Okay all you honeys....I need some feedback- SERIOUSLY.
The fianc' and I have been discussing our spending, and talks have come to a halt when it comes to the budget that I spend on myself- my "me money". What you must consider is that I spend NOTHING when it comes to pampering myself or making myself beautiful. Here are the things that I know many girls enjoy each month (or week), that I do not:
*Haircuts (I cut my own)
*Hair coloring (I color my own)
*Manicures and Pedicures (I ruin them so quickly that it's not worth it)
*Tanning (I do occasionally in the winter, but not regularly)
*Facial products or any other pampering sort of item (I rarely even buy make-up)
SO, generally what I spend my "me money" on is shopping....clothes, accessories, etc. and Cam and I go back and forth about how much is reasonable and how much is me just not being able to control myself.
So, the question that I pose to you all is this: when you add up the money that you spend on yourself for the items mentioned above PLUS shopping.....
....HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY YOU SPEND ON YOURSELF PER MONTH?
You can do it as a lump amount OR you can tell me in the form of a percentage. What percentage of your paycheck each month goes to "me" things?
Let me know. I need this. My engagement depends on it. :)
The Wiz
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
20 comments:
Well, I vary month to month (you know, depending on the season, whether the weather is changing or something), but generally I spend about fifty to seventy-five bucks a month on clothes and accessories. This last month, though, I replaced my every-day shoes and bought some new jeans, so I spent a lot more than usual, something like 175. That help?
Probably $200ish.
Do these totals include haircuts, nails, tanning, hair coloring, all beauty stuff?
Wiz, I've already given my opinion to you and the fianc' on this issue, and I stand by it. The fact that you cut and color your own hair, don't buy tons of makeup, no mani-pedis saves like 200 bucks a month, at least. You wanting to spend 100 on clothes is nothing. I just spent 80 bucks on new sun dresses last night.
Also, working at Nordstrom's, you've got to look fresh and professional every day. Men can basically get by with wearing the same slacks and shirts to work. They can buy button downs and ties which aren't terribly expensive and then just switch them out through the work week. Women have to have completely different outfits so of course we have to shop more to keep these outfits fresh and as up to date with current fashion trends as we feel comfortable in doing. I think you should use your job as another aspect for why you need the budget for clothes. You can't be in Nordstroms looking busted.
-NS
College Student:
Hair: $0--i'll wait till i go home at Christmas
Nails: $0
Make-up: $0--early classes, who needs make-up?
Tanning: $0, please
Clothes: $50, so far, for black tech pants, long sleeved shirt, and a danged show shirt.
Shoes: $0--boohoo! :(
but let me say this--if i could squeeze a hundred dollars out of my budget at any time in my life--i would absolutely spend it on shoes and jeans, and maybe a really, really good mascara.
good luck.
About $30...and all of that is on tanning.
oops, forgot to out myself as anonymous. seriously though, i spend about $25-30. no nails, tanning, hair coloring.
Yeah Amy...but you have a baby. Everyone knows that when you have a baby your life becomes meaningless and you get ugly.
Just kidding! But seriously, I think that your priorities change a lot when you have a baby. You spend everything on her and it's fun doing it (when I shop for her it takes the place of shopping for myself).
Therefore, let's do this in your case- how much would you say you spend on Marley every month on stuff that she really doesn't need like cute outfits, toys, etc (only stuff that is not necessary for her survival).
Also- I was using tanning as an example of a completely silly thing that some women (including me) do as part of their beauty regiment. I realize that it is retarded. Trust me.
P.S. You are not helping my cause with your "$30" bullshit.
Uh... serioulsy? Is my boyfiancloverommate gonna see this? Let's just say he has his suspicions that I spend too much and he's absolutely right. I can easily spend (insert ridiculous $$$ amount) a month on all of the above and that's not including the occasional gossip magazine binges I go on. I say if you're evenly contributing to the joint ventures, (rent, groceries, etc), then screw what he thinks about how much you should spend on yourself because I gaurantee he secretly stashes new XBOX games and overly priced electronic gadgets... all's fair in love and shopping.
LOL. Actually, you came up in the conversation that Cam and I had, Lisa, because I know that you spend a lot on yourself (not bashing you, just using you as an example of how we girls like to spend on ourselves). But Cam's argument was that you make a lot more money than me. Fair enough. So, what PERCENTAGE of your paycheck would you say goes to your stuff?
I agree with Heidi! It varies from month to month....I don't tan and normally don't have nails...I get my hair done every 4 months b/c of the price! So, I do buy make up and clothes, but like you my husband is very TIGHT! I may have a good shopping month in which I find several items I like and buy...so that may equal around $100. I don't have to buy make up on a monthly basis, its usually about every 2 months or so and I would say around $40 to be safe! I feel that if I want to spend $200 dollars every now and then, than dammit I will! What is it with these cheap men? They don't understand....I mean just look at them! Has anyone ever told them "Hey you could use some cover up for that zit, or how about some new shoes b/c yours has a mouth!" Anyway let me know if this helps!
Okay, I've got to comment again because this percentage of pay checks keeps coming up, and you all know how I loves me some math.
Wiz, let's say that you're making 30k a year at Nordstroms, which you say can be easily done. That's roughly 2500 a month before taxes...after taxes probably 2000ish. 100 bucks a month isn't even 10 percent. It's 5 percent. And, if you can't spend 5 percent of the money you earn on just yourself, there's a problem, in my opinion. After your bills get paid, what the hell else are you supposed to do with all that money? I mean, you're supposed to tithe twice of that. And the point of tithing being 10 percent is that it's a nominal amount. Cam can't concede half of a nominal amount for you? Really? Show him the numbers. The numbers don't lie.
-NS
NS,
I AGREE! I am trying to convince him that 10% a month out of my paycheck is amount to spend on myself. Is this so outrageous? I don't think so.
As for what we would do with the money if I didn't spend it...well, it would go in savings for a house. I also am still paying on bills from college. But the thing is, no matter what my debt is or what we are saving for, I just don't think that it's realistic to spend NOTHING on yourself. That's crazy. Who does that? And whoever you are...how do you stay sane?
Well I am one of the old hag types with two kids, but I'm with Amy spending under fifty a month. That includes the kids too, but aunts, mom, and mother-in-law totally take care of them. Does it matter that I don't actually have an income of my own? We are also saving up for a house so that's where all our money goes. We've temporarily put an hold on spending money on anything unless it's a necessity.
Ok, I understand about trying to save money for a house. However, if you can sock away most of your pay check for the house fund, why not spend some money on yourself? Sure, you could get the house faster / afford a nicer house if you cut off all frivolous spending, but if you can put enough money away without being a tightwad, why not? You guys are making a lot of money, you should be able to plan for the future while still enjoying the present.
Okay, I've got to stop commenting on this or I'm going to feel like I'm beating a dead horse. I'm on your side. Screw Cam.
-NS
This is how I figured out how much I could spend on myself when I first started working. I figured out all the expenses I had and calculated how much I would need to save periodically in order to pay these bills. After that I decided what things I really wanted to save for in the future (at that time college) and I split it between all the things I wanted to save for and my "me money." This probably ended up being 10%to 15% of my paycheck.
And like others have said clothes are not frivolous investments. As much as we hate to admit it we live in a very image conscience world and looking shabby doesn't cut it in the business world.
Tell Cam that as a practical young lady I believe $100 is a very reasonable amount to spend on yourself a month.
Kirsten-
You're so adorable. How are you 18 and way smarter than me?
Hugs.
Wiz
Actually I'm 19 as of last week and I'm not smarter than you. However I am pretty damn adorable. Thanks
I spend very little on hair & make-up, and absolutely none on tanning & nails. My figure is mostly just clothes/shoes/accessories and I think I was counting my gym membership.
But I'm in a bit of a different situation this year hardly owning any winter clothes and living in Chicago. I've had to buy coats and boots and sweaters, all very expensive.
That being said, I think 10% of your paycheck is more than reasonable. Let's go grab a drink some night this week!
Post a Comment