What (if anything) do you buy other than food and paying bills? - Page 3

[Siennaflower]

Dh's (military) haircuts (at least 2x a month)

Dd1's activities (gymnastics spring/fall, swimming in the summer)

skin care/cosmetics (I have horrible skin, and unfortunately it takes quite a few products to get it in decent shape)

books (we borrow from the library first but if it's something dd1 or I really love we buy it-I have a B&N membership and get coupons and such all the time)

Zoo/theme park memberships (fairly inexpensive and good for summer activities)

Netflix (I could do without this but dh likes the streaming movies/tv shows since we don't have cable)

vitamins/supplements

clothes/shoes (Thrift stores and ebay for most clothes, but shoes I buy new, especially my running shoes)

family pictures (at least once a year)

occasional dvd/blu-ray purchases and Nintendo ds games for dd1 (she trades in her old one for a new(used) one and we pay the difference)

Smart Phones (a definite splurge but we cut out several other services to get them)

We also pay out of pocket for dd1's glasses (tried a cheap internet place this last time and hate them-will try Costco next time around) and anything beyond a cleaning at the dentist.

ETA--We also go to the movies once a month or so, at the Cinema Cafe $1 tickets, drinks only.

[happyhats]

We dont have a lot of discretionary income after bills, household needs, etc.  The biggest chunk of what's left over goes to food, defenitely.  We get food stamps, but that only covers 50 to 75 percent of our food budget.  If we absolutely had to we could live on the food stamps but we would defenitely eat less healthy/no organics, etc.  We also eat out in some way once a week or so.  Other than that, we spend on our dd a fair bit-she's 2, and has had quite a few growth spurts this year so she's always needing more clothes and shoes (and since she has wide feet, it's harder to find inexpensive options there).  Even though we buy secondhand for her the majority of the time, it adds up.  The only other luxuries are netflix (though we're probably going down to the streaming only plan next month as we don't watch enough to pay the extra right now) and hubs phone bill.  I don't think his cell phone is a necessity at all, but it is nice since it's also a camer, camcorder, kindle, etc and he can call me when he's at work or running late, etc. 

We do our best to replace things with higher quality items, but that's not a regular expenditure by any means,and typically only happens when we have extra money (taxes, etc.)

[Magelet]

we spend 10 dollars a week going dancing (for the two of us).  30 dollars every couple months for DP to brew a batch of beer.  We may spend between 200-500 this year on DP's teeth.  I'm hoping we can afford to spend a hundred or two hundred on synogogue membership for me for the year.  We buy used books occasionally. (maybe.... 40 dollars a year?  I buy a lot of "mini library book sale books" for 25 cents.)

We've spent about... 50 dollars on new clothes between the two of us.  occasionally we'll buy lunch or a snack out. (more often while we're house sitting and can save all our money. usually when we're paying rent, very rarely. we go out to a nice dinner (35 for two) maybe 3-6 times a year.)  Small gifts for our immediate families (usually homemade, so the "stuff" to make them).  some fabric, thread, other craft stuff for me now and then.  (again, maybe 50 a year? maybe a little more.)  occasionally some nice thing that we see and love that's inexpensive.  sometimes some food treat (but it's usually only a couple dollars).  DP spends 2.50 a week at a internet cafe playing a game that our computer can't play.

(My parents do take us out to more expensive dinners, movies, and occasionally even theatre or circus shows. We have dinner out with one parent or the other maybe every other month.)

We don't have really much discretionary income at all. Rent at our last place was 60 percent of our income.  We're probably going to be spending 50% on rent in our next place which is a big improvement.  It's just the two of us and our cat.

[honeybunmom]

Our discretionary income goes to:

summer vacation and some holiday travel (depending)

summer camp for dd

mother's helper for me 3 out of 4 Saturday's a month

date night once a month

weekly marriage counseling and sitter for that

gym membership

yarn (I could definitely cut back here and I have)

sometimes I buy fresh cut flowers on an almost weekly basis (more often in the summer)

beeswax candles

craft supplies

professional photos

home renovation stuff (we're in what seems to be a never ending rehab)

home decor stuff

work clothes for me (started a new job in May and need more professional wardrobe, so, still working on seasonal updates)

more shoes than the kids actually need (they each have at least 2 pairs of shoes other than rain boots, winter boots and gym shoes)

Dunkin Donuts - dh (almost daily)

Au Bon Pain - me (about 4-6 times a month)

I think that about covers it.  We are members of organic produce and farm raised meat and egg co-ops, but, I count those under basic food.