to ask for a shopping spree for my birthday?

[ILikeReadySaltedCrisps]

DH runs his own business and was fortunate enough to receive a large amount of money for a job he completed last month. We were all over the moon for him and after costs are paid off and some profits being put back into the business, he's been left with a very nice lump sum.

I work full time and I'd say we live 'comfortably'. We aren't rich, but we can afford the things we need, put money away in savings and have some disposable income each month.

We have one DS who had a birthday fairly recently. He wanted cash for his birthday, so we both chipped in and he also got money from grandparents etc. We took him to a shopping centre for his birthday and he had the time of his life buying the things he wanted, and me and DH really enjoyed the day too. DS had about £350 all in, and came home with some left over, which he is saving for another shopping trip.

My birthday is coming up and DH asked me what I wanted. I mentioned that as I enjoyed the shopping centre trip so much, I'd really like cash and a similar trip for me. There are a couple of things I'd like to buy, plus a general clothes shop, so I said £500 would be great. Bearing in mind that he can afford to give me that much and I never ask for anything on my birthday.

When I told my friend what I'd asked for from DH, she said I was a cheeky cow and totally unreasonable and that I should fund my own shopping trips 😮so now I'm wondering if I'm BU for asking for a shopping spree for my birthday?

I prefer nights away, good memories

Your friend is suggesting you pay for your own b day gift instead of your husband. That doesn't make sense, I think your fine.

I don't think there is anything with wrong with asking for money so you can go shopping and buy what you actually want. I personally wouldn't disclose the amount I am receiving to others. If you did to your friend, maybe it's the fact it's £500 she's shocked/jealous about? I understand he earned it and I'm happy for you to be in that position, but I personally don't know anyone who would receive a present of that value for their birthday so maybe she is the same. She definitely handled it badly though and should not have called you a cheeky cow!

I give myself a shopping spree every birthday and Christmas! We have set budgets for gift giving and I save that for specifics that I need but don't particularly enjoy sgopping for, like a phone, or wouldn't ordinary splash out on, like a fancy shower gel. Hope you have fun op!

Everyone's budgets are different though
I've never spent 500 on DH but if my teens have had a new phone for Xmas then it probably would be close to that (on a credit card) Its not a regular thing for us, but I can imagine people on higher incomes might spend that much normally.

She’s probably secretly jealous.
Sounds like a great day out to me and I’ve not been shopping in years!

Was DH happy?
are YOU happy?

if so, your friend’s opinion isn’t relevant so don’t make it relevant.

Are you serious?? “£500 isn’t a lot of money”!! I don’t know what planet you’re on but I think £500 is a great deal of money. If that isn’t how you see it, I feel a little sad for you. You must be quite hard to please and I thank my lucky stars I don’t have to buy for you!
I have no issue with you asking for money for your birthday. Lots of people do that, including me. The issue I have is that you had the cheek to specify an amount, a large amount at that. In fact, specifying an amount at all is not on in my book and asking for £500 is very greedy in my opinion.
If people want to give you a present, it should be up to them how much they spend!