How much do you spend on yourself?

A joint account isn’t frozen when one of the holders dies. The account automatically belongs to the survivor(s).

Hair cut blow dry every 4/5 weeks. Nails at same time. Flowers for garden at the moment. I don’t really count how much as it depends what I see that takes my fancy.

I surprises me that many of you sound as if you only have joint accounts with your spouses.

If this is the case, will you please all open a personal acount and get your husband or wife to do the same, and make sure that money goes into them each month.

Joint accounts are frozen upon the death of either holder and not re-opened again until probate has been granted.

So the survivor in a marriage will find her- or himself with no money at all upon the death of her/his spouse.

And if you only have joint accounts or if bills are paid from a joint account, there is nothing your bank can do to help you, as it is a legal requirement that a deceased person's accounts are frozen immediately and not re-opened until probate has been granted.

I hate spending money on myself, will wear shoes and clothes until they are done before buying any more. Hair gets cut once a year.
I did take out a National Trust membership last month, but managed to get that fairly cheap with me being over 60 and the blue badge means I get a carer in with me for free so wasn't too expensive. I need to get out more and I thought this might encourage me.
I also begrudge buying dairy free foods as they are more expensive. a 500 ml tun of dairy free ice cream is £5, but if I want to eat I have no choice.

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My husband is the same. He had his own successful business and a ready supply of money. He sold and retired but still has the same mindset and thinks he has the same access to funds..

His saying if, for example, I couldn't choose between two dresses, was ' "What's better than one ice-cream?". Meaning to buy them both.

Now I have to keep telling him that we can no longer afford two ice-creams!!

We go out for a nice meal or Afternoon Tea 'about' once a month but have little other personal expenditure.

I get (c) monthly floral deliveries from a son. So don't need to buy blooms and they really cheer me up (Homeland Florists via Amazon - highly recommended; beautiful and lasts 2-3 weeks).

Also, eldest son buys me my year's supply of Olay face and eye creams at Christmas and gives me the dosh in April (birthday) to cover my twice a week hair visits and tints. All of which I could no longer afford nor justify from pensions - especially as our Council Tax has gone up to over £4k pa (for less and less service). We're having to downsize.

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We had a joint account for bills and every day spends, however my late husband and I had our own account to spend how we wished. Worked just fine for us, we were overdrawn once in all the 47 years of our marriage. It's nobody else's business how couples deal with their finances.

I spend very little on myself,i don`t buy much at all tbh.

GrandMattie I'm sorry to hear that has happened, even if we think we're aware, we could still be caught out. Hope you get some good news soon.

Last week I tried to put an order in online to that well-known High Street chemists; I was going to treat myself to facecream and cleanser. Something strange happened and I got angry messages saying I'd been denied access etc so I logged off and put a complaint in via the email address.
Now I have a reply, supposedly from that chemists, someone wanting to know all my personal details, name, address, dob etc. 🤔
I haven't replied.

sillynanny - me too. The parents tell me I’m too generous. And I say, I’ll die poor, but happy 😂

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

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!

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.

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.

Such a long wait. You are in my prayers.

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.

I keep hoping to hear good news from GrandMattie.

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.

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.

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

Are you any further on regards reimbursement grandMattie?

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!

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.

ronib 😁

A bombsite?

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…..