What do you feel are "reasonable" costs? - Page 3

[Krystal323]

A shirt (everyday clothes, nothing special)  free--or up to $5 from the thrift shop if it was something awesome like a name-brand nursing top
Pants again, free to $5.
Shoes  generic/kids' shoes? no more than $20.  if they were running shoes/quality/well-made/designed for foot health, well...up to $100 I guess.  Not that I can afford that, but that's one area I think it's worth it to not scrimp.  Also, quality shoes can last ten years as opposed to one season, yk?
A haircut  Google how to cut your own hair.  Nobody in my family's paid for haircuts in like 7 years.  Even if you DIY and mess it up, and THEN pay for a cheap fix-cut (say $10), at least you tried to be frugal first! 
A massage  Find massage therapists that are open to barter, and leverage what you've got!  

Nails or pedicure  DIY or barter
A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.)  Depends hugely on what it is, how qualified the teacher is, how much your kids are enjoying/getting out of it, and of course how often he/she is going.  For a class that was 1 hour a week, I wouldn't spend more than $40/month personally--but YMMV.  
A toy  Again, depends hugely on the age of the child, the type of toy, how durable/long-lasting it will be, etc etc.  I would spend $$$ on a sturdy wooden handmade thing that my kids woudl adore and that would last for years...but not on a $50 hunk o'plastic that would sit un-played-with a week after purchase.  Gnerally the older the kid, the more I take their opinion into account.  I won't spend the same on my 4yo as on my 12yo, yk?
A monthly night out with friends or your spouse  Ideally nothing, or rather, the cost of groceries to make a good dinner together, and maybe a cheap bottle of wine.  We might go to the theatre once or twice a year, and that will be just the tickets.  We spend a lot of time at home instead of going out.

[iowaorganic]

A shirt (everyday clothes, nothing special)  I buy $6 long sleeved t-shirts at Target.  Those are my favorite.  I do usually layer with a $4 tank though- so really it is a $12 shirt I guess.
Pants  I only buy jeans I love and I only buy them when mine are looking really really bad.  But I spend good money on them.  $85.
Shoes  Depends.  I paid $200 for my leather exterior Uggs and they are fantastic.  Generally though I wear cowboy boots for about $125.
A haircut  $20 and she comes to my house.  
A massage n/a.
Nails or pedicure  The last pedi I had was $25.  That was reasonable.
A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.)  No clue.
A toy Hmmm. That is such a broad range.  Depends on the toy.  I wouldn't spend $20 on a Ken doll for DD so I bought her the $5 and a separate outfit for $5.  But I have spent $40 on a die cast toy tractor for DS....
A monthly night out with friends or your spouse  I don't ever go out with friends- but DH and I will usually spend about $100 on a night out- but that includes gas since we live in the middle of nowhere.

[Attila the Honey]

A shirt (everyday clothes, nothing special)   We buy used so I am going to say anywhere from a quarter to $3.
Pants I am spoiled because there is a thrift store in our area and it has extremely nice clothing for 25 cents.  So, again a quarter to $5
Shoes   quarter to $5
A haircut  we cut our own hair or a friend does it for us for free
A massage   I've never had one, but I think a dollar a minute sounds about right. 

Nails or pedicure  I've never had one, I've had fake nails before though and they cost about $25
A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.)  $10
A toy   This is hard.  I just know that few toys are priced reasonably! :)  
A monthly night out with friends or your spouse  This is my Achilles' heel.  I spend about $15-$20 every two weeks on going out with friends.  Going out usually involves a pub/tavern with munchies and drinks.

[mumkimum]

a shirt:  new - $10 or less, secondhand (usually the case here) $5 max, usually $3
Pants   new - $30, secondhand $5 max
Shoes  $30, sometimes $100 for a special kind that would last for several years
A haircut  maybe $20?  I've been cutting my own for years so I have no idea
A massage  $60-75 (if only this were in the budget  )
Nails or pedicure  I have no idea, maybe $10-15
A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.)  Not really sure, I find around $25-35 for 5-6 classes pretty normal (thats . . . $5 or so a class)
A toy with no special reason max. of $12 (usually having dd buy it herself), for a holiday max. $35 or so (say for a big playmobil set)
A monthly night out with friends or your spouse  Usually we have 'nights in' with takeout and watch a movie we already have, so maybe $30, but I love $120 meals out at nice places that we used to do (and find that reasonable.
 

I'm enjoying the interesting thoughts of everyone about worth/value and wages.  May come back to think about those with you.
 

[lilyka]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy 

I am just curious on the variation in what people consider "reasonable" costs for items & services -- the cost that you would pay and feel like the majority of people would be able to pay.
For ex., what would a reasonable cost be for:
A shirt (everyday clothes, nothing special)
Pants
Shoes
A haircut
A massage
Nails or pedicure
A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.)
A toy
A monthly night out with friends or your spouse
Feel free to add other items... Answer with the assumption that you'd spend money on those things, even though I know some people, myself included, don't actually spend on some of those!

 A shirt : for girls $5- $10 for me $20-$30

shoes: for girls $30 for me $40-$100

pants : girls $10- $20 for me $30-$75

hair cut: girls $15 for me $20

color: $25

massage/nails - $0 This is not in my budget

class for the kids - also not in our budget

toy/book: $10-$30 (depends on the toy/book)

date with boyfriend: $50-$100 (dinner or movie)

evening out with a friend: $20

birthday party $100

gift for a friend: kids $15 my friend $20-$30

[Hoopin' Mama]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy 

I am just curious on the variation in what people consider "reasonable" costs for items & services -- the cost that you would pay and feel like the majority of people would be able to pay.
For ex., what would a reasonable cost be for:
A shirt (everyday clothes, nothing special)
Pants
Shoes
A haircut
A massage
Nails or pedicure
A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.)
A toy
A monthly night out with friends or your spouse
Feel free to add other items... Answer with the assumption that you'd spend money on those things, even though I know some people, myself included, don't actually spend on some of those!

Since you are saying everyday items - I buy almost all shirts and pants at Savers or Exchange stores.

Shirt - $10

Pants $15/20 

Shoes $80-$110  I'm fussy about my footwear but I only buy 1-2 pairs a year

Haircut - $30 - $35 but I only go 2x a year

Massage - $50/hour

Nails or pedicure - Don't do

Class for kid - $10-$14

Toy - $7.99

Night out once a month - $40
 

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by lilyka 

birthday party $100
gift for a friend: kids $15 my friend $20-$30

birthday party: maybe $40 if I'm providing lunch, favors, etc.
gift for a friend: kids $5 my friend $10-$20 (though that's after getting a good deal, so the gifts would originally be ~$15 for the kids and $30 for my friends)

I'll admit I'm jealous that some of you have 25-cent clothing stores!!! Even the cheapest thrift stores here don't tend to go lower than .99-$3.99 for shirts on half-off days, more for pants.

[Poddi]

Originally Posted by AnkaJones 

I've really been wanting to do this -- at least my own hair if not DHs.  Did you have a background in this?  It seems risky.  Or are there special tricks?

Thanks,

Anka

Oops, didn't see this for days.  Nope I have no special skill in cutting hair.  We have two boys and cutting boy's hair is not hard.  You can probably find a couple videos on youtube and that's all you need, plus scissors and trimmer of course.  DH and I have very long hair.  All we do is trim off the bottom couple inches every few months.  If your hair is at least mid-back length, you just need to comb it to as straight as possible, pull it tight and cut off some.  If you're doing  your own hair you need to divide it in the middle, pull each half to the front and cut in front of a mirror.  I can find some instruction online for you if you're interested. 

*I'm surprised at the thrift store prices you guys quoted.  Clothes here are usually priced from $4.99 to $8.99 for a regular adult's shirt and up to $12 for used jeans.  Kids clothes are cheaper but usually cost $3 -5 each.  I don't know what I'd do if I see clothes priced at 25 cents each.  I'd probably outfit our entire extended family. :D

[DoubleDouble]

Originally Posted by Poddi 

*I'm surprised at the thrift store prices you guys quoted.  Clothes here are usually priced from $4.99 to $8.99 for a regular adult's shirt and up to $12 for used jeans.  Kids clothes are cheaper but usually cost $3 -5 each.  I don't know what I'd do if I see clothes priced at 25 cents each.  I'd probably outfit our entire extended family. :D

Yeah, same here. Thrift is not so thrifty here. I can get a new regular adult shirt for that much, and trying on is easier at a regular store.
 

[SunRise]

Same, here ... the thrift stores in my town charge the same amount for shirts that are on the sale or clearance racks in regular stores.

Originally Posted by DoubleDouble 

Yeah, same here. Thrift is not so thrifty here. I can get a new regular adult shirt for that much, and trying on is easier at a regular store.
 

Originally Posted by Poddi 

Oops, didn't see this for days.  Nope I have no special skill in cutting hair.  We have two boys and cutting boy's hair is not hard.  You can probably find a couple videos on youtube and that's all you need, plus scissors and trimmer of course.  DH and I have very long hair.  All we do is trim off the bottom couple inches every few months.  If your hair is at least mid-back length, you just need to comb it to as straight as possible, pull it tight and cut off some.  If you're doing  your own hair you need to divide it in the middle, pull each half to the front and cut in front of a mirror.  I can find some instruction online for you if you're interested. 

*I'm surprised at the thrift store prices you guys quoted.  Clothes here are usually priced from $4.99 to $8.99 for a regular adult's shirt and up to $12 for used jeans.  Kids clothes are cheaper but usually cost $3 -5 each.  I don't know what I'd do if I see clothes priced at 25 cents each.  I'd probably outfit our entire extended family. :D

[meemee]

Originally Posted by DoubleDouble 

Yeah, same here. Thrift is not so thrifty here. I can get a new regular adult shirt for that much, and trying on is easier at a regular store.

at some thrift stores selling a bit more modern fashion that is the same in my city too. 

yet its still better quality you get at the thrift store. i have seen the clearance rack at the store has low quality stuff - definitely not top quality unless of course its either uncommon sizes. by quality i mean say forever21 - sweatshop low quality products but smart looking.

i have bought (or rather a friend who knows better than me and its her hobby) has bought me stuff from thrift stores that has lasted me quite a while. if i buy a shirt of that amount at target they look washed out after a few washes. however my favourite are ethnic clothes at the thrift stores. i find a LOT of asian outfits. i wish i would find some south american ones too. once in a rare while i do and also from africa. love the african prints. 
 

[Nicole730]

:

A shirt (everyday clothes, nothing special) - $10
Pants - $20
Shoes - $30
A haircut - $15
A massage - $1/minute
Nails or pedicure - $25
A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.) - $10??  We aren't there yet
A toy - $5-$30
A monthly night out with friends or your spouse - $50 with spouse, $20-$30 with friends

I've had a massage a couple times, I get cheap haircuts once a year, I've gotten a pedicure a few times, but nothing regular.  I think $30 is on the high end for a toy at this point, but my kids are little. 

Edited by Nicole730 - 11/22/11 at 10:29am

[DoubleDouble]

Originally Posted by meemee 

yet its still better quality you get at the thrift store. i have seen the clearance rack at the store has low quality stuff - definitely not top quality unless of course its either uncommon sizes. by quality i mean say forever21 - sweatshop low quality products but smart looking.

I've been the queen of sales when I wasn't working full time plus overtime - my "disposable income" grew significantly from sales. Beautifully tailored $159 lined silk dresses for $14, $129 silk dress and jacket ensemble for $11 or $12. Seriously, I'm spoiled. Thrifting would not work like this where I live. Sigh.

[meemee]

Originally Posted by DoubleDouble 

I've been the queen of sales when I wasn't working full time plus overtime - my "disposable income" grew significantly from sales. Beautifully tailored $159 lined silk dresses for $14, $129 silk dress and jacket ensemble for $11 or $12. Seriously, I'm spoiled. Thrifting would not work like this where I live. Sigh.

see my friend is like you. she thrives on this kinda thing and being a teacher she finds blocks of time where she can do this. 

me i get overwhelmed. seriously. i'd rather pay 129 than wait for the sales and then sift through what they have. and since i dont have the 129 i cant buy it. i admire my friends who have the sale acumen. they keep an eye open on everything - sales and coupons. i cant live my life that way. i just cant do it. 
 

[Attila the Honey]

We have the more expensive thrift stores around here as well, but I only shop at them on half off sales days and I am very choosy with what I buy.  Our quarter store used to be a dime store!  It's in a affluent college community and tends to have really nice stuff, it's my favorite thrift store in our area not just because of the price but the selection.

My mother claims she can get things new as cheaply as shopping at a thrift store, also. (Not the quarter store - but other thrift stores.)  But, it's far too much work for me.  She used to work in a mall and she would stalk sales and clearance racks at least a few times a week.  She has some awesome deals to show for it but I just can't spend that much time in stores and I am not that organized.

[oma to 9]

A shirt (everyday clothes, nothing special) I make most of mine.  A shirt might run me $10 depending on fabric but I can wear one I make for 4-5 years before it starts falling apart.

Pants I don't wear 'em.  I wear skirts and dresses and jumpers.  They cost more than a shirt because of the fabric weight so I'd say maybe $30 for a denim jumper that lasts for 5 or 6 years before I give it away.

Shoes  Now these I splurge on.  I have to.  I have EEE feet, high arches, wide insteps, and a bunion on my right big toe.  I spent $69 on my Birkenstock sandals 7 years ago and I'm still wearing them.  I paid $109 on my Birkenstock clogs the same year....still wearing them.  I got some New Balance tennies at the outlet store for $59 3 years ago.  My boots were $45 on clearance 3 years ago. 

A haircut  Um....my daughter is a cosmetologist.  That's free for me.

 
A massage  If I need one, I go to the chiropractor and get a therapeutic one for a $15 copay.

Nails or pedicure  See the comment in the haircut question above.

A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.)  All grown and gone.  My oldest daughter did take music lessons, for which she got scholarships and I paid I think $10 for the semseter.   When I was in nursing school we got a family scholarship to the YMCA for 3 or 4 years that included vouchers so I got them swimming lessons every summer with those.  Classes, other than those, were a luxury we couldn't indulge in.

A toy  I haven't paid more than $25 for any toy.  I get them on sale, on clearance, or second hand. 

A monthly night out with friends or your spouse  Monthly?  It's been at least a year since we've been out to eat.  I'm disabled and loud sounds or noise can trigger a lot of pain so that eliminates most restaurants.  We did go to a couple concerts last year - Celtic Thunder and Celtic Woman; they were about $120 total each, so that's what, an average of $20 a month if you spread it out over the year.  This year we haven't been to any.  The transmission on my car ate up our expendable income and then some.  If we want to do something special I make a homemade pizza or two and we watch a movie.  We never even went on a honeymoon and don't go on vacation either.  It's just not in the budget.

[MonkeyPrincess]

A shirt (everyday clothes, nothing special) - less than $5
Pants - less than $5
Shoes - before my accident, I never spent more $20 on a pair of target slip on shoes; but now I have a life altering foot injury and had to pay $50 for one pair of sneakers!
A haircut - $20
A massage - $60/hour
Nails or pedicure - $25
A 1-hour class for your kid (music/dance/art/yoga/karate/etc.) - umm...not sure
A toy - varies wildly...would spend a decent amount on highly desired quality items, but we don't really buy alot of toys. thrift store $1 - $5, I guess.  
A monthly night out with friends or your spouse - ha! babysitting would be $50, movie would be $30, dinner would be $60...I don't think we have actually ever done that, though.