9 Budget-Friendly Self-Care Products You Should Carry With You Into 2021

Consumer behavior has changed a lot during the pandemic.

Like many, I found myself shopping for things I’d never cared about before. My partner and I went through a home improvement phase to upgrade our living space followed by aesthetic tweaks in the kitchen.

Seemingly overnight, another category feeding this newfound impulsive habit emerged. From lifestyle influencers to friends and family, everyone wanted to improve their “self-care.”

Go on Instagram and you’ll find thousands of #selfcare images promoting an idyllic lifestyle: sunrise coffees backdropped by nature and camper vans, exfoliating masks, pills and powders in colorful packaging.

A frugal shopper at heart, I’ve long been skeptical about self-care.

But when traditional advice like “go for a walk” stopped working, I started researching alternative solutions.

Here’s what I learned: The right mix of products can improve your day to day wellness. So, I made a list of nine self-care purchases I will be bringing into 2021. Each item was selected for its frequency of use, affordability, effectiveness, and potential longevity.

Here they are.

To Hold Yourself Accountable

Product: Shinola Medium Hard Linen Journal | Price: $22.00

Until 2020, I considered journaling to be a waste of time, reserved for musicians on the road and starving artists. That changed in the Spring when I visited Shinola’s Chicago store.

While browsing the shelves, I came across a medium, minimalist, linen journal advertising sustainably sourced materials. At twenty-two bucks, I figured I would give it a try. On both a personal and professional level, this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

My journal serves two purposes.

Before the pandemic, I used it as a productivity tool, laying out long lists of tasks to complete. When gym closures and social distancing began, journaling evolved into a source of motivation.

Working out alone in my kitchen converted home office/fitness studio was a challenge. To keep myself honest, I write down my workouts to use as benchmarks.

There’s something satisfying about reading your previous handwritten notes before going into a workout with a mindset to beat those numbers.

I did 100 pushups on Tuesday? Let’s see if I can get 125 today.

The Shinola journal is light and durable with a binding to keep the pages flat, even when it’s tossed into a backpack with other items.

For under $30, you can’t do much better.

To Replace Your Morning Coffee

Product: Mud\Wtr | Price: $40.00 (Starter Kit)

My biggest lifestyle change during quarantine has been caffeine. Last year, I consumed about 150 mg of caffeine before working out in the morning and then had a cup of coffee later in the day.

As the pandemic went on, I found myself craving more and more. A single espresso shot before work turned into a double shot. Then, I added another coffee in the afternoon to finish off the day — and would still take caffeine pre-exercise.

To be fair, accessibility has played a role in my increased coffee consumption. I used to put effort into getting my caffeine fix, either brewing a pot or running out to Starbucks and grabbing a cold brew during lunch. Between commuting, conversing with peers, and moving around the office, I didn’t give a second cup of coffee much thought.

Working from home is different. Coffee is always an arms reach away, tugging at my brain all day long.

Mud\Wtr helped me slowly kick the craving. The main ingredients include an organic mushroom blend, cacao, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, black tea powder, and Himalayan pink salt — nothing else.

With 1/7th the caffeine of coffee, mud provides a warm cup of natural energy and focus. Unlike coffee, I never feel like I need multiple doses to function.

To Maintain Functional Strength

Product: Kettlebells | Price: $20.00 for two

I spent seven years religiously working out, going from 155 lbs in high school to 185 lbs in 2019. With any physical transformation comes a lot of early mornings, late nights, grinding, and sacrifice.

So you can understand why I didn’t want to see those years of progress deteriorate when gyms started closing down.

Fortunately, I got my hands on a pair of kettlebells. Versatile and taxing on the entire body, kettlebells effectively improve core, back, arms, and shoulder strength. Aligned with the right workout, kettlebells are also great for stability and improving total body functionality.

Even with the re-opening of my apartment gym, I’ve been reaching for the kettlebells more often than not. Having a pair in the apartment simply erases any excuse to skip a workout.

To Detoxify Your Mind

Product: Arabica Coffee Field Jar Candle | Price: $20.00

Candles are a common product people like to associate with self-care — something I didn’t quite get until recently.

My partner has slowly gotten me into smells during the pandemic — and I’m glad she did. In our apartment, candles are accessory decor, strategically placed on every countertop with a different aroma.

The Skeem Design Arabica Coffee scent is a Sunday morning staple, filling the room with notes of vanilla, dark roasted coffee, and bitter chocolate.

It’s a great accent to unwind after a long week.

To Get Outdoors

Product: Hoka One One Running Shoes | Price: $125.00

I wish someone told me this sooner: running shoes are built differently than trainers.

My first instinct during COVID was to get really into running and biking. I downloaded Strava, was gifted an Apple Watch for my birthday in July, and even built a mobility plan around running workouts.

I went back and forth on purchasing running-specific shoes, but eventually committed and bought the Hoka Rincon. Named Runner’s World “Editor’s Choice”, Fall 2019 Shoe, Hoka’s feel like you’re being propelled forward on a cloud with an amazing amount of lightweight cushion.

Honestly, I love these shoes. I bought a second pair just for walking around.

To Sleep Well

Product: Melatonin + L-Theanine | Price: $15.00

The pandemic brought on a different wave of obstacles I’d never dealt with. Personally, the worst of them has been an inconsistent sleep schedule. Without that essential recovery time, I felt physically and mentally fatigued more frequently.

Melatonin has become an essential addition to my nighttime routine — it doesn’t knock me out, but it calms the mind before bed.

Your body starts to produce melatonin naturally when the sun goes down, making you feel sleepy. It helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer since your body produces melatonin until it gets light out. Melatonin supplements work similarly to the natural hormone, except they aren’t triggered by light — they just go to work once you take them.

Melatonin hasn’t been know to cause serious side effects. Just be conscious of how much you’re taking and monitor if you experience any physical, mental, and behavioral changes.

To Cook Healthy Meals

Product: Crock-Pot | Price: $34.99

You’ll get a week’s worth of healthy, inexpensive meals with less than ten minutes of preparation.

Sound good?

Get yourself a crock-pot in 2021. You won’t regret it.

To Deal With Stress

Product: SuperYou Daily Stress Management | Price: $49.00

I came across SuperYou by Moon Juice on an Instagram advertisement (never thought I’d say that…).

It’s an adaptogen supplement claiming to clinically reduce physical, mental, and emotional fatigue, boost energy and mood, protect from oxidative stress, and control stress-related weight gain.

Yes, I know these are pretty generic claims which haven’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the four key ingredients in SuperYou are Amla, Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, and Shatavari, all of which are widely used herbal remedies.

I’m currently writing a full product review after taking it for 21 days, so I won’t give everything away right here.

Just know this: SuperYou forced me to do two important things.

First, I am re-prioritizing my supplement stack beyond caffeine and energy. There are plenty of other safe, well-researched compounds with amazing health benefits to try. Second, mental well-being is as important to monitor (or more so) than physical well-being. If SuperYou showed me anything, it’s that self-care requires a holistic approach.

I will definitely be giving adaptogen supplements another shot in 2021.

To Workout Comfortably

Product: Lululemon Face Mask | Price: $10.00

I wasn’t in a rush to buy fitness-focused face masks as different brands started rolling them out.

That may have been a mistake.

A bad mask can ruin your workout. The first one I bought from Target was too big and I had to pull it up every thirty seconds. Then, I got a thicker one with lining on the inside which was impossible to breathe in.

Lululemon’s face mask is as good as it gets for casual wear and exercise. The fabric is lightweight and breathable, with adjustable straps to prevent the mask from shifting.

The best part? It’s super affordable.

Everything comes to a total of…

$335.99

Behind the hashtag-friendly content of self-care is a life-affirming truth: we need to make a conscious effort to acknowledge and improve our own physical, mental, and emotional health.

Think of these products as a long-term investment in a happier, healthier self.

Obviously, not everything listed is necessary — and the outcomes will vary from person to person. But I hope you find the same benefits as I have.