How Much Money do you Spend on Yourself per Month?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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...

[Anonymous]

That’s very unusual pp


I’m probably on the other end of the spectrum. Pedicures Botox and hair every 4 weeks (pixie cut) once a month massage and frequently purchase new clothing as I’m working and like having clothes that are fresh and crisp looking- probably $500/month realistically on clothes if I include sportswear coats shoes.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

To add - I do buy sunscreen and bb creams once every maybe 4 months. Under $20.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about normal - I can give you an estimate for myself, as someone who works from home and rarely needs to get dressed up:

I just checked my credit card statement from last month, and I spent just under $500 on clothes, beauty treatments, skin care, etc. The previous month's cc bill shows I spent $300.I was going to guess that most months it's between $200 and $500. Maybe I should try to cut down...

[Anonymous]

We're in a cash crunch and will be for the next couple years (HHI <$100k, two kids in high school). The monthly budget is $600 for the year. The includes hair (two cuts), a couple new bras and some good shampoo. I don't wear makeup and can manage with the clothes I have now or cast offs from my wealthier friends. It's not easy but a lot simpler when we simply don't have the money to spend.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the month. I'm on month 2 of not buying clothes. Usually it's $100-200 a month (some returns). I get hair cut and colored 3 times a year but it's $270 or so each time. Don't bother with nails except a coupl pedicures in summer. Make up is simple drugstore mostly and channel lipstick so $20 a month tops. I use Paula's choice products but they last a while.

[Anonymous]

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?

[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.

I spend about $1000 a year on clothes, including walking shoes - 3x a year for $400 or so. It comes in clumps.

I get a haircut for $50 about every other month. I don't color my hair.
I don't wear make up.
My lotions and other things are part of our grocery budget (mainly just regular lotion).
I never wear fingernail polish and do the rest at home, but I will get a pedicure about every other month- $50.

I do go to lunch 1-2 times a week with friends- spending about $50 a week on that.

I am 54 if that makes a difference.

[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?

NP, but I'm in that ballpark.

I spent years building up a high quality wardrobe, mostly consignment or thrift store. You can find cashmere in thrift stores -- you just have to wait for it. Same for a couple of merino wool coats. I splurged on high quality shoes. I take care of them, and they last forever. I also splurged on bras. I buy department store stockings and underwear, unless it's lingerie.

I wear sunscreen religiously and have never tanned or smoked, so my skin is in decent condition. I wear drugstore BB cream, a light lip gloss, and soft eyeliner. Do my own manicures and pedicures, nothing fancy -- just well groomed with a little polish. My hairstyle is low maintenance, and I take care of that myself, too.

There's just not that much I need to buy. My wardrobe is extensive enough now that I have drawers of accessories to mix it up a bit. Every now and then I might buy something new, but 99.9% of the time I'd rather pull back into rotation something that I already love.

[Anonymous]

I SAH, and I buy almost no clothes (and it shows). I buy shampoo and conditioner in bulk at costco for like $7 a huge bottle. I buy lotions at trader joes for $6 or under. I might buy an eyeliner every few months that's $20. I do buy foundation and primer for face and eyes whenever it runs out. That costs about $200 a year I'd guess. Haircuts 3-4x a year for $65 including tip. Never get mani and maybe 2 pedis during the summer. Eyebrows every 6-8 weeks $25/time.

[Anonymous]

When I was younger, yes I spent a lot more on clothes. Now at 34 I will wear clothes until I can't anymore. I wear the same black shoes every day and will replace them when I can't wear them anymore. I take pretty good care of them. I don't buy clothes every month. When I do it is usually second-hand. It will be work clothes - blouses, dresses, pants. Shampoos is part of my grocery budget. Last night was the first time this year I spent on clothes for myself. 4 blouses and it came out to $16. Every couple of months I will spend on face sunscreen, moisturizer and bb/cc cream. Maybe once a year or every 2 I do something cool with my hair. Still it is something low maintenance that I don't have to keep going in to do my roots.

[Anonymous]

OP here...maybe I should have asked for an annual amount because I do understand that we all don't get our hair cut every month or buy beauty products every month or shoes. I also don't understand how it could be $20 per month because that would be $240/year and that's less than one hair cut and coloring for maybe people. Going forward can we estimate annual cost for hair cuts, nails, beauty products, and, if you could even break it out, that would be awesome. Thanks for all the responses so far! For example:

Hair Cuts:
Coloring:
Nails:
Beauty Products:

Work Clothes:
Casual Clothes:
Work Shoes:
Casual Shoes:
Athletic Apparel:

Thank you!