Cheap Things That Make You Happy

[Rowing Investor]

I am my happiest when I have performed a good and exhaustive physical workout, in particular outdoors on a nice day, e.g. rowing or running. Apart from membership fee in the rowing club (which is well worth the investment), this is very cheap.

[HappierAtHome]

*melts from cuteness* Very cute bubba! (and totes worth $8)

If only the baby himself had only cost $8!! #bargain

[Astatine]

*melts from cuteness* Very cute bubba! (and totes worth $8)

If only the baby himself had only cost $8!! #bargain

If only. #bargain

[Julard]

The start of the day: waking up when the kids are still asleep and having my peaceful breakfast of porridge, fruit and coffee under the trees in the front garden.  The cats sit with me, birds come to tell them off, one of the trees is full of bees at the moment.

The smell of clean laundry. I hang it just outside the laundry door (fully and shamelessly exposed to everyone on the side street, which I know will be shocking to Americans) and the lovely sunshiney, fresh smell floats back in through the laundry door.

All the free planting I've done in the last year - cuttings and seeds collected while out walking, or donated by friends.  We've had a good amount of rain in the last few months so the garden's looking quite lush. 

My homemade moisturiser (beeswax, olive oil, lavender oil; also good for shoes and furniture).

[middo]

Warm showers outside in our outside shower on a cool, dark and moonless night when all the stars come out in our exceptionally dark sky.  Looking at scorpio.

It's summer now, so cool showers under the stars will have to do. And orion.

[lemanfan]

Seeing an old couple walking hand in hand and smiling at each other.

The other day, I was at my favourite resturant at closing time when an older gentleman (80+) walked up the bar and ordered a coffee for himself and for his wife (of similar age): "A gin and tonic.  But less tonic and less ice so she can have more gin!".  After a while, they giggled themselfs out of the resturant, like drunk teenagers in love... ahh.. .to age like that.  :)

And to continue the thread:

A sandwich with fresh bread covered in thick slices of good, aged cheese.   And a strong coffee ...

Music. A solo string instrument up close, or in the headphones. 

Just a slow walk outside on a sunny day.

Manual, repetive labour or handiwork.  Yesterday I spent an hour sharpening my kitchen knives.  Still feel relaxed.

An early morning before others are awake.  Especially closer to summer, when the sun rises before most people.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Playing board games with the kids on a rainy day. Taught them how to play Yahtzee yesterday. Many laughs were had.
-Flying kites on a windy day, exploring the beach

[mustachepungoeshere]

Getting more involved locally, which lately means taking part in and volunteering at a community event, chatting to other runners, and shopping local.

[Linea_Norway]

Being healthy. Not to be underestimated.

I am currently not healthy and have a bad cold and it sucks in many ways.

[mustachepungoeshere]

Being healthy. Not to be underestimated.

I am currently not healthy and have a bad cold and it sucks in many ways.

Hope you feel better soon, Linda.

[BeautifulDay]

Being healthy. Not to be underestimated.

I am currently not healthy and have a bad cold and it sucks in many ways.

I was going to post the same thing.  Got food poisoning tonight and feel awful.  Being healthy is too easily taken for granted and is a huge contributor to happiness - not necessary for happiness, but helpful. And good health is extremely cheap as long as you stay that way.  Really feel for people who are not blessed with good health who have the physical struggles that presents as well as the financial burden.

[HappierAtHome]

Leftover Thai red curry. Yum.

[soccerluvof4]

leveling up in candy crush!

[Zamboni]

Playing ball

Watching my kids play ball

Baking pie

Folding my other half's clothes

Making an attractive graph that gets the point across in a glance

[Fomerly known as something]

Going Cross Country Skiing for the first time in 25 years for $18 including rentals at a sort of local state park.

[lemanfan]

Today I just had a happy moment sharpening a couple of knives on my whetstones.  OK, the hardware was not that cheap when I bought it, but per use it's quite cheap.  And fun, and usable result. 

[JSMustachian]

When my wife tells me she spent no money today.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Hot tea on a cold day.
-The feeling you get after a long workout. Somewhere between exhausted & invigorated.

[Linea_Norway]

Spotting uncommon animals when out walking/camping (Foxes, snakes, lizards, beavers).

+1

I our previous house we sometimes saw uncommon animals around our house, like a fox with youngs and a badger. I loved that. No we have squirrels. I still get excited about unusual birds.
During trips other places we have seen a bear and a lynx, beavers, unusual birds, mooses and other deer. It is always a pleasure to see them.

[soccerluvof4]

completing my workout for the day

[mustachepungoeshere]

Glorious rain and a thunder storm tonight. I'm sure it wasn't so pleasing for people who had to endure traffic and blackouts, but I love watching weather.

[Bearblastbeats]

I started a thread with similar topic matter in my drummerworld forum so I'd contribute here as well.


“Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.”

― Ernest Hemingway


However, A lot of things surprisingly make me happy.

Walking my dog on a nice spring day, watching him chase birds or swim after ducks and sniffing around. Also, cuddling with him after a long days work. We lay on the couch and his favorite spot is between my legs resting his head on my stomach, he's a 100# Labrador btw haha.

I also enjoy listening to music, especially while driving. I drive a lot for work as a PM so it's nice to get alone time to blast music. It's where I feel I can listen to music as loud as I want with no interruptions.

Playing drums.. I currently play in 3 bands, so playing is a great escape and something I've been doing my entire life. It recently started to be profitable within the last 3 years because I now get payed to play out. Which cancels out all the $$$ I spend to support the hobby.

[lifejoy]

leveling up in candy crush!

+1!

And playing kingdom rush a billion times. Definitely got my $5 worth of investment out of that game!

[Astatine]

Sitting quietly on the couch with kitty. (well, technically she is on the coffee table right now but earlier today she was either on my lap or curled up next to me)

Thinking through my personal values and goals and how they have shifted over the years. Lasting change tends to be slow and incremental for me.

[mustachepungoeshere]

Maybe not cheap for my company, but cheap for me.

My team moved offices at the start of the year and I've gone from a desk in an open-plan section to an office that is larger than my bedroom and has a park view.

[lifejoy]

Words of support and praise coming my way. They say that words are cheap but I still like ‘em ;)

[lukebuz]

Coming home to a quiet, neat, minimalist house after three nights in the chaos, clutter, and noise that is my parents' house.

Don't ever have a kid....

[MaybeBabyMustache]

A more leisurely morning. I get to WFH on Fridays, so get to indulge in a slightly slower pace by cutting out commute time.

[BeautifulDay]

Coming home to a quiet, neat, minimalist house after three nights in the chaos, clutter, and noise that is my parents' house.

Don't ever have a kid....

Well that is the plan. DH and I do not have any, nor plan to have children.  We currently both work with children. We have been foster parents. We also have many nieces and nephews that we enjoy. So we like children and know what it is like to live with them.  But we don't feel the need to have our own.  Perhaps another cheap 'thing' that makes us happy.

The chaos of my parents house has more to do with a pack of yappy dogs who crap all over, my parents abundance of things that they spend too much on and that over fills their large home, and their lack of financial planning which prevents their ever being able to retire. I find all this very overwhelming in a way that is beyond anything a child could do.

[Linea_Norway]

Last time we visited FIL amd BIL with his one child was visiting, I noticed that the house easily got cluttered. E.g. The hall way, which we need to go through from the living room to the kitchen, had the floor full of tøys, because the three year old wanted to play there.

My cheap nice thing this weekend were two cross country skiing trip. The cost a little diesel, but it was not far from home and free parking. We brought along a warm drink and some food, so we didn't need to buy drinks and food like other people do. Just nice skiing. My body is finally getting better since my cold.

[Trifle]

Watching the sun rise each morning.  The rise is a little bit earlier, and a little bit further north each day, a sure sign that spring is on the way. 

[lifejoy]

My stylebook ($5) or smart closet (free) apps that help me curb shopping and also let me geek out and catalogue my whole wardrobe.

My username used to be “libraryjoy”, after all...

[Parizade]

Sharing a bottle of wine (or two) with my wonderful neighbors

[HappierAtHome]

Rain.

[Linea_Norway]

Rain.

I think I can understand that from an Australian perspective. Here in the wet part of Europe, we appreciate rain only after a long period of dry weather. I appreciated it very much in the mushroom season last autumn.

[Trifle]

Noticing and appreciating other creatures for what they are.

This may make some people shudder, but we have a couple of large cellar spiders in our shower.  We just leave them there, as they cause no harm and they eat troublesome insects.  When I take a shower in the morning, the spiders walk around and wave their front legs, as though they like the warmth and humidity.  They are beautiful -- so incredibly delicate and yet strong.

[Ms.BecomingFI]

Noticing and appreciating other creatures for what they are.

This may make some people shudder, but we have a couple of large cellar spiders in our shower.  We just leave them there, as they cause no harm and they eat troublesome insects.  When I take a shower in the morning, the spiders walk around and wave their front legs, as though they like the warmth and humidity.  They are beautiful -- so incredibly delicate and yet strong.

A few years ago I also had a spider that lived in the corner ceiling of my shower!  It was a daddy long legs, also, so not very scary.  I would check on him every day when I went in the bathroom and he was just happy in that spot.  =)

[Trifle]

Noticing and appreciating other creatures for what they are.

This may make some people shudder, but we have a couple of large cellar spiders in our shower.  We just leave them there, as they cause no harm and they eat troublesome insects.  When I take a shower in the morning, the spiders walk around and wave their front legs, as though they like the warmth and humidity.  They are beautiful -- so incredibly delicate and yet strong.

A few years ago I also had a spider that lived in the corner ceiling of my shower!  It was a daddy long legs, also, so not very scary.  I would check on him every day when I went in the bathroom and he was just happy in that spot.  =)

:) 

[Mezzie]

Today:

Playing with watercolors.
Going on a bike ride.
Reading library books while my pup snuggles with me
Chatting with family.

All good stuff. :)

[Exflyboy]

Watching young people flirt with each other and remembering myself doing the same thing many years ago..:)

[lifejoy]

Watching young people flirt with each other and remembering myself doing the same thing many years ago..:)

Similarly, seeing old people hold hands makes my heart sing :)

[BeautifulDay]

Yes, rain and snow. I'd take either right now. Been so dry for so long around here.

Love taking a walk in the snow when everyone else is home.  It is so peaceful and pretty.

[MandalayVA]

Taking walks around my neighborhood, watching the cranes on the ponds and the lizards and squirrels running around.

Curling up with a library book on my Kindle.  After living so long in a city that had a meh-to-bad public library system, I'm glad that where I live now has a good one.

Having tea on the lanai with Mr. Mandalay and watching Poe sun himself and chatter at birds.

[mustachepungoeshere]

Rain.

Seconded. Because...

Despite all our achievements we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.

[HappierAtHome]

A clean house.

The ability to throw together a few simple sweet treats based on what's in my pantry, for hosting on short notice. I love knowing how to cook!

[Astatine]

Salted caramel Lindt chocolate. (DH buys it whenever it's on special because he knows I like it <3 )

[middo]

Rain.

Our local river running.  This will be the first time in 18 months.

[HenryDavid]

30 year old mountain bike, runs like a swiss watch. Riding it along the river to see what bits are frozen or running, all winter.
30 year old road bike, ditto, but in summer.
40 year old classical guitar, still sounds as good as I can get it to sound.
Library books and music.
Veggie chili.
And so on.

[Dicey]

Watching young people flirt with each other and remembering myself doing the same thing many years ago..:)

Similarly, seeing old people hold hands makes my heart sing :)

LOL, I am old. I am also FIRE, whereas DH is "only" FI. Every morning, I walk him to work. It's a short distance, but it's up a steep hill. We make it easier by holding hands. ♡♡♡

[lifejoy]

Watching young people flirt with each other and remembering myself doing the same thing many years ago..:)

Similarly, seeing old people hold hands makes my heart sing :)

LOL, I am old. I am also FIRE, whereas DH is "only" FI. Every morning, I walk him to work. It's a short distance, but it's up a steep hill. We make it easier by holding hands.

Awww Dicey, you’re livin’ the dream!

And this warms my heart :)