How often do you spend money on yourself?

[97guns]

I'm talking about buying yourself a new toy for the boys or a gift for the girls, not talking about clothes, consumables/essentials or something for household use, something you wanted?

Curious because I bought a new Canon camera today and it's been a while since I actually bought myself something. maybe my cell phone 5 or 6 months ago, might be an essential item but I think it's a toy.

[kork13]

Eh, every once in a while. It varies for me, but I tend to be pretty easy to please. Best guess, perhaps every few months I'll get something for myself purely for enjoyment purposes. My wife is about similar, if not even less frequent. Yet even though neither of us splurge heavily or often, I always feel a bit guilty for it in spite of myself. lol

You discount consumables, but certain foods & treats are often one of my go-to "me" things that I only get very infrequently (a few times a year)... Ice cream, for example. My wife is more prone to getting random "pleasure" snacks, but a bag of Doritos once a month isn't too bad.

However, as far as actual splurge spending on myself... I got a stationary bike trainer recently, because I was hating that the winter weather up here in Alaska keeps me from going out for bike rides, and I have a series of bike races I'm going to be participating in during the late spring/summer, so I need to train. Rather than going to the gym, I wanted to be able to train in the privacy of my own garage, then get off the bike and shower in my own home. I don't like working out with dozens of people around me... (yes, I know I'm a bit insecure) We did the same thing for my wife & I at the new year -- we bought an elliptical for almost the same reasons.

**Note: I'm excluding travel & pleasure trips here... We often do 3-4 day weekend trips (or longer), probably every other month.

[AJ444]

All the time. My wife and I each have a monthly allowance we can spend on whatever we want. My last buy was an MLB video game.

[clatoden99]

I spend money reasonably regularly, like everyone else, I suppose. Sometimes through automated payments, sometimes at McDonald's (or wherever I choose to get food from), occasionally on leisurely consumer products.

What's more important, I believe, is what you spend money on, and how much you spend on it.

[krystal098]

I have kept a separate monthly allowance for what I want to buy.

[frugalninja]

Like you, my last big purchase for myself was my Nikon DSLR about 3 months ago. It's probably been years since I've spent that much on a single item for myself.

[disneysteve]

I rarely spend money on myself, especially by your definition which doesn't include consumables.

I can't even think of the last thing I bought for myself outside of food or clothing. I am the epitome of low maintenance.

I do need a new phone and have been putting that off for a while but my current phone is slowly failing. I was just waiting until I was in the new job for a while and accumulated a little extra cash. I'll probably do that within the next couple of months.

[Nika]

I know it goes against personal finance wisdom, but I do not believe that the "latte factor" is really to blame for most people's financial woes.

It is expensive stuff like education, child care, housing, medical care that is at the core of one's financial situation.

I know it is not necessary, but even though I'm staying at home now, I buy myself a latte and breakfast out every day after dropping off my son as school, and often have lunch in a sit down restaurant by myself just because I'm out or don't feel like cooking and my husband never packs lunch. People seem to think of time as being "free" and unlimited. It is not.

Unlike depicted in numerous books and financial podcasts, most people did not get rich by saving latte money. They got there by having large incomes. And the well to do people I see in real life, overwhelmingly are NOT saving on lattes.

We are not rich, we balance our income and our lifestyle. So toys/activities/eating out are things we can afford on a reasonable level. But we are mindful when it comes to cars or any ongoing financial commitments. Clothing and shoes we buy of good quality, but not frequently. We buy what we want/need, but do not do so impulsively. We think about it, research it, and think about how much enjoyment it will add to our lives and if our saving goals will still be on track. I think having adequate incomes, accurately understanding your financial situation, and not being impulsive, is a necessary combination for deciding at what level treating yourself will enhance your life instead of sabotaging it.

[phantom]

Do experiences count? If so, the last thing I bought for myself was registration for a "Saber Fitness" class. (It's like an aerobics class done to Star Wars music with wooden swords taped to look like light sabers.) I saw it more as a commitment to having time to myself every week than as an expense. But, it did cost some money.

[Fishindude77]

Pretty much whenever I / we want. We are empty nesters, free and clear of debt, so have $$ to do pretty much whatever we want. These days, we tend to spend on doing things or going places, rather than accumulating more stuff.

I did purchase a really nice custom rifle several months ago

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Almost never by your definition. I am not a buyer. I do eat out and I do spend money on stuff like that. But buying stuff? Not much I want. If I do want it I buy it.

And earlier Nika posted something I always say. It's not the latte factor. Nice if your latte factor is $500/month but from what I've seen here and in real life people have lifestyle's they can't afford and cutting $200 cable isn't cutting it when the car payments are $1k/month!

It's the basics that run too much. I have a coworker whose husband is laid off since last July and they are struggling. He's going back to classes. But I said could they manage on her income and unemployment or him working part-time. Her answer? NO. They spend $4k/month on minimums of car payments, insurance, mortgage. Before they hit the extras of food, kids activities, latte. That's the problem. Their minimum bills are high period. She said that herself.

So look at the big picture. Yes there are people with latte factor, but if you listen even to Dave Ramsey callers many who have trouble got there because they bought to much house or car or private school tuition, college, etc. Something big that wrecks the underlying budget.

[MonkeyMama]

Pretty much never. I don't remember the last time I bought myself something (per OP's definition).

I am most likely to spend money on clothes and food, as to smaller or more regular treats that are just for myself.

Most of it is that I am not much of a "stuff" person. I think the rest of it is just where we are in life (age). We already have everything we could possibly want or need.

[disneysteve]

Do experiences count?

That would be my question, too. We are far more likely to spend money to do things than we are to buy things.

The last time was just last night when we tried out a new restaurant in our area.

Last weekend we went to Maryland for a couple of days so travel costs, hotel, meals, and a visit to a casino.

This summer, we're going out to Phoenix and the Grand Canyon for a week.

We're planning a trip for the fall to Kentucky to do the Bourbon Trail.

So if you count meals and activities, I spend money on myself all the time. But if you are only counting purchasing tangible items, the answer is hardly ever.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Not sure how to answer. Much of what I buy is tools and supplies for the home or garden. I enjoy those things because they make life easier, but I could do without much of it. For example, I bought about 35 plastic dishpans which serve like half bushel baskets when I have a lot of fruit or vegetables to pick. I bought a dehydrator to speed up drying mushrooms, fruit leather, green beans, etc. I could do it otherwise, but the new tool makes it a little simpler and gives me the option to do it outside of the kitchen. Last week I bought a berry comb to make fast work of picking berries, but I've picked by hand for years, one and two berries at a time. So I didn't really need these things, just wanted them to make daily work more efficient.

A little more indulgent was the Panama mola I bought last month from an antique mall, already matted & framed, ready to hang. I collect molas. On average I've gotten a new one every three years.
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[askarne]

thank you