I'm 18 (will be 19 next month) and I work two jobs. I get between $700-800 a month. I still live at home (for another few months) so I don't pay any real bills. I give my mom $100 a month for rent. I pay my phone bill which is $55 a month. And the rest I spend when needed (food mostly, then anything I want/have been needing, etc) I always put away at least a couple hundred every month.
That being said, I have just begun really spending money at MAC. I couldn't afford it before, and now I have been budgeting so that I can afford it. I'm trying to build my collection, and its something thats important to me. I just don't go over a certain amount usually. I don't go crazy with money. Like I figure when certain collections come out I'm not going to let myself spend over X amount of dollars on it. I have some lipglasses/lipsticks and shadows that i really want, but I will get them in small increments, or else I'll be broke for 2 weeks until my next check. I think you should choose whether or not you need it. Foundation and concealer--is a must. And it lasts for a long time. But aside from that, figure out how much you'll need per week/month on food and going out, and then figure out how much you'll need for your MAC. I've been writing down my MAC wishlist and then writing down the cost of those items, so i can budget accordingly and figure out which stuff I want the most and buy like 3 of those things first. Then when I get more money or whatever, I can get a few more things.
You're lucky you get an allowance girl. pray your family doesn't make you get a job, pay for all your own shit, and then pay them rent on top of that. it sucks. AND I won't have health insurance next month. I've been working consistently since I was 16, paying for everything I bought (including food, doctors visits, prescriptions, etc) I work 2 jobs now, and I pay rent at home (I
just graduated in June) and now I won't have insurance. Ain't that a bitch? lol
Anyways, I don't really have friends. So it doesn't matter what anyone thinks lol. My boyfriend doesn't mind my addiction too much he just laughs at me. he doesn't understand how a MAC gift card could be the perfect gift. Boys!