How much do you usually spend per month on non-essentials/fun purchases?
September 4, 2025
How much do you usually spend per month on non-essentials/fun purchases?
29 comments
Thousand or two, depends on the month. This month have been expensive, two 2026 vacations.
Trying to save up so as little as I can lol
Like $1k-1.5k
$100 or less
$50-150
Mainly takeout food, and spending $50 from my fav dessert store lol
I try to stay around $100. For energy drinks, the movies, and a few thrifted items.
Not too much, maybe $200? I’m trying to save money
I have kids and room in the budget, so $2K easy.
Around $500/month mostly in the form of food like work lunches (vs. packing lunch), ordering delivery for dinner approximately once a week, and nonessential groceries.
Zero for the past year 😠salary compression sucks
400-600. Dinner out every week or other week. Lots of nail polish. Clearance clothing.
I have $500 from each biweekly check go to my fun money account so usually a bit over $1k.
That’s between my credit card and my bank account. That’s none of my business.
Too much. Approximately 2,000 or so.
A lot then I should
Excluding going out to dinner? Very little. I don’t buy ‘stuff’ or at least try not to.
$0.
I’m saving for land so no purchase is justified. But I’m also so many years away (only $50k in bank) so this is a stupid approach. Don’t have money anxiety like me, live your life the way you want.
$0.
I’m saving for land so no purchase is justified. But I’m also so many years away (only $50k in bank) so this is a stupid approach. Don’t have money anxiety like me, live your life the way you want.
Nothing for the past few months. 😒
I’m retired, my home is paid for, and I have no debt. I spend about half of my SS check on eating out and buying things for my kids/grandkids. So far I haven’t had to dip into my 401k.
It probably averages around $25/month or so.
Around $500-$700 depending on the month
It really depends. Many of the “non-essentials” can be essential for your mental health, so it’s better to budget for that, in my opinion.
For example, going to the gym, or a spa, or getting your nails done. For many, they’re essential to being well.
Too much. Speaking from 10 days since payment
I try to gain points on my credit card and go and buy something that I’ve been needing and/or wanting. Right now I need a pair of black closed toed work shoes, but I want a nice pair that will last a while.
About $50-70 a month on coffee drinks for me & my family (we go every Saturday).
200
I have a $300/month fun budget that’s purely for fun stuff–eating out, movies, games, whatever.
I also have a $250/month “miscellaneous” budget which can range everything from household essentials like TP to donations to stuff like clothes that’s somewhere between a want and a need.
You could also say the $450/month I spend on the dog is non-essential, but I consider her daycare 2x a week as essential to my personal mental health.
Too much lol but I do consider my cosmetics/skincare/perfume spend necessary, I can’t function without them
29 comments
Thousand or two, depends on the month. This month have been expensive, two 2026 vacations.
Trying to save up so as little as I can lol
Like $1k-1.5k
$100 or less
$50-150
Mainly takeout food, and spending $50 from my fav dessert store lol
I try to stay around $100. For energy drinks, the movies, and a few thrifted items.
Not too much, maybe $200? I’m trying to save money
I have kids and room in the budget, so $2K easy.
Around $500/month mostly in the form of food like work lunches (vs. packing lunch), ordering delivery for dinner approximately once a week, and nonessential groceries.
Zero for the past year 😠salary compression sucks
400-600. Dinner out every week or other week. Lots of nail polish. Clearance clothing.
I have $500 from each biweekly check go to my fun money account so usually a bit over $1k.
That’s between my credit card and my bank account. That’s none of my business.
Too much. Approximately 2,000 or so.
A lot then I should
Excluding going out to dinner? Very little. I don’t buy ‘stuff’ or at least try not to.
$0.
I’m saving for land so no purchase is justified. But I’m also so many years away (only $50k in bank) so this is a stupid approach. Don’t have money anxiety like me, live your life the way you want.
$0.
I’m saving for land so no purchase is justified. But I’m also so many years away (only $50k in bank) so this is a stupid approach. Don’t have money anxiety like me, live your life the way you want.
Nothing for the past few months. 😒
I’m retired, my home is paid for, and I have no debt. I spend about half of my SS check on eating out and buying things for my kids/grandkids. So far I haven’t had to dip into my 401k.
It probably averages around $25/month or so.
Around $500-$700 depending on the month
It really depends. Many of the “non-essentials” can be essential for your mental health, so it’s better to budget for that, in my opinion.
For example, going to the gym, or a spa, or getting your nails done. For many, they’re essential to being well.
Too much. Speaking from 10 days since payment
I try to gain points on my credit card and go and buy something that I’ve been needing and/or wanting. Right now I need a pair of black closed toed work shoes, but I want a nice pair that will last a while.
About $50-70 a month on coffee drinks for me & my family (we go every Saturday).
200
I have a $300/month fun budget that’s purely for fun stuff–eating out, movies, games, whatever.
I also have a $250/month “miscellaneous” budget which can range everything from household essentials like TP to donations to stuff like clothes that’s somewhere between a want and a need.
You could also say the $450/month I spend on the dog is non-essential, but I consider her daycare 2x a week as essential to my personal mental health.
Too much lol but I do consider my cosmetics/skincare/perfume spend necessary, I can’t function without them