Stuff - how much do you spend on yourself each month?

[toycar]

Obviously I know it depends on income and your expenses each month. I dont want to ask what your situation re your income is, more just how often you pick up "stuff" and your shopping habits.

DH and I are trying to save more and he is adamant that if i stopped buying "all the crap" i do, we would be quids in. I dont think Im excessive. An average month I spend about £150 on eg (excluding things like coffee out with friends, gym or hair appointments if I actually did those things):

• make up

-a woolly jumper from tesco -a book -fashion items like an oversized hair clip

• candles
• neom products

-body shop bath things -a scarf

Are you constantly buying shit you don't need? How do you stop buying?

Thanks!!!

I tend to go and buy stuff when I need it. Eg when the autumn-winter season was around the corner, I made a list of clothes I’d need and got those. I have a fixed monthly ‘pocket money’ and stick to that.

£0. I try my hardest not to pick up "stuff" for financial and environmental reasons. I only buy new things when they need replacing.

I hate clutter with a passion though, so I tend to think about it cluttering up the place!

I don't routinely buy anything like that. But then I don't see the value of "stuff".

I budget £75/month for all expenses & spending relating to myself rather than the household/family. So haircuts, makeup, social activities without the rest of the family, hobby stuff (I'm a crafter), clothes, books etc.. I put it in a separate account and some months spend it all but sonetimes manage to build up a surplus of up to £150ish (I do very little socially though and hardly ever get haircuts).

I bought a £3 Xmas candle in lidl today and that's me going wild.

Quite a lot I think. Haven’t ever really thought about how much actual £ I spend though.
I spend a fair bit on skincare and occasionally make up, my shampoo and conditioner is expensive but it really does wonders for my hair so I’m not compromising on it!
I’m not hugely I go clothes buying or fashion but most seasons will buy myself a new item or two which last a while.
I do buy and own a lot of shoes and bags though!
Frequently buy myself nice candles but I consider them more ‘home’ things even though no one else gives a shit about them and wouldn’t care if they weren’t there.
I’d say around £400 on these things when it’s all averaged out.
And the same again for things like lunches out, gym membership and getting my hair done.
Which actually now seems like quite a lot of money!

I ask for things like books, candles, "fashion items" and Body Shop stuff for Christmas. I have also been known to use the library.

Did you need a woolly jumper, or did you just fancy that one? Ditto the scarf. They could both also go on your Christmas list.

Depending on how amenable your family is to microdirection, so could make-up

As to "how" I stopped buying... had small children with me all day so could no longer browse Waterstones and the charity shops

From your list I had a think about my spending habits.

make upI like to buy decent quality make up on a need to buy basis rather than a want.I wear hardly make up these days
-a woolly jumper from tesco The last item of clothing was a gorgeous velvet coat from the charity shop two weeks ago for £10. I don't normally shop there but had spotted the perfect leather handbag to replace my work bag in the new section for £15.00. Before that it was probably the beginning of summer when I last bought clothing. I do need a new swimming costume though!
-a book I love cook books and have way too many, this is my weakness. I now only buy them from charity shops so I don't feel too bad about it
-fashion items like an oversized hair clip

• candles- never I normally get them as Christmas presents,I don't really like them in the home.
• neom products I never buy anything like this.

-body shop bath things I just have Badedas bubble bath and replace when run out. -a scarf I'm still using mine from before the kids were born ( oldest is 23!) To me a lot of the things you have bought seem wasteful and frivolous. However we all get spending pleasure in different ways. I like to spend my spare money on gigs and go to at least two a week. I also like to travel and go on as many shortbreaks as possible. I would rather do this than have 'stuff'

If you are supposed to be saving I do think you are being excessive and cut a lot of it.

If I gave myself a budget to buy that kind of stuff I know I'd spend it, just because. So I don't bother any more and I have a lot more savings because I don't allow that kind of spending.

I forgot to answer you 'how to stop buying'
There are a couple of ways.
Walk away from the item and if you are still thinking about it and wanting it then fair enough buy it.However I do think you would have probably forgotten about it.

Put money in savings straight away when you get paid to stop you having the disposable money on hand to spend.

Realize that you do need less than you think. Why do you need candles and make up every month ( you don't!)

To be honest when I 'm saving I cut out the coffee with friends and either have them round at my place or if the weather is nice meet in the park and go for a walk ( not all the time of course, just when money is tight or I'm saving)

I'm not into clothes so I only buy them when I need them. Likewise I only buy makeup when it runs out.

I get my nails done every month and a takeaway coffee and cake once a week as a treat. That's about it! I don't buy books any more, I use the library instead.

This month I’ve bought some winter clothes because the stuff I had was mostly pre-ds -he’s 11. So this month - £325 on clothes/shoes.
Otherwise - no make-up, music, accessories.
I’ve paid bills, has car mot’d, bought groceries, been to school fireworks.

Next month, obviously Xmas presents, budget about £300, some DIY supplies, more bills.

I’ll treat myself to new mascara, some music, maybe some new specs. Hair cut & colour - £82. No gym, no take out coffees, no candles.

Money is a bit tight, not too bad.

it doesnt really matter what other people spend. It matters what you spend.

If you stopped buying these things you don't need, and saved the moeny you would have £1800 in a year without really trying.

These spends are a habit - once you are in the habit if feels normal. Once you break the habit that feels normal too. I bet you can last a year with just the make up you own, using just the clips you own, and the clothes you already have. Once you get into it is is easy. If you run out of every last drop of fouundation, then treat yourself to a new one. Buy a reasonably priced brand and enjoy it.

I spend on bits and bobs at the moment. Not much in the scheme of things. I got 2 new winter long sleeve tops for £44 over the weekend - but I really need some warm long sleeve tops and one will double as a top for a Xmas event. So that is a win. I don't buy clothes very often - I wear what I have until they need replacing - but I buy reasonable quality that lasts.

I've had times when I buy nothing and I save. Check our the No Spend Day/NSD thread in Credit Crunch here on MN - loads of great savings. Also read minimilast blogs etc for ideas on how to get out of the spending/stuff habit.

Have you watched the Story of Stuff - its powerful:

Personally I find the best way to save is simply not to buy anything. Watching your bank balance grow feels great and powerful.

In October I spent from my private money (I pay half of every household and family related bill)
38,97 € on books, kindle, DVD, audible - one was a text book
41,70 € on a haircut - repeat every three month
I am a spreadsheet person, so I know exactly were my and the family money goes and I do not like shopping, which helps.

When I was saving to buy my first place, and then when we were saving to buy the next place, and when we had small dc and money was tight, and when dh was studying and money was tight - the answer was £0 on anything on your list.

Now, we are in a MUCH better position financially, but I still doubt if I spend more than £20 - £30 a month on anything from your list. Some months, nowhere near that. I think when you've had no, or very little money, and lived on a budget, many of us then find it hard to just "buy crap" (to quote your dh) for no reason.
For me, buying a coffee 'out' is a real luxury that I treat myself to on 'an occasion'

My budget for myself is £0.

If I really need something new (clothing or footwear) I buy as and when needed but almost always second hand clothing, new shoes but I’ll try and fix my broken things first wherever possible.
Makeup I just buy cheap stuff. Does the same job and I have enough products I’ve received as gifts to mean I don’t need to buy any (lucky me!) and if I ever buy perfume it’s usually one I pay £3.99 for from Lidl.
I only get my hair cut a couple of times a year and I don’t dye it or anything.
Occasionally I’ll treat myself to a new book or a plant.
Other than that I don’t really need anything.
I do treat myself to lunch out with friends occasionally and am going to a concert next week with a friend.

I also like to go to the cinema alone once every month or 2 but our local cinema is always £5 for any ticket and I take my own snacks.

I think other than including myself in days out with my DC that’s pretty much everything I spend on myself.

I’m ok with what I spend and consider it to be pretty frugal which is partly from a financial perspective and partly from an environmental one.

How do you stop? By putting something down and walking away and having a second think. Do I actually need it or just ‘wannit’. And by focusing on what you are budgeting for.

What can I forgo this month to afford this? Is a question I ask.

Also perhaps if you are not committed to saving, you are going to have problems in frittering your budget away.

I always find putting savings away where you cannot easily get it helps tremendously.

I mostly spend all my money on food and drink 😂

Actual items this month:
£160 on a suit
£5 new sieve
£7 plant
£25 underwear
£40 lipstick
£40 foundation
6 new books.

I haemorrhage cash. Am eyeing up a £99 gin advent calendar

I set little challenges with myself to save money.
Of course not everyone can do the same things but I like to see how long I can hold on to, say a £20 note or maybe getting through the week by not spending a penny that isn't a bill or 100% needed, like milk.
So for example, if I go into town I will park further away and walk in and save myself £2.50. I take my own food to work so I don't have to join in on the Subway or KFC run, I avoid Costa and Starbucks and have people round to my place. It can become a fun challenge and I have to stop myself getting a bit obsessed with it as I don't need to be tight at the moment!
I think my record is just over 4 weeks than I had to buy a condolence card!

As little as I can. I save at least half my income each month.

If I need something I’ll buy it though. I just don’t buy ‘treats’ for the sake of it.

For me specifically: a heated over-blanket, v-shaped pillow and cover, replacement essential oils for the humidifier (to stop our skin drying out now that the central heating's on), replacement slippers (old ones falling to bits), shea butter, glycerine and rose water for home-made beauty products, Korean Italy towels, replacement muslin face cloths, writing pads, printer paper, couple of books, hair toner, a beautiful kimono to flounce around the house in... probably loads more. I appreciate it all. A few hundred pounds at least.

I'm bad with this.. budget is £600 a month which includes any eating/drinking out, make up, clothes, toiletries, birthday presents for other people etc.

Currently pregnant so don't spend all of this at the minute as I'm not drinking and clothes don't fit, but usually I manage it

I spend virtually nothing when I’m in the UK. But I tend to go all out when I go away. I always mostly go to cities (hate beach holidays). So for example recently I went to Tallinn, and we spent a morning in a shopping centre. Went in a shop we don’t have in the UK and they had really nice jumpers with lovely embroidery on them. So ended up buying 4 (different designs) at £50 each. A few nice souvenirs, bits and pieces from duty free. I find that I can live quite minimally at home if I have other times when I can go a bit wild. I don’t think I could ever stop buying “stuff” permanently. But you could try other things like maybe have every other month be a frugal month, where you don’t buy any extras. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

I've spent about £180 on me since last payday.
This includes

• coated jeans Sainsbos 18
• party dress Sainsbos 22

Work dress Sainsbos 20

• Clark's shoes -30
• skin care stuff 20
• tights 22
• knickers -9
• 33 prescriptions/ health care
• foundation 14

I would say this is more than usual