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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that we're being a bit thick spending all our money on cosmetics

144 replies

southeastastra · 09/05/2015 23:37

and shit

really who cares if we just wear jeans and a t shirt every day.

we're crackers spending £££ on fashion

OP posts:
Tizwailor · 10/05/2015 08:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ememem84 · 10/05/2015 08:41

I spend maybe £50 a year in make up and cosmetics if that. That's hardly all my money. But then, even if I did spend all my money in it who's to say I'm wrong/thick? It's my money. I can do what I want with it.

LaurieMarlow · 10/05/2015 08:42

OP, you're being ridiculous if you think you speak for all women. For lots of us, fashion & makeup foster our creativity and allow us to experiment with our identity, in an entirely positive way. And we'll spend our money how we like.

VikingVolva · 10/05/2015 08:44

Good to see all the posters who have the money, and spend it on themselves.

After all the political threads, it's nice to see reversion to 'business as usual' capitalism.

TheWitTank · 10/05/2015 08:50

Well yes, it would be stupid if you spent all your money on these things and neglected to pay your bills or buy food. If it's your disposable income you can buy what you like and it's not "thick" at all. No thicker than spending it on a hobby or cinema tickets or a theme park. If it gives you enjoyment then go for it -you only live once. I buy expensive skincare but it lasts months so it actually works out cheaper in the long run than buying some £5 face wash from superdrug. I have a range of make up, cheap and expensive. If it's cheap and it works, great. Often like with skincare, you use less of the quality product and it lasts a lot longer.
I still have the money to treat my children and go out as I buy every 4 months or so, not weekly or monthly. I also work bloody hard and will enjoy what I couldn't afford 10 years ago!

EuphemiaCoxton · 10/05/2015 08:51

Yabu.
Since having dd until very very recently I had no money for makeup and clothes.
I lived in old t shirts and jeans with no makeup. I looked shit, I hated looking shit, it made me feel shit.
I like fashion and cosmetics. So there.

MangoJuggler · 10/05/2015 08:52

I spend most of my beauty budget (snoooooorrrrrrrt) on that no 7 p and p stuff. Is v good. Make up is ancient and mebbe ought ta be replaced (bare essentials mineral stuff) but you know what I don't care

Hair cut every 5weeks, coloured as needed (roughly every 3 months)

Clothes well I have plenty, ta, mostly casual dresses. No jeans, can't bear pressure on tummy (medical)

Am I thick?

formerbabe · 10/05/2015 08:54

I spend a lot of money on make up....more than I spend on clothes easily.

I also buy books, magazines, jewellery, decorative stuff for my house and lots of other non essential things.

Butterby · 10/05/2015 08:56

YABU - each to their own.

I have a PHD (not that that alone is a measure of being thick or not) but spend lots of money on branded cosmetics, fake tan, hair extensions, get my nails done, having facials, I could go on. I will be wearing a ridiculously expensive pair of jimmy choos to do my weekly shop today just because I want to (ballet pumps not heels, that would be ridiculous)

I give a much smaller amount to my chosen charities each month but not because it balances out my cosmetic spending, i do it because I want to.

To state the obvious we are all different and we can spend our money as we wish.

londonrach · 10/05/2015 08:57

We? I dont own any cosmetics apart from a £1 lip gloss. When it runs out i replace... Why do you spend all your money on cosmetics?

AuntyMag10 · 10/05/2015 08:57

You may feel thick op but I certainly don't as I'm not spending 'all' of my money on it. And no one forces you btw, all your own choice.

SnozzberryPie · 10/05/2015 09:08

Have you read the beauty myth by Naomi Klein, op? She talks about how society expects women to spend a certain amount of time and money to look 'beautiful', and that this is a feminist issue as the same is not expected of men. I read it a few years ago and found it really interesting, although personally I only wear makeup a couple of times a year and mostly live in jeans, so didn't feel it applied to me.

ahbollocks · 10/05/2015 09:16

wondered how long it would take for the patriarchy to get a mention.

Nolim · 10/05/2015 09:16

I spend maybe 10 gbp per year in make up.

Do you spend ALL your money op?

LotusLight · 10/05/2015 09:18

Speak for yourself. I have invested in property, shares, my career, school fees, even an island abroad for 10 years, not make up.

Just do what men do and you can't go far wrong. Makes life a lot more fun I can tell you. Luckily I figured this out when I was about 14.

SaucyJack · 10/05/2015 09:20

"Who cares?"

I do. It's my face, and I smear kohl and mascara all over it because I like the way it looks. I don't want to look natural.

Not a fan of jeans either. Again, I wear dresses because I like to.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 10/05/2015 09:21

I like spending my money on cosmetics and skincare, as I've got older I prioritise them over fashion but I do also like to wear clothes that make me look and feel happy.

ememem84 · 10/05/2015 09:25

No different to someone spending their disposable income on a holiday. Or three. Or tattoos. Or well...anything else.

I pay my mortgage bills food etc. Then spend/save the rest as I please.

Jackieharris · 10/05/2015 09:37

Op maybe post this in feminism unless you want to get a whole barrel of defensive posts.

magoria · 10/05/2015 09:41

My foundation/mascara/eyeshadow is probably 8 years old (I should really chuck it) so I would guess I spend £10-£20 a year on makeup that spends it's time at the bottom of the draw.

Out of work where I have to look semi tidy I spend all my time in jeans and tees.

People should spend their money how they like and are happy with.

pasturesgreen · 10/05/2015 09:42

Yanbu, at all.
I have to dress the part for work (legal sector) and I've made a conscious decision to only ever buy clothes when there's a sale/promotion on, or at places like Bicester. I just seems somewhat silly to buy full price expensive clothes, especially as these days some shops seem to have promotions going about once a month.
Make up is a different matter, though. I have an addiction a penchant for designer make up and beauty products and I can't resist splurging on new releases.
Can't see why I shouldn't, either, as it's something I can afford and that gives me pleasure!
I only wear make up to work, though, so I suppose I'll be able to put a stop to this sort of expense when I retire probably in 60 or 70 years at the earliest

SaucyJack · 10/05/2015 09:42

Perhaps the OP wants to canvass a broad range of opinions Jackie?

Just a thought. Can't imagine this would make much of a debate in the feminism boreds.

Sallystyle · 10/05/2015 09:46

I love cosmetics and skin care.

I am not thick. I enjoy it. I don't spend ALL my money on it, far from it but I like to look the best I can and for me wearing make up makes me look much better.

Oh and if you started this in feminism I am sure you would still get a barrel of defensive posts. Calling people thick is never going to go down well. I am pretty sure if I called people thick for spending money on wine, meals out, nights out etc I would get a few backs up.

Birdsgottafly · 10/05/2015 09:47

As others have said, I enjoy what I buy.

I'm disheartened by the celebration of cheap Asian/Korean skincare going on in S&B, at present.

It's so cheap because they test on animals, use unethical practices and trading etc. I'd rather people be wiling to spend more.

LaLaLaaaa · 10/05/2015 09:49

This thread is daft, everyone is different and your opinion is just that.

I love makeup and wear it every day but the makeup I have lasts a very long time and I probably spend £10 every 2 months on it.

I wear jeans and t shirts some of the time but prefer nicer tops than t shirts and like dresses. Each to their own.

Yabu to think it's any of your business what other people spend their salary on. I don't buy much for myself at all and if I want to spend £10 on makeup I will.

I also have 3 high level degrees so am not 'thick' although I reckon my dh would arguably I can be pretty blonde sometimes!