how much 'treat money' do you have each month?

[nearlyfinisheduni]

I am trying to pay off my debt by the end of the year which leaves me with not a lot each month for 'treats.' I want to know if this is a good amount to still have some fun as I'd really like everything paid off asap.

[IamMummyhearmeROAR]

At the moment I spend nothing on myself and limited treats for the children. I'm ok with this. I have everything I need. Paying off debt has become a weird treat in itself!

[gilliangoof]

What do you include in treats? Entertainment? Clothes? Toiletries? Haircuts? Kids' activities? Coffees?

[Mum2Fergus]

None paying off debt too, throw every spare penny at it. I budget for everything...in terms of 'treats' it would be for us all, not just for me...and I'd add it to budget and save over 2/3 months for it.

[nearlyfinisheduni]

all of those except kids activities and coffees as don't have kids and don't like coffee! I do sometimes wonder if I should pay off less each month but then think if I can plough through it I will be debt free sooner

[Bluecarrot]

I think 9 months is a long time not to have any treats. Perhaps work out something you need and want every other month? And look out for free/cheap stuff happening in your area. If you live near a big city, sign up to watch free preview screenings of new movies. Some gyms offer free 2 week trials. Libraries (here at least!) have a selection of magazine and newspaper subscriptions. I'm a new fan of audio books too.

What about earning a little extra just to spend on you? Car boot sale/fb selling pages/extra hours at work?

[sugar4eva]

Ten pounds a week . I save it so 40 a month sounds better . Keeps me motivated to save.

[Jinty64]

£10 a week for me and £5 for ds3 (7). The older two have their allowance. Sometimes ds wastes spends the £5 on sweets and a magazine or a small toy and sometimes we combine our money to go to soft play or the cinema.

[SunnyRandall]

DH and I have £10 per week each but that doesnt include haircuts but I have to find DC pocket money out of it plus coins for car parks etc . It's tough but I made sure our food budget wasnt too tight so we arent deprived of nice things iyswim.

[Nobodyputsbabyinthecorne]

We are living off DH's salary at the moment as all of mine is being saved for a house deposit. At the moment we have £125 each per month for ourselves. He's getting a payrise in the next month or two so hopefully we will be able to double that.

The money pays for our own clothes, any lunches or coffees we want, drinks out with friends, treatments etc. If we go out together, then that comes from joint money, not our own cash.

[nearlyfinisheduni]

so it looks like £100 which is what I will have is doable, I suppose I just need to not waste it on little bits and pieces and maybe keep a spending diary?

[Twilight23]

£50 - includes absolutely everything we want/need for ourselves. Hair, clothes, make up, socials, presents.

We only go out on special occasions
I colour my own hair
I do not buy magazines
We bring lunch to work
I shop in H & M/ New Look / DP
When going out as a family, we bring snacks and drinks

We have lived like this for five years. It is difficult managing on £50 knowing that some can happily spend this in one night. I have become so frugal and will not pay full price for clothes/shoes.

[Twilight23]

I have a work colleague who often talks of her high end bag purchases and the clothes her dh often buys her.

I used to be envious of her lifestyle. She is unaware of my situation as I always look presentable, always contribute to birthday/leaving gifts. Whilst she spends £70 on a pair of ballerina pumps, I will spend £10-15 on a pair in New Look.

[LornaGoon]

If I want something for myself I have to really justify my purchase to myself.

If there is something I actually need, like shoes, I will wait until its a birthday or Christmas. Even then previous thing has to genuinely need replacing (my shoes had holes in; DP said I looked like a tramp ).

Even when the DC smashed my make up all over the bathroom floor I waited and waited until I could find it on offer, pay with points etc before I replaced it.

I used to think make up was an essential. Now money is tighter than an gnats arse I've dramatically reconsidered this. I realise how much I just frittered away on crap I don't need and how much name-brands cost.

I guess it depends on how poor you are, what you define as a treat and how desperate you are to get out of debt.

[higgle]

Monthly "treats" £100 clothes, £55 hair and make up, £150 left over in budget for whatever I want - though this does include visiting my mother and taking her out. I have £80 per month for general expenditure such as cinema etc. I thought this wasn't a great deal but I feel very fortunate seeing some of the other replies.

[Takenforgranted76]

Higgle You are very fortunate. Over £300 on yourself per month!

[higgle]

I know, though it doesn't always feel like it.

[stiffstink]

£25 a month in total for the three of us but I have a separate pot for hols, christmas, birthdays. My online banking is mindblowing.

I find that is plenty, its something cheap once a month and freebies the other 3 weekends. I don't feel we miss out.

[perplexedpirate]

Threads like this make me thoroughly ashamed. I should a read one every day as a motivation to save money and stop moaning.
I say I'm skint, but there's no comparison.
When did I become a spoilt brat?!

[annielostit]

Until now wed just have what ever. I realise now if we keep spending the savings will be gone and we'd be knackered. We have £200 for 3 of us to go out/ takeout etc, I've given up buying clothes for now.
When I read what some have I feel embarrassed at what I waste. X

[magicalmrmistoffelees]

When I was working I used to have around £400- £500 per month for 'treats' for myself. Looking back, I wasted so much money on things I didn't need, in fact I can't remember what I spent it on. I am now a sahm and my DH and I have about £75 a month each. We usually pool it and spend it on meals out together, unless there is something in particular we want/need. I actually much prefer it like this as it feels like a proper 'treat'. I regret all the money I wasted in the past, that I could have saved.

[TheOrchardKeeper]

I'm a lone parent on benefits (DS has a health condition) so about £40-50 a month for things that aren't total essentials.

[LunchLadyWannabe]

I have around £2000 a month spare.

I save alot of it as we are saving for a deposit on our own house as we currently rent.

[WipsGlitter]

Per month, after the bills I have about £700 to spend on whatever I want - clothes, naice food (aside from weekly shop), haircuts, kids, coffee, books, etc etc.

[purplebaubles]

Umm...nothing?! Things are very very tight here.