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Home > Should I Feel Guilty About a $14 Haircut?

Should I Feel Guilty About a $14 Haircut?

May 7th, 2007 at 12:55 am

This might seem like a silly question to some, but I really do fight feelings of guilt when spending money on what I would consider non-necessities.

Pause for definition of Necessity: Something necessary to sustain life. This would include food, shelter, transportation for dh to get to work. All other items (in my book) are luxuries, to varying degrees.

A little history - I was raised in a home where my mom gave me perms and haircuts until I left home. I cut my dh's and the boys' hair. For all other haircuts, we go to the local SuperCuts training center when they are offering FREE haircuts.

Back to this haircut - It had been about 3 months or more since I'd had a cut. I trim my bangs to lengthen the time before I need another cut. However, last week I realized that it was definitely time, especially before the wedding. The free cuts were not being offered and I had a coupon for a $12 cut. With the tip it was $14. I've felt somewhat guilty ever since.

Tell me, am I crazy? Should I feel guilty and should I have waited until the free cuts were being offered?? Or should I just take it in stride and realize that it's one of those "non-necessary" expenses that will crop up from time to time???

Posted in Finances in General | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Should I Feel Guilty About a $14 Haircut?”

  1. nitajaye Says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 01:01 am 1178499668
    1178499668

    I think with the upcoming wedding you were right to pay to get a haircut, Especially if you get them free everyother time. At least you used a coupon and didn't go to a very expensive place.

    I personally do not mind paying for a hair cut, although I will have a friend trim it up two or three times before i go to a salon again.

    You just have to do what is right for you.

  2. baselle Says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 01:18 am 1178500681
    1178500681

    Please don't beat yourself up over it. Its all about value and being philosophical. Of course the first rule of frugality is that surprises generally cost money, but you knew that already. Was the haircut any good and are you running for political office? Smile I think I'd be bugged if I spent a fair amount (above 20$) and I had pay more to get it evened up.

  3. disneysteve Says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 01:50 am 1178502634
    1178502634

    Sticking to your definition of necessity, we should all be living in one-room huts without electricity and banking virtually every penny we earn. That just isn't realistic. We all choose to spend money on various things, some more necessary, some more frivolous. A big screen HDTV with Tivo would fall toward the frivolous end of the spectrum. A $14 haircut would land solidly toward the necessary end. Forget about it and move on, and enjoy the "splurge."

    Personally, my theory is this. We religiously invest about 20% of my gross income. How we spend what's left after paying for the necessities (food, clothing, shelter, etc.) really doesn't matter. Whether we use it to dine out, see movies, buy clothing, travel, gamble, whatever, makes no difference because all of our current and future needs are accounted for.

  4. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 03:21 am 1178508090
    1178508090

    If nothing and no one is going to suffer or have to change plans because of this haircut, then I think you were fine.

  5. john Says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 07:05 am 1178521535
    1178521535

    Hey, I myself belive in saving a buck but common...it seems like you are obsessed with saving every penny. That is just crazy. What good is having money if you can't enjoy it or feel guilty everytime you make a purchase. I like spending money but yet set a certain amount that I can us on silly things. Do I feel guilty.."NO" So, relax and save your money just NOT EVERY PENNY!!

  6. fairy74 Says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 04:14 pm 1178554488
    1178554488

    I agree don't beat yourself up. Saving should not be all drudgery....$14.00 is pretty miniscule if you are not overspending in other areas. One of the reasons to be frugal is so that when you need (or really want) to do something you can, without guilt. Hope you're enjoying the haircut! Smile

  7. LuckyRobin Says:
    May 11th, 2007 at 11:56 pm 1178927780
    1178927780

    I get my hair professionally cut and styled twice a year...at Regis. $34 a pop (which includes the tip). The rest of the time I trim my own bangs, if I have them. No, I don't feel guilty about it. If I get a really good cut I can maintain it for half a year on my own before I need another one.

    Do you have a local beauty school? We do and they offer cut and style for $7. Cuts are done by advanced students who are all monitored. This is where I used to go to get perms done for way less than half the price back when I did perms. If you can't get them free you might be able to get them cheaper this way. But honestly, a $14 cut once in awhile is not something to feel guilty about unless it comes out of your grocery budget, your mortgage or rent, or your power bill.

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