How much do you spend on yourself?

Primrose53

I was very surprised to find that one of my married nieces has a Stash of savings that she calls her “running away fund”. She and her husband, who is very nice and quiet and caring have a joint bank account but she syphons off some money each month to save herself and it is all top secret.

Her sister told me this and says she knows several other young Mums who do this. News to me.

It is important I think that women have their own account, perhaps not for running away, but to be able to support themselves for at least 3 months in case anything unforeseen happen, so yes brilliant idea for young mums, particularly if not earning their own money to do this.

Stella14

We have seperate bank accounts. I feel I spend too much on myself. I have an expensive hobby - sewing and fabric is expensive. I don’t buy clothes (other than underwear, swimwear and occasionally pyjamas) these days because I prefer to wear what I’ve made. I love being able to make the styles I like in a carefully chosen fabric that is ‘just right’. If I want something else (skincare, shoes etc), I will buy it, but I hate paying full price, so I rarely buy without a decent discount.

I would love to be able to make my own clothes. You are really clever!

When my kids were small I saw some lovely pale pink cotton fabric with black squiggle design. I took a pattern off a pair of pull on red cotton trousers I had worn to death. I got my machine out and made them and first time I wore them out I overheard some girls saying they loved my trousers and I felt really proud. Good job they didn’t examine the sewing! 😝

when I was thinking about what I spend I included train fares, entrances to exhibitions,coffees and lunches with friends, any courses I go to, theatre tickets, hair, perfume, art equipment.. so that doesn't include clothes and shoes.. it's amazing how it can add up.

Have just asked DH what I spend on myself.

He says ‘Your swimming membership at local pool/gym.’

£26 a month.

That’s about it.

I’m a cheap date.

Romola

I find this thread intrusive. I wouldn't tell anyone, except my late DH, how much I spend on myself.

Why are you responding to this thread then? It's not intrusive in your life if you don’t engage. 🤷‍♀️

We have seperate bank accounts. I feel I spend too much on myself. I have an expensive hobby - sewing and fabric is expensive. I don’t buy clothes (other than underwear, swimwear and occasionally pyjamas) these days because I prefer to wear what I’ve made. I love being able to make the styles I like in a carefully chosen fabric that is ‘just right’. If I want something else (skincare, shoes etc), I will buy it, but I hate paying full price, so I rarely buy without a decent discount.

Hair cut & colour every 6 weeks,stuff for the garden,gas,coffee out with friends & GRANDCHILDREN plus my children.Also
prescriptions !

cc i love a bargain.

We had many years when the children were small when all our money went on mortgage and the kids. We never had any money over and with both sets of grandparents living hundreds of miles away, could not afford babysitters so we never went out. I literally watched every penny. Luckily we lived in a fairly affluent area so jumble sales were fantastic. You could fill a black bin liner for 50p and I look at photos of my kids now and remember which jumble sale I bought their T shirts and shorts from. 🤣 had some great bargains with toys too. Britain’s farm set, lego and jigsaws in as new condition and were played with for years by my kids.

I remember one time my Mum came to stay and brought two new jumpers for me. She said she bought them on the market. I was so grateful that I had to go out of the room quickly as I could feel myself welling up! It was so long since I had anything brand new.

I therefore reckon I deserve to buy myself whatever I like now that we are better off financially.

It's only since I was widowed that any money coming in is all mine. I used to treat DH especially when he was failing. Single malts, his favourite foods, nice toiletries etc. I never thought to spend on myself. I do now and it's not a lot. After bills there is about £150. Not much savings but a sort of cushion if there was an unexpected bill like taxi fares to pay for emergency trips and a hotel for the night. That kind of thing.
I think that at my time of life it's time to enjoy the nice jam, the perfume with shower gel to match, etc.
If I don't treat myself nobody else will that's for sure.
I think that apart from DH, most of what I have given really hasn't been appreciated. Whilst I enjoyed the choosing and the giving at the time there has to be an end to it.

Have been a widow for many years but remember the times when we had to be very cateful how we spent what money we had. Now, if there is something I want, I will spend. I have always spent a lot on the one daughter and one granddaughter, none of which has ever been appreciated, so have tightened the purse strings to all but myself !! At least charities will benefit in the end!!

sorry "things"

Primrose53

I treated myself this morning. Had an email from a company I was interested in a while ago but bought nothing. They have Easter discounts so got 20% off my purchase today.

I tend to buy thinks I like when they are on offer too, recently saved 30% on new plates and pasta bowls.

We do go out for lunch together every week to a local restaurant, a sort of dual extravagance really.

We each have our own bank accounts and split our bills. My husband spends very little on himself though I can be self-indulgent with kitchen gadgets.
At the moment all our spare cash is being lent to my son and his family who are renovating their house and I think that it's quite good for me to be short of money as it makes me think twice before I spend anything that I might need for our bills.
We don't live a fancy lifestyle and I don't spend much on clothes or shoes but if I find something everyday that I like I may buy a couple of them.
I'm amazed by what people are prepared to spend on holidays, sometimes several times a year.

We share everything - although comfortably off now, we were both brought up with absolutely nothing, and we've never forgotten it! We both have the same attitude to money and never argue over it. I still find it difficult to spend money on myself - but we are very generous with our children and donate monthly to several charities. Although we now have a lovely lifestyle, I would find it hard to spend £250 each month purely on myself - my hair costs me £70 every 6 weeks, may go for lunch with friends twice a month, and other than toiletries and occasional makeup/perfume purchases that's about it. Would love to be able to buy clothes every month, but I just can't find anything I like! (So fed up with the baggy tops and tea dresses on offer - OK if you're tall, not so good when you are 5' nothing!). I live in hope 🙄

I treated myself this morning. Had an email from a company I was interested in a while ago but bought nothing. They have Easter discounts so got 20% off my purchase today.

Totally agree with this, a friend in their 40’s divorced after having their husband looking after all the finances, I literally had to teach her to use a cash point machine as her husband had just given her her weekly allowance in cash

I think I spend around the same a month on outings with friends meals cloths hair products and getting hair and nails done. I’m enjoying my money to many people are dying in there mid 60s around my age, so I’m enjoying while I can.

grandtante we have only had a joint banking account since shortly after our marriage and I have no fears about that when either of us dies. We do have separate savings accounts to take advantage of tax free exemptions. On joint current accounts either name has access to the whole balance within the account.

What can be a problem is when a wife (it usually is the wife) is an additional cardholder on the husband's credit card. You can't get joint credit cards. When the husband dies the wife is immediately locked out of the credit card. A friend to whom this happened made us all very aware so a few of us immediately took out a credit card in our own names. Mine is for a small limit and used just for one store to keep it in use. I doubt I'd be dependent on it as I have my own accessible savings but it's a good precaution.

I hardly spend money on myself. The most I spend on is wool, wool and more wool! I love buying wool and anything to do with my crafts. My main joy in life is to give to others.

Whoa….had me sweating momentarily. I do have my own account but most of ours is sorted through our joint accounts!

Eh? Surely if my name appears on the joint account, I get to carry on spending from it without jumping through any hoops?
Otherwise, I'm stuffed.

Often even probate between spouses isn’t needed either.

Crossed post GSM

I had no trouble accessing our joint account when DH died.
Perhaps you mean savings/ISA accounts?