Some examples of my purchases. Are these reasonable or frivolous?:
$45 haircut every 6-8weeks
$40 makeup every 3 months
$75 lingerie every 6 months
$25 BC per month (nuvaring - has been the best BC option of the 3 I've tried)
I think the haircut is pretty expensive, but I'll also add that I look and feel better when my hair looks good -- and a good cut makes that happen. I'd suggest this method: Get the expensive haircut, then go to a $10 walk-in place to "maintain the cut". I do this, and I tend to do two "maintenance cuts" between each expensive cut.
Another option: Is part of that $45 cut a shampoo and style? I always wash my hair and go straight to the haircut place, which saves $4 at the cheap places. And the style can cost $10-20 -- outrageous for something that only lasts a few hours. Either bring a ball cap and pop it on as soon as you've left the salon, or go straight home.
Also, keep an eye out for coupons or discounts. They're not uncommon. For example, every time you go to -- is it Great Clips or Famous Hair? I forget -- you'll get a $2 off your next haircut coupon at the bottom of your receipt. Because they have an expiration date, I usually can't use them myself, but often I'll get a cut, and my husband will use the coupon for his next trim. I got a good deal last Christmas: I'm pretty sure this one was at Famous Hair. They charge $12-14 for a plain cut, but last Christmas they offered a gift card that was good for four cuts. Between us, we've already used up the card, and I agreed that this year I'll buy two. I'm sure they'll be offered because the woman who cut my husband's hair last told him that they sold like hotcakes.
The make-up sounds quite high to me -- and I use a special, rather expensive base make-up for a skin condition. You can't be going through quantity in such a short time. Do you just enjoy trying new colors and styles? Or are you rough on it?
Ideas:
Set yourself a budget. I'd think you could cut that down to $20 and still have plenty.
Never, ever buy a make-up product that isn't on sale /doesn't have a coupon -- this is easy at CVS.
Go to the expensive department stores where you can "try before you buy". I know I am AWFUL at choosing colors, and I'd rather have just 1-2 eye shadows and lipsticks THAT REALLY WORK than a dozen that aren't "quite right for me".
As for the lingere, I like having pretty things, but I don't know that I agree that expensive stuff lasts. I tend to buy Victoria's Secrets stuff (get on their mailing list, and you'll get coupons a-plenty -- the best are "one free panty" coupons), and I know I've bought multiple pairs of the same line . . . only to find that one pair lasts and lasts, while another falls apart quickly. It seems random, and I don't understand how this can be.
I always wait for a good sale on bras -- they're so expensive, and I take an unusual size. I wash them on super-delicate in the washing machine and then dry them on a towel rack. Panties don't seem to need the special care. If yours are wearing out quickly and you don't want to mess with hand washing, you might try washing in a mesh bag in the washer.
I've heard that the Gilliam-and-Something line at Target is made at the same place as Victoria's Secrets.
As for birth control, I'm with the others here: Skimp in other places, but not on birth control. The cost of an unplanned baby would vastly overreach the most expensive birth control.
Having said that, I used a diaphragm with much success, and a perk is that it's probably the cheapest option: I used the same one for years and years and years. If you haven't tried one, it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.