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How much would I need for an allowance?

April 3rd, 2008 at 07:06 pm

We don't have an allowance each in our family. But we do spend splurge money these days. We go out to eat, we buy presents for folks, and we buy some junk food for ourselves. We just don't have an 'allowance' of individual splurge money.

After the recent discussion on the boards regarding how much was reasonable, I thought I would look at our spending over the last few months and see how much of it was 'my waste'...and I came up with zero.

Well not exactly zero, I bought a pair of maternity jeans and some hand lotion. with my Christmas/birthday money. But as far as from the house budget, meaning my husbands income, zero.

Now peeking at my husbands spending..he bought some maternity clothes for me and some vending machine pop - out of his Christmas/birthday money. He also bought a few miscellaneous things on Ebay that I don't know what are and don't care as they simply sit in the garage taking up space. but that was with Ebay money (from him selling not his paycheck)

So if I were to make an allowance for myself up...it wouldn't need any money! I am a low upkeep kinda gal though. No fancy hair I leave it natural color and other than a wash and conditioner with occasional olive oil I don't do anything to it. My fancy face scrub is sugar, no makeup. I wear the same necklace and same rings as pre kid, and I am VERY happy with them (well except for my discovery yesterday that my wedding ring had to go on the necklace since my fingers swelled.....) I don't 'go out' with friends (though we have plenty come here) never a movie or eating out without the family...If I wanted to rent a movie I would use the free collection of my brother in law. So what else would I be spending money on anyway?

Am I just too boring for an allowance?

8 Responses to “How much would I need for an allowance?”

  1. Caoineag Says:
    1207247668

    I don't know that you are too boring but I would question whether you ever do anything for yourself. I know my mother had to be practically forced to do anything for herself.

    That said, what my husband and I include in allowance covers a lot of things that other people make separate categories for. i.e., bowling, a visit to the botannical garden, random weekend vacation, items needed or wanted for our home and garden, gifts to friends, etc.

  2. gruntina Says:
    1207250856

    I am a lot like you but soon I will need an allowance and a big one! I plan on taking one course at the college to see if I can ease back in the dream of getting a degree in Occupational Therapist. Since it is just a trial and not quitting my day job over it, I will need money to pay for the course as well as books and extra gas for the longer commute. I will consider it more of an allowance rather than needs at this moment as I am not sure if it will be something I will finish and accomplish a better paying job.

  3. merch Says:
    1207253416

    My wife is an OT.

    My allowance is for parking, lunch, dry cleaning, and weekend coffee. (about $50 a week).

    My wife's is mainly for a cup of coffee a day ane some treats.($25 a week)

    everything else we have a budget for item for.

  4. compulsive debtor Says:
    1207255014

    We do our allowance a little differently. First we call it an "expense account" and it covers personal care (i.e. haircuts), clothing, shoes/purses, lunches out personal growth, and hobbies. We allocate on average $160 every two weeks for this per adult. We keep it even money wise, so nobody feels slighted. For instance, my hair appointments cost more (yes, I believe in paying someone to dye my hair) than my husband's, but he still gets the same amount of money as I do. His is just distributed differently.

    Now, having said that, I think you need to learn a little self-care. There must be something you like to splurge on every now and then -- a class, coffee with friends, something.... If you can afford it, I think it's wise to not deprive yourself. You and your family will thank you in the long run.

  5. princessperky Says:
    1207325875

    Dunno I feel spoiled most of the time, I take an hour of kid free (ish) computer time every day (with chocolate usually) and I love to settle in for a super HOT shower with a face scrub as needed. I just don't think I would want any of the other 'treats' others mention....

    Of course I am a homeschooling SAHM..so that makes my life pretty cheap..I do buy programs for the kids when I want em, and I take the kids to Discovery place when I want to (pre kid I took my nieces, I LIKE those places!)

    So I am very 'spoiled' just in non traditional ways...and the expensive ones are family fun, so I don't need a personal allowance. I do need a family one, and having lived without for a time I am glad we can afford it now.

  6. nanamom Says:
    1207421182

    my DH and I have an allowance each. I let him decide how much since he makes all the money. I then cut mine in half and do sharebuilder and prosper with half. The second half I usually spend on him. WE alocate a set amount for presents but anything more comes out of our personal spending money. So I save the other half of mine for him. I did buy myself an origami calender this year but can't think of anything else I bought that was personal. Hair cuts come from the general fund according to my DH so i really don't have anything to spend it on. I think he uses his for coffee and treats at work mainly. Plus he pays his geocaching fees out of it.

  7. cptacek Says:
    1207504783

    You wash your face with sugar? What does that do for your skin? And what does the olive oil do on the hair? Is it after the conditioner? Do you leave it in?

    After those selfish questions are out of the way Wink, I applaud you for being content and happy with your life. Don't feel pressure to spend more on yourself. You seem really happy!

  8. princessperky Says:
    1207583938

    Yes I wash my face with sugar, but not every day, it is an 'ex-foliating' scrub, done once or twice a week it keeps the skin smoother and all that.

    Olive oil for the hair is a 'deep conditioner' that I used to do more often, I comb it into dry hair one night (when I wont be going anywhere the next day) and then wash it out the next.

    And thanks for being the voice of support! I am pretty happy Smile..well pregnant and tired, but happy!

    Oh the olive oil and sugar will not help excema..that I use Eucerin for, nothing but the real thick 'paste' like cream..and that costs an arm and a leg! but since it is merely a pregnancy condition I don't take that out of allowance either Smile

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