How Much Money do you Spend on Yourself per Month?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the money forum brings out the most extreme posters - the wealthiest, who spend the least. Maybe that's just who responds. I guess it's like asking people on the diet forum what they eat for lunch - two leaves of spinach and a glass of water.

OP - I think you'd get different answers if you posted in the beauty forum.

Absolutely!



There is a wide range. You're getting a lot of one tail of it here.

[Anonymous]

Nails - two gel manicures a month, one pedicure - $140 (with tip)
Hair - every 8 weeks, cut plus tip is $125 (no color yet luckily)
I usually get one massage or facial maybe every few months so that's $200 but it's not monthly
Skin care products/makeup - varies, but probably $1000 annually
Clothes - hard to say on a monthly budget, outside of special big ticket items (like a $3000 bag or something that I might buy once a year or every two years) I probably spend $4000 or so a year on clothes, maybe more but it's hard to say

Lawyer in my late 30's. I try to look nice but haven't started the more expensive stuff yet (botox, high end facials, really nice serums, etc.)

[Anonymous]

$100 hair color (every other month)
$80/monthly misc - coffee, lunch with friends, maybe a book, an inexpensive waxing, see a movie, make up or skin product.
If I need clothes, it will be more but that is a separate catagory not an ongoing monthly expense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP since you mentioned makeup and nails, I'm guessing you can't get away with $20/month. I'm going to assume you don't color your hair or have a short hairstyle that needs frequent cuts. It should be more like $70/month if you want to include all clothes, shoes, hair cuts, hair and skin products, makeup and nails. This would be just for you, not any family members.

To answer your question, my number is lower than that, but higher than $20.

This is the PP who spends a few hundred a month - I am as genuinely amazed by the people who say they spend less than $100 per month on clothes and personal goods, as I am by the people who claim to be 32 years old with $4 million in savings.

What do you generally wear? Was there a time in your life you spent more, and those clothes have held up enough you never, ever need to replace them? Do your shoes never wear out? Do you never need to buy shampoo? Do you never get your hair cut? How exactly do you end up spending $20 or $70 per month, every month? Can you break that down for me?

I don’t consider shampoo/conditioner a personal item. I buy it when I go grocery shopping and everyone in my family uses it. We use Pantene.
I get my hair colored every 8 weeks at $100. My hair gets cut once a year.
I do love to buy clothes and so it is a painful sacrifice to go without new cute things. But, I won’t be able to save money if I spend it. So.
I will buy some new things for the late spring/early summer. But probably just $250/worth.
I do socialize with friends, but if I spend $40 at dinner then that’s $40 I don’t have for other monthly personal expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the money forum brings out the most extreme posters - the wealthiest, who spend the least. Maybe that's just who responds. I guess it's like asking people on the diet forum what they eat for lunch - two leaves of spinach and a glass of water.

OP - I think you'd get different answers if you posted in the beauty forum.

Yes, you would get different answers. Here, I'll go. 33 years old, working professional in a client facing industry.

Hair Cuts: 3x year at $70 plus tip for stylist and shampoo person= $270
Coloring: 4x year at $200 plus tip for stylist and shampoo person= $1000.
Nails: $45 every two weeks for powder and tip= $1430
Beauty Products: I don't know, but I'm Sephora Rouge so let's say $1500

Work Clothes: Probably around $3000
Casual Clothes: I don't really care about casual clothes much and tend to re-wear the same things on the weekend so $1500
Work Shoes: $3000-ish for shoes and shoe repair. I take care of my shoes, but most of my work shoes are in the $300-$500 range
Casual Shoes: $800.
Athletic Apparel: $300 max. I wear athletic wear only when working out and I wear it to shreds.

[Anonymous]

I hope y’all who don’t buy new clothes don’t work out much. Old workout clothes are gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the money forum brings out the most extreme posters - the wealthiest, who spend the least. Maybe that's just who responds. I guess it's like asking people on the diet forum what they eat for lunch - two leaves of spinach and a glass of water.

OP - I think you'd get different answers if you posted in the beauty forum.

Yes, you would get different answers. Here, I'll go. 33 years old, working professional in a client facing industry.

Hair Cuts: 3x year at $70 plus tip for stylist and shampoo person= $270
Coloring: 4x year at $200 plus tip for stylist and shampoo person= $1000.
Nails: $45 every two weeks for powder and tip= $1430
Beauty Products: I don't know, but I'm Sephora Rouge so let's say $1500

Work Clothes: Probably around $3000
Casual Clothes: I don't really care about casual clothes much and tend to re-wear the same things on the weekend so $1500
Work Shoes: $3000-ish for shoes and shoe repair. I take care of my shoes, but most of my work shoes are in the $300-$500 range
Casual Shoes: $800.
Athletic Apparel: $300 max. I wear athletic wear only when working out and I wear it to shreds.

This isn’t useful to OP. It sounds like you make a lot of money.

She said money was tight and was looking for feedback from people in similar positions.

[Anonymous]

50 on nails per month ( I haven’t done my nails in a few years though I’m frugal ) I have been thinking about it again, it gives me such a confidence boost, ugh so hard to decide

21 on hair 2-3 times per year.

600-800 on clothes and shoes per year, that might be on the high side .

I get my makeup and skin care for free because I sell younique

[Anonymous]

Hair Cuts: $125 (1x year)
Coloring: $600 ($100 every other month)
Nails: 0 (but I should...they look awful right now)
Beauty Products: $500-ish? Maybe a little more

Work Clothes: $400
Casual Clothes: $500
Work Shoes: $0 - 200
Casual Shoes: $120
Athletic Apparel: $0 (again, but I should...as soon as I have time to workout)

For context, I'm 36 working in a business dress office and have two little kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS: Not gaining weight helps a lot. I run and row (machine), and walk dogs from the animal shelter as a volunteer -- none of which costs much. So I still fit into a ballgown from 10 years ago and my vintage jeans.

But this is DCUM, so I'm going to get flamed for being uppity about myself. I don't think I'm the bomb, honest. I'm just prioritizing other areas of my life.

Your ballgown isnt in style anymore.

[Anonymous]

500 a month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS: Not gaining weight helps a lot. I run and row (machine), and walk dogs from the animal shelter as a volunteer -- none of which costs much. So I still fit into a ballgown from 10 years ago and my vintage jeans.

But this is DCUM, so I'm going to get flamed for being uppity about myself. I don't think I'm the bomb, honest. I'm just prioritizing other areas of my life.

Your ballgown isnt in style anymore.

quelle horreur.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope y’all who don’t buy new clothes don’t work out much. Old workout clothes are gross.

I swim- I buy multiples of the cheapest suit at Lands End when they have their 40% off sale. It doesnt add up to much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS: Not gaining weight helps a lot. I run and row (machine), and walk dogs from the animal shelter as a volunteer -- none of which costs much. So I still fit into a ballgown from 10 years ago and my vintage jeans.

But this is DCUM, so I'm going to get flamed for being uppity about myself. I don't think I'm the bomb, honest. I'm just prioritizing other areas of my life.

Your ballgown isnt in style anymore.

I have never worn a ball gown. Who goes to balls anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS: Not gaining weight helps a lot. I run and row (machine), and walk dogs from the animal shelter as a volunteer -- none of which costs much. So I still fit into a ballgown from 10 years ago and my vintage jeans.

But this is DCUM, so I'm going to get flamed for being uppity about myself. I don't think I'm the bomb, honest. I'm just prioritizing other areas of my life.

Your ballgown isnt in style anymore.

I have never worn a ball gown. Who goes to balls anymore?

Ballgown PP here. Of course I don't wear it to balls, but it made an excellent zombie bride Halloween costume.