Another _ Oh you must have money _ comments

**mommy4ever** · 08-14-2007, 10:05 AM

I mentioned to a friend the girls and I are booked to get hair cuts. She asked where we go since we all have such cute cuts. I told her. She had the deer in headlights look. Oh your husband must make really good money that you can all go there.

Well, we don't, we are lower middle class for the family of 6. We have debt, but we have cut it back dramatically in the last 6 months. We've made mistakes, but are now living within our means and really paying off the debts. Another 15 months and it shoudl be GONE!

So I wonder. I do use an expensive salon. I've had way too many bad cuts. I've got curly hair, and everyone wants to blowdry it or straighten it. I LOVE my hair. So I one day decided to splurge. I want to the expensive salon, booked it with a girl who loves working with curls. I gave her free rein(scary), and she did it up perfectly. As she finished up, she told me she'd see me again in 6 months to a year, depending how fast my hair grows. It's about 10 months. This person, goes every 6 weeks for a color and cut. Even if the cut was 1/2 price, she pays more than I do since she colors, I don't. My cut looks fresh right until I have to get another cut, since the ends are then starting to split. the girls don't use the same stylist, but they still get a good cut, dd10 has curls too and needs a decent cut for it to be manageable all year. DD8 has wavy hair and it's easy. But the cuts there for kids are only a $5 differenct than anywhere else for a much better job. I've never had to go back and have them fix a mess left by a bad cut.

Isn't that what frugal is about, best value for your money? Cheap is different.

It's funny, because she has latte's etc several times a week, the kids all get gourmet hot chocolate, likely $12 a stop. If they gave that up for a month, she too could pay for her hair cut at a higher end salon. The haircut is the one luxury I take right now, until all my debts are paid. And if you break it down, my hair cut costs me $9.23 per 6 weeks. Even a low end place, like Cut 6 is $19. SO I am getting the better deal.

**Little Birdie** · 08-14-2007, 10:16 AM

I wouldn't compare it to her lattes (at least not out loud -snicker-).

**baxjul** · 08-14-2007, 10:20 AM

Oh, I feel for ya sister! Doesn't it piss you off!

**mommy4ever** · 08-14-2007, 10:21 AM

ROFL.. No I never point out what I see, unless asked for help. Which of course is never. But are they ever quick!

Dh has co-workers that are so far in debt! Nearly $1K a month in carpayments, a huge mortgage, and more cc debt that is unbelievable. And they ask him, aren't you tired or driving old vehicles? Wouldn't it be nice to just buy a car and drive it? My response is, aren't you tired of $1000 monthly payments? Wouldn't it be nice to just OWN it?

**Denvergirlie** · 08-14-2007, 10:23 AM

I'm with you on this one. I get my hair cut perhaps every 6-8 months, somtimes I go 10-12 months between cuts.

I no longer visit the cheap places, because I traditionally have to go and get it fixed a few days later at a better place. it's just not worth it. I get a quailty cut, I just get it much less frequently than many others do.

**mommy4ever** · 08-14-2007, 10:38 AM

I'm glad I'm not alone on this one. It doens't work for everyone, if you wear your hair short, it needs more maintenance, I understand that. When I go, she cuts it at the shoulders, with all the texturing she does, she's magic. Then when I return to get it redone, it's mid shoulderblade, and still looks good, but it's starting to need more work as the weight is pulling it down. She's just awesome. I do mean to ask her if she ever does it on the side. She'd make more, I'd pay less. The kids can't see her, well, they can, but it would be the same fee as me.

**leezza** · 08-14-2007, 11:21 AM

Well heck, doesn't everyone now adays think they can comment on your personal business........yeesh!

I think you are doing your treat and what is good for you and your family....
And she has no reason to open her big mouth.

leezza

**Cricketlegs** · 08-14-2007, 12:03 PM

I say, if you have your budget in place, you are actively eliminating your debt (and I don't mean minimum paysments lol) and you have started and are adding to your EF then heck you are living in your means and beyond so go get your hair done!

It is all about the numbers. When you get the numbers in the right place and cut out the C**P spending it makes it okay to spend on these things like cuts and new clothes now and then.

I just spent $85 on 2 nail care systems for me and my oldest dd. Now YIKES but I had the money and it is not something you use up and DANG IT we are worth it!

Would I do something like that every month-no.

Your hair is very personal and part of you so I do not think it is a splurge if it is budgeted.

**fernykins** · 08-14-2007, 12:31 PM

Everybody needs a little something for them. If it lasts you 8-10 montha and you are happy with the finished product, go for it. I cut mine about once a year.
Fern

**Jskell911** · 08-14-2007, 12:36 PM

I'm with you on this one. I get 2 cuts a year and go to a great salon. DH gets his sut every 6 wks and goes to one of those discount places. I thought he'd die last time he told me to treat myself and get highlights and lowlights when I got my cut. Bill was $90!! Yikes! But he just said I still probably spend less a year than he does.....

**Little Birdie** · 08-14-2007, 01:19 PM

I wouldn't even necessarily call going to a good salon a treat.

If she averages the price out over the 10 months it lasts and comes out the same as or ahead of the price of the number of cheap cuts she would need to not turn into a shaggy bush, then it's a frugal decision, plain and simple.

On the other hand I have straight hair and I like it cut in a bob. Really, Great Clips can handle this to my satisfaction, so that is where I go (with a coupon!!).

**mommy4ever** · 08-14-2007, 01:45 PM

Oh, I'm not saying those places aren't good. It has worked for dh and ds. Now I just spend and get good clippers and I do their hair myself. So that saves, $31/6 weeks on them. The clippers pay for themselves in 3 months, and then over and over for several years before they need to be replaced. However, with curls, it's harder. I've had my hair butchered more than once. So I get a great cut once a year, and I don't even need to do any maintenance, just wash and go.

Once ds wants to have his hair more styled, I'll learn, he too has curly hair, but wears it ina brush cut for now, soon he'll want more of a ceasar cut and that I can do with clippers at home, still. The girls, well, I don't mess with their hair, they need good scissors, and I'm not good with scissors unless we're talking fabric.

**ewokgirl** · 08-14-2007, 02:26 PM

I used to go to a mid-priced salon, but then it closed, and I just never bothered to really look for a new one. I started going to SuperCuts and found that they did a good job. But my hair is really easy to work with. If I had more complicated hair, such as yours, I'd definitely go the expensive route with it!

That woman was probably just jealous, hence her rude comment about your husband's salary. You're right; it's all about priorities in how you choose to spend your money. She obviously has other priorities. Personally, I can't comprehend throwing money away on frequent lattes, but it's her business if she wants to do that. But that means that she really has no right to comment on how you spend your money.

**savin4disney** · 08-14-2007, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by mommy4ever

So I wonder. I do use an expensive salon. I've had way too many bad cuts. I've got curly hair, and everyone wants to blowdry it or straighten it. I LOVE my hair. So I one day decided to splurge. I want to the expensive salon, booked it with a girl who loves working with curls.

Another curly hair girl who pays good money for a good cut. Funny though I like to straighen my hair at times. Not with chemicals with a blow dryer.

Some of my favorite products are by:
John Freida
Marc Anthony

**GFNancy** · 08-14-2007, 07:46 PM

I'd rather pay extra for a really good cut too. My hair is really tempermental. It's mostly straight, but goes in weird angles in various places.

With all the different products and appliances and time it takes for me to do daily damage control on a bad cut, it's never worth it to me. If I have a good cut that just falls in place, I don't even need to blow dry it.

Nancy