To ask, if you had £40 to spend on yourself, what would you spend it on?

[8feet12paws2fins]

Hi everyone. So I have £40 left from my Christmas gift money! With the rest I got new cushions, curtains and some other house bits which is always the case tbh. Now I’m wondering what I should do with the last £40! Part of me wants clothes as I only get clothes twice a year - with Christmas money or birthday money, other than that I do love a good charity shop bargain BUT then other parts of me think about getting one or 2 more expensive items of clothing rather than cheaper bits at primark, or the really naughty part of me wants to just spend it on a massage as I’ve never had one and think it would be lovely to have a bit of relaxation time! Thoughts? Thanks 😊 (I don’t know if it matters but I’m 29 with 2 kids and don’t drink so won’t be having a night out with it or a bottle of gin lol)

My favourite hobby is to browse amazon and put everything I like on a wish list, regardless of cost or practicality. Then when something like this happens, I have at least a starting point for stuff that caught my eye, even if the exact thing I buy ends up coming from elsewhere.

Take the money for the house stuff back from the 'house' account and use it to buy decent clothes for you if that's what you need/want.

Why do you only get clothes twice a year? Why don't you spend money on yourself? if you have a partner, I bet they spend money on themselves. You should both have the same amount of personal spending money after joint household costs have been covered.

And you can absolutely get a flight for £40. You'd have to spend other money of course if you went away, but my best flight bargain was probably Lanzarote for £30, but I've also been to Dublin for £20, Malaga for £50 and if you are flexible you will have loads of choice of a flight for that £40.

Right now? A scarf that I’ve got my eye on. It’s reduced to £35 so that’s perfect! Or a shirt I’ve got my eye on which is reduced to £45.

Or, a Bobbi Brown make up item (not sure which one, I’d have to have a look), or a Lisa Eldridge lipstick.

Otherwise, probably a half a pair of shoes or boots (I’d save the money and put it towards the right pair when the sales are on again).

If I had it in my purse it would probably get eaten up in day to day expenses tbh

Personally I would try and spend it on clothes or get a nice new perfume or make up. I don't spend as much on either since I had DD so I would get something pre-kid me wouldn't have thought twice about buying.

@notacooldad I’ve never heard of sky scanner and as you mentioned flights, surely there’s no flights for £40?
Of course there is!!
Travel is my passio. I would rather go without nights out, ir handbags or outfits to fund my travel! In the last 20 months all these return flights have been less than £40
Oslo
Brussels
Dublin
Malaga
Cologne (£18 return from manchester)
Eindhoven
Bratislava
Warsaw
Barcelona (£35 return)
Kiev (28 return)
Rzesxow
Wroclaw
Belfast
Stuttgart
Nuremberg
Gothenburg.
Some have been long weekends ,some have been day trips and others for up to 9 days.

@BarbaraofSeville
I don’t spend money on myself because, well one reason is because there’s never really money spare. When we got together we were young and kitted out a house on credit cards and continued to make stupid mistakes for a few years that we are paying for now! My partner doesn’t spend money on himself either, genuinely we don’t spend money on ourselves! He never goes anywhere other than work and home, I don’t think he’s even 100% sure of his PIN number for his bank card.

I'd spend it on some lovely bath products or perhaps a good haircut or a massage.

@notacooldad she's a mom with two kids and limited spending money. Even if she could get a cheap flight for £40 how are you expecting her to pay for all of the other expenses that go with a holiday, plus leave the kids behind?

Do you really need to spend it on 'stuff' do you need another handbag or whatever?
What about afternoon tea with a friend or partner or a trip to a new to you city?

I have £80 worth of Boots Advantage Card points and have a similar dilemma. I hear good things about the Babyliss straightening brush but I'm so hesitant. Can a rotating brush really work?

notacooldad she's a mom with two kids and limited spending money. Even if she could get a cheap flight for £40 how are you expecting her to pay for all of the other expenses that go with a holiday, plus leave the kids behind?
I know that. That's why in my first post I said what I would personally do, because that was the question and after that I made a couple of realistic fiofr the OP suggestions.

I answered the OP with examples when she asked me a question!

Happy now?

I think I'd buy some nice winter boots (I'm only a 4 so can buy girls real leather ones for around that price)

Or maybe a bf friendly dress.

A really nice pair of earrings I could wear and enjoy every day. Got pink pearl studs from John Lewis with Xmas money last year and they are so lovely.

If your Dp doesnt spend money on himself either I think maybe it would be nice to do something together with it. A nice meal , the afternoon tea. Maybe have a look on Groupon for ( dare I say this) a spa day for you both.
Me and Dh have had some nice afternoons quite cheap this way.

Right now I would buy new trainers or a new swimming costume as I need both. But in a way that's dull as I will get those anyway.

So for a special luxury item I would have my hair cut, or buy a takeaway, or a gorgeous pair of earrings

I don’t even have a passport to be fair @notacooldad, I got a new one and used it once before I was pregnant with eldest ds and haven’t used it since and it has now expired but I understand you were saying what YOU would do with the money anyway Not something I could or would do even if I was able but it’s something that you enjoy.
@paranoidmum2 ah if I HAD to spend it in boots I would probably get a hairdryer or something! I’ve had mine for about 13 years and it was a basic one, it takes forever to dry my long hair and I would like one that is more powerful lol

I'd spend it on a treat that is purely decadent that you would never ever normally buy. Go for that massage if that's what you really want, or be a bit more practical and treat yourself to nicer clothes.

Personally I'd spend it on a night away rather than a massage as it lasts longer, but that depends on whether you've got a baby sitter and someone to go with to share the cost.

Half a cheap hotel room and a cheapish meal which should be doable if you don't drink.

Massage sounds great tho op :)

I would get an Indian head massage. My mum never gives me cash for presents because she knows I will always spend it on the kids so last birthday she got me a voucher for a beauty salon (I'd never set foot in one in my life!) I chose a head massage because it was least intrusive and I could keep my clothes on! It was bloody amazing I was walking on air after, a proper treat! If I was rich I'd get one every week!

Books or a massage!😀 Whatever you end up spending your money on, hope you enjoy it.

Ooh what’s an Indian head massage like @PsychosonicCindy? I used to love when my boys played with my hair lol so relaxing but as close to pampering as I’ve ever got!

OP hold on to it until there’s something you really want. Sounds like it’s burning a hole in your pocket! I do this, get money and dilly dally on what to spend it on as I forget what I like.

I had £40 for my bday and spent it on a morning out with my 3yo- bought some new jeans, a jumper, a bottle of wine for later and treated us to a yummy lunch together. It was perfect.

I got £80 for Christmas. Spent £30 on some Moroccan oil as I really wanted some and it will last me ages. But I’m keeping hold of the rest because I can’t think right now what I’d like, but probably come March or whatever I’ll need/want something eg a jacket, bag, shoes, eyebrows done etc.

It’s such a rare treat to have money for myself I don’t want to waste it and regret it!

You have long hair?
Then you need the Babyliss big hair styler. I can't describe how amazing it is (ok I can, see threads on style and beauty 😂). I can never usually get the hang of any gadgets, but with this, it's better than the professional blowdry my hairdresser gives me.
And I just checked... and it's £40 on Amazon

I'm loving Shein.co.uk for clothes at the moment. Theyre VERY cheap yet far better quality than somewhere like Primark. They have a great range and tops are all about the £6-£9 range.

Ooh what’s an Indian head massage like
You will either love it or hate it!!
I hate them and feel weird. My SiL loves them and has them all the time. She finds them relaxing!