How much do you spend on yourself?

My indulgence is books. Lots of them, but bought second hand from our lovely local charity book shop. Good haircut every 6 weeks. Lunch with pals every couple of weeks. Oh, and good shoes. Simple soul really, but well read and well shod.

We have always had our own bank accounts and a family account. In early days when money was tight, we added up our joint income and allocated it under different headings and we each took responsibility for areas of expenditure and the amount to be left in our accounts was calculates. As I remember I had charge of housekeeping, DH was responsible for cars, and money for household bills, went into the family account.

Now, with money more plentiful and pension income more or less even. We have kept our budget responsibilities, both put money in the family account but do not pool finances to make the calculations.

What do I spend it on? clothes, I am not a big spender, magazines, books, outings, home and outside interests.

Urmstongran

More than some I expect and less than others.

Ditto

More than some I expect and less than others.

Very little, not much at all really. Our money is joint.

Not much really. I buy a lot of kindle books which are cheap, and love bargains from eBay. DH is dreadful and we always come home from shopping with numerous treats he has bought for himself.

I like nice things, but don’t spend a lot on clothes and makeup as I’ve minimised. However I’m spending a lot at the moment on restoring things I’ve inherited from various relations. Most recently I spent £400 on having a chest of drawers restored this month, which came from my husband’s parents house, it was in the bedroom I slept in the first time I met them so it has sentimental value - and it looks lovely now.

Good point cabbie. In our case it’s me that’s sorts all the finances DH has no interest, but he’d be lost without me. I’m going to have to sort it out.

A side issue for this thread, but can I urge those who leave all the household finances to be managed by their spouse to get a grasp of what’s what? I have seen too many husbands who think it is their responsibility to shield their wives from reality and when widowed, the wives struggle to get to grips with it all, especially if they had money to spend freely.
Thank goodness we are not all like that.

I dislike clothes shopping so only buy clothes if I really need them for a special occasion or something wears out.I buy good quality skin care and have a gym membership so I can swim regularly. Most of my social life is meeting various friends to walk our dogs or for coffee,and my biggest expense for pleasure is plants and gardening stuff.I now volunteer at the local library so reads lots of books from there.Really I think I'm quite cheap to run !And as DH can no longer golf or play squash those memberships are no more.But if I want or need something for myself I don't feel guilty.Larger purchases are always a joint decision.

I don’t spend a lot on myself these days. DH’s only indulgence was to buy a season ticket for football every year, and mine was to fund my fly fishing expeditions (an expensive hobby!). I don’t fish much these days and apart from a good haircut, running my car and taking the family out for a nice meal occasionally I have little need to put my hand in my pocket.

This thread reminds me of a work function I attended many years ago, at which a very wealthy client was present. He and my then equally wealthy senior partner were talking about money and said client was saying that his accountant had told him that his wife really must spend more money. Obnoxious.

I buy what I want when I want, but don’t have many wants😳

I obviously don't spent enough!

Off to see how I can treat myself.
DH isn't a great spender until it comes to cars.

Hair cut once every 6 weeks now as it is very short.
Other than that my spending money goes on mulch, compost and plants - gardening is one of my main hobbies so I count that as spending on myself.

We've always had a joint account since marrying 30+ years ago. We both just buy what we want on credit card which is paid off each month. Neither of us have expensive tastes or habits. We used to spend a lot leasing a luxury vehicle (DH loves BMWs) but now have bought one outright which has reduced our monthly outgoings. DH looks after the finances and budgets for our spending but we have excess funds each month which goes into savings. Luckily we were able to plan carefully for retirement.

Grannynannywanny - you have something that money can’t buy ❤️. I too live on my own. Fortunately, I had a good divorce lawyer.
Btw, can you not get any benefits like Pension Credit etc. I know my friend gets some sort of benefit to top up her SP. But, you are happy. That’s the main thing

crazyH I’m not eligible for pension credit as I’m in receipt of the full state pension. It’s a common misconception that anyone with only state pension is entitled to claim pension credit. But it’s for those who have a shortfall in their state pension to top it up to the full amount.

I don’t spend a lot,I haven’t got a lot and I don’t need a lot
I m happy

hazel93

We have a joint account but DH spends as if he is still employed ! Drives me mad as I have always dealt with all household accounts. How many Amazon parcels does anyone need in a 24hr. period !
Eventually a showdown, not pretty, outcome being he now has pocket money on a weekly basis, he finds it hilarious and tells everyone he is a kept man !

Ditto.
His pocket money is topped up by a little part time job too.
Even then he runs out before payday.
I have all that I want and can still put some away 😇

I don’t spend money on beauty treatment, nails and so on, just hairdressing every six weeks, occasionally clothes about three times a year, but I have choir subs x 2 and related costs. I put most of my money into savings. DH always spent money on collectibles, DIY etc. Since he died and we have been clearing stuff, we keep asking why there are at least three of everything. He would buy in bulk. There are enough light bulbs and tissues to last a lifetime!

Grannynannywanny - you have something that money can’t buy ❤️. I too live on my own. Fortunately, I had a good divorce lawyer.
Btw, can you not get any benefits like Pension Credit etc. I know my friend gets some sort of benefit to top up her SP. But, you are happy. That’s the main thing.

That’s a joy which money can’t buy Grannynannywanny. I wish you many years of such happiness.

Thank you Germanshepherdsmum. I count my blessings every day. I know I’m very fortunate and I take nothing for granted 😊

We are comfortable but I feel guilty whenever I buy or think of buying something for myself. My Kindle is pretty sluggish and quite old. I would love the large scribe kindle because I now read books on my iPad and it does clutter up and fill the memory. DH today has just paid for his golf membership - few hundred. He will probably only play twice. He doesn’t like the social side there unless it’s his own particular friends so why should I baulk at buying something I’ll use every day. I could give myself a kick.

We have a joint account plus our own separate accounts. I honestly have no idea how much I spend on myself per month. If I need something I have it after having to be very frugal in the earlier years of our marriage when all our money went on kids and mortgage.

Husband pays all the household bills, council tax, insurances for vehicles etc. I put fuel in my car, pay for holidays and meals out and buy all birthday and christmas presents. This wasn’t planned, it just happened like this but it works OK.

That’s a joy which money can’t buy Grannynannywanny. I wish you many years of such happiness.