[PlushKitty]

To start off I want to say the term "materialistic" can be very broad here... take it any way you want it, from a total label whore to just someone who loves pretty things (just so as not to offend anyone, and hey, we are on the Purse Forum after all)

I just found out not too long ago why I loved expensive things so much. It never occurred to me that there needed to be a reason... but after yet another lecture on my spending habits I started to go back, way back in time and pin-pointed the time I started to buy into all this consumerism mumbo-jumbo. For me, it was at my new elementary school, when I was about grade 5 or 6. Prior to moving to that new school, I was very tom-boyish. I got along with boys better than girls- and I still do... shh! (typed "got along with boys better than guys", LMAO), I didn't care what the heck I put on in the morning, and sometimes I even got exasperated when my mom bought me clothes like "Ugh, more clothes?!" Anyways, I guess it was just the transition or something; I knew most of the people in my old school, so growing up together we didn't criticize each other as much. But a couple days into my new school, when I had been "accepted" into the popular girls group (practically everyone was popular back then, it's still elementary, hehe!), it happened. We were all just standing around by the fences/bars (I remember this vividly, wanna know the colour of the bars? Blue with the paint slightly peeling! ) when the girls started talking about clothes, and what they wanted to buy, etc. I just kind of kept quiet, because being the tomboy I was, I didn't have much to add. I mean, I didn't know half the brands they were talking about. Then all of a sudden, one of the girls, genuinely confused about my "style", asked "Why do you always wear those jeans? Do you not have other ones?" Yes and no, I had some but I really didn't care for them, so I wore the same ones practically everyday. And before I could answer, another girl said, "Yeah, we should all buy you new jeans for your birthday or something". I wasn't hurt by this at all, but I don't even know what came over me then. What did I just realize? That I needed to mass-buy clothes? Well, whatever I realized, it was then that was the turning point for me. My poor mother, who bought me a good amount of clothes, not a lot, but may I stress just enough, started hearing from this nagging, money-hungry adolescent! ME!!! I used to wear anything she bought me, but I became very picky and began to only shop at certain stores (mind you this was when I was 10 or so!) OMG, and thinking back now, I used to consider Old Navy prices expensive! I guess that was when I was really new to shopping, I didn't know what the norm was! Gradually I moved "up" to the Gap, dreamed about Guess, and believed Banana Republic was extremely expensive after I went shopping there with my richer cousin (she bought $300 jeans there, and I was like , but now I buy way more expensive jeans than her- go figure!) Ah, it seems SO long ago! Nowadays, my regular budget is for designers such as Chloe and D&G. Thankfully, I don't need to splurge on any more expensive items as much as I am still a student. But still!!!

Holy cow! I just realized how much I typed. Sorry guys! LOL!




So finally, When did you guys first get pulled in to this evil habit? (or rather, a lifestyle for me now...)

[Glamorous_girl]

hahahaha My whole life! From a very young age I always want MORE MORE MORE of everything, and as soon as I knew something was expensive I just wanted it even more. That was mainly with toys and stuff. I think it got really bad when I started horseback riding at 8 y/o. There was alot of people with money at the riding place and thus alot of competition. Who had the best saddle, the best riding clothes, etc etc. Needless to say I always had to buy the top of the line brands. I wasnt too bad with clothes and bags until my junior-senior year of highschool. I got hooked on coach and prada and I started having to go buy my clothes "out of town" (where I lived kohls was considered expensive) at the more expensive stores like Nordstrom and bloomingdales because no one would have it. I gradually moved up to LV and Chanel and although I still love coach, I don't consider it expensive anymore. I consider LV to be about the norm now although now im even starting to think some LV is not too bad. I started having to have designer sunglasses, and gloves, and scarfs where as I only cared about bags and wallets before. I don't care too much about my shirts, if I like it I don't care if it's a $30 no brand or $200 designer. But I am getting bad on jeans now. I used to think $50 for jeans was alot. Now I think $250 is alot, average is 75-120. I love designer shoes too, but considering how much I have to walk, how much it rains, and the condition of some of the sidewalks in my city...I'm weary venturing out in more than $100 shoes.

So yeah anyway I guess it really started (atleast for purses) in 10th grade when I got my first coach bag but it really got worse at the end of my senior year.

[QueenOfDa702]

I definitely dont discriminate, I like things that arent expensive, as well as pricier items. But, I think its has to do with not growing up with any money. I was lucky to get a new pair of shoes every year. I, of course started "splurging" as soon as the money started to roll in. I dont go to the store and spend $1,000 in one pop(although I could! lol), I budget my spending money, and only spend what I can afford in CASH, no credit cards here! Ok, one credit card, but I only use it for gas lol. I remember the days when Express jeans(what, $50.00?) were expensive to me! The Express store was a high-end designer store in my eyes.

Edit: I guess I didnt really answer your question. I started to notice/want expensive things when I met my SO(I was 15 when I met him) and saw that his sister owned all of these shoes and bags and clothes, and just... her closet was(and still is!) heaven for me. I guess in a way, I looked up to her, and wanted all of the amazing things she had. So, as soon as my SO and I got on our feet and began to actually make enough money that we could go and buy stuff, the first thing I bought was a Coach purse, and some Seven jeans. It was all downhill from there

[Rockst@r]

I became materialistic as an adult. There was never a competition among my friends. Looking back, I think it's because my parents made more money than my friends' parents, as my parents each owned businesses. I had a pt job in high school and worked at my mom's salon so I also had my own money since about 14yrs old. I was given a new car at 20yrs old (college was 500 miles away and I needed something reliable) and I've never had a used car. I didn't really ask for much because my mom proactively gave me pretty much everything I wanted. For some reason I didn't turn out to be a brat, because I don't expect dh to finance my whims! Anyway, once I hit about 22yrs old or so, I started with Coach and graduated from there. I also started buying my own diamonds, which was something my mom used to buy (and I got diamond hoops from her this year for Christmas...lol). There wasn't any outside influence for designer goods, as my friends weren't really into them. They might've had one or two things (remember Maga Design eyeglasses and MCM bags in the late 80's?) but not much. Now almost all my friends are materialistic, and I think it hit us all when we really started making our own money, in our early to mid twenties. Mostly, they're into Benzes and trips, rather than handbags and jewelery, like I am.

[merika]

I was materialistic as a young adult - 20-25 I guess. I wanted jewelry, lots of it, new clothes, bags, shoes, you name it.

Some life events actually changed my attitude a lot, and made me realize what was actually important and what was not.

[wordpast]

I know exactly when it started. I was 15.

I have really curly hair, after begging and pleading, my dad finally agreed to pay for me to get a professional blow out and flat iron every week or two. I thought my stylist was the greatest thing ever. She was young (20's), drove a Mercedes, had this hip, hot BF, hung out at all the fabulous places around town, and owned Gucci EVERYTHING. I wanted to be her soooo bad. So much so that at the age of 17 I combined my pitiful paychecks and bought my first pair of Gucci sandals. And it was all downhill(or uphill! ) from there.

Now, while I still LOVE nice things. I don't feel I HAVE to have them. If I get them ,great. If I can't get them, fine. I won't go in debt for them anymore. And they certainly don't make me feel better about myself (they once did).

[itsnicole]

I started being materialistic my freshman year of college when I was 17. I received my first LV bag from my mom, and it all went downhill after that, lol. From bags to clothes, it was one thing after the other. I still love my bags and designer jeans, but I think I've gotten a bit better than what I used to be. I guess I learned my lesson with some credit card debt I piled up that now I'm just taking a break and only buying what I really want and know I will still like a few months down the road.

[la miss]

My mother was materialistic. She bought my shoes and clothes from NM ever since I was little. So I guess I've always been this way.

[dusty paws]

It probably started getting to me in HS. Went to a very rich preppy foofoo high school where all the girls got everything they wanted from mummy and daddy - cars, dresses, makeup, expensive shoes, you name it.

Once I started a job that I could afford to pay for the upscale stuff (expensive jeans, shoes, handbags) was when I began to crave it a bit more.

As a kid, and even now if there's something that I really want I'll find a way to get it.

[Speedy]

I have what's called "Blue Jay Syndrome". If it's bright and shiny, I have to have it to take it home to my nest. Because of this affliction, I learned to design and make jewelry, so I could justify buying a bunch of pearls wholesale, or 5,000 Austrian Crystals... I was gonna make something out of them!

It started when I was very, very young. My great-grandfather on my mother's side was a gold miner, and he showed me quite young how to look for gold and silver nuggets.

[ragamuffin]

Mine started about 6 years ago. I had always liked nice things and sometimes my mother would indulge me in a pair of $130 jeans(back in '93). I always read fashion magazines, but I live in a small Canadian town where nobody knows anything about fashion! We in almost 2008 do not have even a GAP!
I started working with a English girl and she did me in! We would pour over her English fashion magazines and one day I came home and declared to my husband "You are buying me an LV" Two weeks later we took the 3 hour drive to the closest LV and that was it. I stick to mostly bags and accessories, and timeless things like coats. I'd love shoes, but I work on a construction site and I am always picking screws and nails and gobs of drywall mud off my soles. So I'll stick to my $100-$150 Aldo and Nine Wests (yes also all bought out of town)

[devoted]

my handbag obsession started 3 years ago, collected Fendi, Coach, Louis Vuittion, but it has wavered slightly this past year because now I am obsessed with items for the home; expensive silk curtains, lamps, rugs...my favorite store ever is The Expo Design Center. Walking through one is like a dream, the bathroom and kitchen models..OMG. I need to buy a house already, I'd have so much fun decorating. Clothing...not so much, since I consider them disposable. I don't like cheap brands but I have never bought designer brands. Most expensive shoes $200, coat $300, jeans $60.

[lv-lover]

It was sometime in juinior high...I went to an all girls school and naturally everyone was very competitive with the whole "my daddy is richer than yours" thing. I just moved my way up through different brands and such, and here I am! All my friends are really materialistic, so we just rub off each other.

[bnjj]

For me it would stem back to elementary as well when I had to have "Jordache" or "Fancy Ass" jeans. No other jeans would do. It just grew from there.

[caxe]

I wouldn't define myself as materialistic in any sense of the word--and I feel proud to be able to say that! When it comes down to it "things" are just "things" and at the end of the day they don't matter worth a d@mn. Things never cured diseases, things never fed the hungry, things are just..."things."

And you can't take it with you, anyway.