Inexpensive Ways To Show Kindness: 60 Ideas for Valentine’s Day

There’s no right or wrong time to show kindness. I truly believe that kindness is one of THE MOST important things in the world, something we should all strive to show more of. To our friends and family, to strangers and even to ourselves. And the great thing is, is that there’s so many inexpensive ways to show kindness.

I wanted to publish this post now because I think Valentine’s Day and the time surrounding Valentine’s Day is a great time for us to think about love and kindness in our every day lives. Not just romantically but in many different ways.

Kindness isn’t just reserved for your closest family and friends. And we should all be aware of the fact that everyone around us could use a bit of extra kindness at some point in their lives.

You know the ol’ quote, “be kind because you never know what someone else is going through”? Or something like that…

Well, it really is true. As cliché as it sounds.

So as we approach Valentine’s Day, I think it’s a great time to reflect on the kindness in you’re life and how much you’re putting out there into the world.

And whether you’re in a couple, married, have children, are doing Valentine’s Day solo with some solo date ideas and investing in yourself, there’s always room for some extra kindness to go around.

Today I wanted to share 60 inexpensive ways to show kindness that you can use this Valentine’s Day and every day after that. Kindness absolutely does not need to come in a big gesture.

In fact, sometimes it’s the smallest things that can really mean the most. As those are the things that have often some with more thought and love from the recipient.

It’s easy to buy someone a gift but it’s not so easy to really hone in on what someone else might need or a simple act that might make someone’s day – or entire week.

So here are 60 inexpensive ways to show kindness – pick one for this Valentine’s Day!

Inexpensive ways to show kindness to your loved ones:

Your loved ones are the ones that you’re going to be more inclined to want to show kindness towards, which is fair enough! For these acts of kindness, you might be willing to do something a bit more involved and spend a little more money towards them but remember, just because they’re your loved ones, doesn’t mean money is all that matters:

1. Cook a meal for the family
2. Buy someone a bunch of flowers
3. Send a care package to someone that needs it
4. Offer to run an errand for a friend or neighbour
5. Run them a relaxing bath when they’re stressed
6. Write them a thank you note
7. Make someone some cookies – just because!
8. Invite an elderly friend / relative over for tea
9. Write down 5 things you love about them
10. Offer to help however they need it
11. Send them a funny or sweet email at work to brighten their day
12. Got a friend who’s struggling? Really listen to them
13. Make someone a handmade card
14. Let them choose what you do for a day
15. Make a playlist for their car
16. Make them a packed lunch for their day
17. Leave some things on their Netflix list they might like
18. Get some books from the library they might like
19. Clean their car
20. Give them some positive encouragement

Inexpensive ways to show kindness to yourself:

We always need to ensure we’re extending that same kindness to ourselves. We so often overlook our own needs and aren’t as kind to ourselves as we should be. Whatever you feel about Valentine’s Day, at least make it a time of year where you can hone in on your own needs!

1. Let yourself rest when you really need it
2. Don’t deprive yourself of something you want – eat that bar of chocolate!
3. Get outside into the fresh air
4. Stretch in the morning
5. Start your day with a glass of water
6. Write a gratitude list of everything you’re grateful for that week / month
7. Write a list of things you’ve achieved and are proud of
8. Meditate for a while
9. Say no to something you don’t want to do
10. Spend some time away from social media and your phone
11. Take yourself out for a coffee or a solo date
12. Move your body in any way that feels great
13. Get an early night
14. Swap the takeaway for a home-cooked meal
15. But a movie and pizza night never hurt anyone, if that’s what you need!
16. Buy yourself a bunch of flowers
17. Have a relaxing candle-lit bath with soft music
18. Give yourself a foot/neck/hand massage with lovely oils
19. Do a gentle and restorative Yoga practice
20. Spend some time alone

Inexpensive ways to show kindness to a stranger:

Kindness to strangers is never practiced enough and I think if we were all a little kinder to everyone around us then the world would definitely be a better place. Here are some ideas of how you can be kind to strangers in various different ways – some of them, not even directly.

1. Pay for the coffee of the person behind you
2. Leave a note of positivity in the park for someone to find
3. Pick up litter at a local park
4. Compliment someone
5. Donate items to a charity shop
6. Sign up to be an organ donor
7. Purchase something from a small business
8. Leave a tip for your waiter/waitress
9. Leave a book somewhere for someone to take
10. Make something crafty (like bookmarks) and leave them at your local library
11. Offer water / tea to postal workers if the weather is bad
12. Buy produce from a local farm instead of a supermarket
13. Pass along coupons / discount codes to someone online who might use it
14. Leave a kind comment on a blog post
15. Donate blood if you’re able to
16. Or find a way to volunteer to a charity you care about
17. Share someone’s small business on your socials
18. Leave a pound for someone’s shopping trolley
19. Ask a homeless person if they need anything from the shop
20. Let someone go in front of you in line

Kindness can come in small packages and still mean the world. Remember, you don’t know what someone is going through – especially strangers. Even our own loved ones at time can be going through stuff we have no idea about.

So no small act of kindness is ever wasted when you can have even the smallest impact on someone else’s day.

When was the last time you did an act of kindness, either to someone else or yourself? Which of these are you keen to do?

Want more exclusive content? Sign up to my mailing list for access to my freebie library, where you can grab The Ultimate Journal Prompts Bundle and more freebies!