To Spend £1345 on a Set of Earrings ?

[Moaning5]

My dad has just gifted me £2000 - how nice !

My parents have NEVER gifted me money in this way. He’s done something with his pension and given all of us (4) the same amount.

I have no real savings to speak of other than an emergency fund. I have no mortgage to put it towards. I have grown up children who are independent. I have no debt to clear.
AIBU to pay £1345 for a pair of gold hoop earrings with pear drops as worn by Princess Catherine which I have always loved ?
Or am I being ridiculous and it needs to be be spent more sensibly ? On what though ?

Personally I wouldn't. If your dad has given all 4 of his children £2000 and he hasn't gifted money before that sounds a considerable and generous commitment from him. Is he the type to genuinely want you to get what you like with it or is he the type who might say to you go for it but be secretly disappointed that you've spent such a high proportion of his gift on something he would possible consider 'frivolous'. That would be a consideration for me. A holiday could also be considered 'frivolous' as money spent in a couple of weeks but somehow, if I was the gift giver, I would think that would be money much better spent. I'm thinking as well that ear rings are easily lost or broken and you would be really upset if that happened and you had not much left from his special gift. Personally I would source a similar pair of earrings ...good quality ones .. maybe a couple of hundred pounds and do something else with the rest of the money. That way you have something special to keep from his lovely gift. Enjoy this generous gift from your dad whatever you decide to do and maybe get him a special card to tell him how much you appreciate him. If you do buy the ear rings, whether the more extravagant ones or the £200 ones give him a lovely photo in a frame with you looking wonderful and happy wearing them. If u had given my daughter this gift I would love a special photo of her wearing the ear rings. 🎁💐

Life’s too short. Buy the earrings and they’ll be a lovely way to remember your dad’s gift.

YABU. Put it in something more sensible. If you don't have much money to begin with, keep that money aside.

Old people are not entitled to be frivolous perhaps?! Old ears?

Found them! https://www.annoushka.com/uk/18ct-yellow-gold-pearl-diamond-earrings-b027944.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk+-+pmax&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20496251004&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-g33KdHYOEtJ0ANXazhfMD1F5vNmt-he8Uvj1yMS-iPXuRMRV5aiNeRoCCLkQAvD_BwE

However I can’t comment on if you should or not because I have spending fear of anything over £50. Link is for the nosy fuckers like me (they are lovely).

Are these the earrings?

www.annoushka.com/uk/18ct-yellow-gold-pearl-diamond-earrings-b027944.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk+-+pmax&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20496251004&gbraid=0AAAAACXaCLTOdGB537XUaNeD5bDudDlme&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuruO_Y7-kAMVNZNQBh1cyQFhEAQYASABEgK5P_D_BwE

I do think you can get a lot of this style of earrings for a lot cheaper - Monica Vinader do soem lovely ones as do many artisan makers. But I do think you should treat yourself and have something nice to give you joy. My husband was so frugal it completely broke me - we had an unnecessary amount of savings and I didnt have things I really needed.

I get that you'd want to treat yourself with an unexpected windfall. But I'd be treating myself to the tune of £50 or £100, not blowing three quarters of it.

Is it really £2000 to join David Lloyd for a year?
Wow!

In that case, I am team earrings though I would never be able to wear them as I would be so scared of losing them.

Do something sensible with the rest of the money.
Also, any chance of a Black Friday deal?

I think you'd be mad to spent that much on earrings if you have no savings.

I would treat yourself to something much cheaper and/or save a bit towards these earrings and then put the rest in an ISA or maybe invest in some Premium Bonds (with which you might win enough to buy the earrings!).

OP, if you have grown up children and have no savings, quite apart from an emergency fund, what have you set aside for your retirement?

I am incredulous that people would think it appropriate to spend on a frippery (PS jewellery will only fetch a fraction of the price paid for it at a pawn shop) ahead of financial security.

@Moaning5 You are not in the same financial league as the princess though. For her 1350 is what 1,35 might be to you. With no savings this would be a very stupid decision. Sorry, but you asked.

Does your emergency fund cover 6 months of expenses if you fall ill/have an accident and can't work?
Do you have a private or workplace pension? If not, can you live off £12,000 a year when you retire?

Personally I would put all of it in a pension.

In fact I can answer yes to both the above questions and would probably put it in my son's pension! He's 12.

your money, do what you want with it

Except she’s not financially secure, she specifically says “I have no real savings to speak of”

OP I think you would be mad to spend it on jewellery when you have no savings.

I’m 60 with no income and no savings and waiting for my paltry works pension to start. If anyone gave me money at this stage, I’d be saving it and not blowing it on pointless crap.

OP if I inherited £2000 those earrings if MysticHalfWitch and Mycrustwith eyeliner guessed correctly I would be very tempted. They are gorgeous.

But I am very financially secure and could actually buy them without a windfall if I really wanted.

Sorry to hear that your husband's extreme frugality was so hard on you. We should not let family members go without necessities if they are affordable, that is cruel! I suppose your husband did not see them as necessities because his view was skewed.

Gold pearl drop earrings are not a necessity by any stretch of the imagination though, are they?

We are in the happy position of having enough means to cover all of our family necessities and a lot of our wants. However I do know the difference, and we often tighten 'wants' spending so that none of us becomes spoilt. It also means that there will probably be enough money for all the needs and some of the wants of our future selves.

I'm finding reading different people's opinions on this is so interesting and eye-opening!

honestly I would enquire about getting a jeweller to copy them, it might cost less

We just got a car repair bill for £1039 so I guess for me I'd have to weigh up is that likely to crop up sometime in the future and if savings aren't big then would I feel a fool sitting in my wonderful earnings but stressing about paying a car repair bill? If you feel like those things are covered or can be easily covered then go for it.

I wouldn't personally pay that for earrings but at some point in my future I would like a horse so no judgement from me as I'll be essentially pissing money into the wind.

Is it the Annouska ones? I think they’re expensive for what they are. They’re not a statement piece or an investment piece

Given you have no savings, I think I’d look for something similar, but more affordable. Aspinal’s do a similar style (£400-500) or you could go for Goldsmiths or Lily&Roo for around the £150 mark and you could wear them without worrying about losing them!!
https://www.annoushka.com/uk/18ct-yellow-gold-pearl-diamond-earrings-b027944.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=uk+-+pmax&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20496251004&gbraid=0AAAAACXaCLTOdGB537XUaNeD5bDudDlme&

Depends what you mean by your emergency fund. If it is £100, £1000 or £10000. If you are one washing machine breakage away from going into dept, I wouldn't. But if you are fine with your emergency savings, then go for it.

I thought you were being silly but then I reread your post - I think it's time you treated yourself!

Buy dupes and save the rest. Or spend it on something useful like a laptop or a phone. It's obscene to spend that much money on earrings even if you are loaded.