How Much Money do you Spend on Yourself per Month?

[Anonymous]

A few hundred.

Probably my biggest expense is my hair. It's coming in gray and it grows fast. I have to get my roots touched up every two weeks, which is $90. Then every so often I get highlights or low lights to blend it all.

I also buy clothes for myself sometimes as the seasons change.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the info. So my intent was this...money used to be pretty free but do to various things with work, our HHI dropped. We kept our savings the same so the amount of discretionary cash dropped significantly. I used to do hair $270 every 6 weeks, mani and/or pedi every month in the summer a little less in the winter. I would but shoes and work out clothes whenever I felt like it. I used to spend on make up, lotions, etc. But now we don't have the money and when I entered in $300 a month, it wrecked the budget. So I'm trying to get it down so I was just wondering how much others spend to give me the motivation that I can cut it down to $200 a month let's say. I am in a part time role with Child care so my work clothes are jeans and sweaters, etc. I go to the gym a few times a week so I like my work out clothes, so I was interested to hear other's stories and see where I fit in. For sure I need to cut back on clothes. What I buy currently or even in the past was mostly wants and not needs but I'm having a hard time with whether or not hair, manis/pedis, and skin care is actually a need or a want. I think they are needs but it's interesting to see people only getting one or two haircuts a year, etc. or even not getting many manis. I understand that people prioritize and that's all good. I don't judge. I also buy books and garden and stuff like that but that's in another budget category and that's OK. What we are trying to do is determine how much I can get my salon budget down. So the people with massive budgets don't really help, but it was still good information. : ) Nice to dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the info. So my intent was this...money used to be pretty free but do to various things with work, our HHI dropped. We kept our savings the same so the amount of discretionary cash dropped significantly. I used to do hair $270 every 6 weeks, mani and/or pedi every month in the summer a little less in the winter. I would but shoes and work out clothes whenever I felt like it. I used to spend on make up, lotions, etc. But now we don't have the money and when I entered in $300 a month, it wrecked the budget. So I'm trying to get it down so I was just wondering how much others spend to give me the motivation that I can cut it down to $200 a month let's say. I am in a part time role with Child care so my work clothes are jeans and sweaters, etc. I go to the gym a few times a week so I like my work out clothes, so I was interested to hear other's stories and see where I fit in. For sure I need to cut back on clothes. What I buy currently or even in the past was mostly wants and not needs but I'm having a hard time with whether or not hair, manis/pedis, and skin care is actually a need or a want. I think they are needs but it's interesting to see people only getting one or two haircuts a year, etc. or even not getting many manis. I understand that people prioritize and that's all good. I don't judge. I also buy books and garden and stuff like that but that's in another budget category and that's OK. What we are trying to do is determine how much I can get my salon budget down. So the people with massive budgets don't really help, but it was still good information. : ) Nice to dream.

Mannis and pedis are definitely wants. So are make up and fancy hair cuts. All are nice if you can afford them, but they are niceties not necessities. You can also go on a clothes freeze and just use what you have in your closet. Then only replace what is wearing out. Good shoes are necessary to make sure your feet are not ruined. Make sure your feet are supported. However, you don't need more than a few pair at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Those who don't spend much at all, ever - what do you do for work? Do you need to look any particular way for your job?

I'm a physician -- a pediatrician. I wear scrubs for inpatient coverage and in clinic, I wear long skirts or pants with long-sleeved blouses or sweaters. In the summer, I wear light cardigans with sleeveless shells.

Hair in a ponytail, bun, or crown braids works fine. Light makeup is fine. It's a special sort of environment.

Ah, that makes sense. Sounds great actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Less than $20? I buy very few clothes, once in a blue moon, and most of them are second-hand, do my own nails, cut my hair once a year...

Ok -- I'm a super low maintenance, ordinary looking 38 year old but this is ridiculous.

I can't break it out by month but my expenditures by year look like:
Clothes: $750/yr (This is from last year. Most of this was a few business suits, work tops, nice but not designer shoes with a few pairs of jeans, casual tops etc. thrown in. I buy the vast majority of my stuff from Thanksgiving to Christmas each yr so I can get a good # of pieces each yr for 500-700 total).
Waxing: $200 (pretty much $50/quarter).
Haircuts: $40 (usually 2 haircuts/yr at a Hair Cuttery kind of joint).
Products: $20 -- hair product, replacing a BB cream if needed etc. (not a daily make up wearer).
Dry cleaning: $30/month = 360/yr (said business suits listed above as well as wool coats, raincoats, cashmere sweaters etc.)

Not a mani/pedi or massage person. Don't color my hair yet though that's coming VERY soon and will up the budget.

So overall that's = $1370/yr = $115/month. And I think I'm CHEAP compared to my peers who spend several hundred per month. IDK if I didn't spend at least $100/month, I'd feel like -- WTH am I working for, JUST to be able to save it and invest it all for retirement, while I cut my own hair and wax my own eyebrows and wear jeans from 20 years ago?? No thanks. I invest plenty, but I need to feel like I'm living a little too. And I'm sorry I don't believe any 37 yr old who says that they don't need to buy new jeans ever bc the ones their mom bought them in 1998 still look good. Uh -- no I promise you they don't. Sure you may fit into them, but you're kidding yourself if you think that no one can see how worn out they are.

The jeans depend entirely on original quality, how well you take care of them, and how often they are in use. As far as the others -- can you not believe that some people enjoy doing these things for themselves? Must everyone be like you?

I like doing my own nails, cleaning my own house, all that. It isn't a hardship. It's a lovely, cozy, tidy feeling. I don't like other people in my space or doing intimate things for me. But I won't judge you for feeling otherwise. It's a wide world.

I also like having things I have a long relationship with. I don't feel like I am depriving myself. I indulge in other things. Why is that offensive, or hard to believe?

It's not offensive at all to think you love your stuff and hold onto it. In fact that's really inspiring. It's just hard to imagine how that works in a day to day, month to month way.

Your post suggests you don't wear the jeans very often. What do you wear day to day? Like can you give us a week's worth of your outfits? And does any of that stuff have to get replaced more often than once every 15 years? Sorry to get so obsessed with your spending and wardrobe habits. I am genuinely curious how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are starting a budget as money is tight. I'm wondering what is a normal monthly budget for a woman who doesn't have to dress to impress (part time child care) taking into account...hair, nails, make up, skin products, and things like that and then also clothes, shoes, etc. and whatever else I'm missing. I appreciate you sharing your normal monthly expenses.

No idea, but I hate shopping and only do it 2xs a year. I get a favorite pair of shoes and wear them until they fall off. i don't paint my nails and I dye my own hair because it is a hassle at the salon and takes too long. I wash my face with nutrogena and buy drugstore cosmetics. I stayed out of the sun nearly my whole life so I don't need to spend much money on these things that promise to firm skin. Only thing I spend a fortune on are group exercise classes. I'm more concerned with having a tight ass and toned abs than nail polish and handbags.

[Anonymous]

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

I work out daily. Sometimes 2 a days when I'm getting ready for the beach or a trip. I have this thing called a washing machine. They were introduced to the world in 1908. You should give it a try!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the people who don’t spend a lot, do big events like weddings where you are in the wedding party throw your budget? Or big events in general?

Who the hell is going to put a 41yr old in as a bridesmaid! LOL, that is like a bridesmatron!

My friends all got married over a decade ago, LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the people who don’t spend a lot, do big events like weddings where you are in the wedding party throw your budget? Or big events in general?

Who the hell is going to put a 41yr old in as a bridesmaid! LOL, that is like a bridesmatron!

My friends all got married over a decade ago, LOL!

different poster - our friends mostly got married a while ago (though now we're getting into the age of second weddings) but we still have cousins' weddings and other dressy events a couple times a year. i've tried to make sure i have a few dresses in my closet i can wear when we have something like that to go to - but stuff gets worn out, our bodies change, one day you wake up and realize your cocktail dresses from when you were young don't feel right anymore since you've entered your mid-40s, etc.

[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.

I think you are confused.

We have a HHI of over 7500K and I'm a PP who dyes my own hair and hates shopping. I'm simply not into my clothes and makeup and I used to be a professional model living in NYC and then around the world from ages 15-22. I am simply not "into" my appearance and am very low maintenance about that. Maybe I overdosed on it at a young age. I also have avoided the sun my entire life and don't have the wear and tear and need a bunch of products. I hate going to the salon, it seems to take forever

I do spend plenty of money on other stuff, like a really nice home gym and no shortage of group exercise classes. I also love to travel and love to help my sister out who only makes 45k/yr, I get a lot of pleasure spoiling her. I love my home and making it look great and have no problem spending money to work with an interior designer. It just happens that Target is my first stop when clothes shopping. I do splurge on comfortable shoes and live in Birkenstocks all summer. My feet got DESTROYED from walking in heels when I modeled and as a result have bunions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the info. So my intent was this...money used to be pretty free but do to various things with work, our HHI dropped. We kept our savings the same so the amount of discretionary cash dropped significantly. I used to do hair $270 every 6 weeks, mani and/or pedi every month in the summer a little less in the winter. I would but shoes and work out clothes whenever I felt like it. I used to spend on make up, lotions, etc. But now we don't have the money and when I entered in $300 a month, it wrecked the budget. So I'm trying to get it down so I was just wondering how much others spend to give me the motivation that I can cut it down to $200 a month let's say. I am in a part time role with Child care so my work clothes are jeans and sweaters, etc. I go to the gym a few times a week so I like my work out clothes, so I was interested to hear other's stories and see where I fit in. For sure I need to cut back on clothes. What I buy currently or even in the past was mostly wants and not needs but I'm having a hard time with whether or not hair, manis/pedis, and skin care is actually a need or a want. I think they are needs but it's interesting to see people only getting one or two haircuts a year, etc. or even not getting many manis. I understand that people prioritize and that's all good. I don't judge. I also buy books and garden and stuff like that but that's in another budget category and that's OK. What we are trying to do is determine how much I can get my salon budget down. So the people with massive budgets don't really help, but it was still good information. : ) Nice to dream.

Im someone who gets her hair cut once a year. I’m in a growing out phase. It’s longish, and I’m due for a trim so I will go in soon. But I don’t need to go in more often (yet). I do get my hair colored once every 8 weeks. I only like clear nails so paint/trim at home.

Bottom line: you will have to cut out a lot of the things you want. I’m sorry. It’s hard to do (I know!)

Do you do the bills?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the info. So my intent was this...money used to be pretty free but do to various things with work, our HHI dropped. We kept our savings the same so the amount of discretionary cash dropped significantly. I used to do hair $270 every 6 weeks, mani and/or pedi every month in the summer a little less in the winter. I would but shoes and work out clothes whenever I felt like it. I used to spend on make up, lotions, etc. But now we don't have the money and when I entered in $300 a month, it wrecked the budget. So I'm trying to get it down so I was just wondering how much others spend to give me the motivation that I can cut it down to $200 a month let's say. I am in a part time role with Child care so my work clothes are jeans and sweaters, etc. I go to the gym a few times a week so I like my work out clothes, so I was interested to hear other's stories and see where I fit in. For sure I need to cut back on clothes. What I buy currently or even in the past was mostly wants and not needs but I'm having a hard time with whether or not hair, manis/pedis, and skin care is actually a need or a want. I think they are needs but it's interesting to see people only getting one or two haircuts a year, etc. or even not getting many manis. I understand that people prioritize and that's all good. I don't judge. I also buy books and garden and stuff like that but that's in another budget category and that's OK. What we are trying to do is determine how much I can get my salon budget down. So the people with massive budgets don't really help, but it was still good information. : ) Nice to dream.

Oh, there's no easy answers. I think it really depends on how legitimately tight the budget really is. If you're struggling to make your mortgage - obv you don't get manicures. If you're saving $1000 a month, and it'd be $970 with a manicure, you can probably get the manicure.

[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.

I think you are confused.

We have a HHI of over 7500K and I'm a PP who dyes my own hair and hates shopping. I'm simply not into my clothes and makeup and I used to be a professional model living in NYC and then around the world from ages 15-22. I am simply not "into" my appearance and am very low maintenance about that. Maybe I overdosed on it at a young age. I also have avoided the sun my entire life and don't have the wear and tear and need a bunch of products. I hate going to the salon, it seems to take forever

I do spend plenty of money on other stuff, like a really nice home gym and no shortage of group exercise classes. I also love to travel and love to help my sister out who only makes 45k/yr, I get a lot of pleasure spoiling her. I love my home and making it look great and have no problem spending money to work with an interior designer. It just happens that Target is my first stop when clothes shopping. I do splurge on comfortable shoes and live in Birkenstocks all summer. My feet got DESTROYED from walking in heels when I modeled and as a result have bunions.

I'm not confused. I'm saying that you don't tend to get a lot of "normal" responses to questions about money, here on the money forum. People here all have - like you! - claim enormous HHIs and virtually zero spending on anything other than homes and private school. It's a cliche on this forum. Folks humblewhining that they only have $4.2 million saved for retirement by age 32 HOW WILL THEY LIVE, and jumping all over someone who spends any amount at all frivolously while still paying off student loans? And my LORD can you even imagine having to make it work on a HHI of less than $500k? I shudder.

That's wonderful you are so gorgeous you got to model and travel while young, and are probably still gorgeous enough that you can jet around in some free t-shirts and a pair of used boxer shorts you picked up in a garbage can. Most of us are in a different position - less money, but perhaps more interest in clothes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ NP here -- if you enjoy cutting your own hair, congrats to you and good luck with any kind of fashionable haircut on your own head. No way jeans from 1999 look good, doesn't matter if they cost $1000 back then and you've been licking them clean all this time. Plus wasn't that the era of wide wide jeans?? You don't think they look out of place? Or do they look so good because they've been on a hanger this whole time. What do you indulge in? I'm really curious.

PP you replied to. I'm French, and did not grow up here. Fashion does not mean following trends, it means finding things that suit your figure.

The old jeans are high-waisted and tapered to the ankle, which is not my favorite style, so rarely worn.
My point was to push back against this notion that people need to constantly buy new to "be fashionable", in your understanding of the word. As I said, that's not what fashion is about. The reason people are badly dressed is because they don't select pieces that look good for their body type.
I know exactly what looks good on me, and pick clothes accordingly. No one cares that they came from a second hand shop. What matters is that they flatter my shape. Cut is the most important criteria in clothing. Fabric quality comes second, and everything else (color, patterns) is extra. Most people usually reverse that order!

It's amazing how nasty some posters are about thrifty people. Let me return the compliment more gently: are some of you feeling defensive that you're spending so much and not looking as good as you wish? Then please think about what I wrote about cut and fabric. You have to take your time selecting clothes, which is difficult for really busy people. You have to have great posture, smile warmly, be confident. And lastly but not least, it helps to be slim. I know it's not politically correct to say, but any article of clothing will look more stylish on a slim body type than on a more rotund one.

What do I indulge in?
Daily: quality chocolates and teas, good books, spending time outside, educating my children, doing my work.
Once in a while: expensive vacations that I plan minutely and enjoy with my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Less than $20? I buy very few clothes, once in a blue moon, and most of them are second-hand, do my own nails, cut my hair once a year...

Same here if that. I don't buy clothes often, if I do it's usually second-hand. I do my own nails and cut my hair twice a year. Some years I might spend about $200 on coloring my hair.

New poster: I'm the same. I cut my own hair, no mani/pedi, minimal makeup. My biggest expense would be my facial moisturizer at $25 a month. If you add in shampoo/conditioner and average out my minimal make up I probably hit $50 a month.