I have a £400 long service award. What can I spend it on?

[Thethingsyousay]

Long service (30 years) award is £400 to spend. Can’t go over so needs to be as close as possible for value for money 😂

Has to be something that is purchased on the company CC.

I have absolutely no clue what to buy. Don’t need any electrical items, I’m not much of a jewellery wearer. Something for the garden maybe? I’d like something with longevity and something useful (don’t want an ornament).

I'm totally stuck. Any ideas?

I know they can’t give you cash for tax reasons but if you’re unsure at the moment are you able to ask for a voucher so you could spend it on something at a future date. Colleagues have had John Lewis vouchers (but others are available!).

Can you spend it on a weekend away?

Plane ticket? :-P

Garden bench or table or chairs? Top of the range gardening tools? All the plants, shrubs and trees you ever thought were too expensive? Soil? Pond liner and pump? Stone bird bath? Trellis? Archway and something to grow around it? Hedge trimmer, lawn mower, leaf blower? Sundial? Paving slabs and cement? A new whirligig? Big waterproof storage chests for boots/cushions/equipment? Wheelbarrow? Cushion for your knees!

I'm listing stuff my gardener friends have enjoyed. It depends what sort of garden you have and what you like I guess! Does it all have to be one order?

Nothing needing to be replaced in the house? Pots, pans, knives, cutlery, glasses, picnic stuff, wine rack, towels, oven door/seal, heck even a carbon monoxide alarm 😂 if there is nothing you want I'd get them to upgrade or replace essentials so your own money goes further.

Winter coat? Boots? Hiking/sports wear? Holiday clothes? Luggage? Silly price sunglasses? Bed linen? Camping gear? Power washer?

A rug! Curtains!

A nice handbag?

I got curtains and bedding for my 10 year award. Both of which are still in use 10 years on.
Trying to think what others bought. I know one guy bought a palm tree for the garden. I'd probably buy a garden bench if I was to get a long service award again.

Sundial for your garden. Since your award was time-linked, you can enjoy counting the (hopefully) many free hours enjoying your own space.

An egg chair for the garden!

This one is £399: https://www.dunelm.com/product/double-egg-chair-1000213998

I'd get vouchers if you can - we always used to be able to buy them as a reward. Then you can spend it how you want and don't have to spend it all at once.

Spa weekend with treatments?

Someone to find you a better job??

£400. Wtf

Garden bench, egg chair, arbour.

Coffee machine.

New set of swanky pans.

Dinner service.

Bedding - I’d be tempted to replace all our duvets with coverless ones!

Armchair.

What is something you either want (long for) or something in the house which you would like to replace/upgrade if you had the spare cash? Answer that and you will have an idea of what you might be able to buy. As pp said, a voucher would be a good idea, especially if what you would like to upgrade is curtains etc.
Although I would be tempted to go for something that I don’t have but would love like a Sam toft drawing. Or if an ‘experience’ is more what the company wish you to buy, I would go for a glass workshop or pottery workshop experience.

I just got an extremely expensive top of the range, Sonicare toothbrush
But I am boring

Cash / vouchers would be taxable

https://mrteak.co.uk/products/sissinghurst-lutyens-three-seat-bench

This, this the cover and cushion to sit and watch the world go by.

My colleague got some lovely binoculars. She said she wouldn't have bought something so expensive like that for herself so it was a real treat.

I'd ask them for a gift voucher for the rug company I'm currently obsessing over (but can't afford 😢). That voucher would then pay for a third of the rug I'm after...and I would probably then TOTALLY justify me doling out the remaining 2/3 and buy my rug 💓💓💓

I would buy a Tiffany bracelet

Dyson Airwrap

Cash is taxable but vouchers aren’t

Could you not buy a voucher for
a shop you love using the company credit card?

Bean to cup coffee machine!

Can you buy things like theatre ticket vouchers, hotel or travel vouchers etc? Might be nice to have an experience if you can't think of any presents you like?

Civil Service gives £100 after 25 years. I spent mine at Tesco because I am a Civil Servant and needed to!