To think there's a limit to 'it's your money you can spend it how you like'

[JeffsanArsehole]

We're always saying it on Mumsnet when folk spunk thousands on a car or a bag and if anyone's slightly critical we always point out that it boosts the economy and is there any chance they're 'jealous' etc etc

Well I've reached my limit of saying spend your money how you like and I am feeling disgusted and critical of a UAE wealthy Arab family spending 50 million quid on a cake.

I think that's grotesque and obscene. Really, really so.

[Aussiemum78]

Way to go using your money to make the world a better place. I mean, that kind of money could feed, educate, vaccinate and house thousands of children, fund medical research, save a rainforest, or buy a stupid looking cake.

Humans really are pathetic.

[Lweji]

But how many miner's families have "benefited" from the money spent on digging for those diamonds?

I'm actually more concerned of how the miners are treated to get those diamonds.

[InQuiteAPickle]

"The 6 foot long cake is totally edible and features 4,000 real diamonds."

Well then it's not totally edible, is it? Or can you eat diamonds now?

[GloGirl]

It looks like a bad plastic sugary victim doing a catwalk for a caveman photographer Witnessed by other members of her botched surgery support group.

Some people want to buy the most expensive thing because it is the most expensive thing. Ditto some people want to build the most expensive thing just because they want to get in the papers and get publicity.

If you make the most expensive anything, the Daily Mail are bound to give you publicity for it. I admit I get annoyed when it's just a diamond stuck on for an extra ??50 mill. I like it when people build burgers out of caviar, truffles and the beef if massaged cows.

[fastdaytears]

Well I certainly wouldn't say it was "like an edible art installation". I think I made something similar from Fimo in year 6.

Pretty amazed that it apparently weighs 450kg though. Isn't that quite a lot? Am rubbish with kg but I weigh a lot and it's not 450...

[fastdaytears]

I just hope they recycled the diamonds maybe they went in the party bags?

[HeighHoghItsBacktoWorkIGo]

I understand your disgust, BUT it is better for them to spend it than to just hoard it. If they invest it in the London property market or something, it doesn't get the money flowing out to the rest of us the way buying ??50m cakes does!

[Lweji]

maybe they went in the party bags?

Just as long as they didn't go in poop bags...



can't believe I'm making poo jokes, how low can I get?

[alreadytaken]

if you have worked for your money you're entitled to spend it on anything you like. I could sell all I have and give it to the poor- I don't so there is only a difference in degree between me and anyone rich spending their money on themself.

If you inherited wealth I feel free to despise you entirely unless you are contributing to society. If you need a posh bag or a fancy car to make you happy I'd feel rather sorry for you.

[Pootles2010]

No I was wondering that Fast - same weight as a grizzly bear? Really? Doesn't look that big to me! Is the table part of the cake too?!

Also somewhat at her saying it took 1,100 hours to make.

[Lweji]

Posh cars and bags don't materialise from nothing. They pay salaries and taxes. Why not spend on them?
And just as long they don't tax evade, it's up to people where they spend their money. Inherited or not.

[yeOldeTrout]

it's an obscene amount of money to spend on a cake when people are fleeing torture & warfare in the Middle East. So much for Muslim solidarity.

[BoboChic]

It's tasteless but it will have paid an awful lot of wages.

[BoboChic]

Better to spend your money on a nicely made non-polluting handbag using artisanal skills and renewable materials than on a large petrol guzzling car that takes up too much space on the congested roads.

[Thelushinthepub]

A fool and his money are easily parted: I think some Arabs are so wealthy that our standards of money mean nothing because they just have so much of it. Shame when there are so many poor people there but I guess they need to keep them poor so they can be their slaves servants

[Chewbecca]

Bizarrely it says every piece was hand sculpted by Ms Wingham. Thus she must've been working on it for months. Surely not still edible?

Bleurgh.

I guess you can consider that a large part of the cost was buying stones which they will still have after the cake is gone.

[Baconyum]

"Bizarrely it says every piece was hand sculpted by Ms Wingham."

Was she wearing oven gloves at the time? Cos that work is shit!

[Igneococcus]

The GBBO guys would have whipped that up in 3.5 hours, in a stuffy tent while being interrogated by Paul and Mary and sabotaged by Sue and it would also have tasted great.
Actually, I'd love to see what Ugne would have done with that brief, or Prison Paul.

[bereal7]

Would be nice if the money could be spent helping others , but it remains their choice to spend it as they wish.

[MaidOfStars]

I understand your disgust, BUT it is better for them to spend it than to just hoard it
Agree. Various VAT payments from the supply chain, income tax on all wages, etc etc.

[fakenamefornow]

I agree it is obscene.

I also disagree with those saying this helps the economy getting money circulating. What would get money circulating would be businesses paying all their staff more, lots and lots more small purchasing happening instead of very very few large purchases.

I think the cake's very skilfully done, don't think I'd fancy eating it though, too much sugar.

[TenQuidProQuo]

I'd eat the diamonds.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Arf @ 'Plastic sugary victim, GloGirl- I wish I had thought of that one!!

I have a friend who makes cakes, and I have seen pictures of some of them - and her work is infinitely better than this effort, and I bet my bottom dollar she doesn't charge ??50 million for it!

I caught the trailer for a programme called 'Shahs of Sunset' - where one of the women was discussing a new business venture - drinking water infused with diamonds! Do you think she soaks the diamonds in the water, and hopes some of the diamondy-ness washes off? Because if that is the case, then it is a kick-ass business idea, because she can carry on using the same diamond forever!

Or is she going to grind them up and mix them in? And what benefit will one get from drinking diamond water? If the powder is fine enough to drink, you aren't going to get sparkly poo or wee - and if it is big enough to show, on the way out, it isn't going to be drinkable.

The bloke she was talking to seemed to think it was a really good idea.

[Lweji]

Maybe they want to reap the health benefits of concentrated carbon?

All carbs and no calories.

But as expenditure goes, we also spend money on loads of crap that could be better used on people who have limited or no access to health, education, housing, clothing and even food.
Sure, 50 million would benefit a lot of people, but 1 pound wasted by 50 million people can be just as bad.

[CalmYourselfTubbs]

YANBU - can't wait for the day when the oil runs out on these wankers.