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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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 .

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

OP posts:

FindingStuffToChuckOut · 01/02/2011 10:45

I think Feb might be the month Vanity Fair magazine do their flash watch supplement? Look out for it.

JosephineClaire · 01/02/2011 11:29

My vote goes to Breitling :)

FabbyChic · 01/02/2011 11:31

I think he should buy the watch, he can look at it and remember his Grandfather, when will he be able to get one otherwise? Besides, even if you divorced the money would never be yours it was left to him. You cannot have half of what is not left to you.

BaggedandTagged · 01/02/2011 11:35

I think of inheritances as "money you never had" so I spend about 5-10% of them on something nice but enduring like a watch as something to remember the person by. Then I put the rest in a savings account- boo!

FellatioNelson · 01/02/2011 14:20

As the money is from a much larger inheritance I think it's only fair that he dhould choose something nice and lonlasting to remember his GF by, and he still has plenty left for the house. The only think I would is the choice of a Tag.
Tell him to look at Breitlings. My DH has one, and grown men run up to him in the street and practically fall at his feet and snog it!!

smoggii · 01/02/2011 14:28

I have a friend who saved for a year to buy a TH watch. He said he thought it was worth it as he would wear it everyday and it would be something to be proud of.
Fair enough.
I don't think it's unreasonable of him to at least spend part of te inheritance on something special for himself. It's money you may not have had anyway.

valiumredhead · 01/02/2011 14:32

I would be mightly pissed off if I inherited some money and dh tried to tell me how I could or couldn't spend it tbh. In fact I am not sure it would even go into our joint account and we have everything in 'one pot.'

I agree completely about choice of watch fellationelson my dh drools over Breitlings. If I ever inherit money I will buy him one, I can just imagine the look on his face!

FellatioNelson · 01/02/2011 15:07

Oh, I see MmeLindt got there before me! Seriously, they make men drool and go weak at the knees.

jasminetom · 01/02/2011 15:47

If you can afford it and work hard, why not? I own several handbags that cost about a month's salary each (and I am tax free salary) and do not feel guilty. Why is it considered so distasteful to have nice stuff. For 2 grand he could get a much nicer Rolex.

CaveMum · 01/02/2011 15:57

Tell him to go for an Omega or a Breitling.

DH wants an Omega Seamaster (not the James Bond one) and I've promised to give him some money towards it is his birthday present later this year

Breitling's are the watch of choice for RAF Aircrew (DH is RAF but not aircrew).

zikes · 01/02/2011 15:59

I'm with the person who said not to think of it as an heirloom in case some accident befalls it .

Does it seem like a waste of money to me? Yes. Would be it reasonable to try to stop him buying it? No. He should enjoy some of the money. Not what I'd do with the cash, but it's his.

And make sure it's covered by insurance.

MrSpoc · 01/02/2011 16:02

I would prefer a cartier watch. I have seen a nice one but cant justify the price.

QueenLaQueefer · 01/02/2011 16:04

YABU, although my dh lost a £3k omega recently.

Insure it!

Ivegotmrbitey · 01/02/2011 16:09

My husband inherited the TAG his father bought when he retired. It is his most treasured possession and only gets worn for special occasions. It is a lovely thing to hand down.

We will inherit a substantial sum of money soon as well (probate issues). He is very keen to buy himself a Harley Davidson. I would be far keener on him buying another watch!

TheGashlycrumbTinies · 01/02/2011 16:12

Second going for Cartier or Omega, I have Cartier and bought DH an Omega for his 40th.

I think it would be great for your DH to buy something for himself, from his Grandfather, rather than it being eaten up in house type things.

I had an amount from my dear Nan, have spent some on holidays for the whole family, nice garden furniture, but made sure I bought a couple of things just for me:) [Selfish git emtion]

LittleOneMum · 01/02/2011 16:12

My husband did just this. Spent £3k on a watch out of inheritance money. He loves it and wears it every day and had it engraved at the back with his grandad's name. I never have (and never will) feel annoyed about him spending that money!

We have one DS and I guess one it will be his. Don't begrudge it. If it was all the money, then maybe.

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