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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to spend money on something I know is temporary

32 replies

thegreenlight · 27/03/2019 14:27

Just need to ask the wisdom of the hive mind. We currently have a 3x5m wooden playhouse at the end of our garden which DH is insisting we rip down ASAP as he has discovered mice 🙄. We are planning in the long run to have a home office built there (which will cost quite a bit as it’s so big). Our DSs are only 18 month and 6 so we were thinking about putting a play space down there until we can afford to build the office. However a proper play space with decent equipment and surfacing will probably cost upwards of £1500/£2000. Is that a waste of money? Our house has a park across from it but DS wants a trampoline etc. Is it a waste to spend that money or shall we do it and wait until the boys are bigger to build the office? Please help! I’m rubbish at making descisions!

OP posts:
Squeakypigs · 27/03/2019 14:30

Depends how much 2k is to you, OP. If it’s a lot of money could you meet in the middle and get a slide and paddling pool for the summer? Trampolines are quite dangerous anyway but are a lot of fun

bloodywhitecat · 27/03/2019 14:32

My kids had many years of fun out of our garden so if I could afford it I would go for it. Our house was also a magnet to all of their friends so you might find your garden invaded all over again!

pigsDOfly · 27/03/2019 14:33

Well it's a waste of money if you're trying to save up to pay for the office. Your children will be fine without a £2000 play house, I promise you.

However, if money is no object and £2000 is easily wasted then why not go ahead.

Can't you just find a way of getting rid of the mice.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 27/03/2019 14:37

Trampoline is £100. What else do you need? Why waste 2k when there is a park over the road.

Original poster
thegreenlight · 27/03/2019 14:49

Husband is adamant about ripping it down and it will be a total eyesaw 😢, it will have to come down at some point but he’s got it into his head it has to happen this year as we have bifolds and he’s worried about mice getting into the house when we leave them open. It’s a big space and would have to put some sort of surface down and buy equipment to put on it. Was thinking it might be nice for them to have their own play space despite park. I really don’t know! Would a 6 year old get lots of use out of it?

OP posts:
HJWT · 27/03/2019 14:50

A swing set slide and trampoline will not cost you more than £500, unless your on about the huge fancy wooden frame that take 2 days to build which yes would be a waste of money...

HJWT · 27/03/2019 14:52

See 😁

AIBU to spend money on something I know is temporary
AIBU to spend money on something I know is temporary
Original poster
thegreenlight · 27/03/2019 14:54

That child looks very happy on that trampoline! It’s the surfacing though - underneath is currently just mud. Does anyone have any clever ideas for that? Rubber chipping are quite expensive (at least £500 for whole area).

OP posts:
BananaFace5 · 27/03/2019 14:58

But even if you get rid of the playhouse you could still get mice. They are abundent this year after the mild weather so they bred profusely and the number of households having them move in with them for the cold weather was larger than an average year, so it could just be that and you'll never have them again. If they enjoy playing with the current playhouse then it does seem a huge waste really

Lou573 · 27/03/2019 14:59

Play bark? That’s what we have in our play area. Needs topping up with a new bag every so often but cheap as chips.

bullyingadvice2017 · 27/03/2019 15:00

Get some grass growing.
Also. Mice do live outside. In sheds etc. They will soon leg it away from a couple of kids playing out.

ILikeyourHairyHands · 27/03/2019 15:00

Grass? Anyway, I think your husband is being a touch dramatic about the mice, if they want to get into a house they will, bifolds or not! (Plus they're everywhere, ripping down the play house won't make them vanish).

IStillMissBlockbuster · 27/03/2019 15:00

Don't mean to sound funny but why not turf it?

HJWT · 27/03/2019 15:01

Would also say Play bark!! X

springbreak3 · 27/03/2019 15:03

If you can afford it and your kids get 4-5 years of happiness and fun out of it, then go for it! Smile

emotionalaffair · 27/03/2019 15:04

Ripping down the playhouse will probably just encourage the mice into the house. Your DH is bonkers.

missbattenburg · 27/03/2019 15:25

Ripping down the playhouse will probably just encourage the mice into the house.

This. If your DH doesn't want mice in the house then he should put a big sack of grain and plenty of comfy cotton wool in the playhouse. They will never leave :)

Steamedbadger · 27/03/2019 15:27

Just kill the mice

CCquavers · 27/03/2019 15:29

If mice want to get into your house they won’t wait for you to open the door. Mice are probably nesting under shed and the taking down of shed might not have any effect.

HeathRobinson · 27/03/2019 15:29

Get a cat.

thenightsky · 27/03/2019 15:31

Knocking down the playhouse will merely evict the mice who, in all likelihood, will flee to the comfort and warmth of the main house (bitter experience)!

Put down some traps and poison in the playhouse (keep the kids out till they are gone).

maggiecate · 27/03/2019 15:34

Ripping down the playhouse will move the mice, it won't get rid of them. Remove their food source (bird feeder in the garden? crumbs in the playhouse?), keep any long grass short so they don't have handy nest building material, get some traps (there are lots that will do the job without removing small fingers). You need to implement a hostile environment.

Or get a cat.

Original poster
thegreenlight · 27/03/2019 15:47

We back onto fields. He’s being really annoying about it. I’d leave it until we were ready to replace but he has other ideas Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
thegreenlight · 27/03/2019 15:48

As in we back onto fields so mice are inevitable.

OP posts:
anniehm · 27/03/2019 15:51

Trampoline and wood chips to cover the mud, £200 tops