^for those willing to spend the money, and able to afford it, spending on personal maintenace services keeps many employed.
Pre- pandemic:
Haircut at fancy salon every six weeks
Gel manicure twice a month
Pedicure monthly
Waxing as needed
I can’t imagine when I’ll be comfortable in a salon again, and am trying to adjust personal maintenance to that reality.
I spend about $200 on my hair every 7-8 weeks, around $1400 a year and I give my friend a cash gift for her birthday and Christmas. I spend a lot on skin care products, probably close to $2000 a year, but when I have a physician appointment the notes always read “patient appears younger than stated age.” I attribute that to genes and skin care. I don’t wear a lot of makeup but when I do it is pricier stuff. I get my eyebrows done on occasion and have had a manicure once in my life - for my daughter’s wedding. I do belong to a gym, but I am reimbursed through our health insurance plan if we go and provide reports of attendance which I am happy to do. Earlier this year, I had a facial which was around $600, including tip. I am no longer working with a Pilates trainer after an injury, but subscribe to a number of fitness apps so I guess that counts. For being low maintenance, probably around $5000 a year.
This definitely shows differences. I look in the mirror and don’t give a hoot what my face looks like, even as it ages, but when some of the people I’m around tell me they haven’t gone anywhere I imagine all sorts of places I think they’d like if they’d give it a chance (or could go financially).
I hardly ever notice what someone else looks like or what they’re wearing. I’d be an awful eye witness.
“What color clothes did they have on?”
Uh, I don’t know. I can tell you it wasn’t a clown suit… and they were wearing something.
People tend to view others through their own lens. If you care about clothes for instance, you are more likely to notice what others are wearing. Less so if you do not. Same is true for other priorities and non-priorities.
Clothes are really important to me. It’s a subject I read and research, and attend museum and gallery exhibits.
Pre-pandemic we travelled several months a year. Planning and ordering a new carry-on capsule wardrobe was a major source of entertainment and enjoyment.
The small, made to order, clothing company I’d been buying from closed due to the pandemic. So very sad.
I also think it matters if you are still in the workforce. I forgot about brow threading- that’s about $15 every 8 weeks or so. (that’s when they rip out your stray brow hairs with threads)
Prices for all these personal services seem to vary tremendously depending on the area, the setting (a salon or a home), and the person who provides the service. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. For me, the question would be not what you pay, but why you use the service. I use services (hair salon for cut/color/highlights, facial, pedicures, eyebrow waxing, etc) because I enjoy them. I feel like I’m treating myself and there are no calories. Also I’m blessed with good genes. I think ageism is rampant in our society and I hate the way people are so condescending to older women. I hate service people (usually men) who say, “What can I do for you young lady . . .”
I’ve always considered myself somewhat low maintenance.
Haircuts, 4 times/year - approx. $100 per cut
Highlights, 2 times/year - approx. $200 each time
Make-up and other personal products - I never added up the cost as it is part of my grocery shopping…nothing high end.
Gym - where I currently live, I am required to pay an amenity fee which includes the gym in my building, which has been closed for at least 6 months so far.
That’s it. Never have manis, pedis, botox, massages, or other things mentioned in this thread. I do my own nails.
Clothing has been mentioned in some posts, but I never consider that “personal maintenance!” That said, I do buy and like clothes. I do not buy designer clothing. My clothes are name brands, but not high or low end ones. I think I have a reasonable budget for clothing. I shop online for it. I consider clothes to be the one thing I do or get for myself. It is pretty much the only thing.
Hair cuts once or twice a year. I always mean to do it more often, but I hate going. $60 each.
I gave up dying my hair in 2018, but did it myself so cost was minimal.
I put hand lotion on face almost every night - two bottles a year maybe $20?
I think I had my nails done once in 1990 - it was a Christmas present from my boss because she was shocked I’d never had it done! I occasionally do it myself.
I buy makeup from the CVS occasionally - mascara, lip gloss, foundation, some eyeliner and eye shadow - maybe $20 a year. I only wear it to parties.
Nothing fancy in the way of soap, shampoo or conditioner.
I’ve never done botox or any kind of plastic surgery, though I have had some weird bumps removed from my face.
I think I just have too many of my mother’s Puritan genes!
I forgot to mention that last year, I had laser on my face; it is not something I ever thought I would do, but I was tired of looking in the mirror and seeing myself ten years older than my chronological age! I had two session that cost under $1k (I don’t remember the exact amount), and it was simply the BEST thing I have done for myself in years, and as a bonus, dropping 10 years from my face, inspired me to drop 10lbs from my body!
What was the name of the laser treatment?
@CottonTales I think it was Alma My derm. was running a ‘holiday special’ and I think I paid about $450 a treatment. For two weeks, I looked as if I’d been splattered with paint, but wow, what a difference now!
Well I thought I was relatively low maintenance but I guess not! Haha! People around here spend a lot more than I do on some of this stuff!
Hair color every 3 weeks $1125
Haircuts (about 3-4 times a year) $400
Salon Hair products $120
Gel Pedicures $250 ($50 with tip about 5 times a year)
Make Up/Potions $400
Pilates (Ugg) $5000 (do not judge, please)
Clothes/Shoes $2000
I stopped Pilates for many years but restarted now that kids off the payroll. I feel better than ever because of it!! Admittedly, it is a luxury!!
My splurge is my hair because it’s thin and sparse, so a good cut and color are important. A good friend runs her own studio from home – it enabled her to be available for her special needs S as he was growing up. I get cut 3-4x/year @ $50, color 2-3 times @$100. My gray is mostly in the underlayer, so it buys me time between procedures. I just went 6 mo without a cut, so she did my hair on her porch.
I do my own nails, get makeup at CVS (I don’t wear it much).
I am REALLY missing getting my eyebrows and lip waxed. I have shrubbery-level eyebrows, but going in to a shop is out of the question. Plucking them is slow and painful, and I never get it right.
I don’t do anything with my skin – I’ve always had very oily skin, which has had the happy long-term effect of keeping it wrinkle-free so far. Trade-off was acne til menopause!
I stopped wearing makeup about two years ago and my skin has never looked better. Unfortunately I have way more grey hair so I’m at the salon every 10 weeks for a color and that’s stretching it. I really should be going much more frequently but it’s so expensive here. Twice what I paid in OH.
I am much higher maintenance than many lol!
Cut and color every 6 weeks like clockwork. My hairstylist has another job so she does hair part time now. I’d rather cut off my arm than change stylist and the hair needs it, so 6 weeks it is. She dropped all her clients that only need cuts and my color has never been better.
I wear makeup from Sephora or Ulta. I wear mid price face creams.
I spend money on my personal maintenance.
I am impressed by everyone who keeps close track of these things. @ChoatieMom that is amazing!
I know that I spend $300 for a cut and color plus tip every 5 weeks, don’t do mani/pedis, buy DevaCurl hair products, which are expensive, and buy makeup from Glossier (reasonable) and drugstore (cheap!)
My Y membership is $60 a month, which is a bargain. I was paying nearly twice that in MA and the gym wasn’t as nice or as clean.
I think of myself as high maintenance, but I guess I’m average.
Imagine that, an average person on CC!
Before COVID-19, haircut every few months, about $12 each (now just letting it grow long).
Shaving supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, shampoo less than that (low price brands are fine).
No skin lotions other than sunscreen lotion when there is risk of sunburn (depending on length of time outside, time of day, clouds, season).
Lots of outdoor exercise motivated by health and athletic performance reasons. Effect on appearance is a beneficial side effect. Sports equipment is sometimes expensive, but irregular in frequency and cost. Pre-COVID-19, there were also a few hundred dollars per year in sports event entry fees and the like, plus sometimes travel costs to them (now zero because almost all events have been cancelled).
Pre-COVID, $110 haircut (plus tip) every eight or ten weeks.
$80 (plus tip) for hair color every eight or ten weeks.
Gym costs me $9.99 per month. I love my gym. (And yes, I’m going now, even during the pandemic. It’s nice and empty, and clean.)
Occasional facial waxing – $20 (includes tip) every three or so months.
No manis or pedis or massages or facials.
CeraVe lotion and Cetaphil cleanser, both of which I buy on sale at Costco.
Wow, I’ve been stunned by some of the costs (I assume due to high cost of living areas) listed for haircuts and coloring.
I pay $35 for haircuts and consider it a splurge compared to the Great Clips option down the street. I now use a solo stylist, at her home, because she is one of the few places in town that still does perms. Perms cost me $75 a few times per year (pre-covid), and ha…now that does not sound so pricey.
I don’t do any haircoloring, but in past few years (pre-covid) I’ve done pedicures a few times each summer … I think they were about $35 (or $60 if I added gel manicure too).