MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares some inspiration for inexpensive gifts to boost your mood – and how to find a spare £25 for a treat
We’re all running around with busy lives and often leave our wellbeing behind. Self-care doesn’t have to mean expensive weekends at spa hotels (although they are nice, too!).
Small treats can make a huge difference to your day-to-day mood. This list rounds up self-care gifts under £25, designed to bring a little pampering, whimsy, or simply a moment of joy into your day. And if you’re not sure you can afford to spare £25 on yourself, there are some quick tips at the end to help you save the cash.
Beauty and wellbeing treats
Looking after yourself doesn’t have to cost the earth or take hours of your time. Just half an hour in a bath with a face mask on, like the Exfoliate and Energise Mask from Oriflame (£11) can be all it takes to feel restored. Use fun bathtime accessories to lift the whimsy too, such as the Miniso character bath sponges (£4.99) or a Chuckle Soap (£7.50).
If skincare is your thing, make sure yours stays clean and hydrated with a cleanser like the Clean Beauty Club’s Wonder Balm (£16). Or try beauty accessories like the UpCircle Eye Roller (£8.99) to reduce puffiness under your eyes. Find something that lifts your spirits and works with your skin’s needs to feel refreshed and boosted every day. It could be a nourishing moisturiser, a plumping serum, or a hydrating mist that smells divine.
If you prefer your beauty on-the-go, treat yourself to a hard-working lip balm like CULTSKIN’s Advanced Lip Serum (£21.99) or some Lavender Hand Cream by Jurlique (£14.99) for calming scents wherever you are. And, at the end of a long day, consider a hydrating sleep mask like New Belif’s Aqua Bomb Sleeping Mask (£23.20 in the Boots sale, £29 retail price). Those who prefer a home manicure for a treat must check out Flying Tiger’s nail care set, complete in its own cute wheely suitcase for extra fun, at just £5.
Have a little extra?
If you can stretch your self-care budget a little further, try the Sleep Set by GAIA (£50) for a truly restorative and relaxing night’s sleep.
Mindful activities
Self-care can also mean active mindfulness, a chance to meditate on our time without sitting doing nothing or, worse, doomscrolling on social media. Spending time on an activity can be a solitary or sociable event, depending on whether you find yourself recharged by the company of others – or drained by them.
Try a new wellbeing or mindfulness class to experience something new while looking after yourself. Puppy yoga, sound healing, and the Art of Wellness festival are three great examples of events you can find that might lift your spirits. Use Skiddle.com to find a class or workshop in your area that appeals to you.
If you want to spend your self-care downtime at home, consider finding a creative activity. Oktoclay comes in kits that take time to mould and design, and you can either follow instructions to create the kit or let your mind wander to make something new. Kits start from £9.99. Alternatively, tap into your childhood nostalgia with a LEGO set – the Creator 3in1 range has a huge variety of kits starting from £8.99 to £114.99, and each can be built three different ways to offer more value for money.
Perhaps you want to experience the slow satisfaction of growing something yourself from seed, but don’t think you have space to do so. Soil-free HydroHerbs (£25) are easy to use kits suitable for every kitchen. Or, if you have a little room on your windowsill, plant herbs from seed, grow spring onions from roots of shop-bought ones, and even try your hand at growing tomatoes from seeds if you have a balcony space.
Have a little extra?
Mindful colouring is an increasingly popular activity, and all it takes is finding a colouring book that appeals to you and some colouring pens like the Ohuhu Paint Pens (£29.99 for 48).
Food and drink treats
Sometimes, all you need to feel lifted after a tough day is a sweet snack or tasty drink. The Sweet Hamper Company have a wide range of sweet hampers to choose from, meaning you can have your favourites to hand when you need a little boost. If you’re of a chocolate person, consider investing in a luxury bar that only takes a square or two to feel cared for – like MELT chocolates (from £5.49 for a mini bar). If chocolate isn’t quite right for hot summer days, keeping a box of Mochi Mini Moons (£5) in the freezer is perfect for a sweet bite when you fancy it.
For a daily treat, consider a delicious tea or coffee option to start your day or give a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Bird and Blend have a huge range of teas for every type of tastebud and mood, but their new Hello Kitty Apple Pie range (from £20) has a particularly comforting air to it. Even better when paired with Fox’s Dubai Chocolate biscuits!
If you usually reach for a glass of wine, but are trying to reduce your alcohol intake, treat yourself to one of the many new alcohol-free offerings on the market instead. The Clean Company has a wide range of alcohol-free spirits (£19), ideal for cocktails. Or, pick up a bottle of La Giosia alcohol-free sparkling drink (£4.50) which is great on its own or mixed into a cocktail for a summery pick-me-up without the hangover.
Have a little extra?
For serious coffee-drinkers, take a few minutes each day – wherever you are – to treat yourself to a filtered coffee of your favourite ground beans. The classic Aeropress Original (£39.99) is perfect for at-home or on-the-go coffee (including cold brew), simply add your favourite ground roast.
Cosy accessories
When hygge became a buzzword a few years ago, people were fascinated by the idea of taking mindful time in a cosy setting. And it’s still popular for a good reason: sometimes, a little comfort is all you need to feel better in yourself.
Hang around at home with some Fireside Slippers by Heavenly Feet (£16.99) for everyday luxe, for example. Or wear some quirky jewellery that makes you smile every time you look in the mirror, like the collection of beaded earrings available at A Short Story (£25).
Sipping your favourite hot drink from a mug that feels like a hug is a guaranteed way to boost your spirits – and with options like the Miniso Floral Footed Mug from just £2.49, it’s affordable, too. Add a couple of soft-touch cushions to your sofa or a single large one to your favourite armchair, like the corduroy cushions from BHS (£17.99). Light a candle from Woodwick (£24.99) to hear the crackle like a real fire, and you’ve got a perfect moment of cosy calm.
Have a little extra?
A set of cooling, smooth pyjamas is the perfect way to set up a cosy night in, or a long weekend lounge-about. Try the PJ sets from Pretty You for luxury comfort (from £45). And if you have a tendency to get a bit chilly, or simply fancy snuggling under a blanket, check out Night Lark’s coverless duvets (from £40).
How to find a spare £25
It’s all very well saying to look after yourself, but if there’s too much month at the end of your money, £25 can be a week’s grocery bill. Here are some quick ways to find an extra £25 to ringfence for yourself each month.
- Sign up to a mystery shopping app like Shepper, which earns around £7 per average job. Five jobs in a month will net you a tidy self-care sum!
- Use cashback websites to earn some money back on your everyday purchases.
- Use discount codes when buying online, and sweep the difference you save into your self-care fund.
- Ditch one subscription service you never use to save at least £9.99 a month.
- Check your services and suppliers, like TopCashback or Octopus Energy, for refer-a-friend bonuses to earn up to £30 for each referral.
Small changes quickly add up, and it’s worth making sure you set aside even a small sum every few months to take time for yourself with a little treat.
- Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of MoneyMagpie.com. However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.
