Expensive weekend trip.....

[Catbrations]

My partner booked a surprise trip to Prague as a Christmas present for me. I love this and it's so thoughtful. It will be good to spend time together.

This is turning out to be somewhat expensive for me and this is before we even go.

I have a cabin bag already but it's slightly larger than Ryanairs sizing and I know they are checking bags sizes more often. So I had to get a new cabin bag that cost about 55.

It's snowing and icy over there now and I was not ready or prepared for weatherproofing myself for a weekend in the cold. I had to get some merino base layers for my trip. I also had to get new shoes that would provide better traction and provide me with better protection from the wet snow or rain. I don't know if the snow will be clear by when we go. Next week reads approx -2 to 3 in low to high temps. These shoes were likely something that I needed anyways for our own Spring just in case we get a cold Spring.

I had to get a few other little bits and pieces too for this trip.

My jacket is questionable. It's a softshell fabric and I got wet a few times at home with it and I hate it when it gets wet. I think I might need a new jacket. I see see a waterproof and breathable and insulating jacket onlime for 100. I am thinking about getting this.

My partner is someome who usually packs light as if it's a badge of honour and something to get one up on me about. He's someone who usually always never prepared himself properly for these kind of things. His daily outfit is usually jeans and a t-shirt. He's not reading up about the weather and how to dress for the cold. I got him a base layer merino long sleeved t-shirt. He wont wear the merino pants base layer.

So all of this is all adding up.

He doesn't have proper shoes and I don't know if he will get proper shoes.
I bought him wool socks before but I don't know if he still has them or not. I don't know if I need to buy him more wool socks for our trip.

I am half thinking about going into town later today to get wool socks for him but at this stage, my spending is getting a little bit heavy. I don't know if is should just stop with the spending now. I think he's hoping to go to town, at the last minute on the morning we are due to leave to pick up some supplies that he needs. All last minute and I don't know if she would buy wool socks. He's someone who thinks socks are socks and I doubt he would appreciate the benefits of wool socks.

I am getting ready and I am nearly there. I may need to buy a new jacket. The spending is just getting a little bit too much right now. Will I just let my partner get his own stuff from now on or will I help him?

I am afraid to look at my online bank app after yesterday's spending spree.

I have some insulating layers now but what do you think about my current jacket. Do I need something better? Or will I be able to get away with what I have?

Jesus woman you're not going to the arctic. Calm yourself and let your DP sort himself out or not as he pleases.

Why did your new bag have to be £55 and your new base layers merino wool? Could have got cheaply at Aldi!
I

Next week reads approx -2 to 3 in low to high temps.
that’s balmy for what we’ve had this week! -7 some days!

Okay so my first thought is calm down a bit. You aren’t spending three days outside in the cold. I’m Canadian and know cold weather and we don’t wear merino layers day to day when going about our lives. You need shoes that will work in the snow but walking boots will do this. In the sunshine -2 degrees isn’t that cold. Also it isn’t the UK and won’t be grey and rainy (check the weather) so you most likely aren’t going to be wet. It will snow not rain. What do you normally wear in winter here? That will be fine. Regular socks unless you are outside all day every day will be fine. You are massively overthinking this and looking for reasons to buy things .

This is crazy!

You seem to be extremely sensitive to the weather and cold. Are you planning to spend a great deal of time walking around in the ice and cold? The temperatures don't sound that different to what we have experienced in the UK recently and loads of people have managed to get on with things without going to the extremes you are.

Also you seem to be projecting your weather based anxiety onto your partner who is an adult and capable of preparing for himself. Lots of people (myself included) simply aren't as weather sensitive and don't mind the cold as much. I certainly wouldn't see wool socks as a necessity. I think you are in real danger of trying to parent your partner. Whatever next? Making sure he has mittens attached to his coat?

Honestly I'm surprised you don't have these items already in your wardrobe. Standard hiking boots are perfect for the snow, a waterproof jacket is fairly standard too for our winters. At least you'll have them forever now. Merino wool is a luxury (and might be too warm) I'd have bought a thermal T shirt vest and a cheap fleece in Tesco.

You’re completely overthinking it!

It’s been freezing here so just wear what you have been wearing here?? You’re going to a town so there will be cafes and heating for if you get a bit chilly. Surely the paths will be cleared? You are not going skiing!

You can get cheap thermal layers from H&M - no need for merino wool.

As long as you both have a warm coat (wear it in the flight) and decent boots - again wear on the flight. I don’t see what all the fuss is about!

You don’t need extra bags. Wear the layers on the plane.

This is a difficult one @Catbrations. Obviously your partner meant well with the surprise weekend as a present, but it sounds like neither of you are prepared at all for travelling into a cold area. I think you need to focus on your own needs and let your partner sort himself out.

You were offered a lot of advice about suitable clothing on your previous thread. I suggest looking at somewhere like Mountain Warehouse, Millets, Go Outdoors or Regatta, all of which will offer reasonably priced clothing to keep dry and warm in cold temperatures. You can get warm socks manufactured for being outdoors in cold temperatures in fibres other than wool so don’t focus too much on that.

Just wear layers. As for shoes you need cheap walking boots - do you have any boots at all? And as for a bag, there are loads of much cheaper options online. I’d return that expensive one and the base layer. It’s just a weekend and you’re not skiing. Unless of course this is an excuse for a shopping spree, in which case, as you were.

Erm…. You are just out of control with your shopping.

Good Ryan Air sized holdalls are available very cheaply on Amazon and you don’t need wheels for the amount you can take.

Good thermal layers are available in M&S, Uniqlo, Mountain Warehouse, Decathlon etc. you don’t need merino.

You need a good outdoor coat and footwear in this country. Any number of bargains in Millets sale, Mountain Warehouse etc.

You could have asked a friend to borrow a bag

you get cold snow and rain here too so decent shoes and waterproof coats are needed even without the trip

You didn’t need to get base layers - it’s not minus 20 - and you are in a city not on a hill - T-shirt and a couple of jumper layers would be more than enough. He doesn’t need wool socks. There are cafes if you get cold.

stop panic buying

Prague next week is going to be basically the same as London has been this week.

You really are way overthinking this. If you don't have suitable clothing for the UK outdoors in winter that's a separate issue.

Prague is a city that is used to dealing with cold weather. It has shops if you suddenly find you really do need something you don't have.

Also, Vinted is great for coats and winter stuff - but it sounds like you need a decent coat full stop, not just for this trip.

Kindly, do you have this level of anxiety all the time? It might be worth seeking out some help to deal with it, as this is supposed to be a fun trip not a punishment.

You've had a few threads about this trip, and I would be 99% sure that you can adapt a lot of the clothes you already have to deal with the weather (layers are great - in those temps, you won't need much more than you have had for the past few weeks in the UK!). All of this is supposing that you have suitable clothing for UK winters- if not, that is a separate issue and the shopping you are doing would be necessary anyway

Your partner is an adult. If he screws up on packing etc, he deals with the consequences.

@Hiptothisjive @Bargepole45

I think the OP is panicking because she posted a previous thread where she was planning to wear a cotton dress with leggings and a thin jacket, and was told by every poster on there (including me) that this would not be warm enough. There were quite a few posters very much focused on merino and wool.

What can you return and get your money back ?

Well if OP has been wearing cotton dresses all this winter she may well be fine

I would do jeans and jumpers myself

There's a happy medium between cotton dress and leggings and full on ski gear, though. I mean..a vest top can be a base layer!

It’s Prague, it’s a city with lots of pubs, cafes and shops. You don’t need to be outside for long if you don’t want to. -2 is cold but not that cold, you’ll be fine with what you’ve got. Leave your partner to it, he can sort his own.

cotton dress with woolly jumper

I went to Prague in January a few years ago. I just wore layers, thick jeans and a winter coat. All of which were already in my wardrobe.

I do remember frantically knitting myself a hat the day before though after checking the weather forecast 😂

It was bitterly cold, but pretty bearable even with those fairly minimal preparations. Layers make all the difference! We just went into cafes and museums if the cold got a little too much.

I’m also confused as to why you don’t have winter clothes already, or maybe you don’t live in the UK.
Things I find most useful for sub zero temperatures are thermal socks (decent quality from M&S, they don’t need to be expensive merino) and a thermal vest. I hate wearing hats but a bobble hat that covers your ears will keep you warm. Scarf and gloves.
Then layers of what you probably already have (long sleeved top; jumper; fleece then tbe coat you already have on top if it’s not too snug for layers.

I bought a hat in Prague - they have shops

it was June - I hadn’t checked the weather

Just layer up
a cabin max bag would have been cheaper than 55 quid….im sure someone could lend you a bag anyway….normal walking boots are fine….my thermal socks are from next ( 3 pairs for 15 quid) ….they are part of my normal winter clothing