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Original poster

The price of personal hygiene

147 replies

BrainInAJar · 09/12/2023 10:52

Hi all,

I know this is not exactly breaking news but OMFG the cost of living!

I have a decent job and a modest lifestyle in terms of financial outgoings so relatively comfortable. And I'm pretty low-maintenance in terms of personal care (I don't spend a lot on hairdressing, nails, tweakments etc).

HOWEVER, I'm finding the cost of just BASIC hygiene noticeably growing ridiculous.

I buy cans of 250ml spray deoderant in my weekly shop. With clubcard discount that is £2.50. It lasts 2 weeks for me when applied once daily. In summer etc that would only last a week! I'm pretty sure the cans used to be bigger, last longer and be far cheaper!

My other basics: shampoo, conditioner, bars of soap, basic moisturiser, cotton wool, toothpaste. None of them fancy but the cost really does add up.

Coupled with the cost of having an actual shower, it's bloody ridiculous. It's like something out of the 19th century for a person to be thinking that they need to think about the cost of keeping their body clean!

Thanks for listening to my rant!

OP posts:
Pigsinpainauchocolat · 09/12/2023 15:12

MsPloddingBottom · 09/12/2023 12:11

You know not everyone has 2 quid for tampons don’t you?

We're just taking the most extreme scenario and applying it to 50% of the Uk? That £2 lasts you three cycles - so 66p a month. Most people can indeed afford that.

Again, one pack would barely last me 2 days never mind 3 months. Not everyone has light regular periods.

literalviolence · 09/12/2023 15:22

MsPloddingBottom · 09/12/2023 12:11

You know not everyone has 2 quid for tampons don’t you?

We're just taking the most extreme scenario and applying it to 50% of the Uk? That £2 lasts you three cycles - so 66p a month. Most people can indeed afford that.

Wouldn't that be like 16 tampons per period? Not many at all. There are a lot of women who'd need a hell of a lot more than that.

MsPloddingBottom · 09/12/2023 15:36

If you need more then buy more

With the exception of people in extreme poverty, anyone can afford £1-2 per month, so it's not something that needs to be free for everyone.

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General style & beauty
WinterDeWinter · 09/12/2023 17:01

MidnightMeltdown · 09/12/2023 14:32

I don't think that middle income people are wondering this. If they are, then they need to have a serious look at their spending priorities

Show quote history

I think people on say an NHS salary with a new mortgage in a city in the south east will definitely be thinking how to reduce their electricity bills and weekly shop urgently. I certainly am.

FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable · 09/12/2023 17:59

MidnightMeltdown · 09/12/2023 14:32

I don't think that middle income people are wondering this. If they are, then they need to have a serious look at their spending priorities

Show quote history

I take home nearly 3k a month so middle income ish, or maybe still a bit low? Everything has gone up loads. Mortgage up 300 quid since fixed rate ended, electric up a good 50% food costs 50% more. Home/ car insurance/ petrol all up. Kids activities are more expensive. Costs of getting anything fixed is higher.

I’ve actually increased my income by 600 quid a month but comparable costs are £800 more a month than they were 2 years ago. It’s a lot of wiggle room to have had in your budget.

HolidayAtNight · 09/12/2023 18:57

Can anyone recommend a non-drying bar soap? Any I've tried clean TOO well and my skin gets dry.

Bolarpear · 09/12/2023 19:34

I am a complete convert to roll on deodorant and bar soap for the shower, the soap seems to suit my skin much better so I need less deodorant. I'm working through years of soap from Christmas presents/boots Sanctuary sets (my MIL buys me one every year) so it feels like a free shower every time. Win win.

The rest of the household haven't caught up yet and prefer shower gel so are happy with the Lidl ones, we live in NI so sadly no easy access to Aldi.

I also use dry shampoo between washes, a can lasts about a month and the outlay is offset by less water and electricity use, and my hair looks better with more volume. More win win.

I buy sanitary products from either Home Bargains or Poundland, always better value than Tesco

MrsDilligaf · 09/12/2023 19:44

I switched to roll on many many years ago following a case of shingles. Using any spray on deodorant/anti perspirant stung like hell. It did take a while to get used to it, so it might be worth trying again.

My soap is kept in a sisal bag, DH's is on the shower soap tray and DDs in in a soap dish, so we rarely use each others - mainly only on holiday.

Peacheroo · 09/12/2023 20:17

I have the same issues! Multiple shop trips and lots of money over the month.

I buy men's shower gel from Tesco as it's 55p and men's razors.

I buy men's deodorant as I stink otherwise but it's the same price. The blue sure one. Shampoo and conditioner I got from Amazon - tigi bed head for really damaged hair. Was £9 for shampoo and conditioner whereas b&m have it for about that each. I switch all washing products with Clubcard deals etc.

Foundation I get from Amazon for cheaper. It's cheap but really good - w7 with the red lid in "buff".

Original poster
BrainInAJar · 09/12/2023 20:26

@HolidayAtNight I like Faith In Nature - it's fragrance free and no SLS.

OP posts:
Carmargo · 09/12/2023 20:27

I like to shower everyday and spend ages in there (saying this to avoid soapdoger comments), however, I do not use deodorant in winter.
Or summer if it is quite cool and I'm not doing any physical activity.

If I give my armpits a proper scrub with dettol soap and a loofah I don't need it.
Yes if you get really really close there is a slight smell but nothing really to offend.

Deodorant's a con.

Why not try going without in winter?

PolarTree · 09/12/2023 20:55

Roll on deodorant is £1 in Tesco and lasts months. Mitcham is £2 or £3. I dont have much money but this is surely affordable? I buy own brand toilet roll, sanitary towels, soap etc.

SoapCollector · 09/12/2023 21:15

@BrainInAJar and @HolidayAtNight yes, I agree faith in nature fragrance free soap is nice. Soaps from the Friendly soap company are also great. I've also been pleased with any goats milk soap I've tried, seem quite soothing on sensitive skin.

Although not technically a soap dove fragrance free bar is non drying.

As you can tell, I like soap! Can I ask which soaps you found drying - I'll avoid them!

I use plain coconut or almond oil as a moisturizer, works out very economical.

Peacheroo · 09/12/2023 21:24

I used a bar of soap today as I ran out of shower gel. It was a Christmas present last year and finally served its purpose. I rubbed it on my loofah and it felt dry and sticky and smelt vile. I find the idea of soap disgusting. Even if you're rubbing it on your own arse only, it's still sitting there festering until the next use. Decided to use shampoo instead and it rubbed away all that toughness of the soap bar.

Andthereyougo · 09/12/2023 21:24

Sanex solid stick deodorant (£1.33, odd price) Superdrug back in the summer still going strong.
Shampoo and conditioner are cheaper in Poundland, well known brands.
Multi pack of soap is cheap.
Try diluting hair conditioner 2:1 with cold boiled water, makes it go further.

Groovee · 09/12/2023 21:27

I changed to fussy deodorant in the summer after noticing a strange smell that colleagues reckoned was probably peri menopause. I got it in July and only on my 2nd refill and still time left in it. Having a subscription makes it cheaper too. But it's made a big difference to me.

For me it was period products that irritated me. Especially when I bled for 8 months.

ItAintGonnaGoDownEasyIfItAintCheezy · 09/12/2023 21:28

NonanteNeuf · 09/12/2023 10:55

I was buying sanitary pads for myself and DD yesterday and I got very angry that women have to pay for this essential care product FFS.

Who else do you think should pay for it?

If you don't want to, you could pay out the one off cost of a moon cup, or cloth sanitary towels or even do what they did back in the day and make your own out of old fabric 🙄

Ginmonkeyagain · 10/12/2023 08:25

@Peacheroo you don't rub the soap bar directly on your body! No wonder your skin eas dry.

Use it to lather your hands or a flannel/body ouff and then rub the lather on to your body.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 10/12/2023 08:33

Can anyone recommend a non-drying bar soap? Any I've tried clean TOO well and my skin gets dry.

I found that my skin only got a bit dry very briefly until it got used to soap, then it was fine, and in fact got less dry than when I used to use shower gel.

Sandunesandseashells · 10/12/2023 09:19

HolidayAtNight · 09/12/2023 18:57

Can anyone recommend a non-drying bar soap? Any I've tried clean TOO well and my skin gets dry.

Are you rinsing it off thoroughly? Soap works by emulsifying/dissolving the skin’s oil to enable the dirt and germs to be washed away so any residue left on your skin will continue to do that job.
Agree with others that you don’t need to rub soap on your body. I use a body brush which creates a lather and exfoliates.
Also worth adding that I hope you all stop the shower or stand in the bath whilst lathering up? As advertised during Covid, at least 20 seconds on the skin is needed to do the job properly, it’s no good if the water is continually washing it straight off and of course you use more water too if the shower is running constantly.
I suspect those getting through bottles of shower gel may be making the same mistake. If you use a body brush or bath pouffe and turn the water off, a 10p size blob will do your whole body.

Sandunesandseashells · 10/12/2023 09:26

Another money saving thing I’ve done for years - I refill the liquid soap dispensers by the sinks with the cheapest supermarket shower cream. Every Christmas my SIL comments on the ‘lovely’ soap in the downstairs loo but she’s just being beguiled by the look of it and the label on the dispenser. 😀

Peacheroo · 10/12/2023 10:01

Ginmonkeyagain · 10/12/2023 08:25

@Peacheroo you don't rub the soap bar directly on your body! No wonder your skin eas dry.

Use it to lather your hands or a flannel/body ouff and then rub the lather on to your body.

No I don't want to run it all over myself if others are using it.

That's what I did - rubbed it on the puff and then used the puff to wash. I'm just using shampoo until I go to the shop. Soap is vile.

Peacheroo · 10/12/2023 10:01

I don't think anyone else would use it but who knows. I won't be using it.

LambriniBobinIsleworth · 10/12/2023 15:43

To everyone saying about using a roll on... I would smell really very bad without using an aerosol deodorant- in winter but especially in summer. I've tried every permutation, including "crystal" deodorants of various brands and tried lots of different brands of roll ons, creams and that one you use so often for a week or so and then supposedly only use once a week. None of them work on me. And I'm not dirty, it's not an old sweat build up... I use antibacterial soap under my arms at least once a day and don't come out of the shower smelling. So some of us do need aerosol deodorants, I'm afraid. If I couldn't afford them I'd be very stinky! @BrainInAJar you have my sympathy.

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