Cheap ways to cheer yourself up?

[Caoineag]

Hmmm...well, I like walks. I think they are a great way to destress. Almost all exercise is a great way to destress.

I also use my grocery savings as a game that I play which strangely enough makes me happy. The rest of my debt repayment can hit snags and can get derailed but the grocery thing restarts every month so no matter how bad I was one time, the next time I can do better. I have actually gotten less demoralized while doing this then before I turned buying groceries into a game.

I know, I am weird. I have made peace with that.

[Ima saver]

Well, I don't think you are weird at all. I never feel the need to cheer myself up by shopping!! Being on this forum with like minded people is fun and doesn't cost a lot of money.

[poundwise]

I get a little cheer from buying a couple or three new songs online. I enjoy music and at .88 or .99 each, its a cheap way to find a smile sometimes.

[QuadSquadMom]

One of our favorite cheap things to do is to go to this place within 3 miles of our house for the evening out for date night.

It's a newly-developed "planned community" where they have high-end shopping, restaurants, condos, a Marriott hotel, and a beautiful "loop", a round, landscaped park with a giant pond w/fountain in the center; all with free parking. It's quite the "hot spot" on Fri & Sat evenings! At the holidays, they put up a giant tree at the park and go all-out on decor, which makes for photo opportunities & they have horse-drawn carriage rides around the park.

We have gone over there just for the walk around the loop; sometimes we take one of the pups along.

One night we went for dessert at an exclusive restaurant after having dinner at home (all the ambiance, a nice time out & a cost-controlled outing!). Once we enjoyed a picnic on the lawn there. Lots of friendly people out with kids, dogs & friends.

I took our 2 year old niece over there and did a photo shoot of her with there great landscape as backdrop one sunny afternoon. Fabulous!!

Neat place, close by & free scenery ! Can you tell it's a place that makes me feel good??!

Oh, and did I mention that one of the shops there is a chocolate store?

[marvholly]

I budget/use $x/month to "blow"on anything I want-meals out, entertainment......It is amazing how little I actually end up using. I could afford more.

i put away $ every week from my personal expense allotment (covers gas, clothes, work gifts, work purchases to treat myself to manicures and/or pedicures every so often.

Current cheap cheerer: Breakfast out (Decadent)
Local Wendy's have just started to do breakfast. Coupons in local papers for started mid-Sept and good to at least mid-Nov. Get free breakfast sandwich w/ ANY purchase (value menu has $1 muffin, hash browns, sandwich)
Dunkin donuts also runs coupons for some breakfast stuff that is inexpensive.

[FrugalFish]

I think it is great just to sit outside at night with a cocktail and talk and talk to your dh. Watch the stars sparkle in the sky and enjoy each other's company. That is what we do many evenings!

That is what we do too. We happen to live under a pretty major airline route, so we see an airliner (high up) about every 15 minutes. We also try to spot satellites.

[cschin4]

I think the true fun and enjoyment of life IS inexpensive. I enjoy walking the dog, looking at the autumn leaves, watching the squirrels and birds. If you are a simple person as I am then life's simple enjoyments are the best. I also enjoy playing an instrument (my guitar) or going to a local sports event and cheering for the "home team". Become a fan of your local high school, etc and enjoy. Go to the library, brew yourself up some fancy coffee and have a friend over, etc. The list is endless. I hate spending money and to me, going to the mall or store to shop is extremely boring. I have no desire whatsoever to engage in that.
I do not look at savings as self denial but as a means to an end where I will get to retire early and do exactly as I please. Much more valuable to me than whatever widget or thing I have my eye on at the moment!

[txex86]

Playing basketball with my 13 yo daughter. The together time is great as well as the exercise. She's taller than me now though, so my odds of winning pick-up games have greatly diminished.

[Ima saver]

I might mention that we live on a creek, so we sit out overlooking the creek. Many times we see deer crossing the creek! Now if we just had a wet bar built out there, but that's ok! I sometimes set up a bar out on the deck.

[Ima saver]

Watching the autumn leaves falling!

[Coleroo]

i use to get cheered up and thrilled by shopping - but now it just depresses me. my "want this" desires are still there, but my head and pocketbook knows better!

Ways i chear myself up now:

play with my dogs
clean my house or declutter something
visit with my parents
look through picture albums
talk to girl friends i dont see much on myspace or email
orgainze the baby's nursery
read fantasy fiction (dragons, elves, etc)
play with my bird
have a "spa night" (give myself a mani, pedi, and facial)
visit the library
watch my dogs running around our backyard
watch HGTV or TLC
flirt with my husband
cook / bake
smell the clean laundry (tide with febreeze is the greatest..haha)

hrm..thats all i can think of at the moment but im sure theres more. i take pleasure in many of the small things.

oh..almost forgot the best ---- chocolate milkshake from burger king!!!!!!!! hehe

[nomorecredit]

I can't think of anything I could buy that makes me as happy as the time I spend with my dog!

[Ima saver]

My dog is a joy to me too!!

[leggzz66]

to me nothings better then the late night, im only one awake, warm soaking bath with some good tunes. Walmart special headphone cd player was only 10 bucks and i jam to my hearts content and soak and chill out after a long hard day of all that i do.

[Rick01]

A good movie and a frozen pizza does it for me every time.