Personal spending money

lisa_75

My husband and I are going to give ourselves a set amount each for clothes, nights out, cigarettes, haircuts, lunches etc. I feel we are both spending too much on "stuff" and this needs to be cut down.

I just wondered how much you think is reasonable per month for personal spend "on what you like" money? I don’t want to feel too deprived, but on the other hand we do have debt that needs to be paid off.

pollyanna24

My bf has finally agreed to give me his wages (albeit very reluctantly) as long as he can have some 'pocket money.' We agreed on £400 each out of our wages which is £100 a week. Not sure if it's gona be enough, but I think it will be plenty to spend on himself. At first, I wanted to put our personal spending into 'budget form,' but he wants to be spontaneous, so he can do what he likes with it!

wigginsmum

Depends how quickly you want to clear the debt - DH and I have £10 each per month as personal spending money. We don't go out etc because that's not our lifestyle.

Emmzi

I'd say if petrol, food etc all paid, maybe £100 each a month BUT it depends how big your debt is, and how much 'spare' you have after all minimum payments made.

I figure £100 is a haircut, a new t shirt, a dvd, a meal out, and a pub quiz, if you are careful, and use discount vouchers where you can. If you have an 'event' eg wedding, £100 can just about cover it if you forego the rest for the month.

I reckon a hundred, if you are on a long haul to repay, makes it bearable. BUT if you don't have this much spare - you can't have it!

black-saturn

Depends on how much your bringing in and what your outgoings are really but I'd say about £5 per week each.

oakdale_minx

After food, petrol, bills, I give myself £20 a month. I stopped going out, make my lunch, only have hair cut when really really necessary.

Spending money on all this kind of thing is how I got into a mess in the first place.

calleyw

For personal spending (and that does not include petrol/clothes and household spends) money is £10 a week so about £40 a month.

That is to spend on things like DVD hire, sweets and magazines I tend to spend a lot of mine in boots as I like to get bargains for hair care and skin care. As I tend to prefer better products so they don't come out of the household spends.

I don't need that much as I don't have large needs and don't use shopping as a lesiure pursuit.


Yours


Calley

nidje

Hi
I keep spending on "stuff" to an absolute minimum.
I only have a haircut when I really need to (about once every 3 to 4 months) I trim my own fringe in between cuts. Magazines and papers I read online. I don't really go out very often I prefer to have a few friends over now and again and have a bottle of wine, you can get a half decent bottle for a couple of pound. I started making my lunch and taking it with me and have saved a small fortune.
I'd say £20 to £30 a month would be plenty.
N x

rog2

I don't think you can put a figure on to discretionary expenditure - It has to be an amount with which YOU are comfortable, and one that does not compromise your priority expenditure.

Numpty_2

Normally £100 for me and £100 for petrol. Petrol normally ends up more (then have to claim back expenses), me less. Really depends if I go out in the evenings or not

HazelEyes_3

I think the answer partly depends on what will motivate each of you best to clear your debts.

I have a long stretch ahead of me to become debt free so have budgeted for some spending money each week. I draw out a set amount of cash each Saturday to cover food and various other cash spending - what remains is mine. So far (and I've only been doing this for 7 weeks) I have managed not to spend everything so I empty my purse on a Friday night and put this money in a "piggy bank" in case I need more spends one week.
This week has been a real test as I am going on a long arranged night out but I cut down the food spends and have been living out of the freezer/cupboards so I should be able to cover the night out without delving into my piggy bank !