Once upon a time, male grooming was generally limited to a shave and few slaps of aftershave, whereas today, bathroom sinks around Australia are accumulating more tubes, tubs and pump packs, with a growing number of blokes keen to put their ‘best face’ forward.

If it’s an all-too-familiar scenario at your place, we check out some of the stats and tips to keep spending under control.

What are guys spending?

According to comparison site Mozo¹, Aussies spend upward of $32 billion a year on their looks, with men forking out an average of $125 a month, which isn’t far behind women who spend an average of $167 a month.

While the most popular vanity costs for men include things like grooming (could include manscaping the eyebrows or other sections of the body), vitamins, supplements, and gym memberships, one in five males said they were also treating themselves to manicures, pedicures and makeup, with more men conscious about blemishes and dark circles under their eyes.

The research indicated men also weren’t afraid to drop cash on other little luxuries, such as hair colour, skincare treatments and hair removal.

Tips to keep spending under control

Given that over the last five years property rates have risen 32%, gas bills are up 30%, while the cost of fruit and veggies has increased 16%², Aussies are paying more money in multiple areas of life.

For some potential ways you could reduce your beauty bill, here are some pointers that may assist.

• Crunch the numbers and see what you’re spending, so you can create a budget
• Consider opting for a DIY-fitness plan and cancel any unused memberships
• Opt for multi-tasking products, such as a moisturiser that doubles up as a sunscreen
• Before you hit your local department store, always write a list and buy only what you need
• Shop around as you might be able to find a cheaper deal online or at another store
• See if there are any hair and beauty schools near you as you’ll often pay less on services
• Consider extending times between treatments, so you pay for fewer each year
• Join a loyalty program, as a few points here and few dollars saved there can help.

Need some assistance?

Our budget planner calculator could help you to crunch some numbers if you’re not sure what you’re spending, or where money could potentially be saved.

Meanwhile, the AMP Bett3r Account may assist you in staying on track financially, as it enables you to track your bills, set up savings goals and know what’s safe to spend.

Another way you might be able to track your money more easily is via My AMP online, which gives you the ability to view all of your AMP and non-AMP accounts in one place, and at the same time categorise your transactions, so you can see where your money is going.

For further tips, the following articles may also be of interest:

• The top 10 lifestyle costs draining Aussies of cash
• 7 healthy habits that could save you more than $20,000 this year
• Top tips to reign in your shopping addiction.

1, 2 Mozo media release – Australia’s metro men – makeup, manicures and more