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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What would you spend £800 on?

155 replies

3AndStopping · 27/06/2023 18:54

I know it’s not a huge amount of money. But we had a small pay out and after paying off debts it’s what we’re left with. We don’t usually have this amount of disposable money so should we…

A - do some house renovations

B - take the kids on a modest unplanned holiday

C - keep it incase if emergencies (we have approx £600 in savings, currently.)

WWYD?!

OP posts:
Mumtothreegirlies · 27/06/2023 21:56

Holiday everytime!
more Money can be earned, kids don’t care about house decor, but the memories made on a holiday with last forever.
failing that an annual pass like merlin maybe.

coodawoodashooda · 27/06/2023 21:56

3AndStopping · 27/06/2023 19:35

There are 2 types of people… 🤣 I’m still deciding which one I want to be 😆

The person whose money flows to the person careful with their money or not? You only get to spend every penny once.

MasterBeth · 27/06/2023 21:57

ConsuelaHammock · 27/06/2023 19:32

You would go on holiday if you only had £600 in savings? This is why some people will never have any money. They spend it as soon as they get it.

Show quote history

This is why some people never have holidays. They won't spend the money they have.

Gettingfleeced · 27/06/2023 21:58

I'd put at least half in savings. You never know what's around the corner - sickness, redundancy, weddings/hen/stag dos you have to shell out for, school trips, birthday parties...

From the other half, I would either have a cheap caravan holiday somewhere or would allocate £100 each to you, your partner and the DC. Go on a girl's night, buy a new handbag, or have a spa day with yours, whatever you like, guilt free. Let DP spend his as he wishes. Let DC spend half of theirs on toys/activities and put the other half in a savings account for them in the future.

Stompythedinosaur · 27/06/2023 22:00

I'd save it. Having savings in the bank for an emergency is a better luxury that anything else in terms of buying peace of mind!

bluesky45 · 27/06/2023 22:12

Save. We try to have 3 months of outgoings saved and whenever it gets less than this, we try not to spend unnecessarily until we are back to that figure. Then we start saving for the next "thing" - house projects, holidays, new sofas etc. Save til we can afford the thing, spend on the thing and then start saving for the next thing. Ideally we would like more saved but at the moment, we have too many big "things" to complete. Although I'm not sure it ever really stops, once we've finished the current list I'm sure more things will be added to it!

JamSandle · 27/06/2023 22:19

I know it's boring but I'd save it.

NoSquirrels · 27/06/2023 22:38

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 27/06/2023 20:17

I must be the only person who gets excited about paying into my savings accounts.
I divide whatever amount I have across three accounts: emergency fund, Christmas and holidays and love seeing the numbers go up.

Two of these are actually ‘spending’ not savings, though…

hennaoj · 27/06/2023 22:39

Save it, all of it. Emergency fund is supposed to be 3 months worth of salary.

flossysox · 27/06/2023 22:52

Holiday/ family time/ treat yourself

Life is way too short. Enjoy x

DanglingMod · 27/06/2023 22:59

Joining the chorus of those saying I'd save it all in your situation. Peace of mind is worth a thousand times what a holiday is worth.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 27/06/2023 23:21

I'd save the bulk of it and maybe keep £100 for a day out.

I've just had my nhs bonus and put the bulk of it into savings, that's for any unseen emergencies, any pet or car issues and to have a little extra for Christmas and dds bday.

I hate the thought of debt so savings are important to me.

Newestname002 · 27/06/2023 23:32

Replace two of my internal doors with solid panelled doors, fitted and painted and upgrade all the handles of my current room and cupboard doors. 🌹

determinedtomakethiswork · 27/06/2023 23:39

I would double your savings, spend £100 on a day out with the kids and spend £100 on stuff for the house.

GodSaveTheClean · 28/06/2023 00:44

You sound fiscally reckless. How do you sleep with so little saved? Save it!

jackstini · 28/06/2023 07:41

£400 in savings
£200 house stuff
£200 for fun

But - then redirect the amount you would have been paying off your debt monthly into savings so you are better prepared for future

ssd · 28/06/2023 08:00

Have you decided yet op?

Im torn between saying life is too short, enjoy the extra money and saying be sensible save it Confused

Nordicrain · 28/06/2023 08:04

I'd use at least some of it to go away somewhere nice for the weekend.

Aprilx · 28/06/2023 08:05

You need to do c) your savings could do with a boost.

Sarfar45 · 28/06/2023 08:05

I would do a holiday 🙂

Lemonyfuckit · 28/06/2023 08:10

Ordinarily I'd say put it towards a holiday, but given as you've just paid off debts and have £600 in savings I'd put the £800 towards boosting your savings and maybe just spend a little bit on a day out for the children.

RoseMartha · 28/06/2023 08:32

Holiday or short break with the dc

dontgobaconmyheart · 28/06/2023 08:37

I'd save it to be honest. With only 600 in savings I would want a bigger buffer than that as an emergency fund should something happen. The savings goal surely should ideally be an amount that enables you to cover bills/rent/mortgage for a few months if the worst happens, or enough to cover an unexpected bill.

Each to their own with their own money of course but that would be where I'd put it in those circumstances. It's not like £600 is going to pay for replastering a house, not even close. Spend a very small amount on a treat to get it out the system and save.

MasterBeth · 28/06/2023 09:44

GodSaveTheClean · 28/06/2023 00:44

You sound fiscally reckless. How do you sleep with so little saved? Save it!

Not everyone shares your mindset about risk. I'm lucky to have built up savings and equity over time, but when our kids were young we didn't have a pot to piss in and had shitloads of credit card debt. But I didn't lay in bed at night fretting over it.

Original poster
3AndStopping · 28/06/2023 15:34

Thanks everyone for your input. We booked a 5 day UK holiday in the half term with £300 of it last night. Put £400 into savings to take us to 1k and the remaining £100 will be going towards 2 new tyres we need 🤣 very happy with our choices, something to look forward to and a bit in the pot!

OP posts: