How much would you spend on a single item?

[mermaidin]

Just curious really.
I earn a semi decent salary. More than average but not more than £50,000 so not high, but I'm single with no kids so I have a fair bit left after bills etc.
I was watching a documentary where someone said they'd had a £30,000 ring stolen and I was blown away! I cannot ever imagine spending that amount on a personal item! Obviously this person was very rich but I wouldn't spend that no matter how rich I was.
I'm not frugal at all as I believe life is for living and if you want something you should buy it. But really the most I've ever spent on clothing or jewellery for a single item is £200 and I thought that was expensive!
I understand people with higher incomes would/could spend more. So it just made me wonder...
What's your most extravagant purchase? Not including cars or houses obviously!

I have several pushbikes in excess of £5k. My most recent pair of ice skates were in excess of £700. I enjoy high end sporting equipment. I’m not into jewellery but I have a Garmin watch that was maybe £400. Clothing excluding technical sports wear for specific activities so general clothing I don’t think I’d spend more than £100-£150 on a single item, and that would be shoes or a coat, high street shopper M&S, Next etc. Not especially fussed by that side of things. Don’t buy handbags, I have a rucksack that I got free from a job, don’t get hair/nails done and my skin reacts badly to a lot of makeup so not much spend there.

Earn £40k/yr pre tax, household income around £85k/yr. No kids, don’t drink, don’t smoke. Mortgage on a 3 bed semi, fortunate enough to not have to tot up the price of the weekly shop, but am a big fan of Lidl, drive a new car on finance. Enough savings I could survive on a similar standard of living for 18 months currently. Enough context??

Different strokes for different folks. Some friends spend loads on hair and nails, some on clothes, bags etc. Some have lots to spend and some have less. I can definitely afford a lot more ‘stuff’ because I’m not able to have children. Who am I to judge what people spend on?

Expensive watches. I bought myself a brietling when I first started earning decent money. About 2k, I have some more expensive jewellery ( diamond studs etc probably worth 7k sncc Dc a Rolex but they were gifts) .

Great point. Thank you! I'm definitely seeing things differently now 😁

@brocollilover

My point really wasn't one to pick up on.

However my deeper context is that people can have extremely high salaries but spend every penny they earn with no collateral or savings.

They may still use credit card cards.

Some people earn a lot less and save a lot more and have assets and good equity in their house.

If you remember the first post op was comparing her salary to what she spends. My comment was a deeper reflection on what it means, salary v spending and that really without that deeper context it mean nothing.

My comment on was not that op shouldn't want to chat about this?

£9000 on a bike!? Is it a motorbike or electric or something? As I said before it's worth it if you want it but I didn't even know bikes could cost so much!

The other point is that many people see paying themselves with savings every month as a treat. Eg have 1000 left over save 700.

Use 300 for fun.

a bit deep for a chat thread about clothing and jewelery! 😆

I would spend decent 4 figures on an electric piano

I'm trying to justify spending around £50 on some cashmere yarn to make myself a jumper! Mind you, that's the discounted price, and that's if I'm lucky.

But in answer, my husband paid £800 on my engagement ring (not the new ring - it's an heirloom on my side that he had remade to suit my hand). I don't think I've ever spent more than than on an item. Maybe a few hundred quid on a games console.

They surely can be if you get a puppy. I've only ever had rescue dogs and the most I paid was £180 for a three year old.

Yes definitely different strokes. Your message seemed a bit defensive! I wasn't saying it's wrong to spend money on something. I was just asking a simple question without any judgement.

You can insure things that you've been given or inherited. You don't have to have bought them.

This has reminded me of moving out of house with a very big mice problem when my ds was around 7 months, it felt absolutely amazing. What a brilliant new start for you all.

@brocollilover

This is chat on mumsnet.

People can talk about all sorts like a conversation and on mumsnet, chat about spending money and biggest items can go anywhere.

It could even run to tractors and developments in teeth care.

I'm like you OP - single, no DC, live in London, earn around £50. I've never spent more than £200 on an item of jewellery, clothing, bag or shoes. I just don't have expensive tastes for those things. I saw a £340 jumper the other day and couldn't bring myself to buy it - I would be so gutted if I shrunk it or something. My furniture is all cheapo IKEA and I'm happy with my furnishings so keep them for years. I'd only get a new bathroom or kitchen fitted if they didn't function any more, not just because they were old.

I do spend a lot on holidays, eating out, pension, hobbies and have paid off my mortgage (I'm in my 50s). Other personal splurges were teeth straightening and laser hair removal. I was fine with paying out for them as they were permanent so seemed worth it.

indeed

and doesn’t need to always have a “point!

This is what I'm like. I get my bonus every year and can't think of much to buy with it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Ten years ago I spent £1.4K on a MacBook Pro and it’s still going strong, great to use and synced seamlessly with my iPhone’s, but it won’t accept any new updates and is really heavy. I’m buying a new MacBook next week, it’s £1.2K. I earn less than the average wage, but I’m happy to spend a lot on good quality technology that lasts years.

You have literally, missed the point.

😂

I think household things are different - e.g. if you are buying a new fridge, then it makes sense to get a decent quality one if you can afford it.

I have no hesitation about spending on things I need but I would struggle with something extravagant. To me, even an expensive winter coat is a need (within reason) if you need a new one to keep you warm. But I was recently thinking about buying myself an expensive piece of jewellery as I don’t really have much jewellery - but that just seems like a really unnecessary extravagance to me….

I love nice things & have no problem buying them or spending on myself. I really really don't subscribe to the mum guilt / martyrdom. I have a dh & teen dc & make sure dc are looked after with what they want/ need but I also think it's important to look after myself too.

I earn €60k & dh averages about the same (self employed)

He's a very generous person & I have beautiful jewellery. My 3 rings (engagement, wedding & eternity) were all commissioned by him & made for me & collectively are worth €22k. I wear all three daily & I love & adore them & they're regularly admired..but they were gifts.

He's also bought me perfume that cost €600! Which I would never have bought myself.

I have bought myself a €2k necklace, €600 isabel marant boots, isabel marant leather bag, mulberry bag €500 (at a mulberry outlet) Sandro coat €550 etc

But by far my biggest indulgence is travel. That's where the greater majority of my disposable income goes.

Who has?

One of these https://www.delichon.uk/delta-all-terrain-buggy-m1

Probably my piano or my laptop, each of which were about £1000.

I wouldn't spend more than £100 or so on an item of clothing/ accessories/ jewellery unless it was an extremely special occasion or something I thought would last me decades.

no one
because there is no “point”…. just chewing the fat! 😆