How much do you spend on personal care?

Ruby789

Thanks for all the replies :j

It's definitely been an eye opening thread for me :eek:. Many of you are happy on significantly less than me, and though I doubt I’ll ever be able to get to where you are, it definitely helps me see that it’s not necessary to spend so much.

Just for clarification, my friends believe I am low maintenance simply because I look average; not polished, not glam, not celeb-like, just your average girl next door (clean and tidy). I started this thread because I was staggered when I wrote it all down exactly how much I spend just to look clean and tidy and 'suspected' it was achievable on less.

I’ve not itemised my spending for you properly in previous posts (and I’ve found that really helpful), so here is where the money goes:

£23 on cleansing (4 types of cleanser to suit whatever face I wake up with), toning, moisturising (inclusive of clarisonic brush heads, facial dye, scrub, suncream (body (hols) and face (daily)), and eye cream

£12 on make-up (including one tube of primer for special occasions, one £27 foundation, the rest is highstreet brand make up).

£21 on hair (including a home dye kit once a month, 4 cuts per year, and medicated shampoo (conditioner comes free with the dye))

£4.00 general hygiene (including shower gel, lotion, deodorant, sanitary stuff, razors, cotton pads and buds)

£31 hair removal (eyebrows threaded once a month, brazillian wax every 4 weeks)

£9 teeth (including one check-up, one hygienist session, mouthwash, floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes)

£7 perfume (x2 50mls)

£1.30 hands and nails (I paint my own and only buy a new varnish if I need it, the rest is handcream)

£1.60 eyes (eye test cost spread over the year)

All of this comes to approx. £110. The budget is based on full retail prices but most things will be picked up on offers so if I take 10% off the total to account for that, that still comes to £99 per month. I’m sure I can do better, but for a ballpark figure this will do.

From my budget of £110 that leaves £132 a year to mop up vitamins, over the counter medicines and prescriptions, and any extra eye / dental care.

This year, as I have a stash to use up, I really should only :rotfl:be spending £82 a month, leaving some extra money to address the glasses/contacts/surgery debate.

I have re-worked the budget since starting this thread and have managed to crowbar in dental and eye checks thanks to the helpful tips you’ve all given J. I’m sure some of my cleansers will last over 12 months as I use so little, but I’ve not really paid proper attention before so will see how that pans out.

I know this is a lot of money, and many wouldn't dream of spending as much. On paper I completely agree that this is such a waste of money. But ... to feel confident I need cover my prematurely grey hair, rip out the hair I never wanted, and hide my uneven skintone under a thin veil of barely there make-up. I've had bad skin for years and have finally found a routine that works for me, and thanks to that I've been able to wear make up (which I haven't been able to for years).

I know no one has asked me to justify why I am spending so much, but I know many on this site have barely enough money to exist on and will find this wastage a bit sinful. I do want a more simple existance for myself so I will endeavour to start cutting products out of my life one by one as i'm sure some are probably redundant.

heartbreak_star

Ruby789 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies :j

It's definitely been an eye opening thread for me :eek:. Many of you are happy on significantly less than me, and though I doubt I’ll ever be able to get to where you are, it definitely helps me see that it’s not necessary to spend so much.

Just for clarification, my friends believe I am low maintenance simply because I look average; not polished, not glam, not celeb-like, just your average girl next door (clean and tidy). I started this thread because I was staggered when I wrote it all down exactly how much I spend just to look clean and tidy and 'suspected' it was achievable on less.

I’ve not itemised my spending for you properly in previous posts (and I’ve found that really helpful), so here is where the money goes:

£23 on cleansing (4 types of cleanser to suit whatever face I wake up with), toning, moisturising (inclusive of clarisonic brush heads, facial dye, scrub, suncream (body (hols) and face (daily)), and eye cream Facial dye? What's that? Also what are clarisonic heads? Is it possible you are using too much on your skin and irritating it? (noted you said something about skin)

£12 on make-up (including one tube of primer for special occasions, one £27 foundation, the rest is highstreet brand make up). For eyeshadows etc, try E.L.F. - £1.50 for most products. Their foundation etc isn't bad either, unless you have mega-pale skin in which case I recommend Lily Lolo - at £12 a foundation and you don't need powder, loads cheaper.

£21 on hair (including a home dye kit once a month, 4 cuts per year, and medicated shampoo (conditioner comes free with the dye)) Stretch to a week extra between dyes. Can you lose the medicated shampoo or is it cheaper on prescription?

£4.00 general hygiene (including shower gel, lotion, deodorant, sanitary stuff, razors, cotton pads and buds)

£31 hair removal (eyebrows threaded once a month, brazillian wax every 4 weeks) Leave an extra week between the waxes, and try colleges for cheaper wax treatments. Wax your own eyebrows, and have them threaded every other month.

£9 teeth (including one check-up, one hygienist session, mouthwash, floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes)

£7 perfume (x2 50mls) Ask for perfume as birthday/Christmas presents :cool:

£1.30 hands and nails (I paint my own and only buy a new varnish if I need it, the rest is handcream)

£1.60 eyes (eye test cost spread over the year)

Few bits and pieces from me - I've had to reeeeally pare down my beauty spending recently! Hope it's of some use.

HBS x

Ruby789

Thanks for taking the time to reply HBS

My skin is good now, I credit the clarisonic (facial brush) with this transformation. I still have an uneven skin tone which I can't seem to fix, but foundation covers it well enough that I'm not too bothered.

I have heard of ELF but never found any, who sells it? Happy to switch make-up for eyeshaddow, mascara, etc... Am a bit funny about foundation (but only as i've tried so many to try and find one I get on with). Will give a go though. It's not the brand i'm attached to, just the colour, finish and application.

Medicated shampoo is cheaper in store than by prescription when bought a few at a time. I will try and stretch time between dyes, I suppose a week won't make a huge amount of difference in terms of root growth.

Gap between waxes is already a week longer than it should be, not sure I could go to five weeks but as it's one of my biggest outgoings it's definately an idea I should take up even if it's only sometimes.

Perfume as gifts is a good idea too

Thanks HBS

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You're welcome - I totally sympathise with trying to pare everything down as I love beauty stuff!

ELF is sold at http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk and I quite like their stuff like eyelid primer - easily as good as my previous Urban Decay one!

Lily Lolo is sold at http://www.lilylolo.co.uk/ and is all formulated for super-sensitive skin

I generally dye my hair if someone tells me I've got paint on my head - I have a grey streak ha ha!

I've also seen a lot bandied about on here regarding the Oil Cleansing Method for skin - might work out cheaper than all your cleansers

Good luck and keep us posted!

HBS x

Ruby789

Oooh all kinds of excited by Lilly Lolo. I've not got on with mineral stuff in the past (brought me up in spots and dry patches) but see she doesn't use the ingredient most people react to and has many glowing reviews. Treating myself to a sample at any rate.

Also spied a grey green eyeshaddow that would make me very happy. So when the OD is paid off, it's my little treat

Similalrly with ELF, can get lots of my basic products from there cheaper than boots 3 for 2.

OCM seems to be hit and miss, brought me up in huge spots, and i've never suffered with spots (lots of other stuff though). Use an oil cleanser no problem so doesn't explain it. But using the oils I bought on my hair, nails and in a scrub so not wasted.

Thanks again for the tips

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Lily Lolo stuff lasts ages as well - a pot of foundation lasted me over 2 months wearing it about 4 times a week

HBS x

Upsidedown_Bear

Saw this article and thought of this thread.
Makes interesting reading.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2269284/Whats-price-YOUR-daily-regime-From-skinflint-spendthrift-womens-beauty-secrets.html

Ruby789

Upsidedown_Bear wrote: »

Saw this article and thought of this thread.
Makes interesting reading.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2269284/Whats-price-YOUR-daily-regime-From-skinflint-spendthrift-womens-beauty-secrets.html

Thanks for posting this, this is very interesting. As they only included products (not waxing, teeth, general cleanliness, hair cuts, dyes etc....) my comparable spend is approx £550 p/a, in line with the first lady. Though she seems to have an awful lot more premium stuff in her arsenal than I have for that money, but I have a few more products in total.

From appearances I would probably have said that the first and second ladies spent the most, the first looks the most groomed and made up, and the second really doesn't look made up at all, but has really good skin and looks younger than her age (though that could be genetics). I like the idea of all natural products though, shame the spend is so high! The third lady I would have thought was the oldest unfortunately. But I doubt that is down to not spending a fortune on her routine.

Could tell absolutely no difference in their hair from the photos though. Shame expensive hair care wasn't on my list, but I certainly won't be persuaded now.

From this thread I sound like a right pampered princess, but I can honestly say i'm really not. I'm looking to swap my last few premium products for cheaper alternatives, and will then re-evaluate again. I am the happiest I have ever been with my skin and general appearance, which I suppose makes it somewhat worth it, but a simpler life is still appealing to me. I've also just turned 30, so maybe some self acceptance is finally creeping in too.

TimBear

I've never totted it up before so here goes!

Hair cuts - I haven't had my hair cut in over a year (naughty) but I am getting it trimmed in a couple of weeks which will cost me £15.00.

Presciptions - I don't budget for these (although I did need LOADS last year ), fingers crossed that won't be necessary again this year.

Eye test - This costs me around £20 but as I work in an office this is refunded to me by my employers. New glasses every two years but I get the own brand ones which cost me around £40.

Make up - Bit of a mixed bag. I get Estee Lauder foundation at £26 I think it is, but this lasts me perhaps six months so broken down it's not much. The rest of my make up is mostly Natural Collection (bronzer, power, mascara at least) at 3 for £5 usually and that lasts me a few months for the powders, less for mascara. I can't remember the last time I bought lip gloss or anything, so I wouldn't budget for that.

Feminine hygiene - I buy my tampons in Aldi or Wilkos at around 80p a box. This'll last me the month.

Hair removal - I do get my eyebrows threaded every couple of months to keep a good shape, this costs me £5.00 a go. Body hair I usually epilate but haven't been able to for a while so it's shaving only for me now everywhere. A pack of six blades will last me around six months and I always buy men's blades as they're so much cheaper and seem to be more effective. That works out at a couple of pounds a month I guess.

I do recommend epilating though! The kit is expensive to begin with but you get great results after only a couple of times using it and lasts so much longer than shaving.

Nails - I used to wear acrylics every day but the upkeep was too much as my nails grow so quickly I was having to have them infilled every fortnight. Now I very rarely do anything - cut and file, and perhaps paint them myself every one in a while.

Hair care/deodorant etc - I actually use Asda Smart Price bubble bath as my shower gel. It costs less than 30p I think and lasts me weeks! I decant it into a pump bottle. Shampoo and conditioner I always buy in Boots on their 3 for 2 offers as I have to use a certain type which is around £5-£6 a bottle. They last a month or two each.

I don't use any mousse or gel or anything but I do have a can of hairspray which I bought in Aldi for around £1. I must've had it six months! I rarely use it though.

Deodorant is also from Aldi at less than a pound and lasts me months and months. Although once a year I buy a bottle of Driclor which I think is £6, which means I don't actually sweat that much (if at all - perhaps I shouldn't buy the cheapo deodorant at all!)

Handcream costs me £10 from the Body Shop but last a good three or four months. I never buy body lotion though.

Most of my perfumes are from Next at about £10 a bottle, only splash out of the branded stuff every couple of years - any other I have were gifts.

So my general monthly spend is around £10 from that I guess. Even when taking into account the rest I spend sporadically throughout the year it doesn't add up to much (and I am a girly girl who likes to take care of myself!).

TimBear

Oh! And I have many dentists in the family so I, thankfully, don't have to pay for dental care.