How much do you spend on personal grooming and/or your work wardrobe each month?

Question

Given all the data that's out there on the impact of not wearing makeup to work (i.e. you're seen as less professional and ultimately earn less money), many would make the argument that 'personal grooming' has an unfortunately direct tie to women's career potential. So, if these purchases — makeup, haircuts and coloring, manicures, office attire — are ones we *have* to make for work, my feeling is that the gender pay gap may be even worse than we think. The money for this is coming straight out of our paychecks, after all, and men don't have to pay for these same things! I believe I'm spending about $400 a month on these types of costs — some months it's less, some months it's more. That's almost $5,000 a year!! What about you all? How much are you spending on these things monthly?

Anonymous · Answer

Hmm...nails are about $40 a month, I haven't gotten a haircut in over a year so no $$ there, but unexpectedly, when I looked at my line by line budget accounting, I actually spend around $240 on clothes/shoes/accessories (like backpacks) per month when averaged (in my head, I don't spend a lot but it's because I go MONTHS in between buying clothes, but when I do, it's apparently a blitz!

Anonymous · Answer

My monthly spend is minimal. I wear mostly cheap makeup (whoops!) and have a few nicer products that I purchase only every couple months. But I do splurge on nice soaps + shampoos and have a few daily skincare products. I also have a nice razor subscription that's like $10 a month. I don't color my hair, so I only cut it a few times a year, and I do everything else (nails, brows, etc) at home. All in all, I'd say my monthly costs are MAX around $100 on average, but some months less.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm mostly cheap in this regard — dye my own hair and only get it cut maybe twice a year. I basically never get my nails done (that $ goes toward cheap massages in Chinatown, which isn't so much a grooming expense?). All my makeup comes from the drugstore. Clothes are where I'm a little less disciplined.... some months more than others, but average spend is maybe $200/month? (eek.)

Robin Stone · Answer

Well ladies I am VERY good to myself  LOL and spend $100-$500 a month....the higher months are mani, pedi and hair cut/color....it’s expensive to maintain our image but I believe worth it. I’m a BIG fan of ThredUP....I cannot begin to tell you the $$$ I have saved on this site.
In addition, I’m a big fan of LeTote or GwynnieBee as wardrobe costs can be controlled by these clothing rental options.

Crystal Rhineberger · Answer

Roughly 5.00-35.00 every month, but I am a massive thrift store shopper looking for killer pieces to work in, I have a shampoo and conditioner system that lasts for months and so does my all natural soap bars. Often the 35.00 is because I had to buy razor blades, tampons, and hair color in the same trip. I am also an avid coupon user

Nakia Whittaker-Woody · Answer

Personal Grooming is around $100 a month on hair and nails, but as for wardrobe, I personally only buy clothes in April and October to save money on end of season clothing. As a single mother for so long this was a great solution for getting great career wear at discounted prices.

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