To think £200 is too bloody much?

[MogwaiTheGremlin]

Friend has hired a country house for her birthday and has just informed us it's £200 per person. I'm really annoyed because a) it isn't even a 'special' birthday b) I didnt really want to go in the first place as it means leaving pfb overnight but i felt obliged as she is a good friend and c) I can't bloody afford it.
Im just going for one night as ds is still little so I'll be spending 6 hours on the train (by myself) to spend 24 hours there. I realise that is my own bloody fault and not hers but it adds to my annoyance!

There will be additional costs (travel, going out money etc) so whilst i have to write off the £200 should I make my excuses now and pull out before this thing escalates further?
Mostly im annoyed at myself for saying yes in the first place as i would be perfectly happy spending the weekend at home with ds and £200 could buy A LOT of nappies
She is a very good friend so feel free to flame me for being selfish.

She was looking through and saw this and got carried away - it is lovely but beyond her means. It isn't worth it - you can get beautiful placs for so much less.

I hate these " My birthday " arseholes , people really need to get over themselves and realise people don't want to live on beans on toast for the rest of the month just to celebrate their birthday " weekend "

You have to email and say 'sorry, I thought it was 100, I can't afford 200, I can't come.'

Oh, and OP, you know it will go up before you go, don't you? My bet is at least 2 other friends (if not most) are having this same discussion, and will drop out. and have the courage to not pay

It does look lovely, are you not even tempted by the thought of a few drinks and a lie in (at a prohibitive cost!) ?

She's booked that for a birthday - crikey.

Good point about others dropping out, I'd send my apologies ASAP, she's going to get either more and more disappointed or angry as people start cancelling and likely to put more pressure on you.

Do it sooner rather than later .

Would it be beyond the bounds of all reason to send her £100 (the original amount it was supposed to cost) as a birthday present? With a "sorry can't make it at that price, but hope the enclosed will be useful" sort of note. You'd still be saving £100 + train fare + taxi + meals out + champagne etc etc etc...

G5v uhnvbbugnhhhhgrfftxfffffhjk ikkkjkkokkkkxrkklkkkkllllk.

I've just done one of these and there were lots of people talking of pulling out etc beforehand. My friend found a place just short of £2000 asked £100 of everybody and paid the deposit of £500 and brought all the food.

I too was unsure about going but it was a blast. I didn't really know anyone but they were all very easy to get along with, chilled and pretty good fun. It needs a good mix to make this sort of party work. If you haven't been persuaded into going she probably isn't going to make the party work for you either. Lots of people needed "reassuring" before and during the party.

Madness!!

Have you emailed her yet?

Don't go! Have been in the exact same situation and pulled out. Write off the £200 if you have to. If your friend doesn't understand now, she will in the future when she is next short of cash (it happens to everyone now and then)

Any news?

It only has 9 bedrooms, so the original 20 people would have been seriously squashed (assuming the birthday girl reserved one for herself, that would leave 18 or 19 people sharing 8 rooms, some three to a room!).

Either you are paying £200 for 'single occupancy' for a double room as your partner isnt going, or you would be forking out £200 to share a room with someone. Crazy!

It is gorgeous and for a wedding maybe, but for a birthday. ridiculous.

Right I've done it!
Emailed and said that as the price has gone up bloody well doubled I can no longer afford it and will have to duck out. Am going to pay £100 because I did commit to that orignally and although I hate throwing away money like this I think that is only fair and i will be saving lots more £££ by not going.
Phew, so relieved that is over and done with. Have learnt a big lesson in not just saying yes to everything without thinking things through.
Thanks heaps for all your great advice!

Thought that might be the place, you really need to go there in the summer and not the depths of winter. Portland is really, really bleak.

And is a nightmare to get too if your are using public transport.

jeez, she must be so full of self importance to book a venue like that for a nothingy birthday!!!

I think you're morally obliged to pay her £100, wether you go or not, as you comitted to this a while ago. Do not get guilt tripped into coughing up the whole £200 though, that's beyond ridiculous.

Recently seen on Made in Chelsea.

I wouldn't pay the 100 for something I could no longer attend because someone else fucked up the arrangements.

No way.

Well I hope she suggests that you still come for the one night if you're paying the £100.

I hope she doesn't! Can't afford the bloody train fare [big grin]