6 Free Ways to Satisfy Your Shopping Urges
Here's how to treat yourself without spending a dime.
Sometimes, getting a little treat is the only thing that makes you feel better. Unfortunately, the cost of those little treats adds up--and before you know it, your new purchases are just old belongings taking up space in your house. Buying new things doesn't help much, either.
I enjoy treating myself, but as a budget-conscious person, I also enjoy finding new ways to save. As a result, I've gathered these tips so that you can bask in the thrill of shopping without spending money. I rely on them pretty often, and once you've realized how much stuff is available for free, it's easier to leave your credit card in your wallet.
1. Get a Library Card
A free library card gives you access to everything your library has to offer, including books, magazines, games, DVDs, albums and audiobooks. Many libraries also stock equipment, such as telescopes, games and exercise kits, that help you explore new hobbies without spending a dime.
Visiting the library is a lot like shopping. You'll browse the shelves, bring your selections to the front for checkout and enjoy them at home for a week or two. Plus, since you have to bring everything back, you'll reduce clutter in your house.
As a bonus, your library card might come with access to Hoopla and Libby: two digital libraries with thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, albums and comics. Simply sign in with your library card to see what these services have to offer. If your librarians haven't partnered with these services, let them know that you're interested.
On another note, many libraries have "free tables" with books, magazines, postcards and other items that you can take home and keep. Often, this selection comes from donated items that the library can't use, so you might be doing them a favor by clearing out this space.
2. Pick Up Free Samples
Whenever I visit the mall, I rarely buy anything, but I still go home with a bag of goodies. That's because I take advantage of free samples whenever I can. Most department stores, including Macy's, Dillard's and JCPenney, offer free trial-size products at the beauty counter. Just talk about your skincare concerns, and they'll send you home with a few recommendations.
Sephora also provides three samples per visit, but you're limited to scoopable or liquid products, such as cleansers and lip masks. Ulta stocks samples for Clinique, Lancôme and Estée Lauder. Sometimes, they'll have trial sizes of another brand available, but your options may vary.
Personally, I love getting samples from LUSH because they're generous with trial sizes and offer samples of virtually everything in the store, including shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion, face masks, foot balm and toothpaste tabs. Simply find products with a "TRY ME" sticker on the container and hand them to an employee.
Of course, each shopping center is different, so your mall might have even more options than mine. Next time you take a trip, try walking around and looking for stores that offer trial sizes. You might find free goodies in unexpected places.
3. Join a Rewards Program
Many chain stores and restaurants offer free gifts when you download their app and sign up for their rewards program. For example, California Pizza Kitchen gives you a complimentary appetizer when you start earning rewards. I was hungry at the mall one day, so I signed up, ordered my entree and enjoyed a free hot meal.
Admittedly, this is a one-time discount, but it's a good way to treat yourself for the day when you're short on cash. Try looking up the chain stores in your area, then signing up for their loyalty programs and claiming your welcome gift. The deals don't end there, either--you'll earn points every time you make a purchase and snag the occasional surprise discount.
Plus, most reward programs come with a birthday treat. If your special day is around the corner, start signing up to take advantage of free snacks, desserts and drinks. Some programs make you redeem your coupon on your birthdate, while others are more flexible and give you the whole month to decide.
4. Get Free Music on Bandcamp
Bandcamp's free music section contains thousands of albums in dozens of genres. Use the tags at the top of the page to narrow down your search, then browse an array of digital downloads. Sometimes, downloading an album automatically subscribes you to the artist's newsletter, giving you more ways to support them in the future.
As a warning, not every album with the "free" tag is actually free. Look for albums with the "name your price" label, then enter $0.00 and claim your complimentary download. If you have some extra cash, you can contribute a dollar or two to support the artist and stream the album on the Bandcamp app.
In any case, you'll get new tunes for your library without paying for albums or singles. This is also a great opportunity to discover underground artists that you might not have found otherwise. If you enjoy your new albums, consider following the artists and promoting them on social media.
5. Browse Marketplaces
The "free" section on Facebook Marketplace is loaded with furniture, books, toys, appliances and other items that don't cost a penny. The downside is that you'll usually have to pick up the goods yourself, and they're not always in the best condition. Still, I've found a desk, spice rack and TV stand on this exchange, so it's a decent way to furnish your house.
Craigslist also has a selection of free listings. Choose your location from the list, then go to the "for sale" section and click "free" to see what's available. You might find everything from furniture to wood chips to free puppies.
6. Download Free Ebooks
The Amazon Best Sellers list has a "Top 100 Free" tab. When you visit this page, you'll find a variety of plots, authors and genres--all completely free to download. However, this deal usually doesn't last long, so make sure you grab your books as quickly as possible.
You could also look up websites, such as BookBub and eReaderIQ, that share the latest free ebooks. It's just like scrolling through Kindle for your next novel, except you won't have to pay a cent. This service also helps indie authors gain some exposure, which we desperately need.
Have you tried any of these tips? How do you satisfy your shopping urges when you're on a budget? Let me know in the comments.
About the Creator
Kaitlin Shanks
Lifestyle blogger and fiction writer. No AI-generated content here. To support me, please follow me on Instagram (I follow back!) send me a tip, visit my Amazon storefront or buy my novel, Last Living Girl. Thanks so much!
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By Kaitlin Shanks3 days ago in Blush
The Budget Trick Nobody Taught You in School
When Daniel graduated from college, he believed he was ready for the world. He knew how to calculate derivatives, analyze literature, and even recite historical dates with impressive accuracy. But on the day his first paycheck landed in his bank account, he realized something important: no one had ever taught him how to manage money. The paycheck felt like freedom. He celebrated with dinner out, bought new shoes he had been eyeing for months, and subscribed to three streaming services he convinced himself were “essential.” By the end of the month, his account balance was whispering a warning he didn’t want to hear. Daniel did what most people do when faced with financial anxiety—he searched online for budgeting advice. What he found discouraged him. Lists of strict rules. Spreadsheets with color-coded categories. Advice that sounded more like punishment than guidance. He tried one of those rigid budgets anyway. It lasted twelve days. The problem wasn’t that Daniel lacked discipline. The problem was that the budget felt like a cage. Every purchase triggered guilt. Every coffee felt like failure. Managing money began to feel like dieting—restrict, restrict, restrict—until he snapped and overspent again. One evening, while visiting his grandmother Elena, Daniel confessed his frustration. “I just don’t understand,” he said. “Why does budgeting feel like I’m constantly saying no to myself?” Elena smiled gently. She had lived through times when money was scarce and times when it flowed more easily. She poured him tea and said, “Maybe you are trying to control money instead of directing it.” Daniel frowned. “Isn’t that the same thing?” “No,” she replied. “Control is fear. Direction is purpose.” She pulled out an old notebook from her kitchen drawer. It wasn’t a spreadsheet. It wasn’t complicated. On one page, she had written three words in large, confident letters: Needs. Joy. Future. “That’s it?” Daniel asked. “That’s it,” Elena said. She explained her “budget trick,” the one nobody had taught in school. Instead of tracking dozens of tiny categories, she divided her income into three clear buckets. Needs covered rent, groceries, transportation, utilities—everything required to live with stability. Joy was money reserved for pleasure without guilt: dinners with friends, hobbies, gifts, small luxuries. Future was money sent to savings, investments, or an emergency fund. “There is no restriction in this method,” Elena explained. “There is only intention. If you’ve already assigned money to Joy, you can spend it happily. And when it’s gone, you stop—not because you are deprived, but because you have chosen your limit.” Daniel felt something shift inside him. This didn’t sound like punishment. It sounded like permission with boundaries. The next month, he tried it. When his paycheck arrived, he divided it immediately. Fifty percent to Needs. Thirty percent to Future. Twenty percent to Joy. The percentages weren’t magic; they simply fit his situation. The act of dividing, however, changed everything. For the first time, Daniel didn’t feel anxious about spending on himself. When he met friends for dinner, he paid from his Joy fund. When he bought a new book, it came from Joy too. And when the Joy account reached zero, he waited until the next paycheck. Surprisingly, the waiting didn’t feel like suffering. It felt calm. The biggest transformation came from the Future bucket. Watching that account grow gave him a sense of power he had never experienced before. Instead of fearing unexpected expenses, he felt prepared. Instead of living paycheck to paycheck, he was building momentum. Months passed. Daniel noticed something else: he was spending less impulsively. Not because he forced himself to, but because every dollar had a job. Money was no longer something that “disappeared.” It moved with intention. At work, his colleague Maya complained constantly about her finances. “I make decent money,” she said, “but I never seem to have enough.” Daniel shared his grandmother’s method. Maya was skeptical at first. “Three categories? That’s too simple.” “Exactly,” Daniel said. “It’s simple enough to actually follow.” A few weeks later, Maya admitted it was working. “I don’t feel guilty anymore,” she said. “I just feel aware.” And that was the hidden power of the trick: awareness without shame. Most schools teach mathematics but not money management. Students graduate knowing formulas but not financial habits. They learn how to earn income but not how to assign it meaning. As a result, many adults associate budgeting with restriction rather than alignment. The word budget itself often carries a negative tone. Perhaps a better noun for what Daniel learned is “plan.” A financial plan feels active and intentional. It suggests direction rather than denial. Yet even plan does not fully capture it. 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By Sahir E Shafqat2 days ago in Lifehack
Stop Wasting Your Mornings
For years, my mornings felt like a race I never signed up for. The alarm would ring. I’d hit snooze. Then again. And maybe once more for good measure. Eventually, I would jolt awake with that awful realization — I’m late. My heart would already be pounding before my feet touched the floor. From there, everything moved fast and sloppy. I’d scroll through my phone while brushing my teeth. I’d skim emails before I was fully awake. I’d rush through a shower, skip breakfast, and mentally rehearse everything that could go wrong that day. By the time I sat down to work, I wasn’t focused. I was frazzled. It took me a long time to understand something simple: The way you start your morning is the way you start your mind. And I was starting mine in chaos. The Problem Wasn’t Time — It Was Intention I used to tell myself I wasn’t a “morning person.” That I just needed more sleep. That my schedule was the issue. But when I looked honestly at my habits, I saw something different. I wasn’t lacking time. I was wasting the first 30–60 minutes of my day reacting instead of choosing. Scrolling through social media first thing in the morning meant I was immediately consuming other people’s priorities. Checking email meant I was stepping into other people’s urgency. Watching the news meant I was inviting stress before I had even had water. No wonder I felt behind. So instead of trying to wake up at 5 a.m. or completely overhaul my life, I made one decision: I would protect my first hour. Not perfectly. Not rigidly. Just intentionally. What followed was a simple routine that changed everything. Step 1: Wake Up Once The first change was the smallest and hardest: no more snooze button. When you hit snooze, you’re training your brain to start the day with hesitation. You wake up, then go back to sleep, then wake up again. It creates confusion and grogginess. Now, when my alarm goes off, I sit up immediately. I don’t negotiate. I don’t check my phone. I physically move. It sounds dramatic, but this tiny act builds momentum. You’ve already kept one promise to yourself before the day even begins. And momentum matters. Step 2: No Phone for 20 Minutes This rule alone lowered my stress by half. For the first 20 minutes of the day, my phone stays face down. No notifications. No scrolling. No messages. Instead, I do three simple things: Drink a full glass of water Open a window or step outside for fresh air Stretch for a few minutes That’s it. Hydration wakes the body. Fresh air wakes the senses. Stretching wakes the muscles. Before my brain has a chance to spiral into worry, my body feels grounded. Most of us begin our mornings overstimulated. This small buffer creates space. And space creates calm. Step 3: Make Your Bed It’s cliché advice. I used to roll my eyes at it. But making your bed takes less than two minutes, and it changes the visual tone of your space. Instead of leaving behind a symbol of rush and disorder, you create one small win. When you return to your room later, it feels orderly. Controlled. Peaceful. It’s not about perfection. It’s about signaling to your brain: I take care of my environment. I’m in charge here. That matters more than we think. Step 4: Plan the Day — Briefly This is where focus begins. I don’t write a long to-do list. I don’t map out every hour. I simply answer three questions in a notebook: What are the three most important things I need to complete today? What can wait? How do I want to feel today? That last question changed everything for me. Instead of thinking only about productivity, I started thinking about emotional direction. Do I want to feel calm? Efficient? Patient? Creative? When you decide how you want to feel, you subconsciously guide your behavior toward that outcome. Without this step, your day controls you. With it, you guide the day. Step 5: Move Your Body — Even a Little I used to believe workouts had to be intense or long to count. That mindset kept me from doing anything at all. Now, my rule is simple: five to fifteen minutes of movement. Some days it’s a walk. Some days it’s yoga. Some days it’s basic bodyweight exercises in my living room. Movement clears mental fog faster than caffeine. It releases stress before it builds. It shifts you from passive to active mode. You don’t need a gym. You need consistency. And consistency begins small. What Changed After a few weeks of this routine, I noticed subtle but powerful shifts. I wasn’t snapping at people as easily. I wasn’t scrambling through my inbox in panic. I wasn’t reaching for my phone every five minutes. My mornings felt slower — even though the clock hadn’t changed. The biggest surprise? I didn’t feel tired in the same way anymore. I felt steady. Calm mornings don’t make life perfect. They don’t prevent stress or eliminate challenges. But they change your starting position. Instead of beginning the day in defense mode, you begin it centered. That difference compounds. The Real Secret: It’s About Ownership This routine isn’t magical. It’s not trendy. It doesn’t require waking up at sunrise or buying anything new. Its power lies in ownership. When you choose how your day begins, you remind yourself that you have agency. You are not just reacting to alarms, messages, or deadlines. You are setting the tone. And tone matters. Think about the days you’ve felt most productive or peaceful. They likely didn’t begin with panic scrolling or frantic rushing. They began with clarity — even if just a little. You don’t need an hour. Start with 20 minutes. Wake up once. Avoid your phone. Hydrate and stretch. Identify three priorities. Move your body. That’s it. Simple doesn’t mean insignificant. If You Think You Don’t Have Time Most people say, “This sounds nice, but I don’t have time.” But check your screen time. Check how long you spend scrolling before even getting out of bed. Check how long you spend reacting instead of preparing. The time is already there. The difference is how you use it. Even if you only adopt one step from this routine, you’ll notice a shift. Maybe it’s the no-phone rule. Maybe it’s writing down three priorities. Maybe it’s drinking water before coffee. Change doesn’t require a complete overhaul. It requires one consistent decision. Stop Wasting Your Mornings Your morning is not just a transition between sleep and work. It’s the foundation of your mental state for the next 12–16 hours. When you waste it in distraction, you pay for it in stress. When you invest it in intention, you collect clarity. You don’t need to become a different person. You don’t need to wake up at 4:30 a.m. You don’t need a perfect routine. You just need to start the day on purpose. Tomorrow morning, when the alarm rings, don’t negotiate with it. Sit up. Drink water. Breathe. Move. Decide. And watch how different the rest of your day feels. Because calm isn’t something you find in the afternoon. It’s something you build in the morning.
By Sahir E Shafqat2 days ago in Lifehack
Comments (2)
I find all these very useful in helping me reduce spending. I haven't exploited the 3rd option even though I find this readily available in my city. I would be checking out the rewards programs for restaurants and food stores. Great one!
I used to have a library card but I stopped going after high school. I do still download ebooks and songs for free. I watch movies and series online for free too. I had no idea that Facebook Marketplace had a free section. Thanks for that!