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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to spend all the money on something for myself. If so, what would you spend it on?

325 replies

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:01

I have had a very intense year. I worked hard, got an extra qualification that allowed us to move into a better rental flat in a better area so my children could be in a catchment for a better secondary school. I worked 3 jobs throughout the week and then studied in cafes between them. My partner earns a good salary too but until recently we were not able to save anything at all as everything was going on bills. Now we have a tiny bit of spare money (we haven’t been in this position ever).

I have recently sold an expensive item that was gifted to me by my grandma before she passed away. It was an expensive bag really beautiful but completely useless for me and my lifestyle. I sold it for 3000 pounds. I would really like to use this money on myself this summer . I have gone through 2 pregnancies, postpartum depression, loss of my family members. sleepless nights, endless house moves and constant lack of extra money. I just want to treat myself and invest into myself after all the hard work. I feel I constantly give to others and have given up a little on how I look/dress etc. My husband doesn’t mind it at all although we could have probably used it on another family holiday instead or started saving for a house deposit.

Aibu to think that sometimes it is healthy to just treat yourself. Also if you had a spare 3000 what would you do for yourself?. On my wish list is some nice higher quality clothes that I can mix and match easily and look simple but stylish, a new haircut and a high quality dentist to get my front 2 slightly chipped teeth bonded and teeth whitening.

OP posts:
Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:34

Statsquestion1 · 15/05/2026 18:31

So you have nothing aside right now?

in this case I would treat myself with 500 and put the rest into savings.

Savings for what ? I always wanted to save enough to treat myself to the things I mentioned above. It won’t cover a house deposit nor a holiday for the 4 of us anyway.

OP posts:
Jellybelly80 · 15/05/2026 18:35

Op, I’d have an arm lift done and quite honestly I wouldn’t be looking at anything I spent the money on as a treat. In fact I’m not sure why women have to justify spending their money on themselves by saying it’s a treat. Your grandma gave you a gift that means you know have 3k to spend. Just do it.

Statsquestion1 · 15/05/2026 18:36

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:34

Savings for what ? I always wanted to save enough to treat myself to the things I mentioned above. It won’t cover a house deposit nor a holiday for the 4 of us anyway.

Boiler? Washing machine?
start saving for a house…it’s not enough to cover it but it’s a good start!

MidnightMeltdown · 15/05/2026 18:39

It’s up to you OP, but I personally wouldn’t blow 3k if you haven’t saved for a house deposit. I wouldn’t even be going on any holidays until I’d made good progress on the house deposit/had reasonable savings.

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:40

Statsquestion1 · 15/05/2026 18:36

Boiler? Washing machine?
start saving for a house…it’s not enough to cover it but it’s a good start!

I do not want to spend the money gifted to me by my grandmother on a washing machine or a boiler as these things are not for myself. It was from selling a bag she used to wear a lot on our special trips to restaurants and cafes together where we would sit and chat about life and laugh together. My favourite memories. My life at the moment is an endless washing machine cycle. I want to treat myself as there got to be more than constant worries about emergencies to life. Life is one big emergency and 3K would not cover them all.

OP posts:
SixSevenShutUp · 15/05/2026 18:41

Statsquestion1 · 15/05/2026 18:36

Boiler? Washing machine?
start saving for a house…it’s not enough to cover it but it’s a good start!

But that is not what she wants! Op wants permission to swap a handbag she doesn't use for a wardrobe update and dentistry.

Go for it, you won't regret giving yourself a glow up.

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:42

MidnightMeltdown · 15/05/2026 18:39

It’s up to you OP, but I personally wouldn’t blow 3k if you haven’t saved for a house deposit. I wouldn’t even be going on any holidays until I’d made good progress on the house deposit/had reasonable savings.

We are all different and I am not blowing it. I am treating myself after years of hard work. I smile a lot doing my job because I love it. It makes other people happy too. I want to invest into my smile and get some high quality minor adjustments done to it . How is it blowing the money away ?

OP posts:
Statsquestion1 · 15/05/2026 18:44

Ok op spend (or waste) the money…do what you want. But when something happens please where you need 500 for something then don’t be angry at the world!

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:44

How would you all spend it if you had a little bit spare money for yourself only? I need some more ideas 🙂

OP posts:
Jellybunny98 · 15/05/2026 18:44

You’re a family with zero savings but you think it’s a good idea to spend £3000 on yourself? A strange outlook indeed.

Jellybunny98 · 15/05/2026 18:46

In your position I’d put £1500 in savings, keep £1000 for yourself if you want to on some new clothes that will last, spend £500 on something for the family- a nice day trip somewhere, a few days out maybe.

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:46

Statsquestion1 · 15/05/2026 18:44

Ok op spend (or waste) the money…do what you want. But when something happens please where you need 500 for something then don’t be angry at the world!

Well if something happens of course I will be upset , it is a perfectly normal and healthy reaction to unexpected problems. However, I would not be angry. I will just smile and look for solutions. The saddest things that have happened to me could not have been fixed with money anyway.

OP posts:
traitorstraitors · 15/05/2026 18:47

I would spend the money on your teeth, for sure.
And haircut.
Also clothes, but I wouldn’t buy anything expensive. I don’t find it’s any better made or lasts any longer than cheaper stuff.

if there’s any left over I would get a separate bank account and put it in there, so it’s always kept separate, and will be there for whenever you see something you fancy, or want to go somewhere or do something.

(I have a separate account, and I put a small amount in each month, then treat myself every so often.)

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:47

Jellybunny98 · 15/05/2026 18:46

In your position I’d put £1500 in savings, keep £1000 for yourself if you want to on some new clothes that will last, spend £500 on something for the family- a nice day trip somewhere, a few days out maybe.

The dental work alone has added up to 2K. Unfortunately , 3K does not stretch as far as I thought myself.

OP posts:
Shayisgreat · 15/05/2026 18:47

I'd put it towards blepharoplasty for myself but I hope you don't have the same problem!

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:48

Jellybunny98 · 15/05/2026 18:44

You’re a family with zero savings but you think it’s a good idea to spend £3000 on yourself? A strange outlook indeed.

Well no dept though so that’s a positive !

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 15/05/2026 18:48

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:42

We are all different and I am not blowing it. I am treating myself after years of hard work. I smile a lot doing my job because I love it. It makes other people happy too. I want to invest into my smile and get some high quality minor adjustments done to it . How is it blowing the money away ?

Oh come on, you want to spend 3k on clothes, haircuts and teeth whitening and you think that’s not blowing it?

I don’t know why you’ve asked on here whether you’re being unreasonable if you don’t want opinions and are just going to spend it all on yourself anyway.

Statsquestion1 · 15/05/2026 18:50

It’s actually really irresponsible tbh @Hellosunshine92, sorry but that’s the truth

midgetastic · 15/05/2026 18:52

3k / just for me? I’d save half because a safety net is always good and brings peace of mind which is priceless

then I’d treat myself and my nearest and dearest because what I value is time spent with them, having fun together. And if you’ve been working hard there won’t have been much of that.

Spending just on me - well i would like 500 to replace some technical outdoor gear please.

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:52

MidnightMeltdown · 15/05/2026 18:48

Oh come on, you want to spend 3k on clothes, haircuts and teeth whitening and you think that’s not blowing it?

I don’t know why you’ve asked on here whether you’re being unreasonable if you don’t want opinions and are just going to spend it all on yourself anyway.

It’s not teeth whitening. It’s fixing my chipped front teeth that need work. It is usually recommended to get your gums healthy and to get whitening beforehand to colour match the bonding better. This is a standard procedure that most dentists follow hence the fact that I haven’t been able to fix my teeth for the past 17 years.

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 15/05/2026 18:53

I would be putting it aside until you had a savings pot.

Gloriia · 15/05/2026 18:56

Jellybunny98 · 15/05/2026 18:44

You’re a family with zero savings but you think it’s a good idea to spend £3000 on yourself? A strange outlook indeed.

Yes and the op needs more 'ideas' on how to blow it. No surprise they're in a rental with no savings.

Gloriia · 15/05/2026 18:56

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 18:47

The dental work alone has added up to 2K. Unfortunately , 3K does not stretch as far as I thought myself.

Just get a financial plan. Or go to Turkey Grin

sittingonabeach · 15/05/2026 18:59

What sort of salaries will you be on now and how much will you be able to save each month

Hellosunshine92 · 15/05/2026 19:02

Gloriia · 15/05/2026 18:56

Just get a financial plan. Or go to Turkey Grin

I do not want to have dept I just want to pay it off and start saving again. I do not want to go to Turkey when there is a nice dentist near me

OP posts:
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