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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the word 'spendy'

31 replies

mammmamia · 22/04/2017 11:21

Where has it come from? I keep seeing it on the S&B boards. No one says this in real life. It's only on MN.
Spendy, spendier. Just no! The word is expensive. Or pricey.

OP posts:
Original poster
mammmamia · 22/04/2017 11:22

Is it a regional thing? If so I will stand corrected of course but I don't think it is...

OP posts:
DrinkReprehensibly · 22/04/2017 11:24

I've never heard of this. Hmm

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 22/04/2017 11:24

I have NEVER seen that used on S&B. Can you show us where you keep seeing it please?

Original poster
mammmamia · 22/04/2017 11:26

Ok it's on the polished thread and the how to look expensive thread. I literally keep seeing it. Only ever on MN. It's driving me mad Blush

OP posts:
Tobolsk · 22/04/2017 11:27

Spendy, is a regional thing in the US. I think it originated in Maine. Along with:
Taters
Lobstah
Maters- tomato

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 22/04/2017 11:31

It's not on the polished thread. Confused

Dozer · 22/04/2017 11:32

Grin at posters defending the how to look expensive thread from the use of "common" vernacular!

NameChange30 · 22/04/2017 11:32

People do say it in real life. Or at least my mum does. She's British and lives in England. But she says "I've been a bit spendy", so maybe it's short for spendthrift? It definitely doesn't mean "expensive" when she says it.

Annoys the hell out of me because she says it in a childish way as if it's somehow charming and forgiveable, but she's irresponsible with money and it's hard to admire her latest frivolous purchase when she's going to moan about being skint the next time I talk to her.

Sorry, that's probably another thread!

IlsaLund · 22/04/2017 12:03

Horrible word.

I used to read a blog where the blogger would use the phrase 'the wanties' if there was an item she was tempted to buy. It set my teeth on edge so much I had to stop reading.

Original poster
mammmamia · 22/04/2017 15:20

Wanties Grin

It is on the polished thread. The poster has made a typo but I still spotted it Wink

OP posts:
Birdsgottaf1y · 22/04/2017 15:23

I suppose that people said the same when 'Pricey' was first used.

What is the difference between Pricey and Spendy? when technically Spendy is more correct.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 22/04/2017 15:33

I read Sali Hughes' columns and I've seen spendier in one of her posts, only once mind.

RoseAndRose · 22/04/2017 15:34

Spendy to me is less 'correct' because you have to spend regardless of level of price.

I've just looked up the etymology of pricey' and it's first recorded in the 1930s, so within living memory. So for those of you who have relatives over 90ish, it might be interesting to ask what they can remember about opinions on new words.

Xmasbaby11 · 22/04/2017 15:35

I've seen it ... Can't think where. I thought it meant spending lots of money, rather than expensive.

tygr · 22/04/2017 15:41

Graham Norton said it on his radio 2 show today.

TinyBarista · 22/04/2017 16:02

Is it not a Marian Keyes-ism? She makes up all manner of words and phrases and it all starts to get a bit Hmm

reallybadidea · 22/04/2017 16:05

YANBU. I feel similarly about 'holiday spends'.

Code42 · 22/04/2017 16:18

Yy Red: I've only seen spendy on MN but heard spends (used as a noun) IRL. Both really set my teeth on edge for some reason Confused

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 22/04/2017 16:30

Spendy/ spendier goes over my head without causing me to tut but I read 'hilaire' here the other day, as in hilariousHmm. Now that is bollocks...... or should that be boll?

Grilledaubergines · 22/04/2017 16:34

I think it's a Martian Keyes -ism. She does invent all kinds of silly words. I think she's a brilliant writer, very witty. But I like her less for these words. It's a bit try-hard.

Original poster
mammmamia · 22/04/2017 21:57

Am glad to see I am NBU Grin
I feel the same about Marian Keys, really puts me off reading any more of her stuff. Is it her who refers to her DH as 'himself'? That pisses me right off as well.

OP posts:
Ohyesiam · 22/04/2017 22:30

I first saw it in a caitlyn Moran book of column. Then a few times on here. It always makes Me think of adfab type women talking about handbags.

Miscella · 22/04/2017 22:43

Marian Keyes is Irish so It's likely her use of language is Hiberno English rather than made up.

Himself/herself is fairly common in Ireland e.g. Is herself in.

thecatfromjapan · 22/04/2017 22:52

It's a bit blogger-ish, and I've seen it in various magazines, when columnists are trying to be ''down with the kids'.

It's very twee. Somehow, unlike 'pricey', it manages to imply a lack of agency on the part of the buyer - as though they just can't stop themselves from buying something (an that's true even when it's a columnist suggesting an item is 'spend') - hence the weirdly, irritating childishness about it.

I always suspect women who use it like very sweet alcoholic drinks.

OutsSelf · 22/04/2017 22:57

We (which in this case refers to a random sample of Northerners) say 'spenny', short for expensive I think. Spendy doesn't quite make sense to me