We spend around 18K a month, where does it go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read all the responses, just your post, OP. Your budget is almost exactly the same as ours. Down to the exclusions of tuition, vacations, 401K savings, etc. Ours is maybe $2K higher because our car payments are higher.

Every so often, I realize what we spend it does seem like a ridiculous amount. But I never really think about what I pay for anything, and given how busy I am, it's worth it not to have to spend time looking for savings, bargains, negotiating, etc.

Do you need to come on DCUM to realize that? open your eyes people and educate yourselves. Why do you want to be so ignorant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My 2 cents - personal care is low; my highlights are $300/month add botox, fillers, skincare etc. Clothes $ super high; food about right. House cleaning about right. Cars high but I HATE spending $ on cars and cars in general.

Fascinating... hot mom?

More likely a self-proclaimed hot mom who actually resembles a Frankenstein-inspired science project gone awry...

PPs, please stop. $500 per month for self-care for a family of five IS low. Just look at how outrageously expensive a hairdresser in DC is. And yes, add to that botox, fillers, microderm abrasion, laser, etc. And you know what? Almost every woman (and man) with a decent income is doing it. The "science project gone awry" is seldom and a sign of bad workmanship. My husband is a dermatologist, so I know.

But us not just the money. All that time to sit there for hair, nails, etc. I would go bananas and not enjoy that at all.

I don't enjoy working out to be attractive either....yet people do it.

Working Out to be attractive will not work. Key is to find enjoyable exercise. A high energy run outside with the dogs and DC is fun and will do more for our health and skin than boring hours in some spa chair.

Running makes you look old and haggard

lol. Sure it does. Definitely spend more time in your chair. That will be so great for you and take years off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2 cents - personal care is low; my highlights are $300/month add botox, fillers, skincare etc. Clothes $ super high; food about right. House cleaning about right. Cars high but I HATE spending $ on cars and cars in general.

Fascinating... hot mom?

More likely a self-proclaimed hot mom who actually resembles a Frankenstein-inspired science project gone awry...

PPs, please stop. $500 per month for self-care for a family of five IS low. Just look at how outrageously expensive a hairdresser in DC is. And yes, add to that botox, fillers, microderm abrasion, laser, etc. And you know what? Almost every woman (and man) with a decent income is doing it. The "science project gone awry" is seldom and a sign of bad workmanship. My husband is a dermatologist, so I know.

But us not just the money. All that time to sit there for hair, nails, etc. I would go bananas and not enjoy that at all.

I don't enjoy working out to be attractive either....yet people do it.

Working Out to be attractive will not work. Key is to find enjoyable exercise. A high energy run outside with the dogs and DC is fun and will do more for our health and skin than boring hours in some spa chair.

Running makes you look old and haggard

lol. Sure it does. Definitely spend more time in your chair. That will be so great for you and take years off.

Asians have way better skin than you. You ever see an Asian woman running?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My 2 cents - personal care is low; my highlights are $300/month add botox, fillers, skincare etc. Clothes $ super high; food about right. House cleaning about right. Cars high but I HATE spending $ on cars and cars in general.

Fascinating... hot mom?

More likely a self-proclaimed hot mom who actually resembles a Frankenstein-inspired science project gone awry...

PPs, please stop. $500 per month for self-care for a family of five IS low. Just look at how outrageously expensive a hairdresser in DC is. And yes, add to that botox, fillers, microderm abrasion, laser, etc. And you know what? Almost every woman (and man) with a decent income is doing it. The "science project gone awry" is seldom and a sign of bad workmanship. My husband is a dermatologist, so I know.

But us not just the money. All that time to sit there for hair, nails, etc. I would go bananas and not enjoy that at all.

I don't enjoy working out to be attractive either....yet people do it.

Working Out to be attractive will not work. Key is to find enjoyable exercise. A high energy run outside with the dogs and DC is fun and will do more for our health and skin than boring hours in some spa chair.

Running makes you look old and haggard

lol. Sure it does. Definitely spend more time in your chair. That will be so great for you and take years off.

Asians have way better skin than you. You ever see an Asian woman running?

I already agreed with you. Less running. More sitting at the salon. That is the ticket to the fountain of youth. Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personal care for our family of 4:
Botox for dh and I --400
Haircut for dh and teens-100
My hair-250
Laser for me -125
Eyebrows for me 45
Sephora skin care- 100

That's over 1000 off the bat. It's likely more.

Haha, good one PP!!! 😂😂😂

I'm not joking. What is so funny?

[Anonymous]

Looks at giant bottle of dr bronners, bar of handmade soap, store brand toothpaste, and 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner...shakes head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personal care for our family of 4:
Botox for dh and I --400
Haircut for dh and teens-100
My hair-250
Laser for me -125
Eyebrows for me 45
Sephora skin care- 100

That's over 1000 off the bat. It's likely more.

Poor you you must be a hood rat shopping at Sephora

I buy Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley and sunscreens. I buy Skinceuticals elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks at giant bottle of dr bronners, bar of handmade soap, store brand toothpaste, and 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner...shakes head.

I'm sure you look so good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks at giant bottle of dr bronners, bar of handmade soap, store brand toothpaste, and 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner...shakes head.

I'm sure you look so good.

Awww. THANKS!

[Anonymous]

We net around $50K each month.

Our budget is not so different from your OP, although the buckets are distributed a bit differently, perhaps because we have 4 kids. So less money on cars, earring out, shopping, etc, and more money on a house, activities, and private school.

Less than 10 years ago I was single and making $40K per year. I do understand how normal people live, and how much money eases my life/lives of those in my family. I still remember this amazing feeling of awe when my tax bill (I was self-employed) was more than $40K/previous annual paycheck - I felt like I had made it, that I was paying so much in taxes and still had enough money to live.

I saw my mother work herself to the bone to clean the house, watch us kids, cook at the meals, etc., etc. I very much appreciate my mother for doing that for all of us and providing me with an amazing childhood despite not having a lot of money. And I don’t feel guilty for trying to do the same for my kids while balancing my own career and supporting my DH and his career - we do have money, and use it to make our lives work better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personal care for our family of 4:
Botox for dh and I --400
Haircut for dh and teens-100
My hair-250
Laser for me -125
Eyebrows for me 45
Sephora skin care- 100

That's over 1000 off the bat. It's likely more.

Poor you you must be a hood rat shopping at Sephora

I buy Drunk Elephant, Sunday Riley and sunscreens. I buy Skinceuticals elsewhere.

PPs, give this person a break. Her self-care budget is totally reasonable for an upper class lifestyle. If she can afford them, why should she sacrifice these things at the imaginary alter of some self-righteous virtue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We net around $50K each month.

Our budget is not so different from your OP, although the buckets are distributed a bit differently, perhaps because we have 4 kids. So less money on cars, earring out, shopping, etc, and more money on a house, activities, and private school.

Less than 10 years ago I was single and making $40K per year. I do understand how normal people live, and how much money eases my life/lives of those in my family. I still remember this amazing feeling of awe when my tax bill (I was self-employed) was more than $40K/previous annual paycheck - I felt like I had made it, that I was paying so much in taxes and still had enough money to live.

I saw my mother work herself to the bone to clean the house, watch us kids, cook at the meals, etc., etc. I very much appreciate my mother for doing that for all of us and providing me with an amazing childhood despite not having a lot of money. And I don’t feel guilty for trying to do the same for my kids while balancing my own career and supporting my DH and his career - we do have money, and use it to make our lives work better.

Spot on. I agree with you 100%. You are right to spend the money for conveniences and a good life that you can afford.

[Anonymous]

We jet about 47k/mo after taxes, 401k, health, HSA, and direct deposit for life insurance premiums.

I have zero desire, time, or need to penny pinch. This entire class conscious insecure board would be in an uproar if I posted our spending. I don't see anything wrong with your budget, as long as your investing and have a fall back plan if everything were to implode.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We jet about 47k/mo after taxes, 401k, health, HSA, and direct deposit for life insurance premiums.

I have zero desire, time, or need to penny pinch. This entire class conscious insecure board would be in an uproar if I posted our spending. I don't see anything wrong with your budget, as long as your investing and have a fall back plan if everything were to implode.

Curious how you feel about taxes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We jet about 47k/mo after taxes, 401k, health, HSA, and direct deposit for life insurance premiums.

I have zero desire, time, or need to penny pinch. This entire class conscious insecure board would be in an uproar if I posted our spending. I don't see anything wrong with your budget, as long as your investing and have a fall back plan if everything were to implode.

Curious how you feel about taxes?

What do you mean how I feel about them? Like thr fact our gross pay is nearly 100k/mo? And I only see 47?