You fool, you idiot!

[coulditbeme2323]

There were a couple of threads on MN yesterday about what posters spend their money on. One was about a slice of cheesecake in London and the other the cost of a toastie in a Garden Centre.

Neither items were cheap, but I thought there was a lot of rude comments such as "only idiots pay that" or "you fool."

Now MN is for debate and there is nothing wrong with disagreeing, but is name calling really fair just because people choose to spend their money on different things.

Definitely. You pay through the nose for either a tiny portion of food or a massive bucket of ice with pop in it, when they only want a few sips or would be happy with something small to nibble. You also get to choose not be limited to what's on offer.

It's all about context. If I'm in a fabulous venue, say the bar in the Renaissance hotel near King's Cross which is ravishing, with great service for say my birthday or at xmas, i will happily stump up for a really big bill. But that's a rarity. Most days when i go somewhere I'm in the flask and packed lunch brigade, i just can't and won't stump up nearly a fiver for a mediocre coffee in a dull chain coffee place like *bucks, costalot etc etc. But hey, life is short, and quite often you get what you pay for. That said, Gregg's or even Maccydees coffee will do in an emergency 😂

Sometimes with no car and lots of stuff to carry with kids we found was actually better not to take food or very least too much food and eat out other times it was better to take food.

Sometime with weather it can be hard to find somewhere to eat and it's nice to pop into a warm dry building for a bit.

The people best able to make that judgement whether packed lunch or not is best - are most likely going adults doing said trip who have to live with the consquences of said choice and are likely weighing up their priorties.

i'm middle ground.. i'm taking sandwiches and a drink.. but its likely a Tesco Meal Deal, lol.

Damned if i'm making them, but i'm also averse to paying £20 for a sandwich.

I remember that thread. Made me sad.

Did we find out where to buy the £19 cheesecake though?

a fool & their money are easily parted. In seriousness, there is such a culture that due to lots of people struggling that anyone that does have a splurge or buys things that are expensive, they should not advertise it cos they should think of the people who can’t afford it. We live in a very strange society on in that way. People can spend their money on what they want, no one wants to pay £19 for cheesecake but if its the best ever? Maybe 😂

Agreed.

People are quick to point and say things are frivolous or a waste of money but if the mortage/bills are paid and you're not getting into debt then hey if it makes you smile in these grim times, go and buy the weird looking pink and green matcha drink or insert food equivalent

I didn't think you were allowed to take your own sandwiches on a plane and eat them - due to people potentially having nut or other allergies

I’m always grateful when M&S opened up in Newcastle airport. I used to buy the day before when travelling . I have the coffee tea on board which is pretty horrid with the packets of milk DH always manages to spray around. Jet2 and easyJet food is dreadful. I won’t make my own sarnies because flying and getting to airports is stressful enough and I will have emptied the fridge and bread bin in a structured way knowing I’m flying. If I’m flying long distance I’m hoping I’ll have booked business. People saying fool etc. is it because of the saying a fool and his money are soon parted? I grew up hearing that from parents who were very unextravagent.

Totally agree. I enjoy debate and am perfectly happy for people to disagree with me. I am interested in other people’s points of view. I sometimes do change my opinion as a result. However, I really can’t stand it when the basis of someone’s argument is that I am naive. Give me facts and evidence, don’t just tell me I am an idiot.

You can take any sandwich or snack on board you choose.
I usually pick up a 'Meal Deal' from WH Smith on every flight I go on. Sandwich, drink and crisps for about £7...and their BLT sandwiches are very nice indeed.

I dont understand why people buy expensive handbags, beauty products, designer clothes and fancy cars but hey, each to their own

Because they are great!

Exactly, I eat lunch out, or just coffee and cake out, almost every day....I don't consider it a waste of money because I enjoy it.

I don't visit beauty parlors, nail bars, or even the hairdressers very often, because I dont enjoy doing that.

Each to their own.

I think that quote comes after being called a fool and an idiot, quite mild in comparison

Im suffering from an earworm of the bit in Fairytale of New York which is a bit more abusive than mumsnet .

I get what you are saying...but I will be up at 3:15 at the latest. I cannot eat at that time. But by 8 I will have been up 5 hours. I will need some food that is not just a banana (love them, cannot eat one on a plane due to my issues)

But so is really nice cheese cake

If someone's essentially bragging about spending what they know is a lot for something, I don't feel too sorry for them if someone says they're foolish to do so. It's not a polite reaction, but they went into the situation knowing that they were being a bit controversial. You'll probably also have someone on the thread who is struggling to afford the basics, and they may feel vicious at such flippant and flagrant waste.

You can spend your money as you please, but if you go online and tell people about it, you can't demand that they're respectful in how they express their opinion of your choices.

I believe that you can take food on board now.

Is it controversial?

I only drink bottled water at home. I am looking at getting a filter jug, I just have not done so yet. I doubt anybody would care, or should, about how I spend my money.

Anything related to money on MN seems to attract extreme, and sometimes tone deaf, points of view. People who like to spend are judged as alarmingly profligate because they threw away a pair of laddered tights instead of learning to darn to save a couple of quid, and people struggling for money are condemned as tight if they’re not willing to chuck it about like confetti.

In real life, most people understand that there are people who are better/worse off than they are and that they budget accordingly, rather than based on someone else’s financial situation.

Same stands for frugal people being know as the sandwich and flask brigade! 😆

I love darning. Any sort of mending really. And I like a cup of instant coffee with a sandwich at home.
I also like a coffee shop barrista coffee and a nice carrot cake.