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?

Pretty much nothing.

Neither is monthly gel nails or full body waxing.

It has taken me years to get to this
I have a great mobile hairdresser so I get a blow dry once per fortnight and every other time I get colour and cut. That costs me 70£ per month max. And I never worry about washing or drying my hair! Dry shampoo for last few days.

I generally get shellac on fingers every 4 weeks and on toes every 6 weeks. About £15 for each.

Waxing and eyebrows still working out a good deal and schedule.

I go to the gym 2 to 3 times per week. Costs £60 per month. Walk once per week with good friend and get coffee at the end. 6 am. Feels like a luxury and worth getting up for !

Online supermarket shopping. I pick up but saves me 30 mins and well worth it.

Agree. I don't do any of it. Waste of money.

I give myself a budget of about 40 per month for clothes, and 1 take away per week.

Also going for beers in my local recreational society club (they are CHEAP) about once a week.

For my mental health, it is also important to try and see friends or family at least once a week, so I either invite them over to mine or go to theirs. Budget on that is variable, as if Im hosting Ill spend some money on food, but if Im a guest, I will only take bread or wine.

We're really frugal. Only budget £60 per month for clothes (that is for me, DH and eldest DD) and £6 per month for haircuts (for me, and 3x DD). Maybe £5 per month for makeup.
I do have a gym membership though at £33 per month which seems extortionate to us!

My main indulgence is food. I buy groceries that are bit always the cheapest. I also eat out/takeaway for about £120/mo.

I also have a gym membership £27/mo and then I pay £100/year for my football. I also love going to cinema once a month to see a mystery showing (so a movie I don't know what it will be). I also travel abroad about 5x year. But it's usually to visit friends so quite cheap.

Then there are grocery delivery, using electric scooter instead of walking (sometimes), getting haircut once a year,buying the expensive conditioner once a year etc.

@Farmageddon good for you!

@Looooop the amounts that people are spending is so varied that I don’t think that’s fair. Posters have spoken about different priorities and reasons for why they value spending on self care.

I spend £45 a month on vape juice, probably £40 on sweets & snacks, £50 some months on books, £10 on Readly app, £13 on Netflix & £5.99 on Britbox

An embarrasing amount - £20k on cosmetic dentistry (one off and have a fab natural looking smile now)
£150 a month facial and chemical peel. Botox twice a year £400 each time. Hair monthly £80. Nails - BIAB mani and pedi - frequency varies - prob averages out as £40 per month.
I do however buy whatever face cream and hair products are on offer at TK Max

This is a really interesting thread. I would never class a haircut as 'self-care' as hair needs to be cut - everybody needs haircuts.

I've never added up what I spend... sometimes a lot, sometimes a little. I get my eyebrows microbladed once a year. No other beauty treatments. But every couple of months I'll go for an expensive dinner with a friend. That to me is 'self-care' even if self-care is usually sold to us as bubble baths with expensive beauty products.

Not much. I buy vitamins cheaply from amazon a couple of times a year.
I buy drugstore make up and supermarket toiletries.
If i have the cash i try and take advantage of 342 offers in superdrug to get say a foundation/powder/mascara and ill get a year out of it.
Perfumes I tend to get as gifts and im not fussy about cheaper brands. Infact some of superdrugs own are very nice, even the body sprays and they can be like £2.
Aldi do some nice dupes of things and ive had thier moisturiser which was nice.

£30 a month on my nails, I get SNS and it lasts the whole month. Hair done about every 6 months for £100. I buy cheap clothes and make up as and when needed in the sale or second hand. I'm "only" 38 and still have pretty good skin so I don't need a lot of treatments I just make sure I wear spf 50. We earn a fairly decent amount but I resent paying a lot on beauty treatments as I think you can look decent on a low budget. Hair removal is pretty easy to do yourself.

Probably a bit too much really in CoL crisis…but all of the below really help me mentally and physically. I figure I work hard enough for it but sometimes think I should be saving more. Do try and do my own ‘maintenance’ self-care in between the salon though.

Average of £50 every six weeks on hair.
Eyebrow threading about once per month - £10
Mani or pedi - about 3x per year - about £90
Subscribe to Calm app
Monthky deep tissue massage as I have horrid back pain.
Audible subscription.
Essential oil diffuser and oils.
Epsom bath salts.
A couple of clothes shops per year but also buy on Vinted.

Self-care is really important for well-being. Hope it helps, OP. Great question.

😂😂😂

Not a whole lot tbh!
I get my hair cut 2 or 3 times a year... and that's about it 😅
I do have a monthly Audible subscription and buy myself a new book maybe once every couple of months.
I spent maybe £300-£500 updating my clothes last year but that was the first time I'd bought clothes since my daughter was born and she's 5.
I had a massage last year too ... I'm really failing in comparison 😂

I'm probably a bad example though! I'm a single mum with not a lot of support so I personally really don't have the funds or opportunity to do more for myself.

@Scalottia how is monthly nails/waxing a waste of money?

It saves so, so much time.