Ask:
My brother was here the other day and had just gotten paid he ended up giving me $100 for nothing really. I was going to spend it on myself but when me and dd got to the store I ended up spending most of it on school supplies and then on stuff to make banana slpits that we had for dinner. I had planned on waiting to buy school supplies until after her birthday on the 27th and after I had gotten child support, but I didn't. Why is it so hard to just blow a $100 on myself? I always have a hard time buying things for myself. Everytime I go to buy something I need for myself I end up buying twice as much for my kids. I hate it.
Answer:
I do the same thing! I went to the mall to shop for summer clothes for me & ended up buying new pillows for dh's & my bed, shoes for ds & a new phone. I got exactly 2 tanks that were on sale for $5 & a purse off of the clearence table for myself & at $35 for the purse even that made me feel guilty I keep telling myself that when cool weather gets here things will be different...we'll see
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My Mom is forever buying me things b/c I don't buy for myself. I just don't think about it, and then when I do, I think it's selfish of me. I went to Kohl's and bought a shirt for $7.49 and felt guilty. My reasoning for myself and clothing though, is that I'm losing weight, I think it is a waste to purchase items for myself if they won't fit me in 2 months. Maybe I won't feel as guilty in 20lbs!
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I do that too. I was planning on spending the money that I got for my birthday on me! But I didn't, I ended up getting things for the boys, or the house. Oh well, there's always next year!
Erin
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I never shop for myself. I don't know why??? I just always find cuter things for my girls and end up spending all my money on them.
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I also feel guilty if I spend money on myself. Maybe it's because we're mothers.
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I can usually find something for the kids that I'd rather have than something for myself. Occasionally I'll get a nice new outfit for a special occasion, but usually if I have any money for me I either put it towards bills (boring I guess, but I feel guilty spending it on me if it can be used elsewhere) or most likely buying the kids something.
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Add me to the list. I almost always shop for others.
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I feel quilty if I spend money on myself instead of the kids. I have even used gift certificates I got for Christmas to buy clothes/toys/books for them. We are just unself moms. Plus as Americans even unconsciously we are into material possessions and feel bad if our kids don't have the newest toys, shoes, etc.
I know someone who is completely opposite (I think she is kind of selfish myself). She actually spent thousands of dollars to get a boob job instead of helping her daughter pay for college.
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I only buy for myself if I absolutly have to have something. The last major purchase I made was 3 bras. I was done nursing and the only bras I had were 3 years old and too small, so I had no choice. I will shop for my self and my DH after we get our tax refund and usually limit the $$ spent on myself to $200 and that has to last me most of the year. Luckily that time of year the winter stuff is clearenced and summer stuff has just come out with intro sales, that way I can cover all the seasons. 5 years ago I invested $130 in a Coach bag that was on sale 50% off ( it was $260 at the outlet and 50% off) right after Christmas (Mom gave me some $$ to be spent on myself) and it still looks brand new, it will last for at least 10 more years and is classic enough no to go out of syle. That comes out to less than $9 a year, before I would buy a cheap ($20- $40) every year or two and the lining would just rip or get nasty and Coach bags have no lining, it's just the leather, which makes them last longer with no lining to get gross. That was my last splurge but it turned into a frugal investment.