How much do you spend on yourself per month/year?

[beforeihit30]

I know budgets, circumstances and preferences differ but roughly, whether as an amount or a proportion, how much do you spend on yourself on a regular basis? I’m thinking of clothing, accessories and beauty items (make up, skincare).

I’m realising I don’t spend very much at all, and not regularly, so basically I don’t have much!

Maybe around £2k a year, which is mainly hair and Botox. I spend next to nothing on clothes.

I feel less guilty for my splurge now (was still definitely a splurge!). It helps to compare in a way, as it’s not exactly something I discuss with work friends, but most of my time outside of work is family - which I’m happy with, but means I feel like I haven’t a clue as to some sense of ‘normal’!

catrin unintended martyr is the perfect phrase. DH indicates something similar, that I don’t have to do loads, that I shouldn’t buy cheap, but for some reason I feel like I should because I’m the least in ‘need’ in our house, despite also having an autoimmune condition (which is actually part of me rethinking things as I generally need to start taking better care of myself).

I am eyeing up Cos stuff it’s my sort of store and the clothes make me happy so I should probably wear more of that...

Nothing on makeup or hairdye and very little on skincare, maybe £50 per year. Haircuts £400 per year, clothes about £2000 per year (kept a record last year so that figure is accurate, I assumed I spent half of that so was surprised). Not sure about perfume, it's going up from.nothing to a healthy samples habit . Good thing I have a good job really isn't it.

I literally have no idea. I’m impulsive. I’ve been a student / worked PT until this year. Never paid rent etc.
Maybe, £1k, possibly much less ... although not including my eczema emollients etc which I guess are creams?
I know I spend £40 every 2 months getting my Korean foundation etc. Most ther stuff is bought by others though including perfume, shampoo, nails etc.
£140 in hair every 3 months ... maybe £700 then actually.

Oh including clothes? Feds about £2k then

Around £80-£100 per year. I have started to shop at charity shops for clothes, my wardrobe has never looked so good. My makeup lasts for a good few years and I get my hair cut every year or two, trimming it myself in between times

About £2000 a year which on this thread looks fairly average, I did think I spent a lot but apparently not so I will carry on as I am and feel average . A lot is spent in the sales this time of year, I have already ordered stuff from John Lewis, Fatface, Next, M&S etc. Some months I may only spend £50.

I babysit in exchange for a 6 weekly haircut and 4 weekly Brazilian wax. I no longer colour my hair. (Grey is the new red.)

£8.60 per month for my anxiety meds prescription.

I don't wear much make-up but I do wear mascara and replace it every 6 months (nasty eye infection many years ago made me a bit paranoid), so maybe £30.00 per year on mascara, shower gel, deodarant, toothpaste, very cheap moisturiser.

Contact lenses contract £25.00 per month (complicated prescription). Glasses haven't been replaced for over 7 years!

Clothes - probably a couple of hundred a year. I buy cheap clothes, but will spend good money on good boots and shoes due to sports injuries to feet and ankles.

I do pay out on running shoes. I have my gait checked and get through running shoes a lot as I do a fair few miles and do lots of gym classes. Another couple of hundred a year.

Sports physio is £40.00 per hour if I need it. She is brutal but I love her. She keeps this poor old gal on the road.

This all adds up to £500.00-£1000.00 per year and I'm quite surprised it's so much. I do think the expenditure on protecting my feet and ankles is vital and the contact lenses/anxiety meds can't be helped.

How lucky am I to have so much disposable income!?

Gosh you are my twin right down to disabled husband and sn child. But I'm a few years down the line. I realised a few years ago that looking drab and poorly put together actually upset me. But I have an upbringing of great frugality plus I was one of those annoying people who looked good on little effort in my younger days. Instead of a budget I set aims. I'm working on upgrading wardrobe a bit next year. But mainly it's been about stepping away from my "but I don't need" mentality. It's made me feel heaps better

Other posters are also reminding me of other things! For instance I now need new shoes, because of a foot problem (will be fairly lifelong it seems, related to my condition). I just have running shoes for now to accommodate my orthotics, but I could probably invest in some slightly nicer versions, eg lace up shoes with removable insoles (like Ecco do) which would still be practical but would make me feel better when I’m at work than plain trainers.

last aims instead of budget is a great idea. I grew up without much money also and was always ‘praised’ by my DF for a bargain stepping away from ‘I don’t need’ is really tough, but I would indeed feel heaps better if I did. I don’t have that mentality when buying for DH or the DCs, I just buy for them according to good quality and that they would like, and not just because other stuff is falling apart!

Last year I spent £400 on clothes. Tbh I didn't see much to get excited about, but what I did buy I wore loads.
Hair £300
Make-up £20 I only needed to replace mascara.
Skincare £30.
Perfume £30.

I spend around £150 per month on average. It depends on what I need, so a big spend like a good winter coat would be more. It also depends on how low I'm feeling, and while not great, it picks me up to buy myself a little something that I don't need so refuse to feel bad about it.

Far, far too much 😳
No kids, no mortgage and a shopping addiction.

I'm exactly like that too in terms of not having this stringent can j get it cheaper elsewhere for dh and dd. So they have lovely good quality clothes and I looked scruffy and just poor by comparison. It's improving but a long slow learning curve for me.

£150 a month. I'm not quite sure how but it's not anywhere near enough. A £90 colour and cut a few times a year, £150 top up in basic makeup items over the year, a few £80 wax sessions over spring / summer plus any new clothes and also any going out / entertainment I do without DH. It's doesn't go far.

Haircut £99 every 6 weeks
Eyebrows £9.50 every other week
Makeup £100ish a year
Perfume £150 a year
Skincare £300ish a year
Clothes £200 a month( includes running gear)

Erm, probably several hundred quid a month

I have Shellac twice a month
I have a pedicure every month
I get waxed every 5-6 weeks
I have my eyelashes tinted every month
I have my hair cut every 6 weeks and highlighted every 8-10 weeks

I have a bit of a weakness for Ren skincare, and I buy it for our DDs too as I want them to take care of their skin properly.

I don't have a budget for clothes - if I like something then I buy it. I shop anywhere, from high end boutique, to TK Maxx, to charity shops.

I have a £400 a month personal budget - but that includes all my spending that's not for family stuff, including phone, coffees /drinks with friends, Christmas /birthday gifts for DH etc. I probably spend about £200 on style and beauty stuff.

My New Years resolution includes moving from buying lots of cheap clothes and stuff I don't really need to spending more on beauty. I'm starting with getting my nails done regularly, spend more on skin care (and not getting a billion eye shadows and lipsticks - followed by using the same 3 anyway). I'm toying with the idea of eyelash extensions...

About £265 a month, budget is £200 for clothes, £55 for hair and £10 for make up a month. I do sell on good quality stuff on ebay when I stop wearing it and some of my clothes are presents from DH. I've lost a lot of weight in the last 12 months and am re-vamping my wardrobe this year with good quality stuff, will probably spend less next year.

I have my regular things I buy every month/6 weeks ish, so my Dove deo stick (the only deo I'll use) Aussie shampoo, miscellar water, moisturiser. These are my staples and I will replenish these as needed.

Make up again, I will replenish as needed, for example if I see a highlighter I really want to try, I will wait til I have used up my current highlighter to buy it. So I will typically buy the make up I want, but only to replace what has ran out. Probably one new make up item a month, say £20?

Clothes, I do have a SLIGHT problem with clothes shopping, but have recently reigned it in. I try to only buy what I need and to use birthday/Christmas money and vouchers as much as I can. If I get a bonus at work one month I will usually buy myself something new, for no more than £50.

I'd say typically between £50-£100 max a month on myself. I also only get my hair cut approx 2-3 times a year by a hairdresser who comes to my house and does it for £15 - I don't have my hair coloured or styled professionally. I also don't get my nails done I do this myself.

I'm astonished at people who say they spend £200 a month on clothes. How do you wear it all?

I've got a good financial set up, house paid for, no debts, kids working and moved out, and a lot of savings, so money isn't an issue, but I can't justify filling my wardrobe with clothes that I' d hardly wear.

I work mainly from home, do smart casual dress for the out of house work I do, and don't have any need for a bulging wardrobe.

Sorry if this sounds judgy. I guess if you work and have to wear office dress or 'professional' clothing that's different.

I’m not sure that soap, shower gel deodorant and toothpaste should be counted as “ spending money on yourself “ as if it was some sort of luxury.

Many of these products are also used by others we share a house with.

And Some of the other things mentioned here are in fact health and safety equipment like running bras and shoes. You can’t run safely without them and shoes must be replaced after a certain number of miles.

And ( to go with the running example ) , a woman who goes running is doing essential self care, looking after her health. So she’s more likely to stay fit and active for longer, less likely to develop many serious illnesses and be able to earn money and care for her family for longer. Her mental health will be better.

She’s likely to socialise with others at racing and training, far cheaper tahn “ nights out with the lads “.

So I’d argue that the £500 a year she might spend on running ( shoes, clothes, watch, travel, training , race fees ) is NOT a personal indulgence , it’s an investment in her physical and mental health and a huge benefit to her family.

It’s not a selfish woman fecklessly wasting family money on herself and she should feel guilty.

Same as a certain level of grooming, hair removal, hair styling and make up. The patriarchy dictates tha we woman must do these things whether we like it or not. If we don’t do it, we face social disapproval. It will affect our employability and our income.

So why should we feel guilty spending money “ on ourselsves “ when we don’t have a choice?

BTW I’m NOT saying the OP was tying to make anyone feel guilty, I know that’s not the case. I’m just raising the more general issues about why some of us feel guilty about spending money on “ ourselves “.

I bet you there’s not a man out there totting up how much he spends on his hobbies, drinks after work, coffee and pastries on the train, clothes, shoes, grooming , nights out with mates, and his share of the household toiletries .

Can I also add - this isn’t a criticism of anyone who keeps to a budget. Knowing where your money goes is a excellent idea for everyone.

I’m simply suggesting that some of us might be feeling guilty when I don’t think we should.

If you eg work in an office, then office appropriate Clothes, shoes and grooming are as much part of the cost of working as your travel to work costs. If you move in social circles where women are expected to have shellac nails , then that’s an essential for you.

It’s not “ spending on yourself “ if you don’t have a choice.

The brands I like are quite expensive, mainly because they use natural fabrics rather than synthetic ones. I like jigsaw, Whistles, Brora and Toast (not the dresses, too droopy) My ancient feet can't tolerate cheap shoes so I don't have huge quantities of clothes. I need to dress quite well for work and most of my dresses and skirts were purchased for work, once they had been worn outside a few times. My son works in fashion so I get a couple of freebies a season from him too ( I have to pay the tax on the original purchase price) which helps.

I agree ALLISON. I'm also a football fan and trust me, men grumble about the cost and sometimes have to give up because they can't afford it but I have never heard one say he couldn't justify it.