Today I thought I’d do a post about the things I pay for in life and the things I don’t. I always think it’s interesting to hear what other people like to splurge and scrimp on – you learn things you never would have otherwise. Here are some of mine!
What I Pay For:
Newspaper/media subscriptions. Yes, I know we all hate the paywall but I think given the events of the past few years we all agree that free and well funded media is important, right? Right now, I count The Wall Street Journal, NY Times, (and NY Times Crossword), and the Economist (thats alongside a bunch of magazines, most of which sadly go unread these days) amongst my paid subscriptions, I also feel guilty sporadically when that Guardian UK pop up emerges and get out my credit card. The money each of these cost is less than an item of clothing usually and you use it every day. On a related note, I buy tons of books (if you couldn’t tell from my Weekend Updates). I know there’s the library, but I’m impatient for new releases.
Cleaning service. There are many things I would sacrifice in my budget before I got rid of our cleaners. When we got married, one of the pieces of marriage advice we got was that we should definitely pay for house cleaning. I also have a Roomba which we love but which also terrifies my toddler.
Food delivery. Because sometimes both cooking and going out to a restaurant both seem equally unappealing. Yes our food budget each month can get pretty scary. Sometimes I’ll read one of those personal finance blogs and then feel great shame because I should be making a bunch of frozen meals and then reheating them and then counting my savings and rejoicing. But we have two little kids so basically doing whatever it takes to survive.
What I Don’t Pay For:
Manicures/pedicures. I can’t remember the last time I got my nails professionally done – I’ve always done my own, for decades, since I was a teenager. For those of you interested, here’s a little tutorialI do my own. I have (from almost seven years back! Oh wow) on how I paint mine. My process remains exactly the same. I do like to buy nail polish though. My favorite red – Chanel Pirate (above), and favorite topcoat (Seche Vite, which is now under $5!).
Night nurse. Before you think I’m getting all high and mighty “nobody raises my children but me” know that I have a regular day nanny. I’m all about paying people to help you with your kids. It’s just that the way our house is laid out and the way I sleep, I knew I would wake up even if there was someone helping to rock my baby at night. Which would be infuriating, because yeah night nurses are expensive.
Expensive haircuts. Some of you who know me in real life might be muttering “now it all makes sense.” I used to have a really expensive hair stylist. But she got so in demand that I ended up having to make my appointments months in advance, only to find that the day of the appointment my toddler would be sick and need an emergency doctor’s visit. Etc. So I finally gave up and went to a local cheapie place and it’s been working out…okay. She’s pretty good! In the future, when I have a shorter cut or if I ever dye my hair again, I’ll probably pay for some more expertise. But for now, my easy express, same day appointment cut has been working out fine.
What do you pay for? And what do you not? Please share!
23 Comments
Alisa Gabriel
February 19, 2018 at 8:21 amSo interesting! And you’re right, also revealing. What I pay for: hair cut/highlights — now that some grey is creeping in it is too difficult to do on my own; skin care (photo facial and SkinPen microneedling twice a year) and products (definitely an age thing too); travel; good shoes — I don’t buy many but when I do they have to be good quality. And
house cleaning too, though not weekly. And books! What I won’t pay for: manicures (will have an occasional salon pedi but mostly do it myself); fancy facials — I do this myself and leave the serious stuff to the professionals.
Ve
February 19, 2018 at 9:47 amLove reading stuff like this! I pay for childcare, private school, cleaner, massages, lots of take out.
I don’t pay for- gym membership (we have equipment at home) expensive hair cuts (hubby even shaved his own hair at home, the kiddo has the biggest haircut budget), manicures (I just trim and buff mine)
Jess
February 19, 2018 at 10:12 amI love these kinds of posts! I pay for the gym (for their group classes), haircuts (but I only manage to drag myself there once/twice per year), carwashes, and am planning to pay for house cleaners after getting married recently. What I refuse to pay for is: simple car maintenance (like changing a bulb), simple home improvement (like mounting a wall rack), and books (unless they’re super new releases that will take forever to come through the library, like you said).
C.Michol
February 19, 2018 at 4:37 pmThese are always so much fun!
I pay for hair care (keratin treatments and color), acupuncture and certain supplements (they’ve made a world of difference for me health-wise), coats and jewelry (lol). I don’t pay for take-out (I can cook it better myself), an expensive gym (the YMCA never fails), or expensive skin care products (The Ordinary and Cerave are honestly just as good as anything that costs 4x as much).
Julie W
February 19, 2018 at 7:24 pmI absolutely concur on paying for house cleaning. What a godsend, I would definitely sacrifice lots of other things before getting rid of my house cleaner. I will also spend money on good food, especially when I travel. I won’t ever move again with hiring movers, can’t imagine how I did it when I was younger. I’m a sucker for library books and can’t remember the last time I bought a book, won’t pay for manicures (can’t do pedicures since I don’t like people messing with my toenails), and the last time I went out to see a movie, it was with free tickets 🙂
Wendy/www.wannabeliz.com
February 20, 2018 at 12:42 amI will pay for jewelry, handbags and fashion magazines. Fashion magazines help keep me sane! My haircuts cost $20 tops plus tip. I color my own hair. I do my own pedi/mani. For clothing, I mix Brooks Brothers, J.Crew, Uniqlo and some talbots. I love Kohl’s for undergarments and Levi’s! I try to pack a lunch daily. Lately it has been hard to pack a lunch! I just don’t have as much time anymore?!
Wendy/www.wannabeliz.com
February 20, 2018 at 12:50 amId say for shoes , under $200! I like to buy shoes at Barney’s Warehouse!
I would love to buy pricier shoes but they really don’t suit my lifestyle! I work over 50 hours a week( I like to play, got to pay!) and help care for my Mother on the weekends. Also, fancy shoes are works of art and I’d hate to ruin them. I use drugstore skincare . I purchase my conditioner at Costco! Forgot to add that I love Old Navy too!
linda
February 20, 2018 at 1:29 pmThis is such a good question, and I love the comments, too. I’ve found the older I’ve gotten, the more I pay for, though the less I buy: housecleaner is a must for a good marriage (!), when my daughter was younger, a nanny, private school, nice dinners, hair, warm weather gear, good shoes, jeans, nice gym and Pilates; I just started MD prescription skin care and facials; what I don’t pay for: take out, junk food; regular mani/pedis, sunscreen (drugstore is just fine), cute but unnecessary stuff (a weakness of mine), costume jewelry
Helen
February 20, 2018 at 2:34 pmFun post. Hate me but I don’t buy expensive bags or shoes. I destroy both or am too afraid to carry them (see former). Ok, I confess two pairs of Tieks. I do splurge on gel pedis, bc beach sand will destroy anything else. Also digital hair perms from a Japanese stylist. One will last me 8mo or more, and you look like a Pantene commercial w perfectly rolled hair. I don’t even blow dry that’s how low maintenace it is. See a theme?
wanderlustgal
February 20, 2018 at 3:34 pmSuch a great post! I especially agree with paying for a good house cleaner (saves a lot of time and it’s nice to come home to a clean house), and not for expensive haircuts. 4-5 weeks of waiting for an appointment then $100? No thank you. My current stylist cost $40 including tip and I’m very happy with her.
Other things I will pay for are organic produces, a good home security system and professional landscaper & Gardner; things I won’t are gym memberships (prefer to walk and run outside where there’s fresh air), costume jewelry and going to the movies on weekend nights lol. It’s like $18 a ticket these days!
Mai
February 20, 2018 at 4:29 pmI second on cheap haircuts. I used to pay S$200 (US$150) per haircut at a swanky salon but now pay only S$18 (US$14) for a haircut! I can’t tell the difference between the two stylists except one is snobbish and the other is super down to earth and friendly.
Revanche @ A Gai Shan Life
February 20, 2018 at 9:19 pmYes to daycare, a mix of takeout and some premium groceries (delicious cheese, the occasional steak, seafood), good food, treats, supplements, and any veterinary care for our dog, books by WOC (I’m using the library a ton but minority women authors need more support!), educational fundraising in our local schools, athletic shoes (mostly for PiC). Basic high quality clothes that should last years.
No to house cleaners (husband is so picky I’d never hear the end of his fussing over anything they did wrong), haircuts (I’d love to dye my hair but realistically I’d never maintain it), mani/pedi, fancy frilly clothes. We don’t live a fancy clothes lifestyle and I’d do well to remember that! Good nannies were so hard to find that I wouldn’t bother anymore with trying to find one or night nannies.
Chloe
February 21, 2018 at 5:04 amThat’s an interesting view that you have on paying for night nurses. I, on the other hand, absolutely recommend having and paying for a night nurse especially for the first few months of the baby! Even if I did wake up too when the baby cries (especially since I did EBF before), it’s nice to know that someone’s literally watching over my baby while everyone else is asleep. Also, it helped with the recovery process after giving birth and I definitely had more energy to take care of the baby during the day.
Sesy Hassan
February 21, 2018 at 6:06 amInteresting topic as I had thought about this lately. I save on expensive makeup with multiple products i.e primer, foundation, etc but splurge on monthly peeling and facial at my dermatologist. My skin’s texture has improved a lot and even out my skintone. Tinted sunscreen and a little bit concealer is enough for going out. I also save on mediocre scarves but splurge on high quality materials like silk and linen. Though I wear scarf everyday but five scarves are enough as long as I cover cool and warm neutrals and bold colors to spice things up. I also save on expensive makeup brushes since I like to use my fingers. No need to sanitize or waiting the brush to dry. I used to splurge on nanny and I feel that it was a good decision because though I was not hands on 100%, I can actually enjoy playing with my son since I had less stress. And I agree that hiring a cleaning lady is a splurge at the beginning but quite a good “investment” at the end.
bisbee
February 21, 2018 at 9:39 amNever had a house cleaner during my first marriage. Now, my housekeeper has been working for my husband for almost 40 years…she is family. I get a manicure every 2 weeks…pedicure on the same schedule in warm months. Same nail tech for 12 years. I get my hair colored every 4 weeks…trims a few times a year. Same hairdresser for over 25 years…I am loyal!
I don’t do facials, Botox or fillers…I take care of my skin myself. I am trying to convince myself that I have enough expensive purses, and I never did very expensive shoes…to walk on the dirty street? Not for me…and I no longer wear heels.
No gym…just bought a new treadmill. And…I am retired since the end of December!
Katherine
February 21, 2018 at 10:08 pmCongratulations on our retirement!!
Michelle
February 21, 2018 at 12:39 pmGreat article! I am your total opposite! I will pay for expensive haircuts ‘cos I have short hair and when it’s messed up, I can’t exactly tie it up and have to let it grow out and looking ugly in the process. I will only pay for gel manicures with design since I like fancy nails. Regular manicures no way, I will do it myself at home. I will also pay for a few pieces of nice clothes for the girls (dresses for sure and the occasional tee from European labels). House cleaner for sure – I have had one since we got married and it has been great! But I have a hard time paying for RTW but there are a few rare exceptions 😀 I also won’t pay for media subscriptions as the same articles seem to become available elsewhere at a later date. I finally stopped all print subscriptions as I was no longer reading them. I won’t pay for gym membership, I will rather workout outside or in the comfort of my own home. Plus I can work out anytime and keep an eye on the girls versus being outside the home or having to make an effort to get to the gym. I will pay for good food and groceries but won’t pay for food services since the food is not to my taste.
Sarah Henrietta Jones
February 22, 2018 at 3:14 amgreat post. I spend a lot of money on yoga classes. really worth it in my view if you get expert tuition. You tube class is not the same. 🙂 My haircuts are expensive but is a low maintenance, so worth it for me. I have a gardener! yes I know ridiculous – especially if you see the size of the garden, but they do the window boxes as well which makes for a great view.
On the not spend side: I do my own cleaning. (tiny flat, tidy husband, no kids and no clutter -so easy to maintain!) I do my own nails and skin care. ( easy and I do it better than anyone) I dont run a car, use public transport or walk.
S in HK
February 22, 2018 at 7:43 amHmmm…very thought provoking! I am completely guilty of indulging in jewelry, handbags, hotels, and the occasional business class flight (using miles and company). I also love nice hotels as they really make my trip (and make me feel safe if I’m traveling alone)! I do like Lululemon which I think is so expensive for what it is but don’t buy it often. I don’t spend much on clothing these days (for the most part I find I tire of novelty things after 2-3 outings which is a huge waste of money and bad for the environment), haircuts (mine is so simple and costs less than $10), designer kids clothes, alcohol (I don’t drink), shoes (for the most part). I also can’t wear heels as I used to, so saving tons by not pining away for the latest and greatest. With a very active little boy, I don’t have much energy to go out at night. During the workweek, I like public transport too unless I am in a real pinch. The taxi drivers are totally hit or miss here, as is the traffic.
tata
February 22, 2018 at 10:11 amso interesting!!!
I do also pay for cleaning service, GOOD daycare, nice purses and shoes (although i don’t need many… just a couple basics) and i do splurge on mani/pedi, facials, massages IF i feel like it but I don’t do it all the time.
I don’t pay for Gym memberships…. i do prefer running/walking outside and doing my own yoga practice (although i would attend workshops if taught by teachers i love) and we have a great pool for swimming. I also stopped paying for expensive salon hair products. I started using drugstore shampoo/conditioner and it works fine. I do occasionally buy nice hair masks or oils.
the few things i have been considering no longer paying for….
CABLE!!!! I never watch TV… I never have time to watch TV… Neither does my husband but he can’t seem to let it go…. Also, i’ve always loved flying business or first class… but once my kids started traveling with me, it started becoming more stressful worrying about the comfort of others around me. so i started traveling coach on family trips. and while i miss traveling in comfort, traveling with the little ones and seeing their minds expand is so much more rewarding!
Yumi
February 24, 2018 at 10:12 amLove this! I completely agree with you about paying for housecleaning – no more fighting and a clean home! The other thing I pay for is a personal trainer because it essentially forces me to be in shape (which is always a good thing for me). Things I try not to pay for are are tv streaming services (I want to minimize my Netflix watching), eating out regularly (I prefer to spend the money on local organic produce), and manicures at salons.
Bee
March 13, 2018 at 7:48 amGreat post, and love reading all the comments!
Bee
March 13, 2018 at 7:51 amOops hit post too soon…
I splurge on: travel, skiing, hair color/cut, exercise classes (SoulCycle isn’t cheap!!), manicures/pedicures, investment clothing/accessories, fresh flowers, and now daycare – no idea how expensive that would be!
I skip/save on: house cleaning, takeout, television/movies, car expenses (walk or take public transit), dry cleaning, cheap basic from old navy/target