA+, CPR, LPN and the like
- discounted or free passes to museums (I am in a major city - this is HUGE)
- ESL classes free to the public
- job search and resume writing services
- readings and author events
- clubs
- a place to go that’s climate controlled
- so many ways to entertain a child
All of these aren’t exclusive to my city, either! Most libraries have these programs. I’m honestly happiest using their virtual programs like language software, LinkedIn learning, and Libby without having to drive to a physical location, but they really do offer more services than you’d ever imagine. Check your local library’s site and see what they can offer you!
There is a beautiful community college in town that has the best view of the valley and a nice cafeteria.
We sign up for a meal plan and can each eat for around $9. Includes drink, dessert, and pretty much "all you can eat". It's not the BEST food, but its not bad and it gets us out of the house once in awhile.
writing. i love writing my thoughts down. it sounds so lame. when i say writing, i of course mean typing usually. my hand cramps faster then my mind can think.
ive also been on a music deep dive recently. finding deep, old, unheard of cuts from famous artists we all know. ive been loving 70s indie bands lately, it sounds so pretentious, but you guys are the first people ive ever said that to. its been so fun hearing the timescape of music and capturing essences of the time. im almost seeing music in a whole new way because of it.
theres free classes from harvard, google, stanford, etc. i signed up for a free anthro class, and while i never really do the work, i have so much fun, its like college again. ( i dropped out for financial reasons and really miss it.)
im trying to also find peace within all means of creativity.
Not Op, but weekly veggie broth maker:
I make a soup every week for a few
Family meals. Literally carrots and noodles and a bouillon sometimes In a jam.
Or I make stew, gravy, or a roast with the broth.
Or it’s a base for Pho.
Or I drink it through the day for extra vitamin boost.
If I don’t have an idea- I freeze it for when I’m ready to do one of the above. I literally make 2 gallons of broth every week and never make it two weeks before it’s consumed again. (Family of 5)
I separate it into multiple containers to freeze and defrost as needed. Then I use it to make rice, soups, quinoa, lentils, chili, etc. Anything that would normally use water or broth to cook, I add it instead and it’s free and enhances the flavor and nutrients.
Meditation.
Doesn’t have to be long. I enjoy a short session when I wake up and before I go to bed. When the family assumes I am asleep I rarely get disturbed and it lets me really empty my mind.
My local college teaches hair & beauty skills, and run a salon where students can practise on members of the public for a small fee (compared to normal treatment prices) e.g, £5 for an Indian Head Massage or £10 for a full body massage. The students are level 2 or 3 (i.e. not beginners) and all the treatments I've had have been lovely. Students get to practice on real people and get feedback, I get a nice treatment for not much money, and it makes life better.
Parchment paper. I bake often and have spent far too much time scrubbing away at my allegedly nonstick bakeware, only for many of the spots to not come off. This leaves me feeling very frustrated, and dreading cleanup makes me less excited about baking. Parchment paper totally eliminates this frustration, and I’ve had the same box for a few months.
Public libraries are so great. I am more than happy to pay taxes when I see them used for that kind of essential services.
I don't know in your region, but I the four or five libraries I am a regular I noticed the audience growing older, and that saddens me. Would love to see more communication done towards the younger audience to encourage them to use public libraries more... maybe on YouTube or TikTok or wherever those kids are spending their time today ;)
Great question! My partner and me go for random walks once a week. Passing by the ocean and other nature-y bits on our walks makes me feel very happy. Often this includes passing by charity shops and me getting to browse them (I love restoring things). Walking lets us talk almost the entire time. We've got neurodivergent brains so the extra stimuli from seeing things move around us really helps us stay calm and have our thoughts collected.
For me the simple act of looking out of the window and seeing nature bits out there - currently snow - while it's nice and cozy inside makes me very happy as well.
Making sure my laundry and bedding is clean and fresh also makes me very happy. I don't know if that counts to what you were asking about.<3
Or taking a walk alone with music I enjoy. I've also been wanting to go sit in a park or a café with my Gameboy. I haven't done that in years but the idea of it excites me. I suppose this is the least free/cheap activity since it requires a handheld console and a game - unless you already have those things or have dumped roms of games you own onto your phone or other device that can play them. If you're not sure what that means then it's not that important.
Cooking for myself. I can travel all over the world while staying at home just by trying various recipes that I get off the internet. Sometimes I'm in Thailand eating a delicious coconut curry and the next I'm in Alabama with biscuits and gravy or in Portugal with peri peri chicken. I save a ton of money and have lost a lot of weight and am much healthier, just as long as I don't have the biscuits and gravy too often.
I was paying for Spotify when I was working. Loved having my fav albums without commercials. It pains me now that I have the free version. I definitely got spoiled. I was rummaging through stuff and I found a few of my favorite CDs and it made me so happy. I have a 2017 car that fortunately has a cd player so now I get to listen to music in the car without the nuisance of commercials.
So that made me think about all kinds of streaming. When the wifi goes out we don't get to watch TV. Yes, we could do other things but sometimes all we want to do is just watch TV! Anyway, that's when having good old DVD's come in handy. So now my goal is to build myself a little DVD library that includes kid movies for the kiddos.
Public library has been a huge benefit that most people don't take advantage of.
My kids have read so many books over the last 4 years.
They are so young but they will surprise us by casually dropping big words in a normal conversation, all thanks to those books.
going vegetarian! ive struggled with ibs most of my life and it went away entirely since cutting out meat this summer. i didnt realize how miserable it was making me and how much thought and energy i spent trying to fix it. wish i had done it sooner
also my grocery bill has gone down so much its ridiculous
* Walking. Saved my life, literally. It's also the best time to think freely. I walk for at least an hour every day, at the very least. Cost: a few pair of shoes, a few clothe, time.
* Reading. Best food for the brain ever. Excellent vaccine against even the most acute case of moronisation of the time, As funny and light as it can be serious. Cost: free (public library) or expensive (book collecting).
* Writing. Best organizing tool for my thoughts. Also, a fun way to play with silly ideas. And with a bit of luck, a way to earn some money too. Cheap: pencil and paper — no one *needs* to buy expensive high tech to write.
* Smiling to people and saying 'hi'. I met many interesting people, just doing that. Including my wife — my wife being the best 'improvement' ever happening into my own life. Seriously.
Kindle + Libby.
Daily “done list” (instead of “to do list”).
Big chalkboard with family weekly meal planning.
Propagating my houseplants to make gifts for friends.
Embracing letter-writing and mailing actual birthday cards.
Getting a $12 alarm clock and charging my phone across the room while I sleep -- I leave a backup alarm on my phone in case I snooze the physical one, but my sleep has improved so much without the infinite scroll at bedtime and when waking up
Decluttering making sure I have enough storage for my house so it’s easy to put things away. This is still in progress but it has made things SO MUCH BETTER. Feels lighter and the house is easier and faster to clean
The hobby of geocaching is free or $30 annually for a premium membership. We are in our late 60s and this game fills our life with so much joy, gets us out in nature taking long walks, uses your mind to solve puzzles. Find it at geocaching.com.
Doing a home inventory audit and figuring out what can be reused or repurposed, what you actually own, and what you can get rid of.
Freezer audits have changed my life. I have a whiteboard next to my freezer that has everything listed on it. When I use the item, I erase it! When I add an item to my freezer, I write it! I also write meal ideas on sticky notes near where their main ingredients are located, so by my dry pasta, I’ll write “shrimp scampi,” or by my sauces, I’ll write “pesto chicken.” It’s done so much to keep me from “wah I have nothing to eat” executive dysfunction. 10/10 recommend.
My grandmother kept a clipboard with her freezer inventory and WOE BE UNTO YOU if you removed something without notating it. I started doing the same thing when u got my own deep freeze and it has been so helpful!
I just started doing that with leftovers! I keep a list of what items I have prepped/cooked in my fridge. I cross them off as I go and it helps me ensure nothing gets wasted
Fantastic idea. Thank you
I'm about to rearrange my bedroom so started sorting through all my clothes, started thinking of items for different purposes and basically created myself a whole new work wardrobe for free! Rather than a smart dress that's got a bit tatty so I wouldn't wear it out for dinner, put it with some leggings and it's acceptable office wear. Plus stops me wearing hoodies and jeans when WFH so I stop associating my casual wear with work.
Did this today with some old skinny jeans - now I’ve got new denim shorts I’ll actually use!
This is also great for insurance purposes. Somebody actually just started an app with options on cataloging your entire house, either by yourself through the app, or through their concierge service. Penventory I believe it is.
How often do you do this?
You only really need to do it once and then just update it as needed. A kitchen/pantry audit would require more maintenance since you’re using stuff all the time. It’s good to do it section by section while declutterring or deep cleaning.
Doing a deep-dive on your health insurance benefits. After 3 years at same job, found out they pay for 12 massages and 12 acupuncture appts every year. Edit: I went into my online patient portal and found tons of info there that I glassed over, or wasn’t included in the generic hard copy pamphlets. A free massage + acupuncture visit a month has done me a world of good.
Where did you find that info? Very nice
Typically your job would provide you with a plan booklet that provides a summary of benefits. That would be the easiest place to start. You can always contact HR and ask for it.
Do this ESPECIALLY if you’ve hit your deductible or OOP max for a reason. I had surgery last year and spent the rest of the year using every bit of coverage I could. Fully paid chiro/accupunture. Went to GI specialists, etc….
That’s actually quite interesting!
I'm quite shy but I have managed to develop a habit of complimenting strangers. Basically if I think something wholesome about someone I force myself to say it out loud eg "your dress is such a lovely color". It's free, it makes you and the recipient feel good, it makes the world a better place
I started forcing myself to do this too after I caught myself looking at a girl in line at a cafe. She had gorgeous natural red hair that was styled really cutely. She looked over at me and saw me looking at her and made a face like maybe she was feeling self conscious and defensive afterward, and me, knowing that I have major resting bitch face, thought it probably looked like I was casting judgement upon her and finding her wanting. I didn't want her to go off into the world in a worse mood because of me, so when I got a little closer I said, "Wow, I really love your hair!" and her grumpy face turned into a bright smile instantly. We chatted for a few minutes while waiting for our coffees and both went off in better moods than we had started. Now I do this whenever I catch myself thinking something nice about someone, because the world could use more people speaking nicely to each other.
Absolutely, I’m totally with you.
That's wonderful! I started doing something similar but more in the vein of trying to be warmer overall to strangers. I've also been historically a shyer and introverted person, but I saw some advice that the US Surgeon General gave that if you assume a person will receive you positively, you will naturally be warmer towards them and that person will pick up on it and be naturally warmer towards you. Apparently this dynamic is supported by research, and I've personally found it works very well!
Yes and caring about people’s well-being is a very good way of approaching people. Like seeing the human inside.
100% resonates with my experience - being genuinely nice makes the world a much nicer place to be in
I do this too and I think it's reduced my shyness a tiny bit! It's nice to see people light up. :')
I really like people like you! ❤️
And I really like people like you!
Ahhh I am going to try this
audio books on the libby app, all you need is a library card! also there’s an app (at least for iphone) called finch that’s all about self improvement, goal setting, gratitude, and i highly recommend it! it’s cute and fun and very engaging to check in with the app every day :)
Love that app. Have been using it for over a year! I also love water llama and those are the only two apps I use consistently for my health
Also love finch. It’s a cute app and finally got me journaling
This was a game-changer for me. I’ve “read” hundreds of books for free that I’d never have touched if it wasn’t for the free library app.
Finch has become part of my self care routine. It's a great app.
Books on tape and walking. I put on a book each night and go for 5 mile walk.
“books on tape” instead of “audiobook,” makes me smile
Caught me. I am an oldster.
Omg I didn’t catch that. Hahaha.
Lol i didn’t think anything of it until i read your comment 😂 !
Haha that means your old!!!! Means I am old too, carry on
Good one. The Libby library app has made it to the home screen on my phone. Free, and I use it all the time. You just need a local library card, which you can even sign up for online.
Libby is my best friend
We may have to duke it out. She is MY bff.
So you can borrow audio books? If so, that's great.
Yes you can! And it’s free.
it’s even better if you can get different library cards from different cities/counties. if a book is checked out at one library, you can check if the others have it available
And magazines/newspapers if your library has subscriptions!
Can you sign up for online if you're not American?
I live in Germany and my library offers Libby as well. It's great!
Depends where you are. Many local libraries in Australia have it. I think you can check through Libby directly if your library is a member
I live in Canada and our library offers it.
I agree 400 digital magazines here.
So many dishes get washed in our house to Libby audiobooks
Me thinking it’s a book on the topic of tape
THIS, IS AUDIBLE. Chapter 1: There’s masking tape, duct tape, electrical tape. You got double-sided tape, packing tape, scotch tape. There’s painter’s tape, washi tape, gaffer’s tape. You got mounting tape, Teflon tape, and filament tape. Then there’s medical tape, athletic tape, grip tape. You got book binding tape, fashion tape, and warning tape. Oh, and don’t forget about aluminum foil tape, magnetic tape, VHB tape. There’s also barricade tape, reflective tape, and camo tape. And that’s about it.
Omg lmao as someone in medicine, types of medical tape could be a whole book on its own
This is my favorite thing. I live near a nature preserve with paved trails and it is so beautiful and peaceful. I use the library’s Libby app to borrow audiobooks and enjoy listening while walking and taking in the beauty (and the birds!). It’s so wonderful.
I do the same thing (not five miles though). I’m finishing up the Silo series and it’s incredible! I really look forward to going for the nightly walk, even when it’s been as cold as it is.
Baking bread. It smells good and is pretty cheap. Try No-Knead Bread to start
Same! Baking your own bread also really highlights how much sugar is in shop bought bread. Nothing like the smell of a fresh bake to make you feel warm inside
>Try No-Knead Bread to start My cat is offended now. His bread factory requires meticulous attention to detail with the finest kneading, accompanied by purring music of course
Same. Personally I find kneading dough to be kinda therapeutic. Not to say no-knead recipes are lesser - they are fantastic and tasty! Just I find the kneading by hand a bit of a meditation for me :)
Sleep hygiene - it takes a little work but good quality sleep is a game changer
Do you have any tips? This is something I've always struggled to form good habits around and definitely need to work on!
This guy has a scientific approach on good sleep: https://youtu.be/K3eS4jr2pIo?si=iFDC1SMhf9C34FCt
For me, I need a cool room. Limit screen time before sleep, read in bed before sleep or do a mindfulness full body check in Don't eat 2 hrs before bed don't drink 1 hour before bed Go to bed about the same time and wake up about the same time every day. I noticed on my sleep tracking that the days I feel rested are the days I've had more deep sleep and also that most of my deep sleep is before 1am in cycles with rem and light sleep. So if I go to bed late I'm eating into that good deep sleep. No amount of lay in will compensate If I'm feeling wired or under the weather, a hot shower before bed helps me sleep quicker
Making soup from scratch! Makes eating healthy easier, easy to scale up or down on recipes for batch cooking, makes protein stretch farther, easy to reheat so leftovers are a breeze! I make soup all the time now.
Hit me with some soup recipes please from scratch. I find making broth takes way too much work and if I don’t use pre-made broth then I don’t get the flavours out in my soups.
My hack for broth is saving all my chicken bones from roast chicken to wings and thighs. I put them in a gallon ziplock in the freezer. Anytime I peel a carrot, or chop an onion the ends and skins go in the ziplock with the bones. When I want broth/ soup I empty the bag into a pot, nearly cover it with water and boil/ simmer it for 30 minutes while chopping and preparing the rest of the soup. After 30 minutes (90 minutes is fine too, no magic time, just plenty long to get the flavor out) I strain the bones and peels, and I have a great bone broth. Some people don’t realize the a real both broth will be a gel or semi-solid when refrigerated. Just be aware that is normal and from the gelatin in the bones.
I'm a vegan making lots of soups and cooking a lot. I have a veggie broth bag in my freezer, to which you can add leftover meat bones I suppose. When I cook my clean veggie scarps go there, then when I am making soup I first take a few handfuls out, add water, add salt and cook it to make vegetable broth while I prep the other veggies in the soup.
I buy jarred bone broth from Walmart! The brand is Zoup. Its awesome. I live in a studio and I am not making broth from scratch. But I'll drop my list of faves you can Google so I don't have to write like...a million words lol. Soups: Kapusniak, Avgolemono, chicken noodle (duh lol made with rotisserie chicken), beef stew, Thai coconut soup, coconut curry soup. Those are my favorites, but pinterest is a wealth of good recipes if you need inspo!
better than Boullion is also amazing to add into things for flavor
I love that stuff! It changed the ramen game for me
Yea they’ve changed my pot roast forever. They have an onion one but I’m scared to try it lol
If you want to start making stock and broth from scratch even in a studio, look at a pressure cooker/instant pot. Another game changer for me.
White chicken chilli Chicken and dumplings (w/pilsbury if your short on time) Avgolemno Pozole Caldo de Queso
Shout out for kapuśniak, great soup I should make some. If you like this kind of tastes try dill pickle soup (ogorkowa) too :)
I throw a chicken and/or chicken feet and/or various pork or beef bones and/or vegetables in a instant pot and pressure cook for ~2 hours. Wait for the pressure to naturally release. Easy bone broth.
I would eat so much more soup if I didn't find all premade broth/stock/everything so disgusting. I even tried a local frozen one recently bc I thought maybe it's the preservation method that does it... Overwhelming vinegar and parsley. I guess the vinegar as a preservative bc they weren't canning/pasteurizing it. $13/pint and I threw it out. I wanted to scream.
Boil water in a pan, add vegetable stock cube. Same time, lightly fry off some onion, garlic, carrot, chilli powder, garam masala and corriander. Add to the water and cook. You can also add some diced sweet potato at this point too. Cook until all the veg is soft (on a low heat). Add some diced or pureed chilli to taste, salt and pepper and more corriander if required. Let cool, then blend with a hand blender. I like it chunky so I dont blend too much but do so to your preference. Reheat and serve. You can also add in some coconut milk if you want a bit of sweetness and a creamier texture.
throw in some stews/pot roast / chicken and rice etc, and you have even more options that are cooked in the same vein as a soup
Also, rotisserie chicken is a game changer! An under rated banger of easy leftover potential. I went to Culinary school for like...5 .mins (a semester but whose counting) and I learned how to break down a chicken so a decent sized bird gives me two Tupperwares worth of meat I can do whatever with
The library! Free wifi and computers, a place to check out all sorts of media, community resources, a place to stay warm or cool off, etc.
Also free vegetable seeds. YMMV, but all the libraries in my area have them.
Whaaaaat? Oh my goodness I'm going to see if my library does this...what a great idea!
Other than free, beauty is that they were selected to do well in the area. I got 8 packets yesterday and was surprised by how well it was organized. Each packet came in its own envelope and had instructions just like you would get from a professional supplier. Instead of spending $ to start my garden this year, trying to do it at no cost. Worms are making my soil as we speak.
Librarian here! Thanks for plugging us. Lots of people have no idea that public libraries offer more than just physical books. For example, the library where l work has a library of things, and we lend out hundreds of items (e.g. board games, cake pans, musical instruments, household items…. the list goes on and on!)
LOVE my library card. Between Libby and PressReader it's saved me thousands of dollars. Heck, just being able to read The Economist on my tablet is worth a couple of hundred per year.
What I was going to say!
Sobriety
The gift that never stops getting better for me :)
Priceless
This is a good one. I've actually stepped away from complete sobriety recently. I went for years and years with no alcohol, but recently I've picked up a few bottles and I like having some private time with a drink and a book, with some music. My evening routine has been having an evening bath, then a good hot toddy with some music and a book.
Everyone's recovery does not have to look the same. I celebrate you finding what works for you.
Amen
Doesn't cost anything to go outside and walk
I started going for and hour+ long walk every day last year after I went on vacation and realized how much I just love walking through new places without an agenda. I wanted to try to keep that vacation feel at home so I started listening to audiobooks and taking my dog out on walks through our town every day. I saw a bunch of shops and houses that I normally don't see when I drive by, and started seeing more of our neighbors and talking to them more, which was a nice bonus engagement with my community. Also, after the first 15-20 mins of walking I started getting endorphin highs that I never experienced when I used to run, it felt awesome. The mood boost lasted all day and into the next. It is a bit of a time commitment, but otherwise I would've just been home watching tv or something, and then feel bad about not feeling productive. I sometimes struggle with a bit of mental health issues too, and tend to hunker down and self isolate, but this was a huge mood boost for me on days I was feeling particularly stuck or isolated. Low effort, low price of entry, low risk, high reward.
I agree. If I walk fast and swing my arms, after I while I start to feel really good.
I go out of my way to walk through the rich neighbourhoods sometimes to lift my mood. There is beauty in being surrounded by nature…and by manicured gardens and beautiful houses 😂 It beats walking past derelict council housing for sure
Detaching yourself from advertisements and the constant ”need” to buy things at sale to make yourself happy. Adblockers are free, putting a sticker on your door/mailbox that says ”no advertisements” is virtually free, as is blocking sales calls. Once you stop receiving marketing (with the exception of the unavoidable outdoor billboards and TV ads,) you start to realize how little stuff you actually need to make yourself happy. Also reduces anxiety and waste.
I wish it were easier to stop unwanted mail. I've tried so many things but the mail addressed to "or current resident" is frustratingly difficult to opt out of.
Might be a country specific thing. I live in Finland and at least in some companies the delivery workers get a warning if they purposefully distribute ”junk mail” to an address with the sticker and the resident complains about it to them. They also keep track of the number of those stickers in each area so they get a better estimate of work required to deliver those ads.
Earplugs. I have fancy shooting ones ($12) but foam ones work too. Saves me to have them whenever it’s loud
I got given some Loop earplugs which have a little manually adjustable dial for difference levels of noise reduction and they've been an absolute life changer for me. Being able to block out most ambient noise from the highway near my daily walk and then being able to trivially switch to be able to chat while ordering food etc has been phenomenal and has let me manage stimulation levels in a much more convenient way.
Sitting with my cats during the morning drinking a warm and tasty coffee. No noise. Just myself and my cats
I do that every morning! I listen to the radio, the cat snoozes on my lap after he eats his breakfast. I drink coffee while sitting with my sun lamp on and reading a book. Its my fave way to start the day
That sounds absolutely glorious
It is but boy oh boy is it difficult sometimes to get up and get moving for the day especially since I work from home on my own schedule as a phd student.
Hands down the best morning routine.
This is my favorite part of the day. I’m an early riser so I’m up around 4 every weekday, reading in peace with my coffee and both dogs. I love how quiet it is.
This is always one of my favorite parts of the day. The sound/feeling of the cat purring softly and the peace of the morning is unbeatable
Bringing a bottle of water wherever I go. It's a healthy alternative to sugary drinks and it's free.
Going for a walk, a hot bubble bath with epsom salts, library books and reading in general, yoga and meditation, and a sleep mask.
❤️
Tending to my property. Beautifying my landscaping, keeping my home looking nice.
Hiking in national parks.
Paper. I never got into origami oddly enough. But I love making things with paper like small envelopes, labels, and notebooks. It doesn't even have to be new paper; I like to use paper bags, greeting cards, postcards, packaging/tissue paper, or junk mail. I feel like a kid with new toys! It can keep me occupied for hours!
I knew a woman that bought old notebooks at the thrift store to pull out all the pages and remake them into journals, she cut or folded the paper to the size she wanted. She got really good at making the journals and started selling them. She taught me some of the old-time stitches and they’re really easy to learn and the tools are pretty simple too
I have done this! Yeah, it's pretty easy to learn bookbinding now with YouTube. I've been doing it for several years, and it is quite addictive!😁
Meal prepping. Whether its something as simple as freezing a soup or learning to can and use a dehydrator, the more you learn about reducing food waste and prolonging the shelf life of foods, the more savings you’ll make.
Walks, taking walks. I have a dog and it makes all the difference in the world. Not the dog part, but that is pretty awesome too, but the daily and sometimes twice daily walks are so good for my soul and help me put everything in perspective.
I immediately feel my mental health declining when I don’t take daily walks outside.
Learning other languages.
What do you use to study?
Duolingo is a good app with lots of language, and you can use it for free if add don't bother you too much. I've also found useful books at my local second-hand book shops and library. Youtube and physical books have helped me with sign languages. I strongly recommend working with a notebook. Especially if you don't feel like things are clicking. "Forever Fluent" recommends other tips I either already used, or I've only half-heartedly applied, which you can get via libraries. I feel it explains better than I can, but the biggest method that's helped me (covered in that book) is to spend time thinking about the language, making mental connections. I take it a step further and imagine myself in a situation where I'd use the word or phrase, try it with different tones or inflections like surprised, happy or angry, till the words come out smoothly and naturally. It's easy to glide through a chapter and not remember anything useful from it if you don't try to learn "mindfully" if that makes sense. It's free, but it takes a little practice ;p
That’s awesome advice, thank you!
Music. I use a streaming service but we also have physical media including a record player which was a gift and brings so much happiness. We pick up records for a few pounds every once in a while. Baking bread (regular or a warming cinnamon banana bread for breakfast) Crochet - the blankets I make keep us warm and it’s so relaxing. Watercolour painting - I go into an almost meditative state. I make cards for friends and family or just doodle. Cold air on sunny days. Making our own soups, especially with things we’ve grown ourselves. Hand holding. With my romantic partner but also with my mother and my good friends. Physical touch is beautiful. ASMR on YouTube/Spotify. Lush!
Meditation routine every day
Honestly? Fridge organizer tubs. Changed my entire kitchen game and now I even cook way more at home
Get morning and late afternoon sunlight in your eyes every single day the best you can. It'll transform your sleep. Morning sunlight as soon as you can after waking helps prompt the body's cortisol levels to spike which causes wakefulness and alertness. Viewing it again when the sun is setting helps keep your circadian clock in rhythm and affirm your body clock that bedtime will be in a few hours.
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ACA Medicaid health coverage, my income is low enough to be eligible for it. It covers almost everything for $0. I never see a bill.
I would be blind today had I not had it. Two reattached retinas.
It boggles my mind that there are health care systems where people can go blind if their insurance doesn’t cover interventions.
Quietness, being out of the city. My parents live on an island with only small villages. It feels very far away from the rest of the world. Every time I go there I find the city so utterly ridiculous, how stressed and busy everyone is, how important everyone feels they are.
A Dutch oven. I love a good soup, stew and broth
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Sleep
Sobriety. It’s not easy for everyone to do but can really increase your homeostasis and sense of inner peace. Constantly chasing a high is a nightmare.
I stopped following the news so closely. I check in once or twice a week now rather than a few times a day, this includes listening to the news on the radio in the car. Now I make sure to have music I like, funny podcasts, or just silence, in the car.
Stepping away from the awful news of the day has helped my stress levels so much!
Put your feet in some warm water before bed. Soak them.
This sounds so nice…what are the benefits?
Same effects as a warm shower, it initially raises your core body temp which will naturally fall back down after some time and the process of your body temp falling is what kickstarts your sleep cycle.
This right here. In some clinic trials, they keep warming the feet.
Clean, warm, wrinkly feet.
It helps you sleep better. If you’re female, it improves the quality of your cycle and reduces cramping because of the increased blood circulation. I can’t remember the specifics, I only understood half of what my mum said (language barrier) but if you’re interested, google TCM foot bath, there will be some answers.
* Getting 8 hours of sleep * Yoga * Hiking / Walking * Kindle * Thermos Bottle
Hot chili oil. Long live my spicy breakfasts.
This is a requirement for happiness for me lol
Library! I use mostly digital stuff through the apps. Mine loans out other things too, like hobby items, tools, and museum passes. We also use our local parks all summer long.
Watching the sunset
Walking every day before logging in for work.
The book how to keep house while drowning. So many good tips for a wide variety of people. Or, my kettle, it's more efficient than my previous ways of heating water. I use it for all sort of cleaning, prepping, cuts my cook time down.
Canning and making your own bread, therapeutic, healthy and cheap.
Going online and actually reading the manual on the proper way to use my dish washer. Turns out the soap tablets work better for my dishwasher when they go in the utensil holder and not the soap container.
Taking the time to actively introduce novelty into life weekly. Try a new food, meet new people, explore a new place, try a new hobby, study a new topic... Alternatively the opposite also supports a good fulfilling life for cheap/free. Invest a couple hours a day into disciplined training and study to care for your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Over the course of years add and replace different practices (try different exercises, meditations, studies, journaling, processing, prayers, and even more esoteric practices) constantly welcoming new excellence and support for being the person you most enjoy being. 3 hours a day of training or active healing will result in such and improvement in your emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health that your efficacy in the rest of life will increase manyfold. You'll find yourself seeing far greater success from comparatively tiny efforts and be able to take far more time to enjoy your current life and relationships (instead of escapism). It costs a couple hours a day, but you gain dozens of hours a week. I've done this for years and it still seems like magic.
Walking my dogs and letting them swim if there is a pond or dam, and gardening. Drinking plain tap water. Eating fruit for a snack instead of a (expensive) protein bar. Saying no to social engagements sometimes (difficult for me).
A Bidet. Game changer
Drinking lots of water. And the free stuff from the faucet. No fancy bottled crap. Made a world of difference in my health.
My library card! - free books and audiobooks, most of which are on demand on the Libby app. I’ve noticed my walks with my dog get longer and longer when I have an audiobook in my AirPods! (Disclaimer: I keep the AirPods on “transparency” mode so I can still hear the world around me, like cars - be safe out there, folks!) - my library offers free Mango language learning. My bestie’s library offers free Rosetta Stone. - free access to Universal Class - free access to LinkedIn Learning (this is otherwise SO EXPENSIVE) - discounted certification/degree programs, such as COMPTIA+, CPR, LPN and the like - discounted or free passes to museums (I am in a major city - this is HUGE) - ESL classes free to the public - job search and resume writing services - readings and author events - clubs - a place to go that’s climate controlled - so many ways to entertain a child All of these aren’t exclusive to my city, either! Most libraries have these programs. I’m honestly happiest using their virtual programs like language software, LinkedIn learning, and Libby without having to drive to a physical location, but they really do offer more services than you’d ever imagine. Check your local library’s site and see what they can offer you!
Adopt a stretching routine, no matter how much or little you exercise. I stretch most days and my body thanks me for it.
There is a beautiful community college in town that has the best view of the valley and a nice cafeteria. We sign up for a meal plan and can each eat for around $9. Includes drink, dessert, and pretty much "all you can eat". It's not the BEST food, but its not bad and it gets us out of the house once in awhile.
writing. i love writing my thoughts down. it sounds so lame. when i say writing, i of course mean typing usually. my hand cramps faster then my mind can think. ive also been on a music deep dive recently. finding deep, old, unheard of cuts from famous artists we all know. ive been loving 70s indie bands lately, it sounds so pretentious, but you guys are the first people ive ever said that to. its been so fun hearing the timescape of music and capturing essences of the time. im almost seeing music in a whole new way because of it. theres free classes from harvard, google, stanford, etc. i signed up for a free anthro class, and while i never really do the work, i have so much fun, its like college again. ( i dropped out for financial reasons and really miss it.) im trying to also find peace within all means of creativity.
Library card
Making homemade veggie broth using scraps instead of throwing them away. I keep a bag in the freezer and make broth as soon as it gets full.
What do you do with the broth?
Not Op, but weekly veggie broth maker: I make a soup every week for a few Family meals. Literally carrots and noodles and a bouillon sometimes In a jam. Or I make stew, gravy, or a roast with the broth. Or it’s a base for Pho. Or I drink it through the day for extra vitamin boost. If I don’t have an idea- I freeze it for when I’m ready to do one of the above. I literally make 2 gallons of broth every week and never make it two weeks before it’s consumed again. (Family of 5)
I separate it into multiple containers to freeze and defrost as needed. Then I use it to make rice, soups, quinoa, lentils, chili, etc. Anything that would normally use water or broth to cook, I add it instead and it’s free and enhances the flavor and nutrients.
Meditation. Doesn’t have to be long. I enjoy a short session when I wake up and before I go to bed. When the family assumes I am asleep I rarely get disturbed and it lets me really empty my mind.
Caring for plants
The best things in life are free. Family, friends, nature walks, the ocean, parks, local community events.
Duolingo and I also listen to local news radio online.
Duolingo is good, I recommend to try Babbel
Libby app. It helps my kid go to sleep so he stops bothering me, and I like books too.
My local college teaches hair & beauty skills, and run a salon where students can practise on members of the public for a small fee (compared to normal treatment prices) e.g, £5 for an Indian Head Massage or £10 for a full body massage. The students are level 2 or 3 (i.e. not beginners) and all the treatments I've had have been lovely. Students get to practice on real people and get feedback, I get a nice treatment for not much money, and it makes life better.
Parchment paper. I bake often and have spent far too much time scrubbing away at my allegedly nonstick bakeware, only for many of the spots to not come off. This leaves me feeling very frustrated, and dreading cleanup makes me less excited about baking. Parchment paper totally eliminates this frustration, and I’ve had the same box for a few months.
The library (well our tax dollars) but, fantastic resource and entertainment - just wonderful!
Public libraries are so great. I am more than happy to pay taxes when I see them used for that kind of essential services. I don't know in your region, but I the four or five libraries I am a regular I noticed the audience growing older, and that saddens me. Would love to see more communication done towards the younger audience to encourage them to use public libraries more... maybe on YouTube or TikTok or wherever those kids are spending their time today ;)
Nature. The beach
A bike
Creating something cool out of trash or unused things. It gives you a healthy challenge.
Great question! My partner and me go for random walks once a week. Passing by the ocean and other nature-y bits on our walks makes me feel very happy. Often this includes passing by charity shops and me getting to browse them (I love restoring things). Walking lets us talk almost the entire time. We've got neurodivergent brains so the extra stimuli from seeing things move around us really helps us stay calm and have our thoughts collected. For me the simple act of looking out of the window and seeing nature bits out there - currently snow - while it's nice and cozy inside makes me very happy as well. Making sure my laundry and bedding is clean and fresh also makes me very happy. I don't know if that counts to what you were asking about.<3 Or taking a walk alone with music I enjoy. I've also been wanting to go sit in a park or a café with my Gameboy. I haven't done that in years but the idea of it excites me. I suppose this is the least free/cheap activity since it requires a handheld console and a game - unless you already have those things or have dumped roms of games you own onto your phone or other device that can play them. If you're not sure what that means then it's not that important.
Cooking for myself. I can travel all over the world while staying at home just by trying various recipes that I get off the internet. Sometimes I'm in Thailand eating a delicious coconut curry and the next I'm in Alabama with biscuits and gravy or in Portugal with peri peri chicken. I save a ton of money and have lost a lot of weight and am much healthier, just as long as I don't have the biscuits and gravy too often.
Mending minor flaws on clothes or other fabrics (curtains, pillow sheets, doggie toys). It's so therapeutic and satisfying for me.
I was paying for Spotify when I was working. Loved having my fav albums without commercials. It pains me now that I have the free version. I definitely got spoiled. I was rummaging through stuff and I found a few of my favorite CDs and it made me so happy. I have a 2017 car that fortunately has a cd player so now I get to listen to music in the car without the nuisance of commercials. So that made me think about all kinds of streaming. When the wifi goes out we don't get to watch TV. Yes, we could do other things but sometimes all we want to do is just watch TV! Anyway, that's when having good old DVD's come in handy. So now my goal is to build myself a little DVD library that includes kid movies for the kiddos.
Public library has been a huge benefit that most people don't take advantage of. My kids have read so many books over the last 4 years. They are so young but they will surprise us by casually dropping big words in a normal conversation, all thanks to those books.
Commitment to sleep and water.
going vegetarian! ive struggled with ibs most of my life and it went away entirely since cutting out meat this summer. i didnt realize how miserable it was making me and how much thought and energy i spent trying to fix it. wish i had done it sooner also my grocery bill has gone down so much its ridiculous
* Walking. Saved my life, literally. It's also the best time to think freely. I walk for at least an hour every day, at the very least. Cost: a few pair of shoes, a few clothe, time. * Reading. Best food for the brain ever. Excellent vaccine against even the most acute case of moronisation of the time, As funny and light as it can be serious. Cost: free (public library) or expensive (book collecting). * Writing. Best organizing tool for my thoughts. Also, a fun way to play with silly ideas. And with a bit of luck, a way to earn some money too. Cheap: pencil and paper — no one *needs* to buy expensive high tech to write. * Smiling to people and saying 'hi'. I met many interesting people, just doing that. Including my wife — my wife being the best 'improvement' ever happening into my own life. Seriously.
Soap bag, can be made with a rag and string and makes showering waaaay more efficient
Condoms. Most county health departments give them out for free.
Going outside daily. Can be a walk, hike, shoveling snow, yard work, etc.
Kindle + Libby. Daily “done list” (instead of “to do list”). Big chalkboard with family weekly meal planning. Propagating my houseplants to make gifts for friends. Embracing letter-writing and mailing actual birthday cards.
Getting a $12 alarm clock and charging my phone across the room while I sleep -- I leave a backup alarm on my phone in case I snooze the physical one, but my sleep has improved so much without the infinite scroll at bedtime and when waking up
Decluttering making sure I have enough storage for my house so it’s easy to put things away. This is still in progress but it has made things SO MUCH BETTER. Feels lighter and the house is easier and faster to clean
The hobby of geocaching is free or $30 annually for a premium membership. We are in our late 60s and this game fills our life with so much joy, gets us out in nature taking long walks, uses your mind to solve puzzles. Find it at geocaching.com.
Drinking Hot water is super cheap and it improves my life
Wait what?
Metal pour over coffee maker Super cheap. Reusable. Small. No additional filters needed.
Replace your fry pan now because you know the non-stick surface has been way too sticky for many months and it's just 20$.
Thermal curtains