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20 Awesome Ways to ‘Treat Yourself’: A Chime Guide

By Melanie Lockert
September 5, 2018

You work hard. You want to do the right thing and save money. But you also want to treat yourself and enjoy life a little. All work and no play sucks. Right?

The good news is that when you use Chime, you can save money and treat yourself at the same time. How does this magic happen? Using Chime’s
Save When I Spend feature, your purchases can be rounded up to the nearest dollar and your spare change is then automatically deposited into an optional (and free!) Chime Savings Account.

To celebrate you and encourage you to YOLO-on-the-cheap, we’ve come up with this guide on how to treat yourself. Take a look.

1. Get your Pumpkin Spice Latte

I hereby give you permission to get yourself a Pumpkin Spice Latte this fall #nojudgement. In the personal finance world, conversations about lattes run about ad nauseum. We’d like to just stop that conversation in its tracks and say go ahead. Get your latte and brighten your day.

2. Take a local dance class

One way to treat yourself is to get moving and take a dance class. Try something new. You can check out Groupon for sweet deals. I bought a Groupon for belly dancing classes and it comes out to about $5 per class. Now this is what we call an inexpensive and fun way to get your groove on.

3. Go gourmet

Learning how to save money means sacrificing some things, like eating at home more and going out to dinner less. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t indulge at a lower price point. One way to have a fancy gourmet dinner for two is to get a baguette, some brie (or other fancy cheese), some meats, and a bottle of wine. I used to do this and it costs about $20 for two people. At $10 per person, including alcohol, it can’t be beat. Also, it requires little effort and feels fancy.

4. Write a thank you note

Writing a thank you note is a dying art. While it’s always good to write a thank you note to someone you appreciate, I’m going to switch it up a bit and encourage you to write a thank you note to your future self. What will you be thankful about in 10 or perhaps 20 years from now? This can put you in a positive mindset and get you thinking about where you want to go in life.

5. Get some new skivvies

Want to feel like a bold and brave new person? Do you want to treat yourself with something fun and not break the bank so you can still save for a rainy day? Get some new underwear. Seriously. You can get something lacy and fun. Or perhaps it’s time for rock some new comfy granny panties. Do whatever floats your boat and makes you feel like a secret superhero under your clothes.

6. Buy some herbs

Want to spice up your life? Buy some herbs…ahem, not that kind. You know, the kind you can cook with or add to drinks. You can go to Trader Joe’s and buy some fresh mint or basil. Add that to a jar of water and boom — infused water.

7. Ditch technology (for now)

If you are honest with yourself, you know that the majority of your day is likely spent in front of a screen. A computer screen, a TV screen, your phone. Sure, these devices can give you some enjoyment and entertainment, but it can be a lot. Give your brain a break from being a constant consumer of information and let it just be. Ditch technology for at least two hours each day (and this doesn’t include your sleeping hours or when you’re in the shower!) If you can do the whole day, do that.

8. Read for pleasure

After ditching the technology, commit to reading for pleasure. Not for work. Not for self-improvement. Read something for FUN! Something that can take you away for a bit. Better yet: read a real book where you have to turn actual pages.

9. Get a new phone case

If you want to save money and treat yourself, look for a new fun phone case. Let’s be real. You spend a lot of time on your phone and have probably dropped it a few times. Protect it and enjoy what you’re looking at with a new phone case. Need inspiration? Check out this Faux Mink case in the delicious color of Golden Apricot.

10. Get a massage (at a discount)

Wondering how to save money on self-care and relaxation? Go to a school! You can get a massage at a huge discount by going to a local massage school. The same goes for haircuts, facials, and more. Go to a local beauty school and rack up the savings.

11. A mug just for you

Mornings can be rough. But having a special mug that is just for you can help you start the day off right with a little dose of inspiration. Consider this “Not Today Satan” coffee mug on Etsy.

12.  Buy a mug warmer

Now that you have your favorite mug, invest in a mug warmer. We’ve all been there: you get carried away with work and go back to your tea or coffee…and it’s luke warm, or worse, cold. Keep it hot and fresh with a mug warmer.

13. Get a reel viewer

If you’re a nostalgic toy lover, getting your own reel viewer can be the perfect way to treat yourself and a fun way to preserve your memories. You can add your own favorite photos too. Not only is this fun for you but a great conversation starter and an awesome and unique way to share your favorite memories with others.

14. Act it out

When you want to learn how to save money fast, you may have to cut back on entertainment and going out with your friends. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun. Invite your friends over and ask them to bring their favorite piece of text — a poem, an article, a play — and have everyone read aloud to each other. At the core, many of us are storytellers and hearing your friends read their favorite text aloud can be a special thing.

15. Make it hot

If you like things hot and love a robust flavor, indulge in a special hot sauce. It can take your meal from boring and bland to straight fire. We’re pretty sure that hot sauce sales went up when Beyoncé crooned “got hot sauce in my bag, swag”. If it’s good enough for Queen Bey, it’s good enough for you.

16. Do whatever you want

As adults we get stuck in to-do lists and “shoulds”. It’s hard to hear your own voice sometimes and know what you really want. So, let go of responsibilities for one night. The dishes will be there tomorrow, I promise. If you want to nap, do that. Want to watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before a 3rd time? Do that. Want to work on the next great American novel? Do that, no self-judgement. Do whatever makes you feel good.

17. Go down memory lane

A great way to save money and spend nothing is to take a trip down memory lane and look at old photos. Look at your old vacation pics. Pictures of you and your SO when you first started dating. Look at that crazy photo from childhood and remember who you used to be. Looking at old photos can bring a feeling of joy and take you back to a fun time.

18. Try a new recipe

Cooking is a process of trial and error and following directions on a recipe can lead to a great new meal. You don’t have to be a master chef to make something that tastes good. Consider trying a new recipe. The process of cooking can help you slow down, stay in the moment, and experiment.

19. Party for one

Get your favorite food, a favorite glass of wine or cocktail and put on your favorite music. Dance in your living room and enjoy everything just how you like it. Throw yourself a party for you and only you.

20. Play hooky

Some days you just don’t want to go to work. And maybe sometimes you shouldn’t. Now, we don’t recommend this strategy often, but once in a blue moon you should play hooky. Do something fun during the week or stay in your PJs all day.

It’s All About You

There you have it: 20 fabulous ways to treat yourself. Better yet, all of the ideas here are affordable and some of them cost no money at all. We invite you to slow down, enjoy life and give yourself a break once in a while. You deserve it.


This guide is for informational purposes only. Chime does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. You should check with your legal, financial, or tax advisor for advice specific to your situation. Your state or local unemployment agency is responsible for making all determinations on your eligibility for unemployment benefits. Please contact your state or local unemployment agency if you have questions.

Chime® is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card and the Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card are issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit and credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your Card for its issuing bank.

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