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Original poster

To ask what the most ridiculous thing you have ever spent money on is?

233 replies

AveAtqueVale · 24/06/2024 01:27

Mostly to make me feel better. I'm currently up and about because I have a hacking cough and can't sleep, and have just spent £6.50 on a baby lego crocodile on eBay.

Backstory: DS(6) has a Lego set which includes a family of crocodiles. Today a friend's toddler was over and took a shine to the baby crocodile, so he gave it to her to take home. He is totally unbothered, and knowing him will remain so, but I've felt sorry for the parent crocodiles all day, and have now spent actual real money to assuage my upset that two small pieces of plastic might be missing a third smaller piece of plastic. I even caught myself (briefly) worrying that the new baby crocodile isn't quite the right shade of green, and that they might know it's not really theirs.

My only defence is that I am quite pregnant and hormonal, and due to aforementioned cough have had very little sleep for the last few days. I'm honestly not usually this batshit...

Has anyone else spent money on anything so completely ridiculous?

OP posts:
Theeternalrocksbeneath · 25/06/2024 21:55

MrsAvocet · 24/06/2024 12:12

I once spent nearly £100 on vet bills for a gerbil that could have been replaced for about £3 at the time. But we loved him..

This made my heart happy.

I have pet rats - they only live 3 years (and that’s if you’re lucky) but my boys are my babies. I spent over £500 on one of my 2 1/2 year old boys and it was worth every penny, giving him an extra 6 months with me.

I also have several dogs and I’m not going to get into how much those buggers have cost me (and mostly worth every penny 😄)

Inexpertjuggler · 25/06/2024 21:51

Stompythedinosaur · 24/06/2024 01:31

When I was pregnant, I used to cry every time.i saw a certain persil advert, because to advert mum just looked like she loved her daughter very much.

I hope your baby croc fits right it!

Was it the vaulting horse? I cried buckets at that one.

RainbowRabbit33 · 25/06/2024 21:46

Two doughnuts. £13. But damn they tasted good!

To ask what the most ridiculous thing you have ever spent money on is?
marshallzumarubble · 25/06/2024 21:34

Not read the full thread but I love you @AveAtqueVale and I am here for you!

This is not money but my son once dropped his favourite Lightning McQueen toy car (which you could buy in any shop at the time) down a gap in a Costa Coffee fridge. He cried a little. I cried a lot (I was 7 months pregnant in my defence). And the manager removed the entire front panel to retrieve it which meant customers had to point to select their coke or sandwiches.

MrsResponder · 25/06/2024 21:25

I just, accidently, spent 3k on air bnb while researching places for a birthday celebration I haven't yet run past anyone.

It was no cancellation.

I have had half refunded and the owners have okayed the rest but phoned to let me know air bnb are notoriously slow at actioning refunds. So currently 1.7k outta pocket because I had a vague notion of flouncing round a Victorian villa in a seaside resort.

LondonLass61 · 25/06/2024 21:03

persisted · 24/06/2024 13:50

After the second lockdown was announced I ordered a blow up dinosaur costume. Best thing ever, cheered us up no end.

🤣🤣🤣

CantBelieveNaive · 25/06/2024 21:01

Emmerald · 25/06/2024 00:03

I bought 2 handmade Christmas tree ornaments because I felt if i only bought one, he would be lonely and ostracised from the older ornaments I have (and be bullied) 🥲😂

Of course you did as everyone bullies Xmas trees! 🌲 🌲 🤣🤣

LalaPaloosa · 25/06/2024 20:57

Taylor Swift tickets. I’m too embarrassed to say how much.

CantBelieveNaive · 25/06/2024 20:57

UtterlyOtterly · 24/06/2024 19:50

I once bought train tickets to an exhibition about five hours away. At the time of booking I really wanted to go.

Set my alarm early, woke up and thought I really can't be bothered. So turned over, went back to sleep and never went to the exhibition.

I completely understand the crocodile one 🐊

I wish I had done that! Go with your feels ! 🤣🤣🤣

CantBelieveNaive · 25/06/2024 20:45

WitchyBits · 24/06/2024 15:10

I was obsessed with footwear when I was younger and owned a ridiculous amount of boots. I listed 6 pairs on eBay. Got the the last few hours and I tried to cancel the bids as I changed my mind and I couldn't do it had to create another eBay account and bid against other people for the right to retain my own boots. Cost me £19 in fees 🤷🏼‍♀️😂.

That is hilarious 🤣 but I get ya!! 😜

ladygindiva · 25/06/2024 20:28

Just yesterday. A tiny kid sized piano. I already own a proper one. But I bought it for my kids and because it's just so gorgeous to look at.

gardenmusic · 25/06/2024 20:15

A plastic cupboard type 'greenhouse'. I live near the sea. It is windy in the winter.
I had some winter sown seeds in clay pots in it, it blew down - pots broken, everything wasted.
Aha! I tied it to the fence. It pulled a fence panel loose.
Left it empty, somehow, the plastic cover ripped away from the ties holding it to the frame. I never saw the cover again.
I am imagining someone in Calais looking at it with a very puzzled expression.

bumblebee1987 · 25/06/2024 20:15

My wedding. Very happily married for 13 years, but looking back, I wish I could knock some sense into that frivolous 24 year old 😂 We could have spent that money on something SO much better than one day!

LlamaTwirl · 25/06/2024 20:03

Can't think of any good examples of things I've wasted money on (although I'm sure there are plenty), just wanted to say that I would also have felt bad for the adult lego crocodiles and felt the need to restore them to their original family of three.
I am slightly sad for the lone baby crocodile who has been separated, though I'm sure the child you left him with will take good care of him and take him on many adventures, it will be a good life!

InTrainingForChristmas · 25/06/2024 20:03

My DH decided the Ddog should have a special 1st birthday… he bought her a paddling pool from Argos…. Blew it up (nearly killed him with the exertion) filled it up and showed it to her. She was very confused so he ended up getting in it to show her it was ok. She got excited jumped in and her claws ripped it open.
Off he trots to Argos and went through the whole process again.

I have photos of them, him sat in a small kids paddling pool with a ruddy great German Shepherd stood next to him looking utterly bemused!

I never saw that pool again. £30+ wasted🫤

LegArmpits · 25/06/2024 19:57

60p in 1997 telephoning the Nintendo hotline 😂 for advice on how to find the final cap in Mario 64.

PitterPatter3 · 25/06/2024 19:53

FarmVille crops, back in the day!

InTrainingForChristmas · 25/06/2024 19:42

WitchyBits · 24/06/2024 15:10

I was obsessed with footwear when I was younger and owned a ridiculous amount of boots. I listed 6 pairs on eBay. Got the the last few hours and I tried to cancel the bids as I changed my mind and I couldn't do it had to create another eBay account and bid against other people for the right to retain my own boots. Cost me £19 in fees 🤷🏼‍♀️😂.

Sorry @ witchybits, but the thought of you bidding to retain your own boots yet made me laugh out loud! 👏😁

Ap42 · 25/06/2024 19:39

I just paid £31 for a beach towel 🙃

ThistleTits · 25/06/2024 19:37

wonderings2 · 24/06/2024 15:58

Baby Havana's, sunglasses, beach towel and toiletry bag for my 3 month old baby to go to Cyprus - I have since given my head a wobble ...

You win 🏆 lol. I'm sure they were very cute.

GinToBegin · 25/06/2024 19:35

gardenmusic · 24/06/2024 14:46

A Burberry mac.
It was beautiful, it had all the bits and pieces that made it look like a good mac, neck guards, adjustable cuffs etc, but it was cotton.
I wore it in the rain - it soaked it up. I wore it in the wind, deploying all gadgets, I was cold.
It was too thin for winter, too big and heavy for summer showers. After the 1st few outings it sat in my wardrobe for 25 years!
I gave in, and donated to a charity shop last year.

Oh lord, yes to the Burberry mac.

Back in the 80s, I had not long started work, and having coveted one for the longest time (well, it seemed like it), eventually took the plunge. I had visions of being like Peter Wyngarde strolling down Kings Road looking the absolute mutt’s. Instead it flipped and flapped about, was thin as the rat catcher’s dog, and I just looked a complete dick in it.

To add insult to injury, after not very long at all, I went arse over tea-kettle in it into a patch of mud. Off it went to the dry cleaners and came back with the leather belt buckle royally fucked, and my love affair with Burberry firmly in the bin.

I think the wretched thing ended up going to charity not long after that.

Tryonemoretime · 25/06/2024 19:33

101Nutella · 24/06/2024 14:55

I became obsessed with gardening on my flat balcony, without using pesticides.
a plague of aphids arrived and I researched how to get rid of them. Tried washing up liquid and water, baking powder etc but nothing worked.

i found out you can buy ladybirds online to help eat the aphids. So I spent £12 on about 7 ladybirds who arrived in a box in the post. I put them on the plants and then watched them fly away after a day or so 😂

🤣😅😂🤣😅

TruJay · 25/06/2024 19:24

@AveAtqueVale
I relate to this so much! But I’d be even worse than you and would want to swap the new baby croc for the ‘original’ so it was the same family back together. I clearly couldn’t do this as the other mum would think I’m insane 🙃 come to think of it, I wouldn’t have been able to let the child take the baby croc and separate them in the first place 🙈🤣🤣

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