I have been thinking a lot about this lately in my own life and i have to say it isn't very much. I did have a cleaning lady, but today was her last day, the budget is really tight. I don't get my nails done, I don't go shopping, I don't even pay to get my hair done, I drive a 11 year old car and my cleaning lady was all I spent money on and I feel really bad that I don't have it anymore. I cried when she left and I am crying now just thinking about it.

It feels like DH gets whatever he wants and I can't have the one thing I really wanted. I know the bidget is tight, but why does my one thing have to get cut? Sorry to go off my own subject.


What do you do for yourself? Nails? Gym? Go to get your hair colored or done regularly?

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Gym. I go at work AND I have a Y membership...it's over a grand a year, but I don't care.....I feel so much better when I take care of myself.

Sorry to hear about the cleaning lady.....I know froma another post that you really appreciated having her....maybe you can get her back after a bit....

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Magazines and books. It's very relaxing to me which benifits everyone else in the long run. I also get my hair high lighted every 2/3 months, but I figure that's just maintenance. LOL

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Sorry flipper. That doesn't sound fair.

I used to feel like I did little for me. Once I began subbing more, I bought more clothing for myself. I get highlights every 3 months and I am back to the gym several days a week.

I am going back to work full time next week and may consider a cleaning lady too. Our budget is tight, but as long as bills are paid, I figure we can work some "luxuries" into the plan.

my thing : internet!!!
dh never gets online,the kids do!!

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By the time you make ends meet, they move the ends

I got acrylic nails about 3 months ago so I spend $30 a month to maintain those. I just got a new smile, read $5000+ in dental work, so next on the list of spending is dh's lasik surgery. My dh spends NO MONEY...maybe $20 a week. I am thrifty so we have lots of stuff but we don't go crazy on things or cars or such.

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TLJ ~ Women United in Spirit

This is a good subject to discuss.

I subscribe to several magazines that I enjoy, read a lot (but I get library books as a rule). I buy a couple of pieces of clothing every 3 -4 weeks. Definately internet is relaxing to me.

I need to do more. I like the idea of a cleaning woman but I only have DH, me and a teenager. They can run a vacumm cleaner. It doesn't take me too long to clean as our house is fairly in order. I am thinking about going to a more expensive hair salon if my currently stylist doesn't step it up. A gym membership should be a treat to myself but..............

I did get new caps on my front teeth and a professional whitening job last year. I don't regret that at all. It makes me feel better about myself.

I take Italian cooking classes once a month at $40.00 a class. Well worth it. I take various other short term classes that interest me too.

I'd can't wait to see what others do! Flipper, I'm sorry about your cleaning person, but maybe we can get some good ideas here!!

Hugs,

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Donna

Well, life is too short and you SHOULD do things that make YOU happy....I get my hair done every 6 weeks, peddicure every 3 weeks and shop for clothes and other things once a month or so.

Do not deprive yourself!

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TLJ ~ Women United in Spirit

I have found myself buying more for myself lately, nothing really expensive or anything, just flip flops or a new book (yup, I love to read too).

I think I took it harder than I expected and it just got me thinking about why I don't spend money on me, that was my big expense, it was $170 a month. It is hard for us in the winter months without the overtime we really struggle to pay the bills and the cleaning lady actually skips a couple weeks in there for us since we are so tight then. SHe understands, but I felt bad, she has a rough time with bills as much as we do, so I felt bad cutting her short as well.

I know we are having a hard time affording her, that is not a question, maybe that's why I am upset, I had to face that. DD starts full time Pre- K next month and it's over $250 a month, which is really pushing us over the edge.

I do need some cheap splurges for myself and books end up getting expensive when you read one in a day or two and our library is about 1/2 hour away. Maybe when they are in school, I can take time to go there and get a bunch at a time, actually be able to LOOK for myself instead of at the kiddie books.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

You should check out PaperBackSwap : Your source for swapping books online! it is great. It is literally trading books, not just paperback books either. It has saved me lots of money. At our library it takes forever and a day to get the good books plus it's just not convenient for me to stop by there.

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My one splurge is going to a rock concert. Maybe once (twice if I'm lucky) a year I go. Seems all I do is work and come home. Oh.....The internet is my splurge too.

Work and come home, eat, sleep, work again......rat in the wheel.....I hear ya on that!

On the books, I am not a reader but "deal" in books quite a bit for my personally therapeutic care package activity. Two good sources: the Salvation Army and local library book sales (either ongoing or once/twice year events). You aren't likely to find the most curent books at SA, but may get lucky....although I find tons of great titles, some never read....for 50c. My library's ongoing friends of the library book sale (they sell books that people donate) is my source for more current titles. I get lots of trade paperbacks there for 50c. They also have hardbacks for $1. I don't buy those because they're more costly to ship and not the best thing for my recipeients. Maybe your library has something similar??

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

It's hard when you have kids to do anything for yourself.
I myself don't do my nails or any of that crap either. I go to the park and walk instead of paying way too much for a y membership. I would love to get a massage but no $$. I've taken up furniture shopping on craigs list.. nothing makes me happier than seeing my starter house come together so we can get this thing up for sale!

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Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers

Sometimes while the kids are at school, I'll:

Go to a matinee by myself or with friends.
Go for a walk around the lake -- leading the dog and listening to my music in my ipod.
Volunteer at a place that has nothing to do with my own children or their interests.
Ride horseback.
Do a home pedicure (thanks to a thread awhile back in which I learned how to do it! aah...)
Check out books and dvd's to read/watch during the day.
Go to yard sales/thrift store and check out what is there!

If all else fails, I'll make lists of things that need to be done around the house (ie painting, recaulking, etc) and do those things.

You can be very creative! I have never done this but I've heard about people going to the hospital maternity ward and holding the preemie babies or visiting the cancer ward... There is a long list of things to do that don't cost money or cost very little but can reward you both emotionally and spiritually.

I am sorry to hear about your cleaning lady... I know that had to be hard.

Wow.....I feel you, I'm so sorry you had to let the cleaning lady go, you deserve something for you.

Dh and I have been discussing this lately.....When he wants or needs something he gets it, and I have to cutback on the household expenses sometimes because of it. He bought me a mp3 video player as a "me" thing. Only this is I didn't want one, already have a mp3 player that I was happy with, and he bought me what he has been wanting for the last week or so....go figure.

We all need me things.......I haven't had much me time lately, but when I do like to sew. It relaxes me and I love to see what I can create, and since I know have a huge stockpile of material (haven't bought any new for almost 2 years) I can sew the little ones dresses or outfits and it can save money. I have say I've made them some really cute thing too....and I love seeing them wear them, gives me a sense of pride, but I haven' t sewn in months, I don't get my hair done, no nails, Last time I shopped for me was for DH's change of command, because I was told me clothes sucked.....I'd be happy with 5 mintues alone....no one following me into the shower or bathroom. Sorry, started rambling a bit, been a sore spot between DH and I, and I really hate that since we are down to a little over a month before he heads back to Iraq.

You deserve something that is just for you......!

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"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

I get highlights every 2.5 months

I have a gym membership (gotta have my yoga)

I eat out lunch occassionally. Sometimes I buy a new book, sit on a restaurant patio and munch on an appy while I read. I'll sit til I finish the book LOL

I work hard to save as much of our money as I can by shopping wisely, using coupons, etc. So my DH doesn't mind if I do these things. That said, if DH lost his job or our budget got tight for some reason, I would forgo everything but the gym. There I can unwind...even watch a movie or TV just to get away from the kids (sometimes you need that). When our water bills were going up, I really cut back on showering at home LOL I took LONG showers at the gym

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Let's see...............


#1) I go to my nail place every 3 weeks and get the following done:

manicure with fill-in for my wraps, pedicure, and eyebrow waxing

#2) Hair cut (as needed) - If I have a party to go to, I go in and get it washed and straightened - I can never straighten like they do....lol

#3) Gym membership (haven't gone in a while - gotta get back into routine)

#4) Girls night out (Dinner) - once a month

#5) Shopping - I am a shopaholic - LOL

I'm sure there is more - cannot think at the moment.......

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MyCoupons Is #1 for Holiday Shopping

I actually did NOT do anything for myself at all for the first few years of my marriage ( how sad )

Until my OWN DH sait to me " Hey its Ok go ahead and get yourself what you want/need "

So now....

I spulrge in shopping at bath and body works and Victorias secret ( of corse I still use coupons and get deals )

I buy some Clinique cosmetics ( especially when they have the gift w/ purchase deals )

and I especially don't hold back when it comes to eating out if I have a taste for something I go for it.

Like a poster said life is too short, and also to quote my own mother in law " hey if you don't get what you want now then you die and all you saved was for nothing ".

this does not mean I don't save I think I was beign TOOO thrifty with my own self that even my DH and MIL noticed.

LOL, you crack me up! Sounds just like what I would say! I make DH give me a massage, boy does that feel good! And I don't mean in a dirty way , he really does a good job when i can talk him into it.


I actually dug out some of my Dad's books a couple days ago and have read 3 this week so far. I go on these spurts of reading, I can't stop right now. I always pick up magazines when I can get them cheap or free and I will read anything really.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

I wanted to add to check out your local community college -- if you have one!

I've taken watercolor classes and yoga. I really want to take an upholstery class but can't fit it in this semester.

If you pay for 1 credit hour ($65 a semester), you have unlimited free access to the workout room which has weights, exercise equipment, etc. AND you also have free access to the indoor heated swimming pool.

Like a gym membership but much cheaper.

Also, taking classes is a great way to meet people in your community who have similar interests to your own.

Shoes. Shoes and more shoes!

It is a sickness...but, I love it...

Maybe one of those i's is for Imelda!!

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Oh, If you only knew!

It's the one thing I can's say no to --- a sexy pair of shoes (on sale, of course). They call to me...even in my sleep!

I'm lucky that the man in my life embraces this mental illness I have.

I'm not going to touch that one with a 10-foot pole....this being a family site and all.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I take a pottery class, it's $50 a month, I have always enjoyed throwing on the wheel ever since I was in high school so a couple of years ago I started taking the class, now the teacher has just given me a key to the building and I can go whenever I want instead of during the structured time and he told me I can bring DD with me whenever since she loves to make pottery too. The other thing that was for me is a couple of years ago we splurged and had an inground pool built, it was something I have been wanting since I was a little kid and we do use it almost everyday, and in the winter use it on weekends. It is something the whole family uses and is great for parties and entertaining (we just did a swimming/cookout back to school party for DD's class last week). I have bad back and knee problems so the pool is perfect for excercising for me. The other thing I do for myself is I only work part time, I like to have time to do things I want to and with DD and DH and spend time with my dogs, the family gains benefits from me being around more, plus I get to do more things that I want to do, like read, yard sale, swim, do pottery, volunteer at church, shop, I can't stand the thought of working an 8-5 job like I used to.

I go out to lunch with friends occasionally.

We had a cleaning lady for 10yrs. When we decided to get me a new car we had to give her up. (2yrs ago).

Well I decided this week that I was going to start subbing at school. I even applied for an aide job. (hoping I get it). We kidded around that if I got this aide job we could afford another cleaning lady.

That is something I am willing to splurge on!

I am subbing one day next week in the position that I applied for. I hope they like me and hire me for that job.

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Pearl Jam!
My dh knows I will buy all their new releases.I just pre-ordered their new DVD last Wednesday.
And I will see them at least once on every tour. Last tour they didn't come anywhere near me so I went to them. Spent about $1200 for airfare(they were only 6 hours away but I hate to drive/ride for that long so we flew) hotel and then my PJ tickets(they were cheap tho only $112 for two) and eating out for 3 days ohhh and taxis while we were in Chicago.

But hey I had to see them!

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Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking

What I do for myself?
The internet.Watch movies online.Buy birthcontrol,Spiro and vitamins.Thats about it.This year I had to buy a few new clothes because I gained 15 lbs. on the birthcontrol but its very rare that I will by myself clothes.BF spends all the extra money we have on building his dream chopper that he will never be able to ride because he doesn't have a drivers license.