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suprise money

(66 Posts)
grannypiper Mon 02-Jan-17 19:28:00

I have been very lucky and have been given £1000 to spend but with a caveat that says it has to be spent not saved and must be used for me and no one else other than my DH if need be and must be used by the end of this year.
I am not a big spender and really dont buy much for myself and tend to save not spend To be honest there is really nothing i need and i am stumped. What would you do with the money ?
P.S i know i am lucky

Jane10 Mon 02-Jan-17 19:31:28

How lovely. What a treat! How about a wee holiday?

Alima Mon 02-Jan-17 19:32:06

A holiday?

DaphneBroon Mon 02-Jan-17 19:32:34

Maybe a really nice (original) picture if I found one for £1k or a weekend at a spa and loads of products, or a really nice winter coat cashmere or suede (can you get a sheepskin for that these days?) or a piece of jewellery .
What a truly lovely quandary to be in!!
I like the sound of your fairy godmother!!

Christinefrance Mon 02-Jan-17 19:44:48

What a wonderful problem to have, DaphneBroon has some good ideas, so many ways to treat yourself - enjoy.

rubysong Mon 02-Jan-17 20:06:24

It would be jewellery for me. Enjoy your windfall grannypiper

Grannyknot Mon 02-Jan-17 20:27:06

Buy your food/groceries with it every month and include things you wouldn't normally buy.

What about a nice carpet for your house?

suzied Mon 02-Jan-17 20:35:43

i would vote for the holiday or jewellery, or both! A lovely handbag and boots and maybe a coat.
But maybe you can think of something for the house you'd like, new curtains, a beautiful rug, some lovely plants for the garden all could bring you pleasure.

grannypiper Mon 02-Jan-17 20:41:50

Daphne like the picture idea. Last week i could have spent the money a thousand times over in my dreams, now ? it is so hard.You would think it would be easy but its not.

DaphneBroon Mon 02-Jan-17 21:04:39

We were in an art shop in Cambridge some years ago and DH 's eye was caught by this oil of a West of Scotland seascape. I think it was about £1500 or £1700 and I said that would be his birthday and Christmas presents for the next 5 years.
I'm glad we did, as that sort of outlay would have to provide a replacement dishwasher/washing machine /fridge or freezer these days.
I hope you do go for a picture , you could perhaps look around a local gallery or art college degree show and see if anything takes your fancy-young artists need all the support they can get and it is heartbreaking to see the tacky cheesy rubbish called "wall art" peddled en masse by the likes of B&Q when you could have an original.

Jane10 Mon 02-Jan-17 21:28:19

My late very dear Dad gave us what he called a 'whoopee fund' when we were young and hard up parents. We appreciated it so much. Mostly spent on nice days out with the children or the odd child free weekend. It was such a treat for us then.
Nowadays I'm absolutely with Daphne and a painting but the only problem is that it can work out very addictive and expensive. The OPs benefactor might not spring for this money again!

ninathenana Mon 02-Jan-17 23:40:36

That's a very 'moody' sky Daphne smile

jogginggirl Mon 02-Jan-17 23:53:37

What a fabulous treat grannypiper Whatever you choose to spend it on - I hope you enjoy it ?

Liz46 Tue 03-Jan-17 06:04:29

What a lovely problem grannypiper. Please let us know what you decide.
I think, rather than a few days away, I would choose something that would give you and OH pleasure over a period of time. Do you have a good t.v., computer etc.?

grannypiper Tue 03-Jan-17 09:22:31

DP love the picture, does it say where it is ? i have been awake of the night and thought very much about your suggestion of artwork and have mananged to find an artist who's work includes the North Downs and she has a wonderful print (original is sold) of a favourite hill that my DH a nd i used to walk, it was also the view from his childhood bedroom. So thank you DP thats £200 spent smile

Rinouchka Tue 03-Jan-17 09:38:12

What a tremendous gift, grannypiper! I second the suggestion of buying original art and a little holiday treat.

Depending on where you live, why not also take out a year's membership to a museum or theatre if that interests you? They range between£50-90 for membership plus guest and would allow you free access to all exhibitions. Theatre memebership cheaper and gives you priority booking, although you have to pay for tickets.

Have fun spending!

Rinouchka Tue 03-Jan-17 09:39:07

There is also National Trust or English heritage membership, of course.

Mumsy Tue 03-Jan-17 09:58:11

books books and more books!

moobox Tue 03-Jan-17 10:21:07

You could go and have some bog soup with fake oysters in it at that Oslo place they had on Masterchef. That would blow the other £800. Or maybe not!

ExaltedWombat Tue 03-Jan-17 10:27:07

Am I the only person her who would find a requirement to splurge £1000 an embarrassment?

Skweek1 Tue 03-Jan-17 10:30:56

What a lovely present - whatever you do with the money, enjoy it.

goose1964 Tue 03-Jan-17 10:33:03

I would blow it on a proper wool winter coat, some quality boots & loads of underwear

radicalnan Tue 03-Jan-17 10:33:53

Tree for my garden, or a pond or something for out there, or art or books.........I am up to £100,000 now and no one has offered me a penny. Doesn't take long if you love art and nature to spend money...enjoy it, a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Judthepud2 Tue 03-Jan-17 10:36:40

A really good TV with all the bells and whistles sounds like a good idea. Plenty of entertainment for you and DH. I personally would go for a little break at an expensive spa resort with lots of pampering treatment.

Enjoy it whatever you decide.

marpau Tue 03-Jan-17 10:38:13

A nice trip to see the bulbfields in Holland would be my choice and something for the house that can be looked at every day