Would £50 be enough monthly for…

[pinkponie]

If you had a few Starbucks/Costas a week, makeup / skincare top ups and clothes?

I started another thread about doing hardcore saving with my dh for two years for a bigger deposit for a house. I’ve crunched the numbers and this would leave me with X amount, once I’ve taken out paying for my nails and paying for my baby’s music groups, this is what I’d have monthly for coffees/makeup and clothes. I’d say that I don’t really need any more clothes, maybe a few skirts/tops off Vinted when we hit summery months but that’s all, not a new wardrobe or anything. I’m fine for shoes. The only makeup I replace monthly is concealer and mascara which costs about £16 for both a month. I have a surplus of brow, lipstick and foundation products. The only socialising I do nowadays is mum and baby related, hence the costas and baby groups. I don’t know, is it just unrealistic? I’ve already covered my nails, baby groups and gym membership separately.

I'm very, very frugal and to be honest I would struggle on £50 a month, and that's without any make up or clothes etc. I find saving money a bit like going on a diet, it's about starting new habits. I avoid going in shops entirely as much as possible and take each day as it comes. I try to have no spend days regularly. I do buy lunch out twice a week because it fits in better with work (that would be your coffee i guess) but other than that I spend very very little that I don't absolutely have to spend.

Agreed! Nails are expensive, wouldn’t it make more sense to paint your own then have more for social things?

Honestly if you are doing “hard core”
budgeting then the coffees really need to stop or hugely cut down. You will get used to it. Also maybe buy a nail kit and stay doing your own nails.

Just to let you know OP that fit me concealer is available on Amaxon subscribe and save. I pay £4.66. Also with Elf make sure you download the app and become a member. You get points per purchase,money off and freebies.

Why though? Because you said so?
£20 a month on coffee as a social outlet isn’t exactly making or breaking a house deposit even over the 2 years.
There’s no rule that “hard core saving” means you can’t spend a single penny on a non essential. They could be saving 80% of their income for all you know.

I wonder where people live…. even the cheap (nct, church etc) clubs round here are at least £4 (“suggested contributions “, but in reality you have to pay)
Paid for classes are £10 upwards.

I’d rather have coffee and do my nails at home but I still think £50 pm is really tight . Maybe aim for it but don’t beat yourself up if some months you can’t do it .

Why did you quote my post? 🤔

I didn't make any comments on her budget I just suggested a few ways of maxing the coffees side of things

Wow! Trying to be helpful. OP can do as she pleases as can you.

Hardcore normally means hardcore as in not wasting any money.

Why are people quoting my post? It makes sense if going to grab coffee to take a cup and scan the app.

Baby groups sometimes don't provide hot drinks, depends on the group, we went to a music group that didn't and it was nice to go to a coffee shop after.

I was trying to help the op by optimising her budget and get more bang for her coffee buck

Yes as long as you reduce your coffees - buy a cup, a cafetière and some coffee - £20 and top up coffee as required, will save you a fortune. Can’t remember the last time I bought coffee- I also have a large and a smaller flask

The thing is some people clearly don’t see coffee out as wasting money and can’t imagine socialising without it

to those of us who grew up with rather less free cash , coffee shops are an occasional treat. I could afford more now but it seems to me like a waste.

it’s hard to see someone “seriously saving” money whilst spending on luxuries

Saving £20 a week would cover the solicitor costs and leave some left for a removal van

Getting your nails done monthly in a salon, buying tubes of mascara monthly and buying Costa coffees regularly is hardly 'hard core' budgeting. The OP chose that specific word herself. She could have said 'being careful' or 'cutting down on non essential spending' instead.
If she wants to spend £20/month on coffee, that's up to her but, if her budget includes all clothing and shoes for £50/month, she can't really afford to do either, as several people have already said.

I guess that’s true @rainingsnoring. Although I’d say that I have £85 a month for everything for my needs/socialising (after I pay for my baby’s groups) and it just doesn’t feel like a lot at all.

If seeing someone buy a handful of coffees a month while also saving a large chunk of money is “hard” that’s a you problem.

It’s not. That’s why nails/regular coffees out etc is a bit of a pipe dream. One lunch out with friends and a new bra needed would pretty much wipe out that monthly budget.

Why is it ‘hard’ to see? I’ve genuinely never found it hard to see how anyone else spends their money, because it doesn’t affect me.

If I only had £50 per month to spend on ‘fripperies’ I wouldn’t be buying takeaway coffee at all , complete waste of money

I would cut down on vinted buys and get staples like white t shirt.

Used to get my nails done now don’t and don’t miss it at all.

Combine coffees out with coffees at home.

£50 per month is very tight.

Except for OP its not just a coffee, it’s her social interaction.

I agree that it's not a lot, which is why I would personally make a choice to, for example, prioritise socialising but cut the nails or conciously invite parents to meet up at home/take free walks but have a bit more ££ for clothes rather than attempting and failing to do all of it!

Not really. More likely, many families live on pretty tight budgets. Incomes are low relative to the cost of basics eg housing.

Invite people home and make coffee , you can’t claim to be ‘hard core’ budgeting if you are out drinking coffee it just doesn’t match up

Clothes and baby activities are important so put the £50 towards those.

If you are in hardcore saving mode then stop wasting spending money on nails and coffee.

I asked for high end makeup for presents. Neighbour and friend asked for eg leather jacket as her Christmas present. she also rarely bought clothes unless it was a charity shop summer dress.