Do you find it difficult to ‘treat’ yourself?

Yes I do treat myself, not in a big way I haven’t loads of money left over when I’ve paid the bills but I too bought cherries just for me and some fresh broad beans , nobody else in the family likes them.

Other treats recently were some perfume and a new lipstick at the airport when we went on holiday but also bought new lipgloss for my granddaughter at the same time. Also bought a couple of new paperbacks from Amazon and needy week I am going out to lunch with two friends.

I also go back to Wales several times a year and pay for a nice Airbnb to stay in.

I know I’m luckier than some but having things to look forward to really helps mental health I think. There have been a lot of family stress in the last few years so treats help a lot

M0nica

Why do so many of you find it hard to spend money on yourself, even decent clothes?

Well perhaps because we had children and things were tight.
What does 'decent' clothes mean? You can get 'decent' clothes which are not high end brand. Same for shoes or handbags.

I could not spend £800 for a pair of shoes, or for a handbag, for instance. But I could for a piece of art or craft.

I have no one but myself to treat and I never feel in the least guilty about it. Im sure most men dont experience guilt about nights out with the lads or an expensive hobby so why should I?

Why do so many of you find it hard to spend money on yourself, even decent clothes?

Well, sort of, within reason. Don't buy big names, Vuittons, Porsches, Cartier and the like. My most expensive treat was a good pair of binoculars, they never leave my side.

I used to. Now I do treat myself, rarely, but well. FRom time to time, for something really worth it, I really go for it. But I can afford it now.

I really struggle to spend money on me and very rarely buy new clothes. I love the charity shops though and ive had many bargains. My husband however loves spending money but as he has Stage 4 cancer then why not.

No - can't do it. Haven't for years. Can't justify it. I do look like a bag lady most of the time but............... I am glad that I haven't indulged, as there a few pounds in the bank and the rainy day is upon me. £2,000 for dentistry. £1,000+ for orthopaedic consultant and tests. I guess there will be other medical bills too. The dysfunctional NHS is not going to see me! My precious four legged friends to care for - at least they have private medical insurance!!

Took time but I'm now completely able to indulge myself without question. Daft really but old habits do indeed die hard.

Cherries and strawberries are good for you, at least one or two of your five a day.
Or all of your five a day if you eat a boxful, Dotty123! 😁

I must buy some local cherries this week.

I find it quite difficult to spend on myself. Exception being private health care. My husband is likely to splash out on many things. We're a balance, I believe.

Cherries are in season

Dotty123 I also bought some cherries yesterday and they were delicious! I am all for buying small treats such as the cherries or some English strawberries. Other things may be a new nail varnish, some basic everyday earrings, a coffee in a favourite café, a new book, some inexpensive make up. If it makes you feel good go ahead and do it. We are not talking about extravagance here but small treats that bring us pleasure. Enjoy!

I too find it difficult to splash out on myself. It’s a psychological thing - my ex-husband was and is a spendthrift. Therefore, I feel I have to leave something for my children, because he certainly won’t. His new wife will make sure of that …..

No, DH and I often treat ourselves and don’t feel the need to justify it to anyone

I would say "it depends". Small & inexpensive treats are fine but I struggle to spend more on myself. Anything "healthwise" is OK; I pay happily for chiropodist appointments but balk at a pedicure! Recently I bought some new undies; hadn't done this for some time. Like Greyduster, I've a DH who encourages me to spend on myself - and I'm working on it!

Baggs

*Do you find it difficult to ‘treat’ yourself?*

Nope.

Living in a cold climate, it's jumpers at the moment. Also liquorice allsorts. Bassetts and RJ's from 'Lakeland'. Different but good.

When we lived in Sheffield we were near enough to smell the Bassetts factory if the wind was in the right direction.

Lucky you! I went to stay with a friend once who lived by the Mars factory in Slough. Divine. By the way, thank you for your Apple Cake recipe on GN. Mine turned out very well and everyone loved it. Baking is not my forte.

I still struggle with this when I dither DH always says " its our money!"

Do you find it difficult to ‘treat’ yourself?

Nope.

Living in a cold climate, it's jumpers at the moment. Also liquorice allsorts. Bassetts and RJ's from 'Lakeland'. Different but good.

When we lived in Sheffield we were near enough to smell the Bassetts factory if the wind was in the right direction.

M0nica

Well, I am sublimely selfish. I never let a thought for my family become between me and a packet of Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts, a magazine, or aa book, 9 times out of 10, a secondhand book.

We always arranged our finances so that we both had money, initially not much, to spend as we wished - and I did. I bought other people treats - mars bars for DH, more books for DC.

But this idea of living in rags and penury while spending everything on other people I have never been able to see as any sign of virtue, merely an internal form of virtue sigalling - to oneself, which may be sufficient for some people, but makes life pretty miserable.

Hi M0nica. Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts are my favourite and I always steal the pink and blue jelly ones. Also, Quality Street, the green triangle. Yum!

Well, I am sublimely selfish. I never let a thought for my family become between me and a packet of Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts, a magazine, or aa book, 9 times out of 10, a secondhand book.

We always arranged our finances so that we both had money, initially not much, to spend as we wished - and I did. I bought other people treats - mars bars for DH, more books for DC.

But this idea of living in rags and penury while spending everything on other people I have never been able to see as any sign of virtue, merely an internal form of virtue sigalling - to oneself, which may be sufficient for some people, but makes life pretty miserable.

Yes, I’m “with you” on that Greyduster - I get a lot of pleasure buying things for the GC.

Yes but I’m working on it😁! If something I like, rather than need, I will buy it. DH always encouraged me to spend money on myself but would never spend it on himself. I don’t have any qualms about treating the family. When GS asked if he could borrow my good binoculars for their holiday I said yes, but then bought him a decent pair of his own instead. I got as much pleasure out of that as he did.

Treating yourself can make you better in lots of ways...according to Sainsbury;s magazine article..

www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/lifestyle/health/treat-yourself#:~:text='Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20when,'

Nails, facials, pedicures, and I go privately for ambulatory health issues. I spent a lifetime studying, working, providing and now it is my time.