Do you feel guilty about money spent on designer bags?

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#406
Oh yeah, very much so. Not only bags, just so many thing I bought that are nice to have but I don't need, I'm recently reflecting on this big time, and selling those I don't need, although I feel like that I can really cut down even further. I think I'm greedy :D
 
#407
I do sometimes feel guilty but the way I see it is... as long as your are charitable and do your bit then you are entitled to spend your hard earned money on what you want.
It does make me wonder sometimes if I am too greedy and if I should be more charitable but I do my best and I enjoy my treats of handbags! I dont think that make me or any of us a bad person x
 
#408
I am in a serving profession, I work in an inner city environment (for 20 years now, with 32 total years teaching, most of it quite underpaid). I spend 60-70 hours a week at my job and at related community service. I sit on the boards of service/philanthropic entities. I volunteer, I've been in the workforce for 45 years this month - 45 years of working, many years without vacations. I've been active in the UN's food programs for 20 years.

However I choose to spend what money I do have, I do not feel guilty about it. Naturally, I also give to charity. But, I'm well aware that having a productive economy also means consumption (I was convinced by reading John Kenneth Galbraith). We don't want an entire planet that's based on charity - we also want production and consumption through regular markets.

I do try to support ethical businesses, and frankly, my guilt comes more over my intense love for leather goods (despite my animal love). That's where I get guilty...people say plastic hurts the environment, but leather comes from living animals.

I still haven't felt guilty enough to stop using/wearing leather (it's the best thing for feet!) But maybe I will one day.
 
#409
Handbags are my one vice. I don't feel guilty because I work hard for the money I have and believe that I should be able to spend it any way I see fit. My family's needs always come first, but my mad money usually goes towards handbags. Typically though, if I buy one, I sell one. Just trying to keep my numbers reasonable.
 
#410
Well...

a) Buying bags helps the economy and creates jobs

and

b) I don't drink, smoke, go clubbing, eat out, or really do anything that requires spending money. So my bag addiction is pretty much my only vice and I think it keeps me from being reckless with where I spend my money. So bags = preventative therapy. :p
 
#411
I often feel guilty about bag overspending, but to some degree my feet are on the ground. At the end of the day I know that bags are only bags and I have more important things to spend money on and think about.
 
#412
Melisande R. said:
However I choose to spend what money I do have, I do not feel guilty about it. Naturally, I also give to charity. But, I'm well aware that having a productive economy also means consumption (I was convinced by reading John Kenneth Galbraith). We don't want an entire planet that's based on charity - we also want production and consumption through regular markets.

I do try to support ethical businesses, and frankly, my guilt comes more over my intense love for leather goods (despite my animal love). That's where I get guilty...people say plastic hurts the environment, but leather comes from living animals.
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Your thoughts are very similar to mine. There would be less capital to help people with if we only had a charity based economy. And part of helping people is not just giving aid, but helping erect sustainable markets and economies.

Having also worked for a non-profit for a spell, I have seen (including in myself), the dangers of burnout if someone is completely focused on these problems. Self-care is therefore a huge issue with these organizations. Sometimes treating oneself is a part of this. I think, as others have said, the issue is balance with finances and life in general. And also being informed consumers.
 
#413
I dont feel guilty but sometimes feel its a waste so much money being invested in a collection of handbags when chirldren are starving around the world :(

But that's a stroy for another day and the corrupt politician!!! Rant over :)
 
#414
xladyxserenityx said:
Your thoughts are very similar to mine. There would be less capital to help people with if we only had a charity based economy. And part of helping people is not just giving aid, but helping erect sustainable markets and economies.

Having also worked for a non-profit for a spell, I have seen (including in myself), the dangers of burnout if someone is completely focused on these problems. Self-care is therefore a huge issue with these organizations. Sometimes treating oneself is a part of this. I think, as others have said, the issue is balance with finances and life in general. And also being informed consumers.
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Thank you so much for your response - you're right, there is a tremendous burn-out factor. My recent return to handbag shopping has coincided with my willingness to actually step up a couple rungs in the ladder and take on a position of much more responsibility (which no one wants to do - I'm not sure whether people who don't work in non-profits or in areas of service to human beings, such as medicine, realize just how few people want to do these jobs these days - and for less money than ever).

Being an informed consumer has also been a part of learning about handbags. I try to keep up on working conditions in various segments of the handbag industry (and I am not one of those who thinks we should boycott completely certain parts of the world - instead, we should support businesses in China and elsewhere that provide the very best local work conditions for people. I was surprised, of course, to realize that virtually every luxury bag manufacturer either employs labor in Asia or imports Asian workers to work in lower paid positions in their home country - but by keeping tabs of which corporations offer the best situations for their workers, I feel better about my purchases.

Anyway, it's nice to meet a kindred spirit. For whatever reason we are buying handbags, we are in fact building a real economy of goods and services - and charity depends on that real economy!
 
#415
Melisande R. said:
Thank you so much for your response - you're right, there is a tremendous burn-out factor. My recent return to handbag shopping has coincided with my willingness to actually step up a couple rungs in the ladder and take on a position of much more responsibility (which no one wants to do - I'm not sure whether people who don't work in non-profits or in areas of service to human beings, such as medicine, realize just how few people want to do these jobs these days - and for less money than ever).

Being an informed consumer has also been a part of learning about handbags. I try to keep up on working conditions in various segments of the handbag industry (and I am not one of those who thinks we should boycott completely certain parts of the world - instead, we should support businesses in China and elsewhere that provide the very best local work conditions for people. I was surprised, of course, to realize that virtually every luxury bag manufacturer either employs labor in Asia or imports Asian workers to work in lower paid positions in their home country - but by keeping tabs of which corporations offer the best situations for their workers, I feel better about my purchases.

Anyway, it's nice to meet a kindred spirit. For whatever reason we are buying handbags, we are in fact building a real economy of goods and services - and charity depends on that real economy!
Click to expand...

This is a very important issue with luxury goods, especially with higher end goods that claim to be made in Italy but are actually made in China with just a finishing touch sent to Italy, which allows the company by law to claim the item was made in Italy. it is a deceptive practice and one that cheats the consumer IMO.

One of the reasons I love Belen Echandia is because their bags are completely made in Italy by artisans that have practiced this craft for generations. You can really see the difference in the finished product, and I like seeing photos of the items being made. In my opinion, that is a rare and wonderful thing.:smile1:
 
#416
TejasMama said:
This is a very important issue with luxury goods, especially with higher end goods that claim to be made in Italy but are actually made in China with just a finishing touch sent to Italy, which allows the company by law to claim the item was made in Italy. it is a deceptive practice and one that cheats the consumer IMO.

One of the reasons I love Belen Echandia is because their bags are completely made in Italy by artisans that have practiced this craft for generations. You can really see the difference in the finished product, and I like seeing photos of the items being made. In my opinion, that is a rare and wonderful thing.:smile1:
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Thanks for the heads up! I had not heard of that brand. Yes, I do want to support the various EU economies by buying products actually made there (knowing that some of what I buy is made in China - where I expect the corporations I support to practice ethical treatment of workers).
 
#417
joycetoby said:
I dont feel guilty but sometimes feel its a waste so much money being invested in a collection of handbags when chirldren are starving around the world :(

But that's a stroy for another day and the corrupt politician!!! Rant over :)
Click to expand...

Sadly, hunger has been here before we we're born and hunger will be around after we're gone.

Donating your time and money to charities is admirable, but remember this... money spent on handbags (and other products) helps to feed others by keeping someone employed!;)
 
#418
Melisande R. said:
Thank you so much for your response - you're right, there is a tremendous burn-out factor. My recent return to handbag shopping has coincided with my willingness to actually step up a couple rungs in the ladder and take on a position of much more responsibility (which no one wants to do - I'm not sure whether people who don't work in non-profits or in areas of service to human beings, such as medicine, realize just how few people want to do these jobs these days - and for less money than ever).

Being an informed consumer has also been a part of learning about handbags. I try to keep up on working conditions in various segments of the handbag industry (and I am not one of those who thinks we should boycott completely certain parts of the world - instead, we should support businesses in China and elsewhere that provide the very best local work conditions for people. I was surprised, of course, to realize that virtually every luxury bag manufacturer either employs labor in Asia or imports Asian workers to work in lower paid positions in their home country - but by keeping tabs of which corporations offer the best situations for their workers, I feel better about my purchases.

Anyway, it's nice to meet a kindred spirit. For whatever reason we are buying handbags, we are in fact building a real economy of goods and services - and charity depends on that real economy!
Click to expand...

It is very nice to meet a kindred spirit! I am the same, being an informed consumer has been part of my learning about handbags. Nor do I believe in boycotting certain areas of the world, but like you, feel that identifying conditions and promoting ethical sourcing is a good step. And speaking of the economy and charity, I remember talking to donor and making sure to always ask if their employers offered matching gift. And soliciting corporations and their matching foundations for donations and funding. Sometimes I don't think people realize how much just being an employee can help out-- and that donations of things like used clothing and handbags can in more than one way! Reporting the value of donations to granters often meant a match, too. Reading stories here of donations to DV shelters brings a smile to my face because I know it will go further than the donation itself.

Thanks for your response, and congrats and good luck with the position of increased responsibility. :) I'm sure you will do really well! And thank you for your hard work on behalf of others!
 
#419
Glitter_pixie said:
Sadly, hunger has been here before we we're born and hunger will be around after we're gone.

Donating your time and money to charities is admirable, but remember this... money spent on handbags (and other products) helps to feed others by keeping someone employed!;)
Click to expand...

Very true, were keeping people in jobs at east which feed full famillies, even if not much it helps them survive and alot of people all over the world are happy and greatfull with simple lives.

Also you life is too short to 'try to save tohe world' so sto say just enjoy it while we can, were here for a good time not a long time :)
 
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