Ideas for me

birduk

I wonder if any MSE out there can help me to be motivated please.

I am about to undertake my viva (next week) for my doctorate. Now, fingers crossed I will pass and get to call myself Dr. Now I have seen my PERFECT personallised number plate for £1k. This just so happens to be the bonus I received for completing on time. How can I stop myself justifying it!!!!! At the moment, I just want it!

Would you be able to come up with another celebratory idea for me please? My birthday is July and boyf and I have already agreed to buy each other half a good mattress each (how sad are we?). We are trying to save for the house deposit as well.

Oh and also my sister is graduating her first degree, so need to think of a great idea for her (mature student with dyslexia).

baby_fuzz

if it helps, whenever I see one of those personalised number plates, I think one of two things: "Don't they have better things to spend their money on?" or, depending on how rubbish the plate is "how sad..."

Why don't you think about how many bricks it would buy you, or days taken off a potential mortgage? Or, why not splash out on a 'spoil yourself' outfit as an incentive instead?

birduk

I know it is sad and I would think the same! But it is so perfect for me.

I suppose I could buy a whole car for that really!

Can't buy an outfit. I have so many sizes in my wardrobe it is ridiculous. Trying to lose weight to get back into my skinny summer clothes. Any other suggestions please?

Millie2008_2

When I got my PhD I just went out and got v v drunk!!

Could you maybe buy yourself something significant (but cheaper) like a small piece of jewellery from Tiffany?

Good luck with the viva!!

birduk

Now Millie, that is a good idea! Maybe something I can keep for myself. I love silver, so I can buy something quite cheap maybe from the Silver Shop (or local crafty place).

No time to get drunk, too many things like a TA weekend, work away and courses at new work. Very stressful!

Will be getting the train (an hour away) at 5:17, so not looking forward to the lack of sleep! Combined with stress= argh!

Thanks for the wishes though!

floss2

For your mature-student sis, how about something that will help with her dyslexia? Does she use different coloured papers or pens/ink for example?

For your birthday, why not buy a bottle of champagne, some massage lotion & christen the new mattress?

And surely a better place for your £1k would be in your house-deposit fund? I used to have a private plate, bought 2 almost matching for our 10th wedding anniversary. Sold it for about £100 profit just after what would have been my 17th wedding anniversary if I hadn't divorced him! Wish I'd saved the money now.

SugarSpun

Don't do it. I spent money flying my parents in for my viva ... and ended up with major revisions.

Buy yourself a day in a spa instead - cheaper and you deserve some pampering after working so hard!

Well done.

birduk

I think I might be able to do a spa day on Clubcard vouchers can I? I have about thirty pounds worth saved up. I shall investigate that one. Maybe take her as a graduation gift. She doesn't need to know it is free....

I think I have been successfully talked out of it. I know I would just look like an idiot. Thank you very much for your responses. Sometimes you need an objective point of view.

Will go and spend the extra money from a weekends work (that I really don't want to do) on something nice for me from the silver shop and save all the rest.

Thanks again.

specialK

No real advice here, except let it go, if the chance comes about again, it was meant to be. If it doesn't, you have saved yourself £1000!

MrsTinks

Personalised plates... can't stand them! Sorry... someone near where I used to live had L1NUX and L11NUX - which if you ask any computer geek they'll know what it is... I just used to look at the cars and the house and laugh as obviously they spent the money on the plates and not on where they lived or decent cars...
Spend the money on something worthwhile

mjburton

I have been thinking for the last few days what I am going to get myself when my MSc is completed. I too came to the conclusion of a piece of jewellry. Will possibly get the inside engraved as well. It is nice to have a little something to keep forever to remind you how proud you are to have achieved your goal, the certificate of it just doesn't seem to quite hit the spot!

I am trying to talk myself out of going to New York to get this bit of jewellry, but at the moment I'm thinking I have worked so hard for the last couple of years I need a holiday too!

Sometimes you should spoil yourself. Its extra money that you hadn't anticipated for your house fund so you haven't really lost anything.

Good luck with your viva.