The Money Mustache Community
Around the Internet => Antimustachian Wall of Shame and Comedy => Topic started by: jprince7827 on August 06, 2015, 09:25:33 AM
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http://www.purseblog.com/listicles/8-reasons-spending-1000-bag-worth/2
I'm just gonna leave this here.
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They should have stopped at "because it's your money and you want to."
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From the comments:
"I think people ask the price because they are amazed at the bravery we have to buy expensive bags. And because they would love to have the money to do the same."
Bravery. That is just stupifying.
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One of my cousins is obsessed with a particular brand of higher-end purses... I made the mistake one Christmas of saying "I really like those, they're an easy warning signal that a girl is high-maintenance." Fun little argument popped up after that one.
Always made more sense to me to own a $20 wallet with $1000 inside it, than a $1000 wallet with only $20 inside ...but I suppose that explains why I'm on this forum and my cousin isn't.
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All of those bags in the pictures were disgusting looking, but sure if you have the money go ahead and buy it but when one of the comments reads like this:
i pay my bills, my car, my daughter's school fees, provide allowances for my parents so i think i deserve a nice bag once in awhile.
Then I'm questioning whether they can actually afford it if they are having to make car payments.
Lastly, luxury shopping is not a "hobby." Fixing up your motorcycle is a hobby, wine tasting is a hobby, golfing is a hobby, but buying fancy watches, jewelry, gadgets, or purses are not hobbies in mine (and most other's) books
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Good god, I almost choked on my own saliva. And then my 26-year-old cartier-watch-wearing Mercedes-driving colleague walked by and I remembered that I'm not a «typical» woman. My Marshall's purse is holding up just fine after 10 years thank you very much.
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Two stood out to me:
3. BECAUSE OWNING LUXURY GOODS IMPROVES YOUR MOOD.
Now that's just sad.
6. BECAUSE BAG PRICES HAVE RISEN SO MUCH IN RECENT YEARS THAT IT CAN BE HARD TO STAY UNDER FOUR DIGITS SOMETIMES.
Don't blame me. It's inflation!
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I'm trying to imagine the feature set that would make a purse worth $1000.
It would have to be armoured, for sure, intended for use in high crime/collapsed society areas.
It would need a satellite based alarm system for when you got in trouble so you could call for help.
It should probably be able to purify water and contain a host of electrical gadgets related to temperature, GPS location, humidity and tactical support for contacting your fellow post-zombie-apocalypse survivors.
Also it should have a Taser embedded in it so that it gives you a light but painful buzz whenever you try to buy a $1000 purse because all of those features are dumb.
Toque.
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I kinda like that furry Fendi bag, but the $2600 looks better in my portfolio than on my shoulder so I'll pass.
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I'm trying to imagine the feature set that would make a purse worth $1000.
It would have to be armoured, for sure, intended for use in high crime/collapsed society areas.
It would need a satellite based alarm system for when you got in trouble so you could call for help.
It should probably be able to purify water and contain a host of electrical gadgets related to temperature, GPS location, humidity and tactical support for contacting your fellow post-zombie-apocalypse survivors.
Also it should have a Taser embedded in it so that it gives you a light but painful buzz whenever you try to buy a $1000 purse because all of those features are dumb.
Toque.
Or just made by Cambodian children in sweat shops with some random ass letters pasted on it that correspond to some designer. And it obviously looks good because that designer is also the person who has decided for you what looks good.
They brag about how long lasting these expensive bags are but chances are they'll all be put in a closet by this time next year because they'll no longer be "in style."
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I like that she wrote:
"Wearing or carrying something that looks expensive (in a good way) telegraphs a lot of things to people: that you have your act together, that you have good taste, that you're successful, that you care about quality"
Right above a tacky leopard print, studded, calf hair bag!
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"I really like those, they're an easy warning signal that a girl is high-maintenance."
That's excellent.
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I'm trying to imagine the feature set that would make a purse worth $1000.
It would have to be armoured, for sure, intended for use in high crime/collapsed society areas.
It would need a satellite based alarm system for when you got in trouble so you could call for help.
It should probably be able to purify water and contain a host of electrical gadgets related to temperature, GPS location, humidity and tactical support for contacting your fellow post-zombie-apocalypse survivors.
Also it should have a Taser embedded in it so that it gives you a light but painful buzz whenever you try to buy a $1000 purse because all of those features are dumb.
Toque.
Or just made by Cambodian children in sweat shops with some random ass letters pasted on it that correspond to some designer. And it obviously looks good because that designer is also the person who has decided for you what looks good.
They brag about how long lasting these expensive bags are but chances are they'll all be put in a closet by this time next year because they'll no longer be "in style."
A lot of the high end couture stuff is made in workshops in Italy and France by people who make this kind of stuff for a career. Not my thing, but it's not all Cambodian children.
I buy Scottish cashmere from a very old mill, from a company that has said they will close their company before they move production out of Scotland. I mostly buy it because it's as similar to the cashmere in the mall as chalk is to cheese, but I'm enough of a sentimentalist that I think it's nice I'm supporting millworkers whose families have worked there for a century or more.
I used to work for a very high end cabinetry shop, and it was really extraordinary, the stuff we could produce when cost was no object. I like that there are rich people out there who will subsidize the preservation of useless but beautiful art forms.
I've got nothing against buying high quality stuff (personally I've looked into purchasing a bespoke board gaming table from Geek Chic), but by and large the people buying these purses are going to be looking at the name on the label and not considering where that company sources their labor from. There are definitely people like you who do look at these things, but they are the exception not the rule.
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I like this one:
...because it is better to have a $3,000 bag that you wear practically every day for years than a $500 bag that you use a few times and then takes up space in your closet. I find that the cost-per-use is vastly lower for my more expensive bags.
I am pretty sure my (fairly expensive at the time) Timbuk2 tote bag is down to under a quarter a wear, and it shows no sign of quitting. You'd have to carry a $3000 bag 12,000 times to reach that point, or every day for over 33 years.
Well, she put the $500 bag in the closet because her friends starting making fun of her for only wearing a 3 digit bag.
But seriously, $500 for a bag is a "cheap bag?" What's better than a $3000 bag you wear every day for years is a $30 bag you wear every day until it falls apart and then you buy a new one. And you don't worry about having a cheap bag because you're sitting on your couch eating bonbons while they're slaving away behind a desk somewhere.
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Lastly, luxury shopping is not a "hobby." Fixing up your motorcycle is a hobby, wine tasting is a hobby, golfing is a hobby, but buying fancy watches, jewelry, gadgets, or purses are not hobbies in mine (and most other's) books
Collecting has long been thought of as a hobby. Whose to decide which collections are worthwhile?
Is having expensive bags really any different than binders and binders of stamps?
I know women who display their bags as if they were art.
Now, I personally think they are crazy; but I don't see it as any less valid than say, a collection of dolls. Doll collecting is a hobby.
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All of those bags in the pictures were disgusting looking, but sure if you have the money go ahead and buy it but when one of the comments reads like this:
i pay my bills, my car, my daughter's school fees, provide allowances for my parents so i think i deserve a nice bag once in awhile.
Then I'm questioning whether they can actually afford it if they are having to make car payments.
There's no shortage of people who can technically afford both their car payment and a $1000 purse. The $1000 purse is a dumbass move regardless of income or wealth. Its idiocy transcends all that.
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Lastly, luxury shopping is not a "hobby." Fixing up your motorcycle is a hobby, wine tasting is a hobby, golfing is a hobby, but buying fancy watches, jewelry, gadgets, or purses are not hobbies in mine (and most other's) books
Collecting has long been thought of as a hobby. Whose to decide which collections are worthwhile?
Is having expensive bags really any different than binders and binders of stamps?
I know women who display their bags as if they were art.
Now, I personally think they are crazy; but I don't see it as any less valid than say, a collection of dolls. Doll collecting is a hobby.
If they are actually collecting them and displaying them as art, and caring for them properly, then sure. But if they're shoving them in the bottom of their closet when they are out of style, then they aren't collecting them.
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5. BECAUSE THERE IS VALUE IN WHAT BEING WELL-DRESSED SIGNALS TO OTHER PEOPLE.
Followed by a picture of some trashy-looking shit I would expect a stripper to carry, for $3995. ZOMG
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There is a fantastic quote in here if you take it completely out of context:
"Don't let other people's opinions of how much things should cost make you feel guilty - they likely have no idea what they're talking about."
I'm immediately applying this sentance to my pursuit of not buying shit. And will continue to carry my fabulous goodwill purse until the damn handles fall off.
Is it just me or does #6 look like a bowling ball bag?
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The real old money types I know carry bags like this:
http://lotuffleather.com/collections/handbags/products/leather-angle-tote-1
Unbranded, very good leather, very expensive. Often handed down from mummy/granny, etc.
Or they carry the rattiest LL Bean boat totes known to man.
For men, the most rugged leather bags/briefcases I've come across are from Saddleback. Expensive, but ridiculously overbuilt - one of those things that will probably out last you:
(http://s3.amazonaws.com/37assets/svn/Prague_pic_of_leather_briefcase_suitcase-LG.jpg)
And:
(http://aws-cdn.dappered.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/saddleback-three-quarter.jpg)
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Yesh, and I thought my $150 purse was expensive. I had a $20 knockoff purse bought on the streets of New York that started poking things out that was ruining a shirt or two of mine. My husband pointed out this was foolish (pennywise, poundfoolish) and bought me a $150 non-knockoff purse. Over 5.5 years later that's 7 cents a day.
About 2 years ago I asked them to fix the handle they told me they couldn't and gave me a letter to get 40% off a purse. It's now wearing thin in many places so I have to start looking. (I like small, discrete black purses, which are amazingly much harder to find than you expect.) DH said next time we're buying multiples so I don't spend 2 years looking for one like I did the last time (and this time).
Stopped reading the comments, they make me throw up a bit. Someone else please post the comment re $1000 in $20 purse over $20 in a $1000 purse and I'll like it.
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A lot of the really expensive designer bags I find kind of trashy. I am from a cultural background where your expensive stuff shouldn't scream LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY I SPENT ON THIS. Among my expensive things, none of it looks costly, and unless you touched it or saw the label inside the garment, you wouldn't know.
Not the cultural background I grew up in, but completely agree! One of my (constantly broke) friends always raves about how badly he wants a big flashy Rolex when he "makes it rich." One time I tried to show him a Patek Philippe online, and he got this look of disgust - "If I'm going to spend that much money on a watch, I want people to damn well know I spent that much money on it. Why would you ever pay that much for something so plain?"
If an average schmuck who knows nothing about X's can take one look at your particular X and know you spent a small fortune on it - In 90% of situations, you bought the wrong X.
I like the Saddleback bags, they just look wicked heavy. Probably part of why they are marketed to men, anyway.
You just found the only still-in-production item that I actually lust after... I can't justify spending that much on a briefcase, though! Maybe when I'm making triple my current salary?
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But seriously, $500 for a bag is a "cheap bag?" What's better than a $3000 bag you wear every day for years is a $30 bag you wear every day until it falls apart and then you buy a new one. And you don't worry about having a cheap bag because you're sitting on your couch eating bonbons while they're slaving away behind a desk somewhere.
If we apply the "4% rule," you might be able to invest $3000 and use the returns to buy a new $30 bag four times a year forever! (But I'd rather see them worn out too.)
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The only purchase I've made like this was a pair of Allen Edmunds shoes the go for $500ish and I got for like two hundred something (I still thought it was nuts).
I treat them like a baby and get compliments everyday I wear them but I still feel guilty.
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A lot of the really expensive designer bags I find kind of trashy. I am from a cultural background where your expensive stuff shouldn't scream LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY I SPENT ON THIS. Among my expensive things, none of it looks costly, and unless you touched it or saw the label inside the garment, you wouldn't know.
I have a friend who gladly will pay much extra for stuff without a visible logo. I sort of follow his logic and agree. :)
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I have some friends that LOVE expensive handbags. I was flabbergasted when I found out recently that they were in the 4-digit range. I thought anything in the 3-digit range was super-pricey.
Oh well they do love their bags (and lots of them!). When one greets the other they look at their bags and make a comment. Meanwhile, I greet them, look them in the eye and don't even notice what kind of purse or shoes they are wearing.
I just don't get it. We live in a car-centric city. So the purse usually goes on when I go from home to car, gets set down in car while I drive, then on when getting out of car and into work (or wherever), then gets put away in a cabinet for the whole day. Maybe if one lived in NYC or somewhere where you walk around all day (with your purse on possibly?) would this even begin to make any sense at all...and even then, no.
Not that I understand super expensive shoes either, but I'd much rather splurge on shoes or clothes that are on me than on a purse. They actually get used and seen much more.
Oh well, I guess I am weird.
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Reason #9: Because my wife "approved" of me going off on a 5 day, 2 game college bowl trip over New Years with my "bad boy" childhood friend who my wife can't stand, when a historic snowstorm blew in dumping 18inches of snow on my home driveway...and I had not "concluded negotiations" with the snow plow service which I didn't realize until I was standing at a Florida payphone in flip flops when I checked in to see how things were back home.
A few weeks later, when I saw a new purse in her closet I started to yell "Where did this new purse come from?" when my inner child smacked me upside my head and said "...this is the purse whose purchase shall never be discussed again.
Not very mustachian I know except that we both got what we wanted...
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Things like this make me somewhat glad that I'm single.
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I saw someone wearing a bag yesterday that I legitimately could not figure out if it was a real designer bag or some kind of satire pointing out the absurdity of designer bags. It was just a plain looking tote bag that read, in plain font:
Jacobs by Marc Jacobs
for Marc by Marc Jacobs
in collaboration with Marc Jacobs
for Marc by Marc Jacobs.
So bizarre.
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I saw someone wearing a bag yesterday that I legitimately could not figure out if it was a real designer bag or some kind of satire pointing out the absurdity of designer bags. It was just a plain looking tote bag that read, in plain font:
Jacobs by Marc Jacobs
for Marc by Marc Jacobs
in collaboration with Marc Jacobs
for Marc by Marc Jacobs.
So bizarre.
Actual designer bag, but if it's the tote, it is cheap. (Well, except that it is a tote.)
http://www.sechic.com/bags/jacobs-marc-jacobs-tote
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I have never spent more than $20 on a purse in my life. All clearance and usually from Target, and I prefer smaller black bags with a shoulder strap. I got funky once with a brown suede one that only lasted 6 or 7 years, so I'll never do that again. (I kid)
I have never understood the draw of buying a purse that costs hundreds - let alone thousands - of dollars. It gets dirty, it carries all manner of junk and things spill inside it, you scuff it up, leave it on tables and in floors and hanging on the backs of chairs, and if it was expensive, then you stand the chance of getting mugged (since I would think thieves would steal the fancy ones just to try to sell them and anything inside is a bonus).
And most designer purses are UGLY. Logos and signature patterns and stupid charms hanging off them? WHYYYYY? It is so stupid looking, and it's like paying someone to advertise their crap for them.
I used to work with two women that were in debt up to their eyeballs and still bought lots and lots of purses. Even bought the knockoffs when they went on trips up to New York. And one of them was making 6 figures, but due to her shopping habits, she had to sell her house, and also borrowed money from her 401k at least once a year for "hardship" since she couldn't figure out how to live on her salary (and we live in a LCOL area). But she always had designer shoes and handbags! Another coworker that used to babysit for her occasionally (until she stiffed her on a weekend babysit fee) said that her house was crazy - shoes and handbags and clothes stuffed in her closet, across the master bedroom floor and on every available surface... but there was usually no food in the house and they had no real dishes or silverware - just paper plates and take out utensils.
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Other than the fancy and quite conspicuous labels, these pretty much all look like you could get them from zipping around some combination of Target, Ross Dress for Less, and Versona. Not impressive. It's hilarious that the people commenting on that article think their bags are impressive and important.
Grandma always said that if losing a silver spoon down the garbage disposal bothers you at all, then you can't afford to be eating with silver spoons. I'll follow up by saying that if someone needs to tell you that the amount you are spending on something "is okay," then you can't afford it.
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This boggles my mind. I can't imagine the thought process that goes into spending so much money on something that has so little actual value.
Things like this make me somewhat glad that I'm single.
Well to be fair, I don't think women that spend (or want to spend) 4 figures on purses/bags are representative of most women in general. As one poster alluded to above, this would be a big red flag. I'm trying to think about all the women I know and most of them (including my wife) either have normal, practical purses/bags or don't carry one at all. Of course, I wouldn't know a "high end" purse from a K-Mart purse so take that for what it's worth.
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I will admit that I own two nice handbags. One from my MIL that she gave me when I graduated with my Masters. I have no idea how much it cost, but it's gorgeous and in amazing shape 6 years later. The second is a Coach bag that my husband bought me at an outlet mall for less than $200. I love these bags, but will probably never buy (or receive! I've finally convinced people to stop giving us gifts) an expensive bag again. Partly because I think the ones I have might last a lifetime, and partly because... why would I?
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I'm trying to imagine biking around town with a $3000 hood ornament attached to my shoulder. My wipe-outs would be really expensive!
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I just read more about the study linked to under "science says so" on #3. They either lent or gave people a "luxury" pen (whatever that is exactly) to complete a survey, and let them have or just sample "luxury" chocolates. Then asked them about their "satisfaction with life." Apparently having to give the things back decreased their satisfaction with their lives but getting to keep them increased it. Maybe instead of "owning luxury goods" being the thing that makes you happy or unhappy, it's receiving a gift vs having to give it back? Clearly this experiment was designed by team of crack scientists and not someone trying to prop up the $2,000 purse industry.
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Enjoyed this thread. :) I like purses and have guiltily spent about $100 on one (twice.)
I also tend towards cute, understated black purses.
For the record, the ONLY reason it's okay to spend $1000 on a purse is if you can resell it for at least $950 and will get more than $50-worth of enjoyment from it.
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5. BECAUSE THERE IS VALUE IN WHAT BEING WELL-DRESSED SIGNALS TO OTHER PEOPLE.
Followed by a picture of some trashy-looking shit I would expect a stripper to carry, for $3995. ZOMG
The real old money types I know carry bags like this:
http://lotuffleather.com/collections/handbags/products/leather-angle-tote-1
Unbranded, very good leather, very expensive. Often handed down from mummy/granny, etc.
Or they carry the rattiest LL Bean boat totes known to man.
I agree, old money is casual and unobtrusive.
I like that they'll send you a sample swatch of leather. That's how you know you're paying a shit ton for that bag. I'm tempted to request one but don't want to be on their mailing lists. And I'm totally not going to buy one. $500 feeds a lot of malnourished children.
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Kinda crazy, but then again I had a moment where I was into "brand" sunglasses. I still have most of them as I'll never have to buy another pair EVER again. Not outrageously expensive, most Ray-Bans and Oakley... still at $100-200 a pop, not cheap either. Yes I have like over 12 pairs or so, so stupid.
My broke ass brother on the other hand bought a $6k watch (Omega) when his networth was about maybe 30k... wrap your head around that!
I still think $1000 on a purse is better than like an oversized Suburban or something ridonkulous... at least it won't continually cost year in and year out. Not justifying, just saying.
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I'm trying to imagine the feature set that would make a purse worth $1000.
It would have to be armoured, for sure, intended for use in high crime/collapsed society areas.
It would need a satellite based alarm system for when you got in trouble so you could call for help.
It should probably be able to purify water and contain a host of electrical gadgets related to temperature, GPS location, humidity and tactical support for contacting your fellow post-zombie-apocalypse survivors.
Also it should have a Taser embedded in it so that it gives you a light but painful buzz whenever you try to buy a $1000 purse because all of those features are dumb.
Toque.
Hahaha I love the Taser idea. Like a shock collar for fashionistas.
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Oh, my husband would love one of those tables for his Catan game...
A lot of the really expensive designer bags I find kind of trashy. I am from a cultural background where your expensive stuff shouldn't scream LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY I SPENT ON THIS. Among my expensive things, none of it looks costly, and unless you touched it or saw the label inside the garment, you wouldn't know. I have a coworker who announced the other day she was going diamond shopping this weekend (she's from a wealthy family) and it made everyone else uncomfortable. Not everyone is well off, and it's rude to make them uncomfortable if you happen to be so fortunate.
EXACTLY! It always ends up looking cheap (trashy-cheap, not frugal-cheap) when someone tries very hard to look wealthy.
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Antoinette Hunter ellavanw • 4 months ago
I think people ask the price because they are amazed at the bravery we have to buy expensive bags. And because they would love to have the money to do the same.
Let's face it, they look better, last longer, and we love them.
Thanks for the article!
Lol, wrong.
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My coworker bought 2 600$ purses (one for herself and the other for her mother). of course the husband was pissed at her for purchasing these items without his consent (and rightly so). I told her that he is right to feel upset. She gave me pathetic excuses on why she NEEDED those purses. I can tell you her excuses were just as lame as the link posted here.
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I love how the article's writer say about themselves "We're nothing if not professional enablers" :-D
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they needed $600 purses. I admit I like Coach bags so do my aunt and cousins. But having said that once I discovered you can get them from a really good thrift shop or consignment store since they seem to last forever why pay full price?
Disclaimer- I do not own a Coach bag I bought two at a thrift store for my little cousin because my youngest cousin took her mom's new Coach clutch and promptly lost it on Metro. I suggested they buy the child gently used authentic Coach from a good thrift store so she could have designer and if it was lost or stolen not so hard to replace. I managed to find one for $20 and sent it over.
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Yesh, and I thought my $150 purse was expensive. I had a $20 knockoff purse bought on the streets of New York that started poking things out that was ruining a shirt or two of mine. My husband pointed out this was foolish (pennywise, poundfoolish) and bought me a $150 non-knockoff purse. Over 5.5 years later that's 7 cents a day.
About 2 years ago I asked them to fix the handle they told me they couldn't and gave me a letter to get 40% off a purse. It's now wearing thin in many places so I have to start looking. (I like small, discrete black purses, which are amazingly much harder to find than you expect.) DH said next time we're buying multiples so I don't spend 2 years looking for one like I did the last time (and this time).
Stopped reading the comments, they make me throw up a bit. Someone else please post the comment re $1000 in $20 purse over $20 in a $1000 purse and I'll like it.
Is this leather? You may be able to get a cobbler to fix it, but it definitely depends on the specifics. Cobblers/shoe repair people are great at fixing luggage straps and the like as well.
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This post hits too close to home...
Every month or so, my DW tries to convince me she needs a Louis Vitton. Hell I don't even know if that's spelled right, all I know is that they cost a small fortune.
I don't get it.
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It just reminds me of one thread here with the title "rich people are smart" or so. It was about rich people who own the companies that make expensive yet useless stuff and sell it to "poor" people who want to feel rich too. It really is a great idea!
If those bags really were of superior quality there would be no problem I guess. But its OK quality for a ridiculous price and really the only reason to own one is to show off. Quite childish in my opinion. I mean a carbon fiber bike or a fast care make a lot more sense than that since they really are better at something (and even those things are unnecessary for most people). But those bags are not at all.
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...
I buy Scottish cashmere from a very old mill, from a company that has said they will close their company before they move production out of Scotland. I mostly buy it because it's as similar to the cashmere in the mall as chalk is to cheese, but I'm enough of a sentimentalist that I think it's nice I'm supporting millworkers whose families have worked there for a century or more.
...
DH's auntie, now deceased, had a small cashmere factory in Scotland. He has items made for his father 40 - 50 years ago, still wearable because they are classic styles. Her customers were wealthy people of conservative taste as well as a few high profile names. She made clothing for generations of families. Also, she made a sweater for the Princess of Wales. Princess Caroline of Monaco came to her house to be measured for a piece of clothing made for her.
Yes, our aunt turned up her nose at the kinds of cashmere found in department stores. I see that stuff drift down to the thrift stores where I shop and I don't even consider it. I'm a cashmere snob--too cheap to buy the real thing, too knowledgeable to put up with the cheap stuff.
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This post hits too close to home...
Every month or so, my DW tries to convince me she needs a Louis Vitton. Hell I don't even know if that's spelled right, all I know is that they cost a small fortune.
I don't get it.
Mine gets a $60 Vera Bradley about once a year whether she needs it or not (usually from me).
I am so lucky. I am so lucky. I am so lucky. I am so lucky. I am so lucky. I am so lucky. I am so lucky. I am so lucky.....
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I buy Scottish cashmere from a very old mill, from a company that has said they will close their company before they move production out of Scotland. I mostly buy it because it's as similar to the cashmere in the mall as chalk is to cheese, but I'm enough of a sentimentalist that I think it's nice I'm supporting millworkers whose families have worked there for a century or more.
May I ask you which one? I need something to ask to DH for my birthday...
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Yesh, and I thought my $150 purse was expensive. I had a $20 knockoff purse bought on the streets of New York that started poking things out that was ruining a shirt or two of mine. My husband pointed out this was foolish (pennywise, poundfoolish) and bought me a $150 non-knockoff purse. Over 5.5 years later that's 7 cents a day.
About 2 years ago I asked them to fix the handle they told me they couldn't and gave me a letter to get 40% off a purse. It's now wearing thin in many places so I have to start looking. (I like small, discrete black purses, which are amazingly much harder to find than you expect.) DH said next time we're buying multiples so I don't spend 2 years looking for one like I did the last time (and this time).
Stopped reading the comments, they make me throw up a bit. Someone else please post the comment re $1000 in $20 purse over $20 in a $1000 purse and I'll like it.
Is this leather? You may be able to get a cobbler to fix it, but it definitely depends on the specifics. Cobblers/shoe repair people are great at fixing luggage straps and the like as well.
The strap is leather. Apparently I was supposed to condition it regularly, but never having had a nice purse before, I didn't know, and they didn't tell DH when he bought it. I sent it to the company about 2 years ago because they were supposed to be able to replace the strap on bags (but not on this one it seems based on how it was fabricated, can't just remove and place the handle). Now of course there are missing pieces on the strap edges, so reconditioning boat has long since departed, not to mention the fabric for the rest of the bag is actually wearing through on the bottom corners, sides, two decorative folds/tucks, etc. I wear it everywhere though (and I take public transit to work, so it's not just on a seat) so maybe not surprising. Donated the one I bought in Thailand for about $7, and have never used the $50 clutch I was given as a graduation gift. And that folks, is the sum total of all purses I own or have owned as an adult. (For many years I had none at all, just sometimes used my cross-stitch bag as one when I didn't use a backpack.)
To whomever posted a link to bags earlier - I'm hoping to find one that is more rectangle (but rounded corners) than square though, but thanks for posting. Really I just want another of my current bag. Why do the darn things have to wear out?
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On some level I can understand this since, for some women, it's important to impress others and give off an "image," however misguided that might be.
What I don't get is dudes who spend big money on a wallet. The damn thing stays in your pocket 97 percent of the time -- 99 percent if you're mustachian.
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On some level I can understand this since, for some women, it's important to impress others and give off an "image," however misguided that might be.
What I don't get is dudes who spend big money on a wallet. The damn thing stays in your pocket 97 percent of the time -- 99 percent if you're mustachian.
I've never seen a 1 000$ wallet. But lots of purses for that price.!
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Mine gets a $60 Vera Bradley about once a year whether she needs it or not (usually from me).
Damnit! I'm not even a purse person and you just got me clicking through all the Vera Bradley bags and wristlets! Granted, I have been wanting a wristlet that fits my phone for a number of months now, but I just did not think it would go in this direction . . . :-)
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One of my best purchases was my wallet. It was only $20 but I literally walked to the store 3 times & waited a week before purchasing it. I was a frugal student & didn't really need it at the time but liked it.
I've had it 8y and pulling it out is a great reminder if I ever want to make an impulse buy.
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Man, and I was spending more than I wanted when I was looking at $35-50 for a purse or bag from Thirty-One Gifts. I can think of so many things I'd rather spend four figures on.
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http://www.purseblog.com/listicles/8-reasons-spending-1000-bag-worth/2
I'm just gonna leave this here.
They kinda cheated a little on the title there, as the first bag in their list is actually 5 figures!
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I can think of so many things I'd rather spend four figures on.
Me too, like my ER! ;)
I love the turns this thread has taken. The Brora cashmere mentioned looks great but I can't bring myself to buy clothing I haven't tried on. I'll remember the plain leather tote if I ever go for an "old money" look. The Saddleback luggage looks great, but DH still uses the suitcases he inherited from his grandparents! And this has prompted reflection on the pleasure-response some material goods bring. Irrational, but the splurge purses I bought years ago still make me happy to think of, look at, touch, and use.
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Behold the prices at some of these purses. (I did sort from highest price first.)
https://www.1stdibs.com/search/?q=hermes+purse&sort=price-high
How the F can a purse cost half a million dollars?!?!?!? Does it come with several high quality diamonds in it? Perhaps $400,000 cash inside?
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Behold the prices at some of these purses. (I did sort from highest price first.)
https://www.1stdibs.com/search/?q=hermes+purse&sort=price-high
How the F can a purse cost half a million dollars?!?!?!? Does it come with several high quality diamonds in it? Perhaps $400,000 cash inside?
You are going to have to ask a woman to get a good answer, I never understood and never will understand the attraction on purses.
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Behold the prices at some of these purses. (I did sort from highest price first.)
https://www.1stdibs.com/search/?q=hermes+purse&sort=price-high
How the F can a purse cost half a million dollars?!?!?!? Does it come with several high quality diamonds in it? Perhaps $400,000 cash inside?
You are going to have to ask a woman to get a good answer, I never understood and never will understand the attraction on purses.
Well, I am a woman, and I still have no idea! I did look closer at the $450k bag, and it does have lots of diamond on it. I clicked to purchase, and it shows $1,500 for shipping! Holy crap, a purse that costs more than my house!
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Behold the prices at some of these purses. (I did sort from highest price first.)
https://www.1stdibs.com/search/?q=hermes+purse&sort=price-high
How the F can a purse cost half a million dollars?!?!?!? Does it come with several high quality diamonds in it? Perhaps $400,000 cash inside?
I think a purse with precious metals and gemstones is really a hybrid - part jewelry. Spending $450k on it, regardless, is full-on nuts!
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Normally a manufacturer has a lineup of products in various price ranges - usually at least three but often more. The lower the price, the more it sells - up to a point. That way the person buying can identify with the more expensive versions, but still pay a lower price.
Many times people avoid the cheapest, and go for the second cheapest instead. That way they can also say "I got something which is a bit nicer".
And then we have the zero-volume product. An over the top product as top of the line. Something the manufacturer does not really expect to sell, but just the fact that they have it in the lineup gives them publicity and and "awe" from the non-mustachian consumers.
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Also remember that price is normally set by what you expect you can charge, unrelated to production or raw material cost. After the pricepoint is set, you come up with the story to why it's worth that much. :)
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I bought a new bag just yesterday. It was $18.18 on a clearance table at Belks. I love it and can't wait to use it. From the same clearance table, I purchased six pair of marked-down socks. It was a good shopping trip for me.
This whole article is ridiculous. I'll agree with them that there's value in presenting yourself well to the world -- especially in a professional arena -- but that doesn't have to mean $$$$$ bags.
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The real old money types I know carry bags like this:
http://lotuffleather.com/collections/handbags/products/leather-angle-tote-1
Unbranded, very good leather, very expensive. Often handed down from mummy/granny, etc.
Or they carry the rattiest LL Bean boat totes known to man.
For men, the most rugged leather bags/briefcases I've come across are from Saddleback. Expensive, but ridiculously overbuilt - one of those things that will probably out last you:
If I had a suitcase that fancy, I'd send it to Prague for its own vacation too! :)
OK, say you walk around with a $2000 bag or a $900 man-purse... Your odds of that shit (and everything in it!) getting stolen just increased about 320%. Why? Thieves know what things are worth! That Saddleback? Probably means you have a MacBook Pro in there. The Coach purse? iPhone 6. I don't think people should walk around in a state of paranoia, but if you're going to paint a giant red 'X' on your back just to show the world you're successful and "have good taste", hell, when that guy in Central Park or the streets of Lisbon does a dash and grab I got nothing' but crocodile tears for ya.
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This thread really speaks to something I've been thinking about a lot lately, mostly due to a book called Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. http://www.amazon.com/Overdressed-Shockingly-High-Cheap-Fashion/dp/1591846544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439231025&sr=8-1&keywords=overdressed I read a lot about Mustachians frequenting places like Target/Walmart/Old Navy etc for great deals. It definitely is true that you can buy things for cheap at these places.
I think people in our camp have a responsibility to understand why frugality is important to us and to understand the implications of our frugal purchases. Finding a great deal on a vintage secondhand furniture item on Craigslist is one thing, but preaching the value of carrying a $15 Target purse is another; it is great for your budget but awful for so many other reasons! Sticking staunchly to the low end of the price spectrum for our consumer goods has a huge social and environmental implication which is not always communicated by the price tag (but in general, if you are buying an item with just a $20 bill, you should be thinking about why it is priced that low). Low quality materials have a negative impact on our environment (do some research on the synthetic fibers we use in clothing and accessories). Low priced goods also are almost exclusively made in countries that have abysmally low minimum wages. Although consumer decision making is not enough to fully change this economic trend, I'd love to see more Mustachians making intelligent purchases that wind up somewhere in the bottom range/middle of the cost spectrum for all the right reasons. We can set an example and still meet our own financial goals at the same time by simply owning fewer items of better quality.
No way is a $1000 purse necessary. But is a $300 handmade leather bag a Mustachian purchase? I definitely think it can be; especially if you realize that it will be the bag you use for years. There should be no reason to buy a new bag other than your current bag is broken beyond repair or you are handing it down to a new user. The goal shouldn't be keeping our cost-per-wear as low as possible at the expense of everyone else in the supply chain!!!
I'd love to see this article be called "8 Reasons Spending $300 on a Purse is Okay"
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There's another issue that I think people on this forum are loath to acknowledge. Pretty much everyone posing here, myself included, has been on the side of the winners when it comes to the economic changes of the last half century.
Agree!! We can all be conscious of it and don't have to sacrifice any aspect of our lifestyles by simply owning less. With the exception of things like socks and underwear I don't really see the reason to own more than one or two of any item! I have 2 pairs of jeans, one light and one dark, and I'll go back to the consignment store for another pair of $30 american-made designer jeans when one wears out.
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Mine gets a $60 Vera Bradley about once a year whether she needs it or not (usually from me).
Damnit! I'm not even a purse person and you just got me clicking through all the Vera Bradley bags and wristlets! Granted, I have been wanting a wristlet that fits my phone for a number of months now, but I just did not think it would go in this direction . . . :-)
If you know how to sew, it is pretty easy to make a Vera Bradley- style bag.
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Ditto on the comments from the ladies about a small, simple, black bag. I don't like carrying a purse, but when I have to go someplace sort of dressy, it seems tacky to plop the wallet, keys, and phone on the table. A little black bag does the trick nicely. Otherwise, I often just pocket the stuff.
I've gotten all my purses at thrift stores. Since many women tire of their bags quickly, there are lots of like-new ones to choose from, usually for $3 to $5.
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Here's the mind boggling one for me. I baby wear quite a bit, because my daughter is a Velcro baby. Baby carriers are pricey, and tend to hold their resale value well, so it can be hard to find them cheaper on the secondary market. It's common to own a few because they are good for different purposes/sizes of child.
But I have seen women on fora with THOUSANDS of dollars in baby carriers. Eeep.
This. Tula seems to be this batshit crazy thing where people acquire many carriers in multiple colours, at HUNDREDS of dollars apiece. I don't get it.
I had two baby carriers - the first one was really uncomfortable, so I sold it. The second one, I used for both my kids, and then sold it. I don't understand collecting baby carriers for the purpose of just having them. That's nuts.
And as for the purses, while there is a certain argument that a high quality bag will last longer, I have a leather couch for which I paid $2500 (10 years ago). It is still pristine and is a very nice couch with very nice leather - few scratches, no signs of wear, very well constructed. I have a hard time reconciling that the materials and labour that go into a relatively simple leather purse could possibly approach that. I do think it is worth something if the people who made the purse are paid a fair wage and had good conditions.
I do like having a cute purse, but I've found that with options like Beyond the Rack, I'm able to purchase lower-end purses (like Matt & Nat) for $30 and they last me for years. So I get a cute purse and I don't break the bank. They appear to be relatively ethical, though I can't confirm where the purses are made.
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Note for the people who don't baby wear. This is a Tula. It's a backpack style baby carrier. There are lots of different ones, Tula is popular because they are pretty. They are very savvy and release each print as a limited edition and some people are fanatical collectors. Baby carriers in general tend to be pricey, but hold their value well and sell for almost new prices on the secondary market.
http://www.tulababycarriers.com/
I looked at your link ($150 for carriers) then tested your assertion by looking at the Boston craigslist. One is listed for $160. Someone thinks that people will pay $10 more for a pre-owned and spit upon baby carrier. Wow. Maybe there's a side business somewhere in here...
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This thread really speaks to something I've been thinking about a lot lately, mostly due to a book called Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. http://www.amazon.com/Overdressed-Shockingly-High-Cheap-Fashion/dp/1591846544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439231025&sr=8-1&keywords=overdressed I read a lot about Mustachians frequenting places like Target/Walmart/Old Navy etc for great deals. It definitely is true that you can buy things for cheap at these places.
I think people in our camp have a responsibility to understand why frugality is important to us and to understand the implications of our frugal purchases. Finding a great deal on a vintage secondhand furniture item on Craigslist is one thing, but preaching the value of carrying a $15 Target purse is another; it is great for your budget but awful for so many other reasons! Sticking staunchly to the low end of the price spectrum for our consumer goods has a huge social and environmental implication which is not always communicated by the price tag (but in general, if you are buying an item with just a $20 bill, you should be thinking about why it is priced that low). Low quality materials have a negative impact on our environment (do some research on the synthetic fibers we use in clothing and accessories). Low priced goods also are almost exclusively made in countries that have abysmally low minimum wages. Although consumer decision making is not enough to fully change this economic trend, I'd love to see more Mustachians making intelligent purchases that wind up somewhere in the bottom range/middle of the cost spectrum for all the right reasons. We can set an example and still meet our own financial goals at the same time by simply owning fewer items of better quality.
No way is a $1000 purse necessary. But is a $300 handmade leather bag a Mustachian purchase? I definitely think it can be; especially if you realize that it will be the bag you use for years. There should be no reason to buy a new bag other than your current bag is broken beyond repair or you are handing it down to a new user. The goal shouldn't be keeping our cost-per-wear as low as possible at the expense of everyone else in the supply chain!!!
I'd love to see this article be called "8 Reasons Spending $300 on a Purse is Okay"
Yup. I got tired of buying an endless string of $40-80 dress shoes at DSW and having to replace them every 4-6 months as they fell apart. I went out and spent $300 ($100 off!) on a pair of handmade-in-the-USA Allen Edmonds dress shoes, and 18 months later they are still in stellar shape, AND can be recobbled when they wear out. Cheaper sometimes just means cheaper, it doesn't always mean better, and can be more expensive in the long run.
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To go along with the baby carrier thing -- I used cloth diapers with my two. I bought the brand/style that worked for my boys, and just enough of them to last us for 2-3 days. When my younger boy finally potty trained, our diapers were seriously worn out. But it is absolutely insane what I have seen some people spend on diapers. And these aren't just getting spit on like a baby carrier, diapers get filled with some really nasty stuff! I used to spend lots of time on Diaperswappers.com, and people would post their "stash pictures." There were people that had enough diapers to cover the bums of an entire third world village. And some of the "limited edition" diapers would sell for hundreds of dollars a piece. Sheesh.
Back on topic to purses, I am a one-purse-at-a-time kind of gal. I find one I like and use it till it wears out. I bought a really cute Vera Bradley purse on the clearance rack at the outlet store for $20. I loved that thing and when it started to get worn out and ratty I was pretty bummed. It was replaced with a $20 purse from the Kohls clearance rack that I like, but I still miss my VB.
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I confess I have gone to Dean and Deluca and indulged in luxury chocolates (hanging head). Being a part time foodie has always been a small demon of mine....
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I heard this in a customs office in Canada while waiting in line ...
Officer: You have a handbag (to a man) that you want to put on a control card?
Man: Yes we have had it and the other one for a few weeks and we keep getting asked if we just purchased it.
Officer: (looking at the bill for the bag) Yessssss I guess you would want to put this on a card ... Is there a serial number for the bag?
Man: No but it has a name.
Me: FACE PUNCH ... a BAG with a NAME ???? I don't care HOW much money you have or how much your bag is worth... that is ridiculous!
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6. Because bag prices have risen so much in recent years that it can be hard to stay under four digits sometimes.
Are you actually serious??! Ignoring all the cheap purse options you have at places like Target and thrift shops, you can go into a department store and get a highly coveted bag for a couple hundred bucks. Complaining that prices have risen so it's hard to find anything under $1000? You are a mind-numbingly painful person.
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This thread really speaks to something I've been thinking about a lot lately, mostly due to a book called Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. http://www.amazon.com/Overdressed-Shockingly-High-Cheap-Fashion/dp/1591846544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439231025&sr=8-1&keywords=overdressed I read a lot about Mustachians frequenting places like Target/Walmart/Old Navy etc for great deals. It definitely is true that you can buy things for cheap at these places.
I think people in our camp have a responsibility to understand why frugality is important to us and to understand the implications of our frugal purchases. Finding a great deal on a vintage secondhand furniture item on Craigslist is one thing, but preaching the value of carrying a $15 Target purse is another; it is great for your budget but awful for so many other reasons! Sticking staunchly to the low end of the price spectrum for our consumer goods has a huge social and environmental implication which is not always communicated by the price tag (but in general, if you are buying an item with just a $20 bill, you should be thinking about why it is priced that low). Low quality materials have a negative impact on our environment (do some research on the synthetic fibers we use in clothing and accessories). Low priced goods also are almost exclusively made in countries that have abysmally low minimum wages. Although consumer decision making is not enough to fully change this economic trend, I'd love to see more Mustachians making intelligent purchases that wind up somewhere in the bottom range/middle of the cost spectrum for all the right reasons. We can set an example and still meet our own financial goals at the same time by simply owning fewer items of better quality.
No way is a $1000 purse necessary. But is a $300 handmade leather bag a Mustachian purchase? I definitely think it can be; especially if you realize that it will be the bag you use for years. There should be no reason to buy a new bag other than your current bag is broken beyond repair or you are handing it down to a new user. The goal shouldn't be keeping our cost-per-wear as low as possible at the expense of everyone else in the supply chain!!!
I'd love to see this article be called "8 Reasons Spending $300 on a Purse is Okay"
The challenge with this issue is that you can't tell the salary of the maker from the purchase price. A lot of expensive name brands have gotten critized for making their items at near slave like work conditions, several in the same factories as the cheap brands.
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I'm trying to imagine the feature set that would make a purse worth $1000.
It would have to be armoured, for sure, intended for use in high crime/collapsed society areas.
It would need a satellite based alarm system for when you got in trouble so you could call for help.
It should probably be able to purify water and contain a host of electrical gadgets related to temperature, GPS location, humidity and tactical support for contacting your fellow post-zombie-apocalypse survivors.
Also it should have a Taser embedded in it so that it gives you a light but painful buzz whenever you try to buy a $1000 purse because all of those features are dumb.
Toque.
Those features are not worth $1000. If it does the dishes, folds laundry, dusts, sweeps, mops and vacuums, THEN it is worth 1k. Show me a purse which does all of that.
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This thread really speaks to something I've been thinking about a lot lately, mostly due to a book called Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. http://www.amazon.com/Overdressed-Shockingly-High-Cheap-Fashion/dp/1591846544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439231025&sr=8-1&keywords=overdressed I read a lot about Mustachians frequenting places like Target/Walmart/Old Navy etc for great deals. It definitely is true that you can buy things for cheap at these places.
I think people in our camp have a responsibility to understand why frugality is important to us and to understand the implications of our frugal purchases. Finding a great deal on a vintage secondhand furniture item on Craigslist is one thing, but preaching the value of carrying a $15 Target purse is another; it is great for your budget but awful for so many other reasons! Sticking staunchly to the low end of the price spectrum for our consumer goods has a huge social and environmental implication which is not always communicated by the price tag (but in general, if you are buying an item with just a $20 bill, you should be thinking about why it is priced that low). Low quality materials have a negative impact on our environment (do some research on the synthetic fibers we use in clothing and accessories). Low priced goods also are almost exclusively made in countries that have abysmally low minimum wages. Although consumer decision making is not enough to fully change this economic trend, I'd love to see more Mustachians making intelligent purchases that wind up somewhere in the bottom range/middle of the cost spectrum for all the right reasons. We can set an example and still meet our own financial goals at the same time by simply owning fewer items of better quality.
No way is a $1000 purse necessary. But is a $300 handmade leather bag a Mustachian purchase? I definitely think it can be; especially if you realize that it will be the bag you use for years. There should be no reason to buy a new bag other than your current bag is broken beyond repair or you are handing it down to a new user. The goal shouldn't be keeping our cost-per-wear as low as possible at the expense of everyone else in the supply chain!!!
I'd love to see this article be called "8 Reasons Spending $300 on a Purse is Okay"
The challenge with this issue is that you can't tell the salary of the maker from the purchase price. A lot of expensive name brands have gotten critized for making their items at near slave like work conditions, several in the same factories as the cheap brands.
I'm willing to pay more for things that I know are made in well-paid factories, but there is no adequate way to ensure this. Just like with many of the grocery store brands, some no-name brands are made in the same factories as the premium ones. Sure, the brand name ones might be made with better material, or the quality might be better checked, but it doesn't mean too much to the person working in the factory.
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This thread really speaks to something I've been thinking about a lot lately, mostly due to a book called Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. http://www.amazon.com/Overdressed-Shockingly-High-Cheap-Fashion/dp/1591846544/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439231025&sr=8-1&keywords=overdressed I read a lot about Mustachians frequenting places like Target/Walmart/Old Navy etc for great deals. It definitely is true that you can buy things for cheap at these places.
I think people in our camp have a responsibility to understand why frugality is important to us and to understand the implications of our frugal purchases. Finding a great deal on a vintage secondhand furniture item on Craigslist is one thing, but preaching the value of carrying a $15 Target purse is another; it is great for your budget but awful for so many other reasons! Sticking staunchly to the low end of the price spectrum for our consumer goods has a huge social and environmental implication which is not always communicated by the price tag (but in general, if you are buying an item with just a $20 bill, you should be thinking about why it is priced that low). Low quality materials have a negative impact on our environment (do some research on the synthetic fibers we use in clothing and accessories). Low priced goods also are almost exclusively made in countries that have abysmally low minimum wages. Although consumer decision making is not enough to fully change this economic trend, I'd love to see more Mustachians making intelligent purchases that wind up somewhere in the bottom range/middle of the cost spectrum for all the right reasons. We can set an example and still meet our own financial goals at the same time by simply owning fewer items of better quality.
No way is a $1000 purse necessary. But is a $300 handmade leather bag a Mustachian purchase? I definitely think it can be; especially if you realize that it will be the bag you use for years. There should be no reason to buy a new bag other than your current bag is broken beyond repair or you are handing it down to a new user. The goal shouldn't be keeping our cost-per-wear as low as possible at the expense of everyone else in the supply chain!!!
I'd love to see this article be called "8 Reasons Spending $300 on a Purse is Okay"
The challenge with this issue is that you can't tell the salary of the maker from the purchase price. A lot of expensive name brands have gotten critized for making their items at near slave like work conditions, several in the same factories as the cheap brands.
I'm willing to pay more for things that I know are made in well-paid factories, but there is no adequate way to ensure this. Just like with many of the grocery store brands, some no-name brands are made in the same factories as the premium ones. Sure, the brand name ones might be made with better material, or the quality might be better checked, but it doesn't mean too much to the person working in the factory.
I agree! Lack of transparency makes your purchasing decision more difficult! Although it is not true that you can't tell anything about the salary of the worker by the purchase price, you can tell a lot from the country of manufacture. You can easily look up minimum wage for Bangladesh etc. online. Also, you can always look for items made in good ole USA!! Support local craft fairs/artisans on Etsy...many of whom have awesome items at Mustachian prices.
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I agree! Lack of transparency makes your purchasing decision more difficult! Although it is not true that you can't tell anything about the salary of the worker by the purchase price, you can tell a lot from the country of manufacture. You can easily look up minimum wage for Bangladesh etc. online. Also, you can always look for items made in good ole USA!! Support local craft fairs/artisans on Etsy...many of whom have awesome items at Mustachian prices.
USA is not local for me. ;)
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I agree! Lack of transparency makes your purchasing decision more difficult! Although it is not true that you can't tell anything about the salary of the worker by the purchase price, you can tell a lot from the country of manufacture. You can easily look up minimum wage for Bangladesh etc. online. Also, you can always look for items made in good ole USA!! Support local craft fairs/artisans on Etsy...many of whom have awesome items at Mustachian prices.
USA is not local for me. ;)
Where do you live?! There goes my self-centered Americanism again :)
I'd love to hear what it is like shopping in other countries...what stores do people shop at/how is the pricing and quality?