To ask what you'd spend £100 on?

[PurpleMac]

I'm having the worst day. I've managed to upset my mum (we're good now but still), upset my husband (a misunderstanding, my fault, I've apologised but he hasn't responded- although I know he's busy).

Add to that the fact that we are off on holiday next week and have had some unexpected expenses in the past few weeks which means that we really can afford just the bare essentials whilst we are away - it's a UK break, food and accommodation are accounted for, so just some low-budget days out.

I basically got sacked last month - not in so many words, but my secondment has been terminated early (just as I was due back from adoption leave) because they don't have enough work for me to do so I'm heading back to my home department in two weeks. I've dedicated years to my current team and have worked my arse off but missed out on a performance bonus this year because my manager mistakenly thought that I was not elligible because I was on leave (despite being in the office for 10 months of the performance year). My manager did a card and collection, and told me I could have the collection money as cash as spending money for my holiday next week, but today has decided that that's not the way they do things so he's sent me an Amazon voucher instead. (Now I'm really not being greedy and appreciate I've been off for almost a year on adoption leave so have basically been forgotten, but the collection came to £100 - I've worked closely with a team of 50 very senior people all earning £200k+. The £100 will actually be less than that I'm sure, but my manager would be emabarssed to give me so little so would have topped it up himself).

So yeah. I'm really feeling like shit today. Have spent most the day feeling hormonal and sad and curled up on the sofa crying. But at least I have a £100 Amazon voucher to spend! I've finished all my Christmas shopping already so this is just for me. Except for the first time ever I don't have a fucking clue what to get. I do know though that I feel exhausted right now having given every part of myself to my family and my job and my home and for once I just want something for me. I need something special for me.

If you had £100 to spend for yourself on Amazon....what would you get?

A little box to keep your crochet stuff in?

With the las £17 what about nail polish, or a nice hand cream

Beauty products like face mask, face oil and serum, hair products, maybe some new towels
How about new bedding?

Results are in after some final tweaking. We have:

Crocheting bits
A lovely Rimmel plum colour nail polish
A face serum
Three books
Some eyeliner
A canvas print of Van Gogh's Almond Blossom
Charbonnel sea salt and caramel truffles
Some wax to refresh my barbour jacket
Bath bombs
Candle
Waffle bed throw

Thank you all for helping to turn a very miserable day into a lovely one. Looking forward to receiving my goodies!

Sounds fab. Good for you spending it on yourself for treats. Tomorrow you can get in the bath with your candle and book, set your bath bomb fizzing and eat the truffles!

Cripes i had £100 voucher from work recently i could have changed it into vouchers for loads of different shops or bought an item with it after 3 months of not coming up with anything i bought it on xmas presents for the kids in an attempt to get organized.

I honestly couldn't think of anything for me which is either really sad or suggests i have too much already.

Figgy I would have done exactly the same if I hadn't already have finished my Christmas shopping! I think it's fairly natural to spend it on what you would already be purchasing anyway, which is why I wanted to go against my instincts and spend it on myself. Because I bloody earnt it, and if it had been anything other than vouchers then it would have been "For me" so the voucher should be too

I wish MN had a Like button. Well done PurpleMac, I hope all of your treats are fab

Glad you are sorted on what to buy from amazon but on a serious note you need to follow up on the bonus thing.

You have been advesley treated because you were on adoption leave (even though it's unintentional) and you would have a case to raise a grievance with HR.

Also- I know it feels paltry but £100 is better than nothing. I recently left my role and because it was all hush hush and my ex boss is quite shit and he told noone until after I'd actually left, I didn't get a leaving gift at all! The guy who left the week before me (similar circumstances but boss told everyone on the Tues that he was leaving Friday) he got a £150 leaving gift!!

So it could be worse :)

The problem with the bonus thing is that it's allocated on percentages - so 25% are "top performers" and get a large bonus, 60% are "good" and 15% are underperforming. The mid and top ranges both get a small bonus but top also gets a large bonus. My performance before I went on leave was definitely "top performer" but because my manager thought I would get an automatic "middle mark" he would have given that space to someone else. I know exactly who that person would be and she is definitely great at her job so it would be difficult for me to argue that I deserved that marking more than she did. But the whole process was shit - I didn't get a performance discussion or informed of my mark at all. I just know that come September when bonuses were paid, I only got the small bonus.