Recently, I wrote about ways to treat yourself for free or inexpensively. I'd like to expand upon those ideas with some more suggestions because it truly is the main purpose of this blog to encourage moms to give as much to themselves as they do to their familieis. One of the quickest ways to begin to feel stressed and overwhelmed is to neglect yourself. Because it's in our nature to take care of those around us, it's easy for women to forget to take time for themselves. Here are some more ideas for ways you can pamper yourself without spending a lot of money.

Ways to Find Free Time and Enhance Your Life

We are all unique individuals with interests and activities that are separate from our families and our work. But in order to tend to our own identities, we need to find some time. That can be the most difficult thing of all to do. Whether it's time to hang out with friends, engage in a hobby, read a book or just take a bubble bath, alone time is an absolute necessity when it comes to finding fulfillment. Try these strategies to carve out a little "me time."

• Make "me time" a priority. The first thing you have to do in order to carve out some time for yourself is to make a commitment to yourself. If you don't feel you deserve the time, it will never happen. Give yourself permission to take some time just for you.
• Communicate your needs. You'll want to be sure to tell your loved ones that you need time for yourself and explain to them why it's important to you. If they are aware of your needs, they will be more likely to give you some alone time.
• Put it in your scheudle. Actually write down time in your planner each day or throughout the week to increase the likelihood that you'll take the time for you. Treat these moments as you would any other appointment or obligation.
• There are tons of things you can do for yourself that cost little or no money at all. Here are some ideas: wake up early to enjoy your coffee or tea in silence, take a bubble bath with a magazine and a glass of wine, put your headphones on and just chill, call a friend to chat, take a walk to clear your head, read a book to unwind before bed, watch a chick flick, exercise to a video or Wii game, schedule a girls' get together. The possibilities are endless. You just have to allow yourself to commit, then sit down and figure out how to enjoy your time.
• Take a class or just learn something new. One of the best ways to get back to you is to focus on intellectual or spiritual development. Take a class at your local college. Many offer low-cost adult ed courses that cover a variety of topics. You can even learn something new online without leaving your home. Top colleges and universities even offer free courses online. A little research and due diligence is all it takes to find just the right learning opportunity for you.

So what are your ideas for making time for yourself? I'd love to hear them. Let's brainstorm together!

The other day I wrote about how my new hairstyle has improved my outlook. I also mentioned that I'm fortunate enough to blog for a wonderful local hair salon, and I'm able to trade my writing services for hair and beauty treatments. It's an awesome exchange! Even if you're not lucky enough to have your hair stylist on retainer, there are still tons of ways to treat and pamper yourself, as well as your family, without spending a ton of money. These are tough economic times. Throughout my working life, I've had various period of ups and downs with my finances. The times I was the least happy were the ones in which I constantly denied myself. Living in a mindset of lack or want is not healthy. It's no good for you, and it's no good for your loved ones. So I'm going to get you started with a list of things you can do to add some fun and pampering to your life without spending the big bucks that so mahy of us just don't have right now.

Health and Beauty

Going to the salon and buying beauty products can really take a chunk out of your budget. Consider these ways of pampering yourself on the cheap.

• Ask a hairdresser friend or family member if you can barter services. Or check out your local beauty school to see if you can't get a great new color from one of the school's students at a significant discount.
• Score some freebies at the beauty counter. I know that some cosmetics brands at high end department stores offer samples for customers to try. Stores like Sephora or Crabtree & Evelyn are also generous with the free samples. Sometimes these samples can last up to a week or more.
• Check out online beauty sample sites. There are websites that allow you to sign up to receive small boxes of samples sent to your door for a relatively small fee. Some of the ones I'm familiar with are birchbox.com, newbeauty.com and herbeautysamples.com.
• Get a makeup lesson at the beauty counter. Many department store makeup counters will provide complimentary makeup application lessons in the hopes of making a sale. It's a great way to learn new techniques and get a little pampering for free. If you can't afford to make a purchase, you're likely to find an item you'll add to your wish list for later.
• Give yourself a mani/pedi or trade services with a girlfriend. I always feel so much better with a coat of polish on, and a nice scented lotion just adds a touch of pampering. It's almost as good as going to the salon. It is!

Dining and Leisure

We all can start to feel a little deprived after being stuck in the house for weeks on end. Don't get stuck in a rut. There are plenty of things you can do to get yourself and your family out and about.

• Head to the internet for deals. There are so many discount sites right now like Groupon, Living Social and PopSugar Shop.They may not all be to your liking, but surely you'll find some bargains that work for you and your family. My husband and I got to have dinner at a fabulous local restaurant we normally couldn't afford for half off because of a Groupon deal.
• Go for ice cream. One thing I always said was that I could take my kids out for ice cream no matter how poor we may be. It doesn't have to be to Dairy Queen, which can be a bit pricey. Head to McDonald's for a sundae off the dollar menu or pick up supplies at the store for a make your own sundae bar at home. It's a fun tradition.
• Have a movie night. Going to the theatre can cost an arm and a leg. It's a luxury we can't often afford. But another tradition my kids love is movie night where we choose a Netflix movie to watch together. We eat popcorn or a sweet snack and stay up late. The kids get to sleep out on the living room floor. It really feels special.
• Check out your local radio station for auctions or half price deals. Most stations these days have some kind of discount partnership with local establishments.

There are so many more things you can do to treat yourself and your family for little or no money. I will continue this post in the coming days with ways to find time for yourself and ideas for enriching your life spirutually or academically.

Leave a comment sharing how you treat yourself without spending a lot of money.