How do you afford your bags and how many per year? Credit debt or millionare lover?

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#1,441
melissatrv said:
I guess what I am trying to say and am perhaps doing a bad job is that in every forum, there are always 3 or 4 women who seem to buy a bag (or 2 or 3) every week. I am curious as to how those ladies in particular are able to do so. But of course it would be rude to ask (which is why I posted in this existing on topic thread instead :smile1:)

Even if you are new to a forum or just browsing outside your "home forums" you can very quickly see who these ladies are and that they have amassed a large collection. And if you tallied up every one of their bags it would probably cost more than my house! It is similar to when you are driving through the "wealthy part of town" (and every town has one) and wondering hmmm.... how they can afford that gazillion dollar house....did they inherit a fortune, are they high powered CEOs, a couple of rich plastic surgeons, an NBA player, NASCAR Pit Crew Chief, business owners, did they win the lottery etc. I mean haven't you ever wanted to know? This thread has tons of views so I am assuming others are curious as well. Watching the Millionaire Match Maker it is interesting to see the different ways people have amassed their fortune. There was one woman who was a professional poker player with this huge shoe collection and Hermes bags, it is certainly not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking how someone got rich.

I am one of those people who makes decent money, saves, sells off bags I don't use, scours the bay, sales etc. My curiosity is how the other half does it. The power buyers if you will.
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Probably just what you mentioned.
 
#1,442
BTW yeah, that's my bet too....what Marthastoo said.

I always wonder these things too, OP...it's fun.

If you ask me, yeah, it's lots of times people making money in business. Or investment banking, etc. etc.
Sure there is the movie star, or sports star, or lotto winner....also some doctors make lots of money, most not super rich though.
But probably mostly, i think it is high powered lawyers or people in business. (The person themself, or their spouse.) Whether owning a business, or working in business at a top level, or investment banking, commercial real estate, etc.

And sure, some people have inherited...

anyway, interesting question
 
#1,443
I am pretty old fashioned. I don't own any "really expensive" bags, but I buy coach. I save my money & I save my loose change. I know, sounds sort of kiddish but money is money. Also, tax season is a great thing too. If I don't have to use my money for any other purposes, then I will treat myself. Just thought I would give my opinion.
 
#1,444
melissatrv said:
What I have always wondered about our not the average "work hard" and "save" but the ladies who really have money to burn. The ones who are buying tons of Chanel, Hermes etc. Even some ladies in Coach who buy the higher end bags, don't wait til PCE and buy several per month. Do you have wealthy husbands or really good jobs yourself? I tend to think they married well. I make a 6 figure salary and cannot afford to spend like that. But I would really like to know as the curiosity kills me sometimes!
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My guess would be they're up to their a$$'s in debt. :D
 
#1,446
melissatrv said:
What I have always wondered about our not the average "work hard" and "save" but the ladies who really have money to burn. The ones who are buying tons of Chanel, Hermes etc. Even some ladies in Coach who buy the higher end bags, don't wait til PCE and buy several per month. Do you have wealthy husbands or really good jobs yourself? I tend to think they married well. I make a 6 figure salary and cannot afford to spend like that. But I would really like to know as the curiosity kills me sometimes!
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Well some of the ladies here only seem to spend on bags -- that is they don't have other obligations or don't seem to spend on furniture, a fancy place, or vacations, eating out, etc. I was surprised at how frugal some of the women in the Hermes forum are, for example. There are some just plain "rich" women who seem to have it all, but for the most part I see people making choices (and perhaps sometimes there is debt that you don't see).
 
#1,447
LeeMiller said:
Well some of the ladies here only seem to spend on bags -- that is they don't have other obligations or don't seem to spend on furniture, a fancy place, or vacations, eating out, etc. I was surprised at how frugal some of the women in the Hermes forum are, for example. There are some just plain "rich" women who seem to have it all, but for the most part I see people making choices (and perhaps sometimes there is debt that you don't see).
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that's what I was thinking too
 
#1,448
LeeMiller said:
Well some of the ladies here only seem to spend on bags -- that is they don't have other obligations or don't seem to spend on furniture, a fancy place, or vacations, eating out, etc. I was surprised at how frugal some of the women in the Hermes forum are, for example. There are some just plain "rich" women who seem to have it all, but for the most part I see people making choices (and perhaps sometimes there is debt that you don't see).
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Excellent post!

This is such an interesting thread! I often wonder how some women can afford so many bags, scarves, shoes, accessories, as well as designer clothing and jewelry. I remember one mind boggling reveal where I mentally calculated the cost of each item and figured I could pay off my mortgage twice with the amount of money spent! Multi-item reveals are so much fun to see and I am happy for those women who can afford to purchase so many beautiful items. I shop vicariously through these ladies!

I think some tPFers are incredibly wealthy (either by birth or marriage). There are also women here who are doctors, lawyers, or in some other high-paying profession. However, I think there are probably some people who are in a lot of debt, as LeeMiller mentioned.

There are also others (like myself) who save for their purchases. I often buy bags second hand. I will never be able to walk into any high-end boutique and purchase whatever I want. However, I consider myself very lucky to be able to save up for luxury items.
 
#1,451
My parents both have nice jobs and they spoil me LOL, but I certainly don't fall into the new bag every week category! I'm sure it's different for all the ladies here. There are some who were born into obscenely wealthy families, some who are high powered CEOs or inventors or whatnot, some who are married to professional athletes or big business men, some who are in oodles and oodles of debt.
 
#1,452
Some have come from saving and some from really good sales. Remember the Saks 2008 sale? Nordstrom 40/60% off? Saks 10% email? Bluefly can be good. My best luck has been timely Chloe' purchases. For a while there I was just having good luck with Chloe', four of them were in the $500 range. I certainly did not pay full price on most of my bags, if I had that kind of money I might have bought Chanel. Well...maybe.
 
#1,453
Personally my boyfriends parents and my parents were both immigrants to this country, they worked hard and provided for their families. My dad didn't finished high school and my mum stayed at home with 4 kids. My dad worked in laboring/factory positions all my life and they both worked very hard and are very well off now as a result. They are extremely smart with their money and how they spend and invest it. I was the first generation in my family to go to uni, i worked hard and i currently work in hr. I started at the bottom and am working my way up (still got a way to go!!) i earn a decent salary and my parents taught me how to be smart with my money. My boyfriend didn't finish high school, works in construction and earns more money than i do. We were able to buy a house using his wages only.

Anyway my point being, in response to the comments about wealthy people being high powered lawyers, doctors etc, you don't have to be highly educated to make money, sure it helps but its possible to make a decent living and be able to afford some nice bags by being smart with the money you earn - no matter how much it is!

It is nice to have nice things and be able to buy lots of bags, but in reality how many bags does one person need?
 
#1,455
Thrift stores! Scored 3 vintage Coach Bags this weekend. City bag and Willis station in black and blue kiss lock all leather. Two are like new. One of the bags has been released by Coach this year. Cost for all three bags $23 other bags that I found at thrift stores vintage Dior shoulder, DB's and Louis Vittion. All real! I'm also lucky to have outlet stores near by and I sign up for email sale list. Coach outlet and Burberry etc.
 
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