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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

MrsC2010 · 04/10/2010 17:20

I think they're ridiculous and a bit tacky. A guy near us has a new Jag, with a number plate that starts DB9...

Bathsheba · 04/10/2010 17:31

I have to agree with NancyDrew above - to get a good personalised plate would cost a lot more than £250.

If you are going to get one at all (and I don't see the point of them at all...) then the one that you'll get for £250 probably will be, well, a bit crap....it might have everyone's initials in it or something but its unlikely to be one that makes a "statement" - which is, I presume, what he is after if he is so upfront that the reasoning is "to keep up with his brother".

People of real status don't have them anyway - David Beckham doesn;t drive around in a car that screams "look, David Beckham drives this car" - too dangerous...(or the Queen, or David Cameron, or, I don't know, Tom Cruise...)...so I guess thats partly where the idea comes from that people who do have them are trying to attract attention to themselves that they don't necessarily merit...

TrillianAstra · 04/10/2010 17:37

Someone on here once said 'they all say TW4T to me'.

I am inclined to agree.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 04/10/2010 17:43

Ultimate in naffness. All they say is "I have got more money than sense. " Someone round our way drives on with PEN1S - I ask you.

TrillianAstra · 04/10/2010 17:45

I suppose all it really says is:

"If I had £xxx to spend I would spend it on this"

And maybe it's wrong of me to assume bad things about you based on how you choose to spend your money. I'll still do it, but I'll acknowledge that I may be wrong.

But from the sounds of it you don't really have £250 to spend on it. And that's just bonkers.

Tippychoocks · 04/10/2010 17:52

Another one here who judges drivers on them I'm afraid. Not just because of the naffness though, I genuinely don't get the point of them. You're telling people you pass on the stree, that you don't know, your initials? Or birthday? Why?

It's not hurting anyone so I'd defend his right to do it, twattish or not, if you had the money. but if you don't then yes, HIBU

MrsMadWriggle · 04/10/2010 18:56

YANBU. Another one who judges here.

If you've got £250 (or whatever) to spend, why not spend it one something that gives you a tangible benefit - a beautiful painting, a piece of jewellery, a trip somewhere, a couple of concerts, a meal at a top restaurant. Then you've actually got something tangible or had a lovely experience rather than a collection of letters on your car.

flowerybeanbag · 04/10/2010 19:50

How hilarious! There's me driving round minding my own and not realising so many people were making such awful judgements about me! Fortunately anyone who knows me would agree that these comments reveal more about the judger than the judgee.

I can understand a at a rude word or whatever, but anyone who comes over all Hyacinth Bucket at the sight of some initials needs to get out more.

OP of course they are a silly waste of money, and like anything unnecessary and expensive, whatever our individual things we waste money on, it's daft to do it if you can't afford it. For some it's techy gadgets, for some it's designer handbags, for some it's expensive hobbies. Who are we to judge, but I know some love to do so.

tb · 04/10/2010 19:56

Have several that make me smile - V11GRA on a porche iirc and V6CUL on an alpha v6 - even better as 'cul' means arse in French.

The worst was on a Bentley/Roller in Safeway car park in Hale - it was either 1OBE or OBE1 can't remember which. Seems grounds for HM to ask them to send back their other bugger's efforts if you ask me.

coolascucumber · 04/10/2010 19:57

Rarely amusing, often hard to decipher, always tacky

Phrenology · 04/10/2010 19:59

amothersplaceisinthewrong

I know who that is and he a Di**head.

This from Google....

PEN 15 is owned by Steve Parrish - ex car racer who now competes in trucks.

MrsMadWriggle · 04/10/2010 20:01

"For some it's techy gadgets, for some it's designer handbags, for some it's expensive hobbies."

Yes, but at least you have the pleasure of doing something with them. A techy gadget person gets to DO techy gadget stuff. You can use a designer handbag to put things in. An expensive hobby is probably quite enjoyable. But what do you actually DO with your number plate?

cyborg · 04/10/2010 20:07

I could not afford a personalised number plate so I changed my name to Y763 MDW and now I have got my own personalised number plate

Easy peasy and very cheap

Superfly · 04/10/2010 20:08

I bought one for my DH as a first Fathers Day present. It was something he had always wanted but would not buy himself. It is not naff, does not spell his name or any other word.

He was over the moon with it, as far as I can tell has not affected his IQ (which is a lot higher than most people I know) he doesn't drive like an arse, or a boyracer and even stops for old people and parents with buggies at zebra crossings.

It's your money - do what you like with it, if it not leaving you strapped elsewhere.

mumblechum · 04/10/2010 20:09

They really are utterly wankerish.

MrsChemist · 04/10/2010 20:24

I saw the wankiest number plate ever a few days ago. It was G11FTD.

My parents have one, so I don't tend to judge people by it, but "gifted" is beyond wanky. The only reason this wouldn't be wanky was if it's their surname, and Gifted would be an unusual surname.

There is also one near me that it meant to say Stacey, but bless her, it looks like it says Stabby. I'm sorry if you're on here Stacey, but DH and I agree that we both think Stabby when we see it, not Stacey.

flowerybeanbag · 04/10/2010 20:35

MrsMadWriggle, what do I do with it, well not a lot, I put it on the car. I make no claim to it having any useful function. And yes the other examples of expensive nonsense I listed could be described as having more of a function, but I'm sure if I could be bothered I could think of lots of things people spend money on that have no function whatsoever. Up to them really.

GrendelsMum · 04/10/2010 20:45

We used to have a personalised number plate, and when I got over my cringing, I realised it was the only number plate I've ever been able to remember. I now very slightly regret not having it any more...

flowerybeanbag · 04/10/2010 20:51

There you go, there's a useful function! Mine isn't actually on the car at the moment because we are umming and ahhing about changing it (the car), so it's just a bog standard plate. I've had to give the number to a couple of people for things and have got it wrong both times. With my personal one that's never an issue.

However it would obviously be pushing it to say that's a good reason to get one.

MummyDayAndNightCare · 04/10/2010 20:57

I have a personalised number plate. I am not a "prick" and "don't drive like one" either, thank you very much.

Mine was a birthday present off DH when money was being spent on frivolous stuff because we could. Fast forward a few years and things have changed and no I probably wouldn't buy one now.

So no, YANBU. However, Ladyanonymous is.

loubielou31 · 04/10/2010 21:02

YANBU, personalised number plates are only for chavs!

Prinnie · 04/10/2010 21:04

Complete and utter waste of money - YANBU!

twolittlekings · 04/10/2010 21:08

Difficult one as quite personal. I think they are really awful and chavvy but I think men can be different about things like that.

£250 is a lot and I would agree in my opinion a complete waste of money so if money is tight then YANBU

LittleMissHissyFit · 04/10/2010 21:14

So someone on here said they had seen a plate with this:

A1 BFU

Come on, AIBFU?

Who has it?

Own up!!

minipie · 04/10/2010 21:14

Tacky and brash IMO.

But it's not really about what I think, it's about whether you and your DH agree that it's worth £250. Sounds like not.

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