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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if £600 is too much to give your teenager to go and buy holiday clothes?

177 replies

SandraDea · 17/04/2019 18:39

Just wondering if I’m a bit out of touch. My son has just come back with his mate from a shopping trip in the city centre.

His mate (14) had £600 transferred into his bank account by his parents this morning to buy clothes for the holiday they are going on tomorrow.

I know the family are wealthy but even so isn’t that extortionate? He did actually spend all the money as he’s shown us all his purchases!

Just interested if this is a bit OTT or if I’m just mean! Or maybe people just spend what they can afford whether that’s a lot or not much 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
rabbitheadlights · 17/04/2019 18:42

holy cow ... that's a ridiculous amount of money!

LEDadjacent · 17/04/2019 18:42

Shock that’s a lot of money!

NancyJoan · 17/04/2019 18:44

What the heck? I don’t spend that on clothes for my DD for the year.

dimsum123 · 17/04/2019 18:44

OMG! My 15 year old DD gets £50! And we're not struggling financially. We must just be very mean parents!

SilverGoldBronze · 17/04/2019 18:44

£600 is what my last holiday cost!

TinyGhostWriter · 17/04/2019 18:44

That is a lot of money!

Gomyownway · 17/04/2019 18:45

600 is too much for me to spend on clothes in one go, let alone a teen

Treaclesweet · 17/04/2019 18:45

Do you think they'd like to adopt me?

Monny1 · 17/04/2019 18:45

That is a ridiculous amount of money, just for holiday clothes. They definitely have more money than sense!

Foxmuffin · 17/04/2019 18:46

I wouldn’t spend that on myself.

SileneOliveira · 17/04/2019 18:46

I wouldn't give my teenagers that.

My teenage son would buy two pairs of shorts and five t-shirts from Primark and have £550 change.

My daughter would spend every last penny and would need an extra suitcase to lug her haul home from New Look or Primark. She'd have hundreds of things.

But then, we're not a "designer" family.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 17/04/2019 18:47

Surely it depends on budget and priorities? Maybe that's his year,y clothing allowance and presumably he will wear them after the holiday.

I see the amount some waste on alcohol, takeaways etc each month and think what a waste of money. No different. At least he has something to show for it.

BackOnceAgainWithABurnerEmail · 17/04/2019 18:47

Why does one need a new wardrobe for a holiday? Madness regardless of how much you have and teaching him you’re a money tree.

aibutohavethisusername · 17/04/2019 18:48

That’s a crazy amount.

Original poster
SandraDea · 17/04/2019 18:48

Yeah I thought it was a lot of money - even my son commented ‘he’s as spoilt as f**k!’ - he was laughing and so was his mate who is actually very lovely and doesn’t act spoilt in anyway so that’s good

OP posts:
FinalNameChange · 17/04/2019 18:49

I don't spend that much on myself in 2 years.

Ithinkmycatisevil · 17/04/2019 18:52

😱 that would have paid for nearly half my holiday!

I would spend under £50 on each dd for holiday wear. All they need are bikinis and shorts!

safariboot · 17/04/2019 18:54

If they're buying stuff for skiing, hiking, or other sports or activities then it might be reasonable.

If it's just 'everyday' stuff then it seems expensive. But even then, £600 is reachable if you're buying name brands not cheap Primark rubbish.

Inadvertentlybrilliant · 17/04/2019 19:01

It all depends on your income. £600 is a lot to some and not much to others. If the teenager wears designer clothes then he probably won't get much for his money. As long as your DS doesn't feel inferior around his friend and the friend isn't a snob then all is well.

Chouetted · 17/04/2019 19:02

Surely it depends on what they were buying and where?

I wouldn't buy any clothes from Primark, ever - not because I'm rich (I'm on benefits!), but because it wouldn't actually fit me. I'm forced to buy more expensive clothing because no-one donates the clothes that fit me to charity shops, and cheap shops never stock them.

As a teenager my parents set me loose in shopping centres with £200 about twice a year in lieu of Xmas and Christmas presents. I usually spent it on clothes. Those were the only ones I got as my parents had long given up shopping for me (because most clothes don't fit me...). Given the way that prices have inflated, I'm not so sure £600 is that much more expensive.

Chouetted · 17/04/2019 19:03

And before anyone asks, no, I don't spend £400 a year on my clothes any more - mostly because I've stopped growing!

Inadvertentlybrilliant · 17/04/2019 19:04

I'd probably be more worried than my DS said "He's as spoilt as f**k!" in front of me. Shock

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 17/04/2019 19:05

Unless he was going on an activity holiday to Greenland, it sounds too much to me (and it’s not as if he will be wearing it next year)

PositiveVibez · 17/04/2019 19:06

Surely it's all relative though? If they are very wealthy it could be the equivalent of £100 to them.

nighttimebrowser · 17/04/2019 19:09

£600 could buy a holiday!Shock
That's crazy, even at 14.
If I even had that kind of money I'd never spoil my kids financially, it creates brats usually.

My mum used to take us to primark for holiday bits, £20 max!