To spend our money on a new bicycle

[BJunction]

Hello all,

I wanted to get the "female" perspective on this...

My wife is due in a few months and we're putting all my recent bonus money and savings towards the required purchases. The issue is there is a lovely bike that I've been eyeing up to compliment my existing stable of bikes. The bike cost is about 40%-50% of the money we have but I'm sure we can get by on what's left. There's easily enough for a good cot and the rest of the stuff we'll need.

I've even made a spreadsheet covering the spend so it's clear we can do it but the wife is insistent that we spend all the money on the new born... who won't even remember this stage of his life.

am I being unreasonable for wanting this great bike whilst making sure there's enough left to cover the cost of the incoming baby?

It depends, what bike is it?

It had to be Di2, I waited until they were a little more proven but I'm really looking forward to the smooth gear change and especially interested in the auto-trim on the front derailleur.

I'm having the "I've just spent a lot of our saved money on a truly awesome bicycle" chat this evening.

Helmet on, thick skin engaged, spreadsheet detailing spend at the ready. I'll update the result but I'm sure it won't go too terribly... If you don't hear from me again, it's been nice knowing you.

VivaLeBeaver, it's a Specialized S-Works Venge (Di2)

Excite

That's settles it then. All the bike forums are slagging off specialized big time.

Save your money. Then once Lo has arrived put £1 in a pot everytime you go out cycling. In 10 to 15 years you might have saved up enough for a decent bike

I like Specialized, I've got one but mine is a Tricross.

OK, so bike is £8500. Its very nice and I do love bikes and will happily spend 1k plus on a bike. But really - 8.5k???

Do you need a bike that good? How much racing do you do? How much are you likely to do once baby is here?

On the other hand if thats 50% of your savings and you have another 8.5k left to spend on baby.......well that's more than enough money for baby stuff, etc.

But you could put the 8.5k towards a college fund.

Pre-kids, my husband was a pretty committed cyclist (cycled to work, frequently doing 100 mile+ rides, mountain biking at the weekends). Oldest is now 6 and he's back to doing a bit of cycling, but it is cycle to work, tootle down the railway path at the weekend, family MTB trails, nothing that requires anything other than a basic bike. He has a decent pre-kids mountain bike, an old racer and a pub bike. I have a 1k hybrid, the kids have islabikes. We're a pro cycling family. I would kill him if he spent that much of our savings at a financially uncertain time on his hobbies. You need that cushion when your wife will not be earning for a while. If she goes back a big chunk of your income will go on childcare. You will not have time for the sort of cycling that requires an expensive bike. Your baby may not need much now but they sure as hell will at some point - if you have savings put them in an ISA for your child's future. Stop being a selfish arse, step up and start being a parent.

Yanbu. As long as your wife gets one too.

BJunction

The fact that you're saying that you've spent 'our' savings leads me to think that you're taking the pee a weeny bit (am being kind!). Like I said earlier though, if you went out and bought a brand new 4x4 you'd lose £8.5k very quickly in depreciation. Also if you spend £8.5k on kids stuff then, in reality, you will only be putting it up on ebay in a few years whereas I hope you'll still be polishing the bike in years to come.

Therefore, woah, enjoy! The bike sounds awesome. Personally I don't get the attitude that you don't 'need' such an expensive bike. Sure we don't need anything but it's good to have luxury in your life.

No-one needs granite/marble worktops, Aga's, swanky houses, the Mercedes Benz, 1ct diamonds, or holidays in the Maldives. Personally I would rather have split the £8.5k 50/50 with my OH but that's just me. Just make sure you remember this and spoil your wife rotten when you next have the opportunity (bonus time perhaps).

For now though, enjoy the bike

BJunction: I feel sad reading your comments.
I feel sorry for your wife and your new baby.
I feel sad that you seem to want a new bike more than a baby.

I was married to a selfish git. He only thought of himself.

Never mind, you can always cycle off into the sunset on your new bike.

I can't believe everyone is being so civilised about this.

These are savings. For a baby. That belong to both people.

One of them wants a bike, not just any bike. 8.5k worth of bike.

Why on earth should that then be okay to use half that money for the bike??

What if your wife sits down tonight and says, "oh by the way I really fancied a new car so I spent 8.5k of the savings on it. It's ok because I know we can use the rest for the baby. You don't mind do you?"

Where would that leave you then?

Up shit creek without a paddle. Or a bike.

You are being an arse. I'm sorry but you really are.

If you don't need all the money for the baby stuff then save it for as the baby grows. You can't just spend half of it or whatever on a bike for yourself. It's actually very controlling behaviour.

Farbetternow - except he won't be able to peddle off into the sunset as the bike would be matrimonial property and the wife owns half of it!

OP, here you go, here is a bike for you and your growing family. Enjoy.

It has just occurred to me, whilst reading the OP again, that your wife is insistent on spending a theoretical £16k on baby stuff. Is this for real?

I think we spent less than £1k on our first baby (cot, pram, clothes, etc). What is she thinking of buying? Silver spoons

This ihas ito be a joke. Biuy a trailer for the back of one of your existing bikes, to put the baby in :-)

Techno required purchases could include childcare and loss of earnings. 16K would be a snip.

A good trailer costs 190 quid, and yes they're good things to have for when the baby is a bit older - depending on where you have to ride them. 16k is a ludicrous amount to spend on a new baby, just as ludicrous as 8.5k on a Venge, there are better performing bikes for less money but the amounts are really irrelevant in this.

The question is all about what is appropriate way to spend savings and bonuses, I've no idea if me and DP have shared are discretionary hobby spends evenly, it's not that important, we've certainly spent a lot more on ourselves than DD, but then a baby doesn't need much.

Still awaiting the post-discussion update - and our opportunity to welcome Mrs BJ (bet she doesn't choose that name!).

ah, I now realise Di2 is electronic derailleur.
We know a lad who is in the youth development squads (14yo & already has professional sponsors, very committed to training). He's got Di2 or something very equivalent on his sponsored bike & doesn't rate it, would not have it again. Loads of problems. DH steered well away.