New Year, New You: How to Save Money on Self-Care

Fitness and Wellness

Gym memberships dig into your self-care budget, not to mention the requisite apparel. This is a good time to look for special offers. At the beginning of the year, gyms will often have introductory offers to lure in new potential members.

If you like the gym and sign up for a membership, commit to going regularly so you are getting your money’s worth. If you find that you’re only going sporadically, consider pay-as-you-go classes and incorporate outdoor walks and at-home workouts into your routine to mix things up.

If you need motivation and guidance, you can find tons of quality free workouts on YouTube – I like BodyFit by Amy, Fit with Mik, Juice & Toya, Sidney Cummings Fitness, and MadFit.

If you find walking boring, I suggest scheduling time to catch up with a friend or family member on the phone while you walk. Podcasts can also be a good walking partner.

Meditation

Meditation is known to improve overall wellness by teaching you to be mindful and to relax your nervous system. It also happens to be one of the most affordable ways to care for your mental health.

You can find free meditation podcasts on Spotify and Apple like Meryl Arnett’s The Mindful Minute podcast, Tara Brach’s meditations, or Chel Hamilton’s Meditation Minis, among countless others. You can even find specific meditation podcasts for sleep, stress, depression, meditations designed for kids, and more.

Insight Timer is a popular app with over 80,000 free guided meditations that will help you manage stress in all areas of your life. Apps like Headspace and Calm are popular paid apps, but they both offer a handful of free meditations that you can try if you’re just getting started.

It takes practice to build the “mental muscle” needed to meditate successfully, so don’t be discouraged if you’re slow to adapt.

Spa Services

– Save on Services

Sites like Groupon have hundreds of deals from local wellness service providers, including spas, medical services, and salons. You can find incredible savings of more than half off services like massages, cosmetic treatments, and skincare from local businesses.

Pro Tip: Many local spa and fitness deals enable you to book your appointment directly on the Groupon website—no need to contact them to set up an appointment or present a voucher when you go in.

– Timing counts

If you live somewhere that has a tourist season, check out local spa deals when the tourists aren’t in town. Spas will be looking to drum up business when it’s slow, so you may find deals. It’s also worth seeing if any spas in your area offer discounts for locals.

Many spas charge more on the weekends than during the week. Look for lower prices during non-peak days or times.

– Get your money’s worth

If you are going to splurge on a day at the spa, make time to take full advantage of everything that comes along with your treatment. Most spas allow guests to have an entire day’s access to the available amenities, like the steam room, gym, sauna, cozy robes, and copious cucumber water, even if you had a less expensive treatment.

– DIY

No matter how much you save, facials, mani/pedis, and skin treatments can cost a lot. Investing in some high-quality products to use at home can save you money in the long run. Set the tone with candles and low lighting, and treat yourself to some TLC at home for a fraction of the cost. Don’t know how to DIY? Let Youtube videos be your guide.

Pro tip: Earn cashback on your spa day supplies when you use a site like Rakuten or PayPal Honey. I’ve found offers for up to 6 percent cashback at retailers like Ulta, Sephora, and The Body Shop.

Mental health

– Research your insurance coverage

Your insurance may cover a variety of mental health and wellness services, so if you require services, make sure you’re aware of exactly what your policy includes. If your insurance offers mental health coverage, search for in-network providers and then call the provider directly to verify that they accept your insurance.

Note: I know that this is often harder than it sounds. Many of the top providers simply don’t accept insurance these days, so you may have to pay out of pocket to see your favorite provider.

– Find a low-cost clinic or graduate school

Some psychology graduate schools will provide the general public with discounted therapy sessions, often for less than $30. These sessions are generally conducted by a student under the supervision of a professional. Do a Google search for graduate psychology departments near you or visit the Association of Psychology Training Clinics website, APTC.org.

– Consider telehealth services

Telehealth appointments are increasingly popular since the pandemic, and some insurance companies have been incentivized to offer lower copays. If telehealth services are available to you, you may save time and money by utilizing them. Telehealth can often be used for wellness services like mental health and nutrition assistance.

– Try mental health apps

Another option is therapy apps, like BetterHelp and TalkSpace. These services are substantially less expensive than traditional therapy, with BetterHelp coming in at $320/month for 4 sessions, and TalkSpace at $260/month or more. This is much less expensive than paying out of pocket for traditional therapy if therapy is not covered by your insurance.

Therapy apps also run frequent promotions for new customers. You can find these ads as you browse online and these promotions are also very commonly offered on podcasts.

Mental health care is very serious and very personal, so I want to note that I have not tried these platforms and my mentioning them is not an endorsement.

Remember…

While self-care is important, it’s also become a massive industry. You don’t have to fall for the hype by going over budget in an effort to care for yourself. There are many simple and free acts of self-care available like having a relaxing hobby, viewing art, taking regular baths, or spending time outside. Research shows that these simple things can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.