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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

personalised number plates

138 replies

Yeeehaa · 04/10/2010 13:47

DH and I both work, but don't earn a lot.
We need to budget fairly tightly, but we manage fine.

DH has been looking at the DVLA personalised number plate site, and has "chosen" our number. He says he has been thinking about it for a while, and because his DB has one, maybe it would be a good idea if we got one. I assumed he was joking and nearly laughed my pants off. He was a little upset that i didn't take him seriously.

Now, if this was something that was really, really important to him, I wouldn't stop him, but £250 goes a long long way in this household - in fact, £250 would mean a far better Christmas than we're used to.

So, WIBU to assume he was joking, and to think that personalised plates are an unnecessary luxury?

(I am prepared to give in here if the majority think IABU!)

OP posts:
MadreInglese · 04/10/2010 13:48

YANBU, they're an overly expensive luxury

escapologist · 04/10/2010 13:49

My DH says he doesn't trust anyone with a personalised number plate.

If £250 is a lot of money to you, then you are definitely not BU for not wanting it spend on a non-standard car registration plate!

KnittingisbetterthanTherapy · 04/10/2010 13:49

I always make a lot of assumptions about people who have personalised number plates . . . . none of them good Grin Wink

Absolute total and utter waste of money.

Original poster
Yeeehaa · 04/10/2010 13:52

Going well so far - thankyou :o

OP posts:
Ladyanonymous · 04/10/2010 13:53

People who have them are pricks and most of them drive like one too.

YANBU, total waste of money for people with more money than sense.

nomedoit · 04/10/2010 13:53

Why don't you suggest he postpones making a decision until after Christmas? We're in a similar situation financially but I find that getting DH to postpone ridiculous purchases impulse buys is a better tactic than saying no. Your DH does work so he is entitled to spend some money on himself. If he still wants it next year I'd let him get it. It's pretty harmless and at least there's no upkeep. Be glad it's not a Harley Davidson or a bloody boat.

escapologist · 04/10/2010 13:55

getting a personalised number plate is utterly pointless. It's like insisting on paying extra so that your gas meter will have a different identifying number on it.

BirdyBedtime · 04/10/2010 13:56

I have to own up to having a personalised number plate Blush, but it was bought at a time when money was nowhere near as tight as it is now. If things were tight I wouldn't entertain spending the money on one (bearing in mind that even if the plate itself is only £250 that after paying VAT and all of the other bits and bobs including £80 to assign it to your car it takes it to over £400) so YANBU in your case.

pooka · 04/10/2010 13:56

Complete waste of money.

AFAIK it's not just the cost of the plate, but the additional cost of registering the car under new plates.

I really cannot understand why one would think that they are a worthwhile expense. I mean, it's not as if people with standard plates lose their cars willy nilly.

TheAtomicBum · 04/10/2010 13:56

Yes, they are needlessly expensive luxuries. But if I won the lottery, I'd put one on my Ferrari.

On a more serious note, I'd say that it's not so much the number plate that is important as showing that he is doing as well as his DB, who sounds more successful. I'd say that is the between the lines thing here.

clam · 04/10/2010 13:57

I'm very Blush to admit that I have one.

BUT, in my defence, it was already on the car when we bought it. Or is that worse? Someone else's personalised number on my car. Pratt twice over, really.

zapostrophe · 04/10/2010 13:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

escapologist · 04/10/2010 13:59

you could offer to buy him a sign to stick in the back window instead... Grin

PanicMode · 04/10/2010 13:59

YANBU - awful things.....

I'm afraid I always make (negative) assumptions about the IQs of those who drive cars with them on!

MadreInglese · 04/10/2010 14:01

if he really wants one does he have a big birthday coming up anytime soon that you could suggest everyone clubs in for it as a joint pressie?

BirdyBedtime · 04/10/2010 14:03

Slight hijack but blimey I had no idea that people could feel quite so strongly about something so innocuous - or make quite so sweeping generalisations about people who have them. My IQ is just fine thank you (as my PhD testifies). Yes they are a luxury but so are things like Fly boots or Boden coats (neither of which I can afford ATM) and don't recall seeing these sneered at quite as much on here.

Chil1234 · 04/10/2010 14:07

On any list on 'things I'd buy if I had the cash' a personalised numberplate would be right down at the bottom, somewhere below a time-share in Helmand Province.

sitdownpleasegeorge · 04/10/2010 14:09

His reasoning is pants. As I understand it......."because his DB has got one, maybe it would be a good idea if we got one"

No, that just seems like a keeping up with the Jones, competitive reason to me, not a valid reason to squander £400 (incl all the costs of putting it on your vehicle). It will also cost you extra each time you change your car.

No way should it come out of joint or family income. If he wants to save up all birthday money/Christmas money etc for a couple of years then perhaps itwould be OK to fitter it away with the DVLA but I'm afraid a whole lot of folks make snap judgements about the owners of personalised car number plates and believe me they are not flattering judgements.

KnittingisbetterthanTherapy · 04/10/2010 14:09

Sorry birdy, but I do always think "hmm, bit of a twat" when I see one - don't know why really!

But then I don't even know what Fly boots are (worn by Superman? Grin) and have never purchased anything from Boden, so maybe I've just never had that materialistic bent that others have?

SlightlyJaded · 04/10/2010 14:12

Grin @ Chil and totally agree that they are not only a waste of money but really naff and tacky as well.

sitdownpleasegeorge · 04/10/2010 14:13

Birdy,

Fly boots and Boden coats do actually perform a function, they keep you dry/warm. They are a luxury but not a pointless one.

Some Phd's perform no function at all either although they do enable one to have one's bank details etc amended to "Dr" which has been debated on past threads as being useful for enhancing status.

PanicMode · 04/10/2010 14:14

Birdy, I will admit that my judgements aren't reasonable, but I do however, admit to making them. I just think what a total and utter waste of money - why not give the money to charity?

clam - did you buy the car because of the plate or was that coincidence? If the former, then that just confirms my prejudice I'm afraid Wink

nomedoit · 04/10/2010 14:16

If this was a woman being told she couldn't buy something with her own money, wouldn't we all be up in arms. Yes, it's a stupid luxury and the OP thinks the money could be better spent elsewhere and she's probably right. But the OP's DH does have a job FFS. Everyone needs a bit of leeway sometimes. Let him get it next year and relax a bit!

Lizzylou · 04/10/2010 14:18

YANBU, what is the point of spending money you don't have/can ill afford on a numberplate.

I think personalised number plates are pointless anyway and slightly tacky. Fine if you want one and have the money to get one, but in Ops case, noooo.

Original poster
Yeeehaa · 04/10/2010 14:23

Should have said as well, we only have 1 car, and 90% of the time, I am driving it.

I (rightly or wrongly) also make assumptions of owners of personalised plates, so I really don't want to drive around with them on!

OP posts:
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