Do you feel guilty about money spent on designer bags?

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I was mid-50s before I ever had a bag that cost more than $50! I have 5 in the $300 range now and feel hopelessly decadent - until I go in the LV forum and see the folks with 30+ $1000-5000 bags! Then I feel hopelessly impoverished!

Please don't forget that some of us on there have been collecting LV for years, and the prices have increased. I now have a couple of LVs that I paid ~$400 for 7 or 8 years ago that now sell for closer to $1500. My Speedy 35 was $365 when I bought it new back in 1999. It now sells for $750. Would I pay that much for some of them at their current prices? Not a chance in hell. :)
 
I do feel guilty because although I do earn a great salary, like you, I feel like it could be put towards household things like a new dining room set, concrete for the back yard, vacation, savings, etc etc. I think that there has to be a balance. I have found that saving for a bag helps lessen the guilt.

I have come to the realization that I am a mid range designer bag girl. Perhaps it just isn't in your comfort zone to spend so much on a bag?! I think that if you are having such a hard time with it, maybe consider NOT spending so much and relieve yourself of the guilt?!:flowers:
 
I do feel guilty because although I do earn a great salary, like you, I feel like it could be put towards household things like a new dining room set, concrete for the back yard, vacation, savings, etc etc. I think that there has to be a balance. I have found that saving for a bag helps lessen the guilt.

I have come to the realization that I am a mid range designer bag girl. Perhaps it just isn't in your comfort zone to spend so much on a bag?! I think that if you are having such a hard time with it, maybe consider NOT spending so much and relieve yourself of the guilt?!:flowers:

haha! maybe you're right! I haven't spent over 500$ on a bag yet since i'm still a student but come to think of it, i'm not sure being older and having more money would make it any easier, infact it might make me feel more guilty! Having a house, bills to pay and maybe even children would make it 1000 times harder for me to justify spending 1000+ on a bag...But on the other hand, they're so pretty:love::love:
 
Nope. I've spent around $ 2000 on a bag and I didn't feel guilty simply because bags are my priority right now. I have no kids, no mortgage, no car and I rarely find something that I like when it comes to clothes and since I'm single I don't go to fancy restaurants. So, I don't mind spending that much money on a bag that I love.
 
I did feel a bit guilty the first few days after I bought my LV speedy. I am a student, but after hard work during the summer, and good exam results I felt I could treat myself. Now I don't feel guilty at all, because I have used the bag so much, it is totally worth the money I've spent.

I feel more guilty about certain dresses I have bought and never used...the dresses weren't that expensive, but it was such a waste of money...
 
When bags were my only 'thing', I didn't feel guilty. I was working and paying for them with my own money, had no debts, no other major financial commitments. If you've the money to pay for expensive bags on your own merits, I don't believe that there is any need to feel guilty for purchasing them. There's a massive difference between needing to feel guilty about a purchase and just feeling guilty, though!

I should say that right now, whilst bags still are my thing, I'm trying to save and I'm finding the numbers going up in my bank accounts addictive so right now I would feel guilty buying an expensive bag. I've been wanting a Bal so much I've been dreaming of it for the last few nights (wish I was kidding!) but right now it's a lot more than I want to spend and I'd feel terrible if I actually pulled the trigger on one, especially since I already have several. I think it just depends on what your priorities are at the current time, and nobody is right or wrong for feeling or not feeling guilty.
 
Just a comment on what you listed that you could get for that $2000 bag ... how about any of this: a new gazebo for the back yard, a good used car to get to work, a color laser printer, a trip to another country (that includes meals and vehicle), a romantic spa weekend getaway, a fur coat, 20 pairs of $100 jeans (if you live in a US state with no tax on clothing.)

Perspective, m'dear, perspective.

As for the answers to your questions: No guilt, because I am mentally unable to wrap my brain around spending $2000 on a handbag. Ever. Whether or not I had the money to spend. I did make an attempt to spend $1300 recently and returned the bag within 24 hours because I couldn't stop thinking it was some kind of weird precious cargo that couldn't be touched.

I need therapy for lots of things, but I'll be damned if I'll go into therapy because I can't carry the handbag I just bought.;)

This pretty much describes me. I have never paid full retail for any bag, even though several are premier brands. The higher the price the more difficult I would find it to shell out obscene sums of money on things that are so trivial. I don't think of bag purchasing so much in terms of what I can afford, as in how much money I would be willing to hand over.
 
Yes AND no, but mostly no. I am fortunate now to be making a good salary due to hard work over many years and we have a modest savings. Handbags are my one reward. Our house is paid for and we easily pay our car notes and other things hubby & son want too! We are truly blessed! At times though I feel guilty when so many others are having a hard time making ends meet.
 
Nope. I went to ALOT of schooling/training to get where I am career-wise so I have no problem spending my money on things that make me happy. That said, I would feel guilty if I never used the bag. That would be a waste of money. Also, I only spend alot on classic-type bags. I stay in the mid-range for trendy/faddish bags.
 
I can't believe this is a new thread. In answer: "yes"!! I just plunked down an obscene amount of money on a magnificent Gucci bag. Do I love it? Absolutely!! Am I sorry I bought it? No! Did I enjoy spending that kind of money? NO! It goes against everything I believe in. Materialistic possessions should not be outrageously costly. I'd prefer to spend it on my childrens' future (education). However, I am a hypocrite because in the realm of things it will not remove food from their plates nor affect their learning. It was a purchase I thought out and while I was against paying that kind of $$, I felt I deserved a wonderful present! I do know that while the guilt is their, it will become short lived!
 
Nope. I've spent around $ 2000 on a bag and I didn't feel guilty simply because bags are my priority right now. I have no kids, no mortgage, no car and I rarely find something that I like when it comes to clothes and since I'm single I don't go to fancy restaurants. So, I don't mind spending that much money on a bag that I love.

Omg, it sounds like we have ALOT in common!!
(kids are grown, debt free, hubby's semi-retired, I hate shopping for clothes, I'm scared to fly so never travel and I live in a god-forsaken town that doesn't have fancy restaurants) Watch out purses, here I come!!:D
 
I have only made 1 major handbag purchase (over $500) and I felt incredulous that I actually spent so much money a piece of accessory, but I got over it because:
1. I love the bag and have wanted it for a while, and will get it eventually anyway
2. It was not an impulse purchase (graduation gift for myself)
3. I have saved up some money for this purchase and also sold off a few purses from my collection that I no longer liked
4. I might as well get it now before further price increases, and while I don't have kids/a family to be responsible for yet

So for me, I guess as long as I have thought about it carefully and most importantly, as long as I have the necessary funds without going broke, I would not feel too guilty about it. That said, I don't plan on splurging like this often - I'd need another milestone and more money saved up to treat myself like this!
 
No, I don't feel guilty, because:
(1) usually when i buy a bag it's because i've been saving for it
(2) i refuse to spend the $$ unless bills are paid/i have contributed to savings

I can't afford to go out and buy a new bag more than maybe twice a year, so I enjoy it when I do!
 
Nah... I tend to feel happy afterward...verrrry very happy! I love my bags.

Lol...I thought it was hilarious though that you said you feel guilty afterward, because you could spend you money on other things... Jeans, tops, shoes...etc. Haha. I was waiting for you to say that you feel guilty spending that much on a bag cuz you could donate the money to a charity or something along the lines of that. I don't think you should feel guilty at ALL for spending it on a bag instead of other material possesions...lol. If bags are your thing, go for it! I spend a sh!tload of $ on bags and accessories, but tend to buy cheaper clothing because I think it's the little things like bags and jewelry that really bring together and MAKE an outfit! That being said, I buy many of my clothes at thrift shops and stores such as Target! Aaahhhh...LOVE Target!!! :)
 
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