I have no jealousy of anyone who spends or can afford or chooses to spend lots of money of personal care because this is an area that I don’t really value and don’t really want to be part of my life. I don’t judge it!
My big splurge is my hair. Probably $2K/year with tax/tip.
I do my own nails and brows. No make up.
@skieurope $120 for a mani pedi sounds about right. I get a gel manicure, and a very nice spa/Colagen pedi. The cost for the mani is about $35 and the pedi is $85. Then add the tip onto that. But I only do the pedi every three months or so.
Hair is cut and color with tip $90. It’s quite the good deal. I’ve known my hairdresser a long time. I think she charges me less because of that. Every 8 weeks or so.
A massage once every 6 weeks…at $100 a time. Well worth it.
But I don’t spend a lot on clothing or makeup or shoes or purses.
I think I’m worth it.
I was spending about $20/month on haircuts for H and the same amount for myself. The hairdresser came to our house every 6-8 weeks or so. She stopped since Feb and isn’t doing it (she’s high risk and we are too).
We bought a waterrower, which we use for our exercise (Christmas gift a few years ago), plus walking in the neighborhood, so footwear that we have on hand.
I’ve bought two blouses for zoom videos totaling $80 and to supplement my wardrobe plus a stretchy skort for maybe $15.
Bought some elastic and thread and sewing supplies to make masks. Let’s say $100.
That’s about it. Call us low maintenance, I guess.
I spent $20 every 6 weeks or so for a haircut almost always at Walmart.
No make up.
Never had anyone else do my nails since I was a toddler.
No gym memberships.
Very few clothes and even fewer shoes. If I have a purse somewhere, it’s collecting dust. (I believe I’ve mentioned a time or two that I was mostly raised by my dad, so my money, phone, and a comb are in my pockets at all times - and I don’t wear clothes without pockets big enough to carry them.)
However, for “my” maintenance we have to travel, so that will run into the thousands. Campgrounds might be inexpensive, but we don’t always camp and getting there costs more.
I don’t give a hoot how much other people spend on “whatever” as long as they aren’t asking for donations while splurging on expensive luxuries. My mom spent thousands in casinos. They aren’t my thing at all, but I was happy she had something she loved. Other folks might judge us for traveling (and wearing old clothes). Have at it. I lose no sleep.
A lurker saying I thought I was low maintenance until I read these posts. ?
Walking backwards into my hole of shame.
(But: I did cancel my monthly gym and monthly dermatology appts back in March. Staying home and wearing masks as well as a big milestone bday has made me more accepting of my natural aging process.)
PS Should we start a book or reading maintenance thread? ??That is my newly expanded area of indulgence.
PPS Oddly perhaps, I’ve never had a pedi in my life. And haven’t had a mani in over 12 years.
Haircut twice a year = $40.
Aveeno lotion = $20
Toothpaste, floss, cheap shampoo and conditioner
tom’s deodorant - now optional.
Total of above… less than $200 a year.
I usually get my hair cut once a year for $25 with tip, but haven’t had anyone else cut it since growing out my grey for two + years.I tried a pedi for the first time a couple years ago and loved it, so was doing two pedis a year for $30 each. Usually do an annual trip to Ulta for favorite concealer and foundation $60?) but skipped this year.
To each his own. If I won the lottery, I would do more because I’ve found it enjoyable to be pampered a bit. I’d have more pedis, try massage, maybe get a facial. I’d totally fix my frown lines.
This has been a zero spend year so far on maintenance items.
Agree or disagree:
Gym membership or fees resulting from exercise should not be considered in the same category of beautifying things like haircuts/mani-pedis/botox/brows/massages.
Fitness should be important first to HEALTH. No one should have any guilt that they spend $ on fitness - or feel proud that they don’t.
I’m sure there are ways to be “over the top” about fitness fees. But for example - if you run (which is good for your health), buying new running shoes as old ones expire is the right thing to do for the health of your feet . You can literally mess up your feet/legs/hips without proper support. Now if you collect running shoes and have a closet full just for vanity purpose - that might be “over the top”.
Summary: fun to read this thread! Interesting to see what others “make room for” in their budget for personal maintenance. Please don’t feel guilty if you splurge or if Aveeno is your queen and you are satisfied with yourself and your routine!
I agree with health maintenance being somewhat different, and while we don’t spend a dime on gym fees we do live on a farm, so… 
Mental health is just as critical IMO. I get a bit of my dopamine rushes from traveling. If others get theirs from their personal maintenance being more luxurious, that’s just as helpful for their quality of life.
That would open it up to how much we spend on weed. Where legal, of course. ?
There do appear to be some places that offer both gyms and cosmetic services.
Also, some people exercise mainly for cosmetic reasons (rather than mainly for health or athletic performance, with the cosmetic effects just being usually-welcome side-effects). Examples would include both men and women who exercise regularly before their wedding days but do much less afterward.
No one should have any gilt on spending money on personal maintenance either. If it makes you happy to get a facial, haircut, massage then it is worth it. How do you measure happiness. If you want to judge and determine if someone should feel guilty about spending money on health. Walking, running, playing ball are all free and cheap. There is nothing that says the only way to do fitness is by spending money on gym membership or buying expensive equipment.
I have always taken care of my skin, whereas my sister was not as careful. There were many years that people thought I was her younger sister. In the last year she has really stepped up and it shows.
It is not judging…but I have often met some women and thought to myself, “A facial or an at home mask could do wonders for you.”
Pre-Covid, I generally spent:
$70/haircut every 8 weeks
$30/gel mani about six times per year
$30/pedi once a month from May-October
$25 bikini wax every 3 weeks from June-September (bathing suit season, LOL)
Since March, I haven’t spent anything on anything. My daughter trims my hair, I painted my own nails and took care of the other, erm…personal care matters…on my own.
I’m ready to get back to the salon for a real haircut, but I’ll probably never bother spending money again on the other items, now that I see how easily I can take care of it for free.
I’ve never added it all up. I have really long hair and it gets ragged if I don’t get it trimmed every 6 weeks or so, and that’s about $80 a pop. I enjoy skincare and makeup, but go in spurts. I’m a little bit of a sucker for the latest and greatest. I hate massages, but do get dip manicures every 3 weeks, but tend to lay off of it for stretches of a couple of months. Those are about $60 with tip. Pedicures every month, but also will skip a month or two in the winter. Hair color with highlights- every 8 weeks or so (not highlights every time)- that’s about $125 each time.
@oldfort , I would like to point out that you only quoted a portion of my post - I did say at the end of the post " Please don’t feel guilty if you splurge or if Aveeno is your queen and you are satisfied with yourself and your routine!" - so, splurging is fine if that is what you choose.
Also just want to note that walking/running/playing ball are “free and cheap” - if you already have the needed items - appropriate walking shoes, running shoes and ball equipment like a glove, or cleats or whatever. But those don’t last forever and do come at a cost to replace.
Haircuts - $75 (including tip) 4 times a year (altho in the area I now live, I’ll be spending more once I do go to the hairdresser)
Hair products(not incl shampoo & conditioner) - $75
Face products (incl makeup which I hardly buy) - $100
Don’t do mani; do my own pedi
Live in a bldg with a gym, but haven’t been since March
Total: less than $500, but likely to be $600 or more with new hairdresser
I don’t begrudge anyone for spending more or less than I do. Part of the reason for me is that I have little patience for sitting at the salon getting hair dyed, or getting a mani/pedi. Not worth my time, but YMMV.
I’m fortunate that my mother is a massage therapist. It’s one way we spend time together. Really together. 
She gives me massages, I do her hair.
I don’t think anyone should feel guilty for spending money on whatever they want (assuming its legal and they are not neglecting other responsibilities such as kids, retirement, etc).