Birthdays deserve to be celebrated; but also, we all know it’s hard to want to celebrate your birthday when you don’t have the birthday funds. So what do we usually do? We either wait until we have the funds to do what we reallllyyy want or we settle for the next best thing depending on our budget. Which isn’t always a bad thing, especially if you have the tricks to finesse, know what to do or where to go and have some fun. And they always say the best things in life are free. Here are three ways to celebrate your b-day on a budget.

1.Jazz Night @ LACMA: If you’ve been feenin’ for a more luxurious, mature but still fun energy, Jazz Nights at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art run every year from May to October. So if you haven’t taken a Friday off to tune into a jumpin’ live band yet, you still have time to check it out! I recommend taking an impromptu photoshoot at the Urban Light public art lamps right in sight of the band! 

2. Treat Treasure Trove: Do a scavenger hunt like fun by taking a field trip around town and grabbing free treats at your city’s local food chains. Sign up to places like the Coffee Bean, BJs, Crumbl Cookies and Baskin Robbins for a free reward on your birthday. Just a tip: sign up at the beginning of your birthday month. Certain chains like Jersey Mikes and Cheesecake Factory need a rewards sign up at least a week before your special day. Check the full list of businesses with birthday rewards below: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a34851570/best-birthday-freebies/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_cos_d_bm_prog_org_us_a34851570&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwufq2BhAmEiwAnZqw8k7OArsupHOwQotyloMuG25E1xDwLRtl262UaFagh1HDWXrXR3DXURoCBu0QAvD_BwE

3. Head to the Movies @ Alamo Drafthouse: If you’re a pop culture nerd like moi, the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater has BFD Tuesdays, where you can go to the movies in LA for just $9! Whether you’re celebrating solo or decide to have a lil’ movie partay, treating yourself to a movie you’ve been dying to see is a balanced and budgeted way of doing so!

4. Make a Self Love Jar: For my home-baddies and introverts, party at home by going the craft route and flexing your DIY skills with some magic by making yourself a self love jar to manifest a bomb ass birthday year. The best part is you can use herbs and spices from your kitchen to do so! Grab a jar of any size; a mini sized jar is recommended but please feel free to use an old jelly/ sauce/ makeup or mason jar depending on your budget! You’ll also need a small piece of paper and pen/ pencil. 

Brainstorm some intentions like confidence or prosperity and google herbs that will help you with that intention or read the list below. Create a ritual by burning a candle, play a mediation or playlist with songs that reflect your intention. Write a list, or letter to yourself a year from now with steps, affirmations or habits/ fears that you wish to release in order to bring in your manifestations. Add that written paper to your jar along with your herbs, spices and extras and close it up. If you’re a crystal babe, add a crystal with your intention to hype up the vibe of your jar!

Some Herbs, Plants + Intentions: 

Money/ Prosperity: Cinnamon, Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Coffee, Bay

Love/ Self Romance/ Sweetness: White or Brown Sugar, Honey, Pink Salt, 

Protection: Salt, Cotton, Aloe, Cayenne, Cumin, Onion, Bay, Lime