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.

Neither would I, because that’s not what I value. And while I think the OP’s budget is too too tight to include those things, she does value things like takeaway coffees, and that’s as valid as the treats that other people choose to spend their money on.
The problem is, if you don’t incorporate treats into your budget you’re more likely to feel deprived and overspend, or have a splurge on your CC. It’s sensible to decide what regular treats will give you the most pleasure and to try and incorporate than into your budget.

I haven't read the full thread, sorry! But you could buy a small bottle of contact lense solution and add a few drops to your mascara when it's nearing the end of its life. It revives it and you would probably get a week or 2 more out of it.

It’s not a lot if you are going to have your nails done every month at £35. I’d cut that out and you’ll have enough for other things you want and need. Otherwise keep the nails but you may have to cut the paid baby group or cut down on coffees. Depends what you’d rather prioritise, but you do need to prioritise here if you’re serious about saving.

Could you cut out your nail spend and paint your own/have stick ons? £35 is the exact same as your "fun money" for the month (50 minus your make up = £34)
I would ideally want more than £34 a month for enjoyment.

There’s really no need to partake in more paid baby activities than the £40 she already spends, let alone at the expense of forgoing one or two treat coffee a week that the OP can indulge in while hot and with adult conversation.

God people really go nuts over a coffee.

Again if it’s hard for you to see someone spending £20 a month on a few coffees that’s still a you problem.

Your income is irrelevant to OP’s spending.

Do you have access to “perkbox”? I buy Costa vouchers from there and save 10% each time. I also collect beans and every 10 = a free drink. If I use my own mug I get an extra bean. One bean for the drink, one bean for being green. It means every 5 drinks bought I get a free drink and with my voucher I’m saving 10% each time.

There are other apps where you can save money by buying vouchers but the way of saving is different. I think sprive means you buy vouchers (no saving) but money goes towards your mortgage.

Another way of being frugal is to make every pound, penny and spend work harder for you.

You're saving up rather than entering into a mortgage agreement. Just do your very best to live on the lower budget. If you go over a few pound a month it isn't going to make a huge difference but if you keep looking for reasons it won't work and preventing even starting to save you will never get there.
A house big enough for your family is in the best interests of your DC. Surely you could skip a few coffees and nail appointments to meet your DCs needs?

@JLou08I give up a lot and do a lot to meet my DC’s needs, thanks.

Boots No 7 one is much better than Elf - I've tried them all!

I don't spend that much now... so £50 would be plenty for me

It would be hard to fit brand new clothes into that budget, even less expensive brands.

Hard core saving doesn't include having nails done and gym membership. That's not hard core.

This attitude is so odd. People's very first tip for saving money is always 'cut the coffees.' whereas for me going for a coffee with friends means spending a few hours catching up in a nice cafe, away from home, with hot drinks and maybe cake. It's more than coffee, it's socialising, getting out of the house, we might go for a walk beforehand. In terms if being able to connect with friends it's great value for money and is very different to getting a daily takeaway coffee.

This post reminded me of a conversation I had with my daughter before Christmas who’s young lives in London and broke can hardly afford to feed herself but she’s still paying 50 quid every six weeks for her nails, dumped the bloody nails and saved over £500 a year honestly it is beyond me to understand why everybody needs to have their nails done fake nails look hideous anyway they’re not good for you. The chemicals in them are harmful. Get some nail varnish and a nail file . A huge saving.
Social media has sold this whole fantasy of these long beautiful nails. It’s just bonkers.
Another example of marketing pressure so much around this for women it’s just no nonsense

With the Cost of Living Crisis that really wouldn't last long. A couple of cocktails and it's gone!

Cut out the nails then you’d have more money to socialise. Why can’t you just paint your own? Such a large expense compared to everything else on a tight budget.

Also, on a hardcore budget gym membership doesn’t feature. There are so many YouTube workouts you can do that it’s not necessary to be a member of a gym. Unless there are specific classes you’re doing there that you couldn’t do via YouTube due to needing the equipment, but if it’s just the gym itself you can get free weights at home and resistance bands to use while you need to save up.

If you have a ‘few’ coffees a week that would easily add up to £50 monthly alone.

You will probably get one coffee per week plus your makeup for £50. Nothing else. Do you own a calculator?

How are you using that much make up? I wear tinted moisturiser and mascara most days, I use no.7, and it costs about £20 for both (I wait for deals/cashback). I buy at most 2 lots a year. £2 per month, max.
I couldn't justify £50 a month on coffee and make up. I just buy nice instant coffee (IMO), like Nescafe Azzero, for home, and take an insulated mug, if I must. Coffee with a friend might happen once or twice a month, so max £10. I don't get my nails done either. I got that this is all personal, but I find that sometimes when people are budgeting, it looks like real extravagance to others. Each to their own of course. I spend money on my kids, mostly. My extravagance was having a few.

That is way too tight. Some years ago when I saved for a bigger house I was doing £100 per month for personal spends (covered clothes, make-up and socialising). That was very, very tight even then (before COL hit the roof).

Clothing wise even basics (socks, stockings, bras and knickers) can mount up to quite a bit. You may need a new handbag / wallet / backpack during those few years you save. There's always some extra events that crop up - someone's birthday, visitors come over, family event, company do, etc etc.

I just can't imagine £50 being anywhere near enough, you need to be more realistic. Cut out the nail appointments and see where you could steal a bit more extra (any subscriptions you could go without, maybe cut the food budget a bit more, less regular hair appointments, etc). Alternatively is there any way you could make a bit more each month? Surveys, cashback, credit card points, sell kids clothes on vinted?

Good luck, I'm sure you can make it work! It will be worth it in the end. And I would also say, just start from somewhere and adjust budgets as you go - it's very hard to get them absolutely right on the first go.

That should last you at LEAST 6 months!! Are you trowelling it on?!!!😱😱🤷‍♀️😂🤣 4 drops is all you need for your entire face!! 4 DROPS a day does not run out in a month! If you do your base properly and then put 4 drops of this on and DONT use a sponge as otherwise it will be sucked up into the sponge but use your fingers and then gently stipple with a brush when it’s nearly set.

The more income you don't spend, the more income you can invest towards your financial goal. You have a 2 yr target and you need to change your mindset if you are to move from the "I can spend up to a certain budget" mentality to actually a "hardcore" saver one. (Holidays/hair & beauty and even streaming services are luxuries imo as are baby classes - the baby won't remember them!) Reducing current expenditure is half the battle - no excuses!

Print off pictures of the type of houses that you want to buy and put them on your fridge. Google Alvin Hall's "Your Money or Your Life" (showing my age here)

I’ve found being on maternity leave an expensive time as income is reduced and you’re more available to go out and about and it’s important to do so aswell to network, meet new people and for your own sanity. Once I got to know people tho we used to go to each other houses which saved a lot of money.

How about getting some stuff listed on vinted - baby stuff always shifts well. Maybe you could set yourself a little challenge to make xx amount a month to add to your fun money?