Would you spend £160 on a new Winter coat?

[KayHarker]

It's an enormous amount to me, but my old coat is threadbare. I need something really weatherproof for doing the school run in the winter, and I've seen one that's like a duvet, right down to my knees, with a good hood on it too. I'm thinking of saving up the pennies and buying it in a couple of months when the cold weather bites, but I'm wondering - is £160 a ridiculous amount to be paying?

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Hello, this thread is a little old now and some of the links are out of date. Take a look at this handy page for a round up of Mumsnetters' favourite winter coats.

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

BitchyRestingFace - yes, agree totally.

ceecee - couldn't agree more.

missbopeep - that's not 'errr...forthright', that was tempered based on the fact that I was posting on a S&B Thread

You've made a call that she can't afford it because she's agonising over the cost- but she may still buy it Of course she might still buy it - I gave my opinion not a decree

Yes, it's only my opinion, but it doesn't make mine wrong and yours right.

Your statement that 'cheap coats on the whole don't last - the fabric is rubbish' isn't fact, it's opinion. Quite often, they are perfectly adequate - just lack the branding.

Anyway, the OP asked for opinions, I've given her mine - what she does with that is up to her.

I'm not going to argue with you (or anyone else) on a 'S&B' thread because it really doesn't interest me how much people feel the need to spend on coats, bags & the like.

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

Kay - yes it did, didn't it I almost never post on S&B for a reason. Your thread came up in Active Convos and it seemed quite a reasonable question, so I thought I'd reply.

I'm glad you have found something suitable & a good bit cheaper. Scarf, gloves & boots sorted too I hope! Mind you, we might be in for a mild winter this year. We keep following the NZ weather and they have had a very very mild winter! Not based on anything scientific, just trends!

Yes, sadly it is time for them to go back. Good news is that it means we are probably in for some lovely sunny days again soon!

[chocolatemartini]

I spent £345 on a coat once, I totally couldn't afford it, but was a student with no responsibilities and a large overdraft facility, and I loved it so thought what the hell. I'm happy to report that I carried on loving and wearing it for 10 years at which point the lining fell apart. I may have it re lined and get another 10 years out of it. Probably one of the best value items I ever bought in terms of price per wear. So yanbu if it's good quality, warm, and a fairly classic design and you can afford it.

[DontmindifIdo]

I do think that 'afford' means different things to different people - I might say I couldn't afford a £300 coat as some on here have bought, I wouldn't dream of spending that much money on one coat, I wouldn't think I could afford it. However, I do have about £300 a month for my personal 'fun money' - so if I did cut back on lunch out, going out, buying coffees, didn't get my hair dyed for a couple of months etc I could save up a that much without having to get in debt or worrying about paying the bills, or having any impact on family finances. I could technically afford it, but I do'nt think I could easily afford it without giving something up, and that seems like an amount on one thing that's out of my price range...

Anyway OP, if you think you can afford it without needing to get in debt, then a coat is a thing that's worth spending money on, so long as it's classic and you do a lot of walking to justify the expense.

[jimjamspam]

I think a coat is one of the best things to spend money on - even during a mild winter you will wear it and a good one should last a few years

I used to buy a cheap £30/40 coat every year, I was never warm enough and never liked them. Got a North Face down coat in an outlet store 5 years ago and it was a really excellent buy, especially as i spend a lot of winter time in freezing cold Munich!

[JennySense]

Yes, providing it was a nailed on classic I will wear for at least 2-3 years.

[mysteryfairy]

OP now I've read that the coat you fancy is from lands end I think it would be a mistake to spend approx £150 for the simple reason that they are constantly discounting their stuff and I bet if you time it right you can get the coat at some point in next few months for well under £100.

I think you are not unreasonable to want a decent warm coat for the school run but duvet coats are so similar every year I don't think it's a sensible item to pay full price on. I picked up a half price arctic down coat in the summer sales this year which I'd identified I liked last winter and saved a lot by buying out of season (£300 to £150). I think it's possibly just a bit late now to be nabbing stuff in the summer sales, especially if you need to save a bit first, but TK Maxx is definitely worth a check if your current coat is not going to last til the January sales.

[LynetteScavo]

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee You need to link to a £40 coat which is as warm/dry as a £160 Landsend coat.

I would go with out coffee/newspaper/nights out/ haircuts in order to buy a really warm coat. But I feel the cold. For me it's not so much about how I look, it's about how I don't feel like I'm about to cry when outside in the winter.

I am gobsmacked at how thin most coats are.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

It's the Sam Vimes boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness...

I love how Discworld quotes come up time and time again!

Carry on.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

It's also about the Goretex/waterproof/wind proof factor. If the wind can get in, it won't matter how thick the coat is, it'll be cold. I bought myself a thick fleece once for walking the dog. It was freezing in the wind. Bloody thing.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Yes, I've got a lovely wool coat which ought to be really warm, but the sleeves are quite open at the ends and a gale blows up them, it used to be particularly bad pushing a pushchair, I always look for something with inner cuffs now.