Level Up Your At-Home Pamper Nights on a Budget

While a day out at the spa sounds great, it can cost a fortune. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of ways to level up your pamper evening from the comfort of your own home, without going over budget. 

Run a Bubble Bath

Soothe aching joints with a soak in the bath. Whatever temperature you prefer, be sure to add a few drops of your favourite bubble bath and some essential oils to help aid relaxation. 

Not only does having a bath help you sleep better and lower your blood pressure, but it can also improve those pesky cold and flu symptoms. So, give yourself some well-earned downtime with a soak. 

Be sure to check out the likes of Boots, LUSH, The Body Shop, and Neal’s Yard Remedies, for some delightful bubble baths that won’t break your budget.  

Play Some Relaxing Music

Give yourself that authentic, spa feeling with some tranquil music to help you destress. Whether via a free app like YouTube or a music streaming app like Spotify, you’ll find a fantastic variety of music perfect for your at-home pamper night. 

What’s more, if you know our handy tips to help you save on music streaming services, you’ll feel even more zen. 

Hit the Lights

Whatever your favourite form of self-care is, dim the lights to create a peaceful environment to do it in. Light some candles, whether real ones or LED tealights, to create beautiful silhouettes on the walls. If you’ve got a Himalayan salt lamp, now is the perfect time to plug it in. 

Do a Hair Mask

More often than not, we spend a lot of time pampering our skin and body and forget about our hair. So, if your hair could do with a little love, pop an affordable, luxurious hair mask in while you do your thing. 

You can find a variety of great hair masks at retailers such as Boots, The Body Shop, LOOKFANTASTIC, and Cult Beauty, to name a few. What's more, if you love all things hair, don’t miss our article on How to Save Money on Haircare.  

Indulge in your Favourite Beverage

Whether it’s a mug of hot chocolate, herbal tea, a glass of wine or something fizzy, make sure you’ve got your favourite beverage in for when you plan your pamper evening. 

If you’re alcohol-free or watching your alcohol intake, check out our handy non-alcoholic drink suggestions in our article on Alcohol Free Activities on a Budget.  

Create a Bath Set-Up

Ever get into the bath and then realise you’re thirsty, and have to get out to pour yourself a drink? Then get back in, slide down beneath the bubbles, and realise you could do with a snack?  

If this sounds like you, then maybe you need a bath set up. While your bath is running, use the time to gather all the things you might want or need while you’re having a soak. 

Whether that’s a book, a glass of wine, or a chocolate bar, you’ll be grateful when you get peckish and your snack is within arms reach. 

Pop Your Phone Away

Giving your mind a rest from screens and social media is just as important as allowing your body to rest from physical activities. During this pamper time, put your phone on do-not-disturb mode and if it’s still too tempting, put it in another room to avoid distractions. 

As mentioned in our article on Self Care Activities on a Budget, excessive phone usage can have a variety of negative effects on your overall health, so make an effort to have some phone-free time during your next at-home pamper night. 

Use a Body Scrub

There are so many benefits when it comes to exfoliating your body. Not only does it remove dead skin, but it can give you better results after shaving, improve the look of skin texture, and even prevent ingrown hairs. 

So, whether you use a body scrub or an exfoliating mitt, just make sure to be gentle and always follow up with your favourite body moisturiser.

Try a Gua Sha Facial

If you’ve never tried Gua Sha before, it’s definitely worth a try, and the best part is you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. 

Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese technique that involves massaging your face using your hands, or a Gua Sha tool, to promote lymphatic drainage through your lymphatic system. This is the system that is responsible for removing toxins from your body. 

Gua Sha facials are great for promoting circulation, reducing the appearance of fine lines, and relieving tension. There are a variety of video tutorials on the likes of YouTube, Instagram and TikTok so there’s nothing to lose. 

Invest in a Bath Tray

If your bath area is tight on space, opt for an affordable bath tray to give you more surface area. You can use it however suits you, whether that’s for a tablet so you can watch an episode of your favourite show, a book for your next monthly read, or your favourite bath snacks. 

Make Yourself a Board for One

Now that you’ve got your bath tray, why not use it to make yourself a board for one? Whether you go for a classic board with a few meats, cheeses, crackers and fruit, or something a bit more sweet, there’s nothing quite like picking from a delicious board while having a soak in the bath. 

What’s more, you’ll enjoy it even more if you know which supermarket brand is the cheapest to shop with, and how much supermarket reward schemes can save you.  

Use a Bath Bomb

This one is a great option if you’re looking to inject a bit of fun into your pamper routine. You can find an impressive selection of handmade bath bombs that not only look amazing but smell amazing too from LUSH. If you’re after something with bubbles, don’t miss their bubble bars too. You can also check out retailers such as Boots and The Body Shop for alternative options.  

Alternatively, if you’re up for a fun activity, why not try making your own bath bombs at home? There are a variety of accessible tutorials on how to make them, including BBC’s Good Food’s handy post on How to Make a Bath Bomb.  

Read a Book

Whether you’re a seasoned bookworm or you’ve never as much as picked up a book, reading is a great, relaxing activity for a pamper night. Providing that you know how to buy books on a budget, you can’t go wrong with a good book and a cup of tea. What’s more, it’s the perfect alternative to scrolling on your phone.

Alternatively, if you’ve dropped your book in the bath one too many times or you prefer audiobooks, opt to use an app like Audible so you can enjoy listening to a book without the hassle.  

Get a Friend or Partner Involved

If you struggle with setting aside some time to relax, get someone else involved who can keep you accountable. What’s more, you’ll be sure to have fun taking turns hosting a pamper night or as an alternative activity for a date night on a budget. 

Have a Massage

It’s surprising how much tension we hold in our bodies, especially for those of us who have a desk job. If you’re feeling a bit achy here and there from being hunched over while working, then it’s time to try out a massage. 

There is a variety of free advice online for massaging techniques for beginners, as well as video tutorials that you can find on YouTube without spending a penny. 

So, get a friend or partner involved and have them work those knots out to give your muscles some much-needed relief. 

Give Yourself a Manicure and Pedicure

You don’t need to be a beauty expert to give your hands and feet a little TLC at home. Shop at retailers such as Boots, Superdrug, OPI, and Mylee, among others, for an affordable alternative to a day trip to the nail salon. 

Whether you’re up for a manicure, pedicure, or both, follow these simple steps to feel brand new: 

1. Remove any old nail varnish using your preferred method. 
2. Carefully push back your cuticles using a cuticle pusher and trim if necessary with a cuticle nipper. 
3. File into your preferred shape, and buff the surface of the nail to remove shine to help products adhere better. 
4. Apply a base coat, followed by two to three coats of your chosen colour, and then a top coat. 
5. Finish off with a serum or cream of your choice and some cuticle oil to help keep them soft and hydrated. 

Add Rose Petals to Your Bath

If your baths sometimes feel a little lacklustre, try adding rose petals so you’ll feel like a million dollars. You can find some affordable bath petals at the likes of Amazon, Love Honey, and Neal’s Yard Remedies.

Rose petals not only look beautiful, but they have a few benefits for the skin too. Rosewater is known to help calm irritated skin, brighten your complexion, and even give off a relaxing scent which is sure to help you wind down for the evening. 

Do a Self Care Activity

Next time you have a pamper night, switch things up by doing a self-care activity that will make your heart happy. 

From having a cosy readathon and learning a new skill to heading out for a walk, and scrapbooking, don’t miss our handy article on Self Care Activities on a Budget so you can have a little bit of fun without splashing the cash.  

Try a Shower Steamer

If baths are simply not your thing or you only have a shower, try out a shower steamer for that spa-like experience in the shower. Shower steamers are nifty little products that can be used to help you wind down without the hassle of a bath. 

You can find them at the likes of LUSH, Amazon, Temu, and Prezzybox, to name a few.  

Invest in a Bath Pillow

If you love nothing more than soaking in the bath for hours on end then it might be worth investing in a bath pillow. That way, you can sit back and relax without getting uncomfortable. 

You can find some affordable options at the likes of Amazon, The Body Shop, Temu, Argos, and B&M, to name a few.   

Warm up Your Towel

There’s nothing quite like bundling yourself up in a toasty towel after a shower or bath, and you don’t need a towel rail to do it. Simply fill up your hot water bottle or warm up your wheat bag and wrap your towel around it. When you get out, you’ll have that authentic spa experience for a fraction of the cost. 

Don’t miss our handy article on Affordable Ways to Stay Warm if you’re looking for more ways to combat the cold without spending a fortune.  

Take Some Time to Rest

Most of us live pretty fast-paced lives which means we don’t often get downtime. Make sure the next time you have a pamper night you dedicate some time to rest, and your brain and body will thank you for it. What’s more, it’s completely free to do. 

Burn Some Essential Oils

Aromatherapy has an abundance of benefits which make it ideal for an at-home pamper night. From aiding aches and pains to reducing anxiety, stress, fatigue, and more, if you’re feeling burnt out, it’s worth burning some essential oils. 

You can do this using an oil burner, an electric oil burner, or by lighting a candle with essential oils in it. Some great aromatherapy oils for relaxation include lavender and chamomile. 

Try Journalling

Whether you’re using journal prompts, or just free-writing whatever you feel like, journalling is a great and free activity if your mind is feeling busy. 

As mentioned in our article for Self Care Activities on a Budget, journaling has many benefits that make it ideal for adding to your pamper routine.  

Follow Up with Some Meditation

Before you jump in bed, wind down with some meditation. Meditation can be great for settling your mind before bedtime so you can drift off to sleep without being plagued by your worries. 

If you’re looking for a guided meditation, utilise free, guided meditations on YouTube, as well as apps like Headspace.  

Alternatively, if you’ve meditated before, opt to freestyle your meditation and take some time to do what feels right for you. 

Finish It off With Your Favourite Pyjamas

After completing all of your favourite affordable pamper night activities, there’s nothing left to do other than jump into your favourite pyjamas. 

If your pyjama drawer is looking a little under the weather, treat yourself to a new pair of affordable pjs from the likes of Boux Avenue, ASOS, or Boohoo, to name a few.