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Do you find it difficult to ‘treat’ yourself?

(105 Posts)
Dotty123 Sat 27-Jul-24 18:32:43

Is it just me or do others find it difficult to spend money on themselves? I know it sounds mad but I bought a box of fresh cherries in our local supermarket today and with my DH’s encouragement ate the lot! They were just divine. It seemed such an extravagance but we can afford it so why do I hesitate to ‘treat’ myself?

cookiemonster66 Mon 29-Jul-24 12:17:25

This year on my birthday I decided to add a small bunch of £3 roses and a box of £3 ferrero rocher to my tesco order for myself! I knew that I would not get any presents from hubby (or other family) and I have just had knee replacement surgery, stuck in the house struggling with my mental health, not one visitor in 7 weeks, so treated myself, when hubby asked who got me the flowers I said ME! £6 well spent as they really cheered me up.

Cabbie21 Mon 29-Jul-24 12:17:43

My parents had very little money. My mum never spent anything on herself, even later when she could afford to. After she died I found unopened gifts, new towels, bed linen- all sorts.
We had little to spare when the children were young, so I rarely bought for myself, but now I can afford to, I will not hesitate to buy things if I need or like them, though I always want value for money.
I don’t really want to accumulate more “ stuff”, so I have spent on treats which are enjoyable activities.

HeavenLeigh Mon 29-Jul-24 12:24:14

No cos I’m worth it!

Puzzlelove Mon 29-Jul-24 12:28:15

Sometimes I find it hard, then I remind myself that husband buys what he wants so why shouldn’t I? I’m a firm believer of the fact that you can’t take your money with you when you die and that you should do what you can while you can. At the moment I’m living on husband’s pensions and my small one. I’m looking forward to getting my state pension next year.

Missiseff Mon 29-Jul-24 12:31:05

God no! I'm always buying clothes and bags I don't need, and can't really afford, but like them. The curse of the internet pop-up adverts!

Norah Mon 29-Jul-24 12:32:53

Dcba

Not now …..not since I stopped ‘saving regularly for the future’ after I retired from work! Don't consider it a treat to get a good haircut every six weeks or so and a manicure every month.

I spend a lot on hair cut and balayage, toe nails. However I don't consider necessities to be treats. Treats might be better defined?

CazB Mon 29-Jul-24 12:37:06

I used to find it difficult and always used to hear my mother's voice saying "Do you need another one of those?" However these days I do get pleasure from the odd treat, after all I'm worth it!

GrammarGrandma Mon 29-Jul-24 12:40:18

Sadly, no. Hence expanding waistline and dwindling bank account. My latest treat is having my nails done (gel) every three weeks or so. It is so frivolous but also heart-lifting.

cc Mon 29-Jul-24 12:59:51

I'm fairly frugal, in that I always look for the best price for somethink like a fridge or whatever, but I'm happy to spend what I like on food.
Like GrammarGrandma this has led to my expanding waistline, I should try to reward myself another way!

jaybee66 Mon 29-Jul-24 13:25:48

Yes and I can never think of anything that I want for my birthday or Christmas either.

annodomini Mon 29-Jul-24 13:56:37

No difficulty at all! My main difficulty is avoiding temptation, usually in some form of chocolate! I tell myself, 'It's granny's little treat'.

Mojack26 Mon 29-Jul-24 14:23:56

Yes I hear you! I'm always spending on everyone else especially grandchildren...gives me pleasure.

SquirrelSue Mon 29-Jul-24 15:13:24

I live on my own and have no living relatives. Once a fortnight I go to a local hotel for a pot of tea and a cake. Once a month I buy myself a small present. I get home and put it in a cardboard box in the spare bedroom. Then on Christmas day I open the box and these are my Christmas presents. If I didn't do that I wouldn't have anything to open on Christmas day.

Summerfly Mon 29-Jul-24 15:14:05

No. I’ve worked damned hard for what I have. I love clothes and shoes, having my hair done regularly and I have a lovely, cosy home. I treat my family too, and DH is always well turned out. There’s no shops in cemeteries! 😁

Daffydilly Mon 29-Jul-24 15:39:03

Nope, not at all.

HS62 Mon 29-Jul-24 16:08:15

I did when I had my children . Even now they have left home I still help them out financially. Not because they come cap in hand begging, but because they have mortgages and children and both work, and find it hard to find money to pay for car repairs, house repairs etc. They are all very grateful. But I do treat myself occasionally, as you are a long time dead, its not to justify anything. It's just nice to have sometimes. Reader. X

nipsmum Mon 29-Jul-24 16:41:08

At this time of year I have no problem buying Strawberries and Raspberries for myself.

LadyGaGa Mon 29-Jul-24 16:49:54

If I bought strawberries and raspberries for myself I would feel quite virtuous! But a tube of salt and vinegar Pringles and a bottle of wine is more my style. As the old saying goes - you can’t take it with you ……

Callistemon213 Mon 29-Jul-24 16:51:49

nipsmum

At this time of year I have no problem buying Strawberries and Raspberries for myself.

We've usually got lots of fruit in the garden except strawberries, but this year hardly any.

It's the cream to go on the strawberries which I try to resist.

Lyndie Mon 29-Jul-24 16:58:53

Yes. I question everything I spend, except on my children.

biglouis Mon 29-Jul-24 17:00:35

My main way of treating myself is that I dont skimp on heating in winter or hot showers twice (sometimes three) times a day. I have very bad arthritis and this helps to ease the pain. I have a bottle of wine every week (shared with my nephew) and spend quite a lot on fruit. As I am not longer able to travel I make sure I am warm and confortable at home. Ive done more than my share for the community.

crazyH Mon 29-Jul-24 17:19:19

Me too biglouis - I like a warm house and. warm showers. I like wine, but no nephew to share it with. I do have children, who like a drink, so I have a glass of wine with them, when we meet up. I’m afraid I don’t eat enough fruit - the only fruits I like are bananas and mangoes, strawberries and cream. I find citrus fruits and my knees don’t get on.
But I have a carton of orange juice in the fridge.
I am careful, but not mean.
I am very generous with my children and grandchildren.

Codyodo Mon 29-Jul-24 17:28:57

It seems silly but during lockdown I started treating myself to Piccolo tomatoes, a bit more pricey than the’ normal’ ones that I used to buy! I still buy them, and why not 😉

EEJit Mon 29-Jul-24 21:52:14

Normally I'll only treat myself to small things lke a physical book instead of a e-book.

Having said that, over the last few years I've been quite ill, now that I'm repaired, (yes, I have the right word), I've blown money on a new camera and thrown out a number off old tools and bought myself new ones, like a new drill and electric jig saw.

llizzie2 Tue 30-Jul-24 01:44:20

Dotty123

Is it just me or do others find it difficult to spend money on themselves? I know it sounds mad but I bought a box of fresh cherries in our local supermarket today and with my DH’s encouragement ate the lot! They were just divine. It seemed such an extravagance but we can afford it so why do I hesitate to ‘treat’ myself?

Will we have any money to spend on ourselves now that we have to save extra hard to pay for our heating now that the new Labour Chancellor has taken away the cold weather payment and the winter fuel payment except to those claiming Pension Credit.

What if you have a tenner more coming in and cannot claim Pension Credit?

Attendance allowance, DLA and PIP are not means tested benefits.

Thousands of us died in the covid pandemic. This winter will we have a hypothermia epidemic? How will the NHS cope with that? Will the Euthanasia bill be passed by then?