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Original poster

I have £40 to spend on 'non essentials' and want 3 things. I can't justify them all. Please help me out...

107 replies

MrsSeanBean · 16/01/2009 13:32

If you were me, would you rather spend it on:

this Brora hat; or

this ensemble for ds; or

this smythson notebook?

decisions, decisions....!

OP posts:
snuffyp · 16/01/2009 13:50

Ohh that outfit its from a bygone age sorry its awful! i agree you could get a hat cheaper,a notebook and a outfit from this century from next!

Original poster
MrsSeanBean · 16/01/2009 13:51

wildthings, true.

Thorny has a point actually: I probably should donate the money to a good cause. But I have been saving up and really really want a 'treat'. Selfish I know

(Well, what counts as a treat in my weird and wacky world anyway!)

OP posts:
swottybetty · 16/01/2009 13:52

the hat. tis cold out there and there's nothing like a lovely hat. the hat is now down to twenty-five, hold onto the change and keep an eye on ebay for the notebook. loads of smythson stuff comes up eventually. your ds will grow out of the outfit.

when i was childless and rich, i won a small poker tournament and spent all the money on a smythson diary. ten times the notebook . twas lovely. but i really was bonkers.

higgle · 16/01/2009 13:53

If you want a posey notebook you could buy a moleskine one from Waterstones and put some stick on letters on it. Hat is OK if you really want it ( cashmere is very warm and comfy so I do sympathise with that one)
Do not under any circumstances inflict that outfit on your child!

TsarChasm · 16/01/2009 13:53

Thoughts and dreams notebook?

First entry 'Oh what a terrible dream! I just dreamt I spent 40 quid on a notepad...oh...' I would end up writing shopping lists in it

The hat is so so expensive .

Little outfit is v cute though, but I think you might get similar for less elsewhere.

I would buy some makeup or perfume or have a beauty treatment/haircut.

solo · 16/01/2009 13:55

Maybe we would just not spend that amount of cash on the non essentials like a hat or a note pad especially when money is so tight for the majority.
I bought a gorgeous hand made paper book once and called it my dreams and thoughts book. It cost about £3 and is beautiful. Matalan usually do beautiful note books for silly oney too...

kettlechip · 16/01/2009 13:58

That outfit looks like something Liz Hurley would dress her Damian in.. enough said methinks.

LaundryFairy · 16/01/2009 13:58

I would go for the notebook, MrsSeanBean. It will last the longest (longer than your DS' current size and past winter) and give you so much pleasure each time you use it.

I know what everyone else is saying, that you could get them cheaper elsewhere, but that's not the point, is it? If you have the money to spare, and you want to spend it on something that makes you feel special and gives you joy, then where's the harm in that?

sweetgrapes · 16/01/2009 13:59

Since you don't know which you would rather have it probably means that you don't NEED any of them.

Save the money for when you get credit crunched.

JulesJules · 16/01/2009 13:59

I would go for the hat as you love it and as it is reduced so much (and it is cashmere), forget the outfit and buy a notebook from Paperchase or Moleskine. You'll still have change.

daftpunk · 16/01/2009 14:01

i'd buy the notebook....i really like it.

TotalChaos · 16/01/2009 14:02

I like the hat too the best of the 3.

Ingles2 · 16/01/2009 14:08

That outfit is just horrific MSB! Either of the other 2 but don't you dare put your ds in that tartan number. Do you want to be sniggered at behind you back?

MarlaSinger · 16/01/2009 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TotalChaos · 16/01/2009 14:14

if you have an enormous desire to see your ds in a tartan shirt (I may be shot down in flames for this LOL), I think the burberry shirts are reasonably tasteful.

LurkerOfTheUniverse · 16/01/2009 14:14

I agree about the 'Damien' outfit

Are you Liz Hurley?

Original poster
MrsSeanBean · 16/01/2009 14:14

Oh it doesn't bother me Ingles! I suspect that would happen regardless of DS' outfit.

The fact is, cashmere is always expensive, but it is warm and cosy and imo it makes sense to buy it in the sale. I haven't seen any hats i like in Next. Tis false economy to buy cheaper stuff if you domn't like it imo, I'd rather spend a bit more and use for longer.

The notebook is overpriced, of course it is. But I just like it.

And I am usually very careful with money, I cook everything from scratch and don't drink (much) or smoke or gamble etc. But I don't say that people who want to do these things should not do so, if it gives them pleasure. Is it really that wrong to buy something I like because I feel like a treat? I feel I should donate the money to charity really (I do already donate BTW) as I do feel guilty and sorry for those who don't happen to have £40 to spare. But it's all relative isn't it?

I am tempted to go for the hat as it's the most practical.

OP posts:
Ingles2 · 16/01/2009 14:19

Don't say that MSB unless you're wearing a matching tartan outfit of course
Anyway, you can't buy it because it's not for you.

BibiThree · 16/01/2009 14:19

I'd say if you have to have something, then let it be the hat.

snowleopard · 16/01/2009 14:21

OK hat from Accessorize or JL, or knit one. (btw I have tried on those white company hats - they don't come down your head far enough). It'll be spring soon anyway, so how about some shades instead? From Boots, a tenner.

Notebook - if I was going to get a schmancy notebook I would get an orla kiely one - £16 (and that's too much!) but if it was a treat...

H&M or a supermarket for clothes like that.

snowleopard · 16/01/2009 14:23

I laughed a lot at Tsarchasm's "dream" btw. You can't spend that on a notebook. I would feel sick every time I looked at it!

VersdeSociete · 16/01/2009 14:23

They have that hat in some prettier colours for another £4 elsewhere on the site - I'd choose that.

seeker · 16/01/2009 14:24

The hat is lovely - money spent on cashmere is never wasted.

The Smythson notebook would be lovely if it didn't have Hopes and Dreams written on the front. But I can no longer have anything from Snythson since their last advertising posting said something about their stuff being "a secret social passport"

The outfir is TRULY ghastly. Isn't the fact that it's called Country Estate Infants enough of a give- away?

mamadiva · 16/01/2009 14:27
  1. Do not feel guilty you are a hardworking mum you need to treat YOURSELF DS does not need I'm sure and charity can wait
  1. Please don't buy that outfit tis fugly! I am sure it's the outfit the lollipop guild boys in wizard of oz? No seriously I do...
  1. If it were me I'd buy the hat and a cheaper notebook with the remaining £15 if you really want both because even £15 is a lot to spend on a notebook but I guess the heart wants what the heart desires and all

I'm one to talk I'd probably buy a Filofax have always wanted on but are too expensive LOL.

Original poster
MrsSeanBean · 16/01/2009 14:28

Thanks anyway ladies.

OP posts: