Woman Left With $150 Every Fortnight Despite Having Household Income Of $180,000

A woman on TikTok sparked a debate when she mentioned that she can't afford self-care routines like getting her nails or hair done, despite her household earning $180,000 a year.

As living costs soar, many people find themselves having to trim their budgets and give up certain luxuries to manage their finances better.

This includes a 27-year-old insurance worker and mother, who shared her own financial cutbacks.

She's doing this in hopes of saving enough to buy a home within the next year.

The reaction online has been mixed.

The TikToker questions how people afford 'self care'. TikTok / @aliceraspin

On a Saturday, the 11th of May, Raspin asked her TikTok followers for advice on managing self-care expenses.

She expressed her astonishment that some people manage to regularly afford beauty treatments like nails, hair, lashes, and brows, despite her and her partner's significant income and their tight budget aimed at saving for a home by July 2025.

She explained, "In order to do that, I only have $150 spending money per fortnight"

She detailed her own beauty costs: maintaining her nails costs about $100 every four weeks, and her hair appointments run about $200 every eight weeks.

Additionally, getting her lash lift tint, brow lamination, sculpt, and dye all at once costs $170 every fortnight.

The total monthly cost for these self-care routines adds up to $370, which exceeds her budget.

She ended her post by asking, "So, that's over budget. So tell me how you're affording [it]?"

Her video caption highlighted, "Self-care is expensive, it's a luxury at this point!"

The comments section quickly filled up with diverse opinions.

One TikToker advised, "DIY! I do everything myself, and always have," while another simply asked, "Having a job?"

Another commenter noted, "I understand people want to feel good and look good but not worth spending that when the future is unknown. I'd rather have my money for a raining day or invest it. But that's me."

The discussion also extended to Facebook, where the comments were equally straightforward.

One person criticized, "Considering the number of families who can't even afford both rent and groceries, this is a very tone deaf post."

Another suggested, "You can't have your cake and eat it too. She is saving for a house and is on a tight budget. Increase your budget if you can't leave without your nails, hair and eyebrows. Just saying! We all have don't it before" 

While another stated, "If I had 180 000 a year is consider myself very rich."

The TikToker said she 'only has $150 spending money' every two weeks. TikTok / @aliceraspin

A final person added, "Some peoples' goals are to buy a house - for others a nice manicure or eyebrow tint is what they want to do. Everyone is different. Each to their own."

In an interview with News.com.au, the mom acknowledged that due to their priority of saving for a house, things like dining out and self-care have become luxuries. 

However, she admitted she would still like to regularly visit the hairdresser and get her eyebrows and lashes done.

So, what do you think about this situation?