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How much do you spend on yourself?

(136 Posts)
Alltogethernow Tue 26-Mar-24 12:51:58

OH and I are both retirees and have what I think is quite a comfortable income.

When we receive our pensions each month, OH does all the household accounts, moves money around and we both get £250 each into our personal bank accounts to do with as we please.

My money tends to go on makeup, clothes, shoes, outings with friends, theatre, cinema etc..

OH is not so social, his goes on camera equipment, a few subscriptions, clothes, shoes, odd days out with his friend.

I tend to spend all or most of mine. Whereas OH doesn’t so much and has a build up of money in his account.

Do other people do this? Do you think this is a lot to spend in a month? Or do you spend much more?

I am talking here solely about personal spending money and not things like cars or holidays which come out of the central pot.

Maggiemaybe Wed 27-Mar-24 09:14:28

One thing DH and I have never argued about is money. Always had a joint current account, salaries paid into it, now pensions.

If I need something, I buy it, DH likewise.

But we have modest tastes, so not often needing things.

Exactly the same here, Calendargirl. I guess we go out a lot, together or separately with friends, but neither of us buys a lot of “stuff” these days. I’d have to go through the accounts spreadsheet to come up with a figure, but really it’s just never been an issue - as long as there’s enough in the account it doesn’t matter which of us spends what.

Witzend Wed 27-Mar-24 09:18:34

Maggiemaybe

^One thing DH and I have never argued about is money. Always had a joint current account, salaries paid into it, now pensions.^

If I need something, I buy it, DH likewise.

But we have modest tastes, so not often needing things.

Exactly the same here, Calendargirl. I guess we go out a lot, together or separately with friends, but neither of us buys a lot of “stuff” these days. I’d have to go through the accounts spreadsheet to come up with a figure, but really it’s just never been an issue - as long as there’s enough in the account it doesn’t matter which of us spends what.

Much the same here. With the exception of separate savings a/cs I used to have (before helping dds with house deposits) all our money from whatever source has always been ‘ours’.

loopyloo Wed 27-Mar-24 09:33:17

Such variation in spending power!
On the whole I should need to spend very little. Lovely comfortable home and interesting garden, but, as an Easter treat I bought a terracotta pot for my strawberries and this morning ordered an silver antique hair pot from oxfam.
I keep an eye on the accounts but we make joint decisions on things.

crazyH Wed 27-Mar-24 09:40:18

loopyloo - what’s a ‘hair pot’ ? Just curious, that’s all ..

Chocolatelovinggran Wed 27-Mar-24 09:54:26

Long ago I had a joint account with my then husband. It was a terrible idea.

Primrose53 Wed 27-Mar-24 10:33:48

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.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 27-Mar-24 11:07:53

Blimey! My ex had a secret stash of money too …

HousePlantQueen Wed 27-Mar-24 12:54:20

We are very open with our finances, joint account for everything, plus a separate account each. My private pension is paid into my personal account, and I transfer all of it, bar around £100 into the joint account, DH does the same. Any major purchases are discussed, but otherwise we are fortunate that we can pop out for lunch/buy shoes without impact on joint finances.

Judy54 Wed 27-Mar-24 13:01:44

Nowhere near £250 each on personal expenditure. I budget £50 a month for clothes, make up etc which is more than enough for me. This is probably because I don't buy many clothes these days as I have more than enough in my wardrobe to suit my needs.

Urmstongran Wed 27-Mar-24 13:48:29

ronib

GSM yes I don’t understand the idea of having to spend more money. Some bank adviser once said this to me too. I was surprised.

Humble bragging at its finest.

ronib Wed 27-Mar-24 15:41:37

Urmstongran yes I just couldn’t resist…. But on a more serious note, with the out of control house prices in the South East, most of my financial decisions are based on how to help with buying a fairly modest home for my grandchildren and their hard working parents. Although I just did look at buying a Bombshell dress and decided that I would look ridiculous in one…..

MissAdventure Wed 27-Mar-24 15:53:32

A bombsite? smile

Urmstongran Wed 27-Mar-24 16:37:57

ronib 😁

Quizzer Fri 29-Mar-24 11:09:35

I have personal pensions which are kept separate from DH’s.
Mine pays for holidays, the rest is mine to spend. However I don’t spend nearly £250 a month, probably nearer £100. I am not into designer goods or expensive makeup etc.

grandMattie Fri 29-Mar-24 11:09:57

Very little. Old habits die hard!
But if there is something I need, I go for it.
At least that was until last month, when I gave scammers every last farthing, nothing left - stupid me!

Urmstongran Fri 29-Mar-24 11:13:47

Are you any further on regards reimbursement grandMattie?

HelterSkelter1 Fri 29-Mar-24 11:16:18

Hope you get it all back GM. Should have spent it all on you!

Mel1967 Fri 29-Mar-24 11:20:07

We have a joint account that pays the bills and the mortgage - we both contribute equally to this.
We each have our own accounts.
I also have a savings account - which pays for holidays for myself.
I also pay for all the food shopping.

Stillness Fri 29-Mar-24 11:21:22

I’m shocked….I have probably never spent that much on myself in one month unless perhaps if I’ve bought one expensive item eg my iPad. Our income goes directly into one pot but we do also have money in sole accounts. In theory we are able financially to spend freely but in practise, we aren’t big consumers at all. I don’t feel I want or need that much.

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 29-Mar-24 11:23:20

I keep hoping to hear good news from GrandMattie.

grandMattie Fri 29-Mar-24 11:34:08

Nothing yet, Urms. I’ve been told I should hear in “35 days”, I suspect it means working days …. Early May probably. If no joy, I’ll go down the BBC and financial ombudsman routes.

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 29-Mar-24 11:38:06

Such a long wait. You are in my prayers.

Fae1 Fri 29-Mar-24 11:41:43

At my age 74 I find some chores harder to keep on top of - eg. climbing ladders to clean windows, bending down to do skirting boards etc. My 'personal treats' therefore are a cleaner to do these things for me so I can enjoy the finer things in life, such as weekly swimming and Pilates classes. Other than that - my big spends - I splash out at least £10 a week at charity shops for books and bits and bobs. Love browsing as a past time. Never was one for makeup and expensive handbags, shoes etc.

Jaxjacky Fri 29-Mar-24 11:42:32

I don’t spend much on myself, no make up, hair trim roughly every three months for £15, clothes and shoes when the old ones are past it, lunch out with friends once a month’ish.
We do go to the pub a couple of 2/3 times a week, I’ve always bought my share of drinks, so about £10 each time. Seeds for the garden, veg and flowers are my indulgence and reading, but I use the library.

SillyNanny321 Fri 29-Mar-24 11:51:12

Live alone & only have basic pension thanks to being disabled! When I do have any money left over, nowhere near £250, I spend it on my Grandchildren who are the light of my life & what keeps me going!