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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spend £4k on this?

88 replies

setitup · 01/06/2024 15:51

For background I’m 28 and on £40k. My bills are quite high (I have my own house) and I don’t have savings. I’d be able to afford this using 0% finance over 24 months. The deposit is £750 and monthly repayments around £130.

I went for an Invisalign consultation, the cost will be £4k and will require a fixed wire retainer (a permanent metal wire on the inside side of both my arches).

The result from Invisalign will be slight, it’s more widening my arches which is why the fixed retainer is needed, but my teeth are already quite straight so it won’t overall be noticeable. I do think I’d like the end result.

Aibu to go for this? I’m not super keen on the fixed wire retainer but it’s also a treatment I’ve wanted to do for ages

OP posts:
Theraffarian · 01/06/2024 16:05

If your teeth are already straight , then I’m assuming you’re looking at approx 4mm of pushing your teeth into a slightly wider position . Will you honestly commit to wearing the retainer overnight for a year plus , otherwise they are just going to move back anyway . Not something I would pay £4k for after seeing my daughter and all her friends ditch their retainers too early , but maybe you are more committed.

Ariela · 01/06/2024 16:04

I would do as others suggest. Save and then see if you still justify it.

What would you do if car failed AND Boiler failed AND your roof leaked in the same week?

whoputallofthatthere · 01/06/2024 16:02

I can understand spending money on this if it will improve your confidence etc, but if the results will be slight and barely noticeable, is it worth 4k? Sorry if I've missed something but I personally can't understand spending this amount for slight/barely noticeable.

Wordsmithery · 01/06/2024 16:02

I don't understand what you want to have done. It's presumably cosmetic in which case I'd say don't do it. I think less than perfect, interesting teeth and smile are a joy nowadays when so many people go for the perfect smile amd whitened teeth option.

Original poster
setitup · 01/06/2024 16:02

@ComtesseDeSpair I’ve been on a few holidays recently and have bought new furniture and have generally not prioritised savings. I think I’d probably be able to comfortably save £300 a month if I monitored what I was spending

OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · 01/06/2024 16:00

I say go for it . I spent money on laser eye surgery and it was the best money I spent. If it is something you have always wanted to do you will never regret it. I would do it now while you are just you and have no one to answer to (as in a partner where you need to consider each other and weigh up financial constraints).

2dogsandabudgie · 01/06/2024 15:59

If you were unable to work for whatever reason do you have employment insurance so that all your bills would still be paid for the 2 years? If so I would do it, if not I wouldn't.

ComtesseDeSpair · 01/06/2024 15:57

If you have no savings, it sounds as though £130 a month is actually quite a lot of money to find from somewhere else in your budget? Else you’d already be saving money? In that context, can you really afford it?

But ultimately, if you have £130 a month to spare and this is what you want to spend it on rather than felt tip pens and cream buns, why not? It’s your money, if you think the results will be worth £4,000 to you. It’s not something I’d be interested in personally, but there’s clearly a reason you’re considering this over having some savings and if it’s going to markedly improve your self esteem it’s probably well spent.

Persianpuss · 01/06/2024 15:57

I don't understand what widening your arches means?

EBearhug · 01/06/2024 15:56

If I had no savings, I wouldn't do it now. I would wait a couple of years to have built up at least 3 months salary of savings, ideally 6, and then to be able to pay for it in full.

(I had my eyes lasered around that age, and I paid in full.)

Thelnebriati · 01/06/2024 15:56

Save the money for 24 months instead of using finance, then see how you feel about spending it.

Original poster
setitup · 01/06/2024 15:55

There will be a difference in the before and after but it won’t be a drastic change

OP posts:
ByCupidStunt · 01/06/2024 15:54

If it won't be noticeable and your health wont benefit from it then I'd say there was no point spending £4k on it.