I've worked for 30 years ...

[Babybungle13]

I'm 51. I've reached a point where I'm saying

No more second job. I've resigned. (Still FT day job)
I'm hiring a cleaner for once a fortnight
No more buying cheap food. I want quality
The DC will be helping out more at home (teens)
I'm.buying the luxury items (within reason! Think L'occitaine almond body wash @£35 a bottle)

Anyone else resonate?

I’m a few years older but I’m the same. No more yellow sticker groceries or Aldi essentials. Decent skincare products. Pretty dresses and lovely shoes. Good quality makeup.

We were on a tight budget when the DC were all at home. Now it’s time for a bit of luxury.

What has changed?

IMO you may as well enjoy life day-to-day, even if it’s not the most ‘sensible’ choice.

You never know what might happen!

I am 63. Totally resonates.

That said, I now have an elderly dog who needs a lot of care, and I do find myself drifting back to my days of self denial so he can have his complementary therapies etc.

Its definitely a me problem though, my DH still indulges….

53 and just handed in my notice for my second job, yes I still have the 9-5 but I won't miss working weekends, though it was technically easy, I decided I want to save that energy to put in to my own pursuits. Here's to a new chapter!

I need to lose a stone and a half. I'm determined to shift it by September so I can buy new clothes for autumn. I'm going to spend lots so I've got quality trousers, coats, shoes, boots, jumpers etc.

And anything that doesn't fit me perfectly, I'll pay to be altered.

I'm in my 60s now and really need to treat myself.

@MidnightPatrol I don't really know what has changed. I was recently signed off work following an operation. While signed off I realised just how much thy second job was getting me down. I didn't see it at the time. Some debts have finally cleared. I'm just fed up of not getting the small luxuries.

I'm 43 and yes it resonates. I spent my 20's and 30's killing myself with (more than) FT work, continual studying, parenting, scrimping/saving/trying to get by, and dealing with my (now) XH.

I've not plumped for a cleaner, and I'm still frugal in some things...but I make the DC help out around the house, and I've invested in Robovacs, a dishwasher, tumble drier, a Thermomix (I can cook, but this is such a time saver) and a decent airfryer to make my life easier. I'm also trying to do more self care/looking after myself, so I've (after 5yrs) paid to see someone about the god-awful perimenopause menopause symptoms I've been having (my GP wouldn't consider the fact that I might just have early menopause, and wouldn't do anything to check/rule out this). I'm still working FT though and the studying will continue as I'm a nurse and need to keep up to date with knowledge.

I'm hoping that once this HRT kicks in, I'll be feeling much better and can work on losing weight and getting fitter (I can do 15000-20000 steps a day in my job but menopause has caused the weight to pile on - and I figured it has to be that as my diet hasn't changed, nor has my activity levels).

Today I had the car cleaned inside and out and treated myself to new car wipers, both are something I have been wanting to do for 6 months. I've also ordered some replacement kitchen units, something that has needed doing for a few years. I'm fed up of walking past the chipped ones.

No more going without (again, within reason).

Take aways are binned off, they are a 15 minute waste and never taste the same at home.