How much do you spend on self care and treats every month?

[SadWildebeest]

I'm struggling a bit (a lot) after a bereavement, and know I need to really up my self care and do some nice things for myself. It's all so expensive though. I am fortunate to be in a position where I can afford to do a bit, but wondering what other people are spending nowadays?

So far, I have managed to get a good deal with a yoga studio pass for a month to somewhere really nice. And making a list of extra vitamins I need, as am low in lots of these on blood test and feeling completely washed out.

I also should get my hair done, it has not been cut for over a year and looks a bit rubbish as it's ragged at the ends and lost shape.

Not bought any clothes (apart from pants and socks and tshirts) for years, and no idea what I like anymore, but I need to go clothes shopping at some point.

What things do you do for self care and how much does it cost? Have you adjusted things to save money over the last year?

I'm the same as you - I don't wear any make up, rarely do my hair, live in leggings and hoodies but I do my nails regularly, I have waxing done and I have Botox every 6 months. And I would also consider myself low maintenance 🤣

Usually budget £100 a month and currently spending this on counselling.

Self care description also varies. Regularly by self care involves a box of cheap plants or bulbs. I won’t let them die of neglect so once they exist I’ll force myself to go outside and plant them whether or not I feel like it.

I use Sally Hansen Insta Dri Top coat in the red bottle, it's more liquidy than polish but sets the polish hard and glossy in seconds, it's bloody brilliant. I get a week out of a manicure before the polish needs replacing. I bought a job lot of polishes from eBay so have about 30 to choose from, feels like a fancy nail salon. 💅

Oh I spend loads.

I go to yoga and sound baths very often.

Usually have a massage or treatment once a month

Have nails done

Buy lovely oils and skincare I like and do facials for myself

I have the Calm app and I mediate.

@Sconesandgravy can I ask which bath products? Always looking for something new to try!

I have lots of things I do as self care/treats! I'm a student midwife with one DC, the self care is a necessity with the stress of this degree!

I have an allotment that I love growing veg and flowers for cutting in.

I go to a singing group once a week.

I go for runs and long walks.

I spend a fortune of fresh fruit and veg.

I get my eyebrows tinted and laminated once every eight weeks. Costs me £35.

I get my hair cut about four times a year, costs £70.

I spend about £50 a month on average on clothes.

@Kyse I buy from Cariad Baths if you Google it the website should come up. Her stuff is amazing! And nothing stains the bath. Although if you have white flannels I would say be careful as one dark blue bath fizzer stained my flannel bright blue. But that's the only issue I've ever had 😂

I also have incredibly sensitive skin etc and her stuff doesn't irritate me. I usually get a mystery box for £20 and then some other products. Last month's mystery box contained 3 bathbombs, a bubble bath, 2 bath crumbles and a whipped body wash 😁

@Sconesandgravy thank you! The mystery box sounds good

I'm sorry for your loss OP, please do whatever you can to help yourself feel better. I have been trying to up my game a bit this year, having neglected myself for the last few years with caring duties for my elderly father.
I probably spend more than I should, but it's my money, I have earned it and can spend it how I like. I definitely feel better investing in myself physically and mentally, so for me it's worth it.

For wellbeing:
Reformer Pilates classes, X2 a week - about €150 a month
Online yoga nidra class once a week - €40 per month
Weekly weight training at home with youtube is free.
Meeting friends for chips or ice-cream along the pier once a week or so, maybe €30 per month.
Good quality coffee, delivered monthly - €30 a month - some days it's the only thing that gets me out of bed.

For beauty and style stuff:
Full head of highlights and a cut, 4 times a year @ €160 a go
Contact lenses about €60 for 6 weeks.
The only 'professional' thing I get done is my hair - for nails and fake tan, I do it myself if I can be bothered, usually if I'm going out. I have a Revlon One Step, which gives me as close to a professional blow-dry as I can manage at home.

I will also look into getting botox in the next year or so, as I'm approaching 40 and want to try it, not sure how much that will cost.

I don't spend that much on makeup, but the stuff I like is high end brands, Georgio Armani foundation, Laura Mercier powder, Benefit blush, YSL mascara. I only buy refills once or twice a year. So maybe €200 per year.

I spend more money on skincare than make up - Vitamin C serum, tretinoin, niacinamide serum, and good daily sunscreen, plus moisturiser and cleanser. This probably comes to about €50 per month in all. I also have an LED face mask which I use regularly which was expensive, about €400.

I'm not big into fashion and don't tend to buy clothes often, although I've bought a few more expensive items recently from Poetry and Hush that are good quality and hopefully should last.

So that all comes to maybe €400 or €500 a month - that probably makes me high maintenance to some, but I don't give a shit - I feel better for it. Overall, I try to invest grooming and fitness, so that even wearing my usual jeans and a t-shirt I feel confident and fairly put together.

These threads irritate me, there will always be people saying they've got 2k a month to spend on themselves and making others feel shit.

I think it very much depends on what works for you, so you need to identify what you would find soothing. I really dislike going to the hairdresser, so for me this is necessary maintenance rather than self-care, ditto anything else that involves strangers touching me, so no massages, nails etc. This isn't to say I don't spend anything. I find gardening very relaxing, so spend more than I would like to add up on that. I also walk with friends and then sit together in coffee shops, as a nice chat is probably my favourite de-stress. I like lovely nightwear, so probably have too much of that too. If you like horses, would riding lessons be an option?

I have my hair done about every 10 weeks. That's about £110. Nails every 4 weeks at about £30. Having a pedicure in a couple of weeks but don't have them that often. Clothes I buy bits and pieces when I need to.

I also buy myself cheap flowers every couple of weeks and buy wax melts every month or so. Weekly exercise class at £5.50 and I go to choir and have drum lessons. I guess they come under this umbrella so £75 a month and £25 for choir

Eyebrows and eyelashes every 8 weeks £20 a time
Hair every 2-3 months £30 a time
Twice a year I have a £250 spa day
I do my own gel nails at home
Probably spend £100 a month average on beauty products and skincare

Thank you @OhSmitty I’ll have a look for it in Boots

That's not low maintenance in the least 😂

Hair every 10 weeks £50 cut and tinted 3x a year at £90

I like clothes and accessories but tend to buy second hand as I'm quite flighty and like to chop and change a lot.

£45 per week on evening classes which I count as self care.

**£35

I’ve just started a monthly appointment with a lady for face type stuff so might be a facial or a peel. That’s about £80
i have my nails done every 3 weeks £25
haircut (but no colour) about every 6 weeks £70
eyebrow threading when I’m in town and they need doing £6
I buy clothes as I want/need but mostly supermarket/high street stuff.

Are we not allowed to post?

Ok so here it goes for me:

• nails once a month £50
• hair cut and colouring every other month £300
• yoga or Pilates twice a week £70 per week
• new make up or clothes, maybe £200 on average per month

So an approximate total of £680 per month. I have no kids though

Botox isn't low maintenance.

Hair - around £600 per year I think (works out about £50 per month on average)

Massage - £65 per month

Beauty (skincare/makeup) - trying to limit to £100 per month on average (some months it will be £0, but then I might spend £400+ on a couple of advent calendars!).

Clothes, shoes, bags - not sure as I don't buy every month, but I like to buy quality. I would guess about £200-300 per month on average, but I eBay stuff that I no longer wear so some of the money comes from that.

Hobbies - £150 per month

I'm not interested in nails so I don't normally spend on that.

There's plenty of threads where people discuss things that I can't have or will never afford. It doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to post.

People also have different priorities about what they spend. For example I don't own a car - I probably could afford one if I chose to give up lots of stuff on my list, but I would prefer to do without one, and use public transport or walk instead.

I also haven't been away on holiday in a long time (even before Covid restrictions) whereas others might prioritise that over some of the stuff I choose.