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.