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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a month's pay is a lot to spend on a watch

41 replies

howmuchyousay · 01/02/2011 10:10

Genuine AIBU question.

DH recently inherited some money. I've name changed so I may as well be very specific about amounts.

He inherited about £20,000 from his Grandfather. However, there was much heartache surrounding the will (executor fraud, legal case etc etc) which was eventually resolved in DH's favour. I'm not sure why that matters but it wasn't money that just dropped out of the sky iyswim.

He earns £40,000 a year, takehome is around £2,300.

We have recently moved house, have lots of work to do to it etc etc.

Now, he wants to buy a Tag Heuer watch. It's £2,000 Shock.

He doesn't spend much money on clothes or himself genrally, as a rule, although has wasted money on moneypit cars in his time.

Part of me thinks that this is an obscene amount of money to spend on a watch and the other part of me thinks that he should have something to remember his grandfather by, it's a future heirloom, his money, his choice etc etc.

The only other thing he has ever spent a month's salary on is my engagement ring so I would feel a bit churlish saying he wasn't allowed Grin

OP posts:
JBellingham · 01/02/2011 10:12

Tell him to get an Omega, much more classy :)
What is wrong with spending money to make himself happy?

jenroy29 · 01/02/2011 10:14

I would never wear anything that cost that much for fear of losing it. I'm a really stingey person aswell but I can think of a lot of other ways to waste that money.

BluddyMoFo · 01/02/2011 10:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Vallhala · 01/02/2011 10:14

A quality watch is something which will last for years and should, if chosen wisely, appreciate in value so he is NBU. A Tag wouldn't be my choice for various reasons, not least that there are others which will be more of an appreciating asset but if it makes him happy, I see no problem. The money isn't coming out of the family's food/bill budget and won't leave you short after all.

JBellingham · 01/02/2011 10:14

Or Rado, they are nice too. Ebel?

emsyj · 01/02/2011 10:15

If you were struggling for money then that's one thing, but if you can afford it and he wants it then why would you stop him? You have a lovely engagement ring, he has a lovely watch, you're equal surely?

I don't actually think £2k is 'obscene' as an amount to spend on a watch tbh. It's a lot, but presumably it will be a quality piece that will last and give him a lot of enjoyment for many years.

JosephineClaire · 01/02/2011 10:16

I think if it is his £20,000 inheritance and he wants to spend 10% of it on something special for himself, that he wouldn't usually be able to buy, then that is perfectly reasonable.

If he was thinking of spending £5k, that might be a different matter... but really, it is his money to spend.

That will still leave £18k for family finances?

Lawm01 · 01/02/2011 10:16

Well, to be honest, I think you are being a tad U.

I can see that this amount of money on a luxury item can be seen as a little obscene, but you have an engagement ring that is obviously valuable both in monetary terms as well as sentimental ...

Its 'his' money (although I believe all money that comes into a household is a shared pot, but this is a bit different) and its not as though it will leave you short for general household expenses, hols, etc etc. he's obviously not a reckless spender.

Maybe he wants to buy something special with the inheritance to remember his grandfather by, to take away the bad taste with the disputed will?

And, forgive me for being picky, would you really say 'you're not allowed'? Does he always have to do what you allow him to?

Sorry, I'm not usually a confrontational poster, but I'm at home with a poorly toddler at mo, sleep deprived and going stir crazy!

FindingStuffToChuckOut · 01/02/2011 10:17

think of the watch as his 'engagement ring'. He will probably feel a similar way about it as you feel towards your ring.

Personally I don't get the whole expensive watch thing (I wouldn't spend ££ on one myself) but men I know, inc DP, colleagues & friends, love them. They don't really tend to wear jewellery or diamonds etc - for them it's all about watches.

If we came into some money, I think DP would also want to do what your DH wants to do.

MmeLindt · 01/02/2011 10:19

He is not being unreasonable to spend 2K on a watch.

He is being unreasonable to spend it on a TAG.

Marketing, not decent watchmaking.

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/02/2011 10:19

I don't see the point personally in wearing a watch at all, but if this is what he wants to do, I would embrace it. It isn't that much of the total he has inherited, and it is nice for him to treat himself after all the wrangling over the will, make something good out of something bad iyswim.

In the grand scheme of things it is not a silly amount of money to spend on something which, presumably, will last him a lifetime and which he can bequeath to your children. Like you said, you have two grand on your finger, so you cannot begrudge him this.

brightlightsandpromise · 01/02/2011 10:19

YABU!!!

stealthsquiggle · 01/02/2011 10:21

YwouldBVVU to object to this - in fact, while he is at it, how about a patek phillipe - their tag line is something along the lines of 'you never own a patek phillipe, you merely take care of it for the next generation'

A really good, last for ever, pass on to your children watch would be a lovely thing to buy with some of his inheritance - after all, you can't really hand down home improvements, can you?

GetOrfMoiLand · 01/02/2011 10:22

Mind you, make sure he is not a numpty. I bought DP a watch for his birthday one year (not a £2K one, it was a couple of hundred quid) and he managed to drop it down a hole which was then filled with tons of concrete.

BeautifulBlondePineapple · 01/02/2011 10:23

We were in a similar situation recently. DH earns a simliar amount to your DH and he got an unexpected bonus from work. We could've saved it in the "new house fund", but he wanted to spent most of it on a watch (an Omega). I really didn't have a problem with it...esp as I thought about how much my engagement ring cost and how much I love it.

2 years down the line he still absolutely loves the watch. He wears it every day and it brings a lot of pleasure to his life.

I think it would be a lovely way to remember his Grandfather....and something to pass on to one of your children too.

rubyrubyruby · 01/02/2011 10:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MmeLindt · 01/02/2011 10:26

Omega for instance.

If I remember correctly, the TAGs are made with a ETA movement - the same one that is in much cheaper watches. Will see if I can find a link.

TrillianAstra · 01/02/2011 10:28

I agree with GetOrf "you have two grand on your finger, so you cannot begrudge him this."

I don't agree that there's no point in wearing a watch - for many men a watch is the only piece of jewellery/decoration that they allow themselves, it's not just about being able to tell the time.

Sparkles23 · 01/02/2011 10:30

A good watch is an investment and something he will have for years, yes it's a lot of money but it's something to remember his Grandad by and he'll still gave 18k left, just be thankful he's not squandering it all!

Fwiw I bought my husband a Tag watch as a Wedding present (Tag Monaco) and that was around 2k mark and I hated spending the money at the time but it was money well spent, the watch is beautiful and is such a classic it will never go out of fashion.

NancyDrewHasaClue · 01/02/2011 10:30

I think it is fine to spend a months pay when a it is not actually coming out of your monthly pay IYSWIM.

But I have to say, alomg with most others I wouldn't buy a Tag (and I own one) although of course if that os what makes him happy then it is a lovely idea.

AbsDuCroissant · 01/02/2011 10:31

Agree with the other posters - it will be a great reminder of his grandfather.

Any inheritance I got from my grandparents went on my education, which was fab, obviously, but I would like something more concrete to remind me of them (especially since my parents seem to think that any jewellery etc. inherited from my grandmothers should go to all other female relatives bar me Hmm)

MmeLindt · 01/02/2011 10:31

here

Obviously the price of the watch is also determined by the casing and the other workmanship.

I think most of the Swiss watches now use ETA movements so it is good to research a bit and find out where you are spending more money for marketing for basically the same quality.

olderandwider · 01/02/2011 10:32

Let him buy the watch. And keep quiet about what you think of the make he chooses. If he suspects you think his choice is crap it may spoil his enjoyment of it. Tag's may not be the best/smartest etc, but if that's what he has his heart set on, let him have it with good grace. It will give him pleasure for many years, hopefully.

PS Rolex's are best Wink

Original poster
howmuchyousay · 01/02/2011 10:38

Thank you all.

I know I am being unreasonable, which is why I haven't said anything.

We have 2 boys so it'll be something for them to fight over in 50 years time Grin.

He has got his heart set on a Tag. I bought him a lovely Swiss watch for his birthday a few years ago so I think I might be a bit upset that he wants a different one.

OP posts:
FindingStuffToChuckOut · 01/02/2011 10:44

"A good watch is an investment and something he will have for years" OR he'll lose it, OR it will get stolen, OR he'll drop it in a hole & our concrete on it/drop it & run over it/leave it in a hotel when on holiday etc etc etc.

If you are buying something as an investment should you really be wearing it daily??? I'd just let him enjoy it, and if it last's the course of time and is a 'good enough' brand it may well turn out to be an investment. Or it might just turn out to be a nice watch for a few years which your DH will love & enjoy every day Grin