How much do you allow yourselves for 'personal spends?'

Tesco_points_addict

Hello everyone, anyone that has every read my MFW thread will know i'm uterly bonkers:D.

I am trying to work out a reasonable budget for next year, how much do you all allow yourselves for personal spends per month??? What do you include in these spends?? Mobile phone, clothes, eating out etc??

How much do you budget for other items..such as groceries etc?

Thank you in anticiption

TPAx

abouttimetoo

Hi TPA

I don't have a fixed amount for personal spends but I guess I do have figure in mind that if i look like i'm going to go over I get a bit nervous, ask myself some questions etc


The things I class as personal spend are

• smoking - hmm, not going to put a figure to this one :o
• mobile phone - I have a really good packsge for £15 per month
• eating out - £40 per month
• hairdressers - go about twice a year, total cost about £90
• 'fancy' coffee's - only allow myself one a week at most!
• sports massage once a month £30 (a necessity or I'd sieze up!)
• oesteopath £27 approx every six weeks

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

I don't 'allow' myself anything. Instead I earn it... any MSing, online surveys, online cashback, points cards, ebay selling, car boots etc. along with any money gained from coming under budget on other things (groceries, insurance...) are all for personal spends/fun spends.

And personal spends/fun spends to me are: make up (but not other toileteries), clothes, magazines, dance classes, concerts, eating out.

Tesco_points_addict

I'm guessing mine would start with....wine:eek:

TPAx

LeeSouthEast

My 'me' fund per month is £10. This covers things like spontaneous coffee purchases, a magazine I "must" have or similar.

I budget quite literally everything else, including my mobile phone, lovefilm subscription etc. If I come in under budget anywhere, the remainder gets plonked into savings as well as the lump sum I pay myself before any bills go out. Generally speaking "me" is about £110 which includes most non-household bills and food.

pawlala

I don't give myself a budget, but then I don't spend much anyway. I make my own lunches, evening meals etc and very rarely buy anything over and above any fixed debits (sky, mobile, bills etc). Anything left over at the end of the month goes into the savings account

cake21

I have no idea, but I suspect it's a lot more than £10/month
Thanks for starting this thread, I've signed up for the 2010 frugal living challenge and it's a timely reminder that I really do have to sort out a budget :T:T

Tesco_points_addict

Hi cake

I am looking into the frugal thread, thank you!

I really need too set myself a personal budget as I have a feeling that I actually spend a lot more on myself than hubby does, but mine tends to get 'hidden' in with other costs, it will do me good to realise how much I spend per month on luxurys.............oh the wine....

TPAx

SmlSave

Hi TPA

Don't scream :eek: but I've got £120 a month for personal spends how bad do I sound? This covers clothes, lessons, lunch, going to the pub, hair cuts etc.

Grocery budget is £180-£200 which includes alchol, toiletries and some food if we're lucky

We also have a £20 enjoyment allowance form the joint account although that's almost tripled in the last month!

aliwali

Hi
Mine is £50 per month. This is for toddler groups, posh coffee, magazines, toiletries, school tuck money. so not really just for me but it is all I can spare now I am on maternity leave.

cake21

cake21 wrote: »

I have no idea, but I suspect it's a lot more than £10/month

SmlSave wrote: »

Don't scream :eek: but I've got £120 a month for personal spends how bad do I sound? This covers clothes, lessons, lunch, going to the pub, hair cuts etc.

If it makes you feel any better I have £153/month for personal spends in my 2010 budget. That includes clothes, lessons, going to the pub, eating out, sports club memberships, books, dvds, magazines, cinema, theatre and any other days out; all budgeted separately. I also have £42/month put aside for the summer holiday. Added up it does look bad and worse than that I thought I was being prudent when I was setting the budget :o

I've only allocated £60/month for groceries though, so here's hoping the batch cook / meal plan idea pans out :rotfl:

Tesco_points_addict wrote: »

I really need too set myself a personal budget as I have a feeling that I actually spend a lot more on myself than hubby does, but mine tends to get 'hidden' in with other costs, it will do me good to realise how much I spend per month on luxurys.............

Any update? Anyone else want to confess?

I'm curious now as to whether I could reduce my personal spends for the MFW goal...without feeling deprived...