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 ?

Depends.

I would save it if;
Your lack of mortgage is because you are in private rental
Your emergency fund is less than a year’s living costs or a new roof plus boiler plus 2nd hand car
Your pension will not give you an ok life post 64 or 65 ish (you might not want to work til 67 or whatever)

If you own your home, your emergency fund really is ok and you are expecting an adequate pension : go for it.

Kiki McDonough? I’d buy them 🙈

I didn't mean spend it all on a laptop or phone. Just spend it on something other than Kate bloody Middleton earrings.

@Moaning5 are you going to come back and clarify the questions being asked or not?

I personally wouldn't as I have form for loosing earrings so only but cheap ones.

Look on Etsy - there are some lovely gold hoops with pearl teardrops for under £150.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1124017426/9-10mm-large-real-natural-teardrop-pearl?ls=a&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=gold+hoop+earring+with+pearl+teardrop&ref=sc_gallery-1-4&sr_prefetch=1&pf_from=search&sts=1&nob=1&plkey=LTb1144724adc1c80134ebb8e2d88e3b46a5128d35%3A1124017426

Save the rest / pay off some mortgage

I agree with this.
My brother runs an auction house. What a previous poster stated that jewellery always can be sold for a profit just isn’t true. Those earrings are retail price so a huge markup on the actual intrinsic value.

• Gemstone: Freshwater White Pearl and Brown Diamonds
• Diamond Carat Weight: 0.16ct

Freshwater pearls you can buy very cheaply. Brown diamonds are lesser quality as a colour than white or rare colours & 0.16ct is frankly minimal.

You could get far better earrings for much more affordable price, similar or even identical design, even retail but more so if you consider auction. With these you are paying over the odds for not such great value with a designer name

So the OP should buy earrings but only if it's earrings you approve of - wtf?

Personally I wouldn't be spending this much on jewellery unless I was very financially secure. Actually even then I can't imagine liking any piece of jewellery enough to spend that on it regardless of circumstances but each to their own.

I spent some money of my inheritance from my dad on a small rowing boat and an electric bike, which strictly speaking I didn't "need" but which have brought me great enjoyment over the past couple of years. They however only amounted to about 10% of what I was left.

I think it all comes down to how much the OP loves these earrings!

I once saw this tip on MN and try and stick to it - if you unexpectedly come into money, save half and spend half. It helped me save my house deposit.

So applying that, you can't afford those earrings, but you could still get something for yourself.

Buy the earrings.

Or am I being ridiculous and it needs to be be spent more sensibly ? On what though ?
You do not need to spend it on something. He has probably given you this money for security

Absolutely buy the earrings. You’ll think of your dad and his generosity every time you wear them.

Why not use a third of the money to buy something nice for yourself and save the rest?

I'm not surprised you have no savings if this is what you do with your money 😅

What is your own pension like? Are you renting?

Buy some vintage ones if you must. Nearly all modern pearls are synthetic and from China, and hugely overpriced.

I think there will be a lot of people on here telling you about how you could use that money for something more practical/usefull.

if you want the earring and got the money go and get them. I got couple pairs of diamond earrings. Do I wear them every day ? No. But they are sentimental to me and o wear them for special occasions, dinner out etc
the fact you’ll use money gifted to you by your dad, will make those earrings sentimental and I’m sure they will remind you your dad.
just get them. Otherwise you spend it here there everywhere and will have nothing to show for it.

YANBU to buy yourself something special.
It would be sensible to (a) look in the forthcoming sales and (b) put the balance into savings.
YABU to say that he “gifted you” the money - awful phrase!
Enjoy your earrings

I am certain you’d be able to find something similar for much less. I couldn’t spend that much on earrings personally!

I believe you can give 3000 each (husband and wife) and back date it for a year.

I voted to buy the earrings, because they're what you want. I would probably buy a watch instead, personally. But spend the same % of the gift!

I don’t own any earrings
So the thought of spending a grand on a pair is shocking to me
If they will genuinely make you truly happy, I suppose it might be reasonable for you to get them

however, if you do not have savings, I would personally be worried about needing something for the house - a boiler breakdown would be a big one which is pretty crucial. You say your kids are independent, but are they really financially secure? Could they have a boiler breakdown and desperately need help?

You must get the earrings! I have always been careful with money but money always disappears because it is meant to. It is made to be spent - especially small sums like this. The earrings will last forever and may appreciate in price.

No way would i spend that much anyway let alone if i had no savings. How much is in your emergency fund?

MN is obsessed with boilers breaking down! It’s happened to me once in my entire adult life.

Earrings are on the top 10 things lost.

Once for me as well and had a new one but I’m conscious mine is 10 years old
my neighbour had one fitted yesterday so I know a new one was £1800

It’s just an example of en emergency…