how do you do it?

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#16
satine112 said:
i'm 23 :smile1:

I suppose for me, i just assume the majority married very well. and i, on the other hand, didn't. We are young, but not wealthy at all. We get by. We have a nice car and take nice yearly vacations, but i can't go out to buy LV all the time. Once a year is it. And i was bad and put my 2nd one on my cc. If i wanted more, i'd have to sacrifice, and not get clothes or something. sucks.

It's so funny, cause i THOUGHT we were doing ok (though we still rent...so, ok is relative) and then i come on message boards, not just this one, and everyone has so much.

I guess my sin is envy.
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Words of Advice: DON'T BUY ANYTHING YOU CAN'T AFFORD. If you do, you will live a very unfulfilling and unhappy life. Also, don't try to march in step with the Joneses. You never know how THEY make ends meet. I have a friend who was recently married. Extravagant wedding. Vera Wang dress (off the runway: she was there). Husband had Rolls Royce, Bentley, Few Mercedes, etc. She had diamonds, diamonds everywhere. They had many mansion homes, etc. He was a investment banker. He's in jail right now and everything she had is gone. Everything.

Worry about you.
 
#17
MissV, panhandlers can make a killing...for not having a real job that is. lol

For me, i bet i could make millions being a stripper...hahahaha or a "host" in japan...i've read the stories, i know what can be made~!

Envyme: wow....i feel sorry for your friend. it can all be gone in an instant....geez.
 
#19
satine112 said:
MissV, panhandlers can make a killing...for not having a real job that is. lol

For me, i bet i could make millions being a stripper...hahahaha or a "host" in japan...i've read the stories, i know what can be made~!

Envyme: wow....i feel sorry for your friend. it can all be gone in an instant....geez.
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I'm from Japan & I didn't know you can make millions being a "host" in Japan. Umm......maybe because I'm ignorant. Why would a woman want to sell her body when there're better jobs out there? A sense of dignity is more important than "money". :graucho:

Look at Oprah Winfrey, Diane Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Bill Gates & Warren Buffett, they're all not rich when they're born but they work hard to be where they are now. ;)

And.....they're leading satisfying life and not driven by money only. :smile1:

And that's very important.:cool:

Nothing is more worth it other than happiness & handbags. :yes:
 
#20
I'm sure there are a lot of other women on TPF who are like us. Doing alright, and will only be getting one luxury bag a year (okay, maybe two). I love looking at other women's gorgeous bag collections, and I think of it as research. Since I can only get one bag a year, I want to know I'm getting something I will really love and treasure. Sure I would love to acquire more than 1 bag a year, but I prefer the feeling that I'm saving for the future, and making the right choices and investments for my future. Maybe in 5 or 10 years, I can be in the positions to 'treat' myself more often.

Most of my friends would be horrified by how much these bags cost, and will never in their life spend that sort of money on an accessory, so I count myself as very lucky (and with a very accepting husband).

I'm 31, and when I was 23, I could never afford a luxury bag, so I think you're doing extremely well!
 
#21
satine112 said:
Hey Nishi, I noticed in that other post, we are both not happy with our lives and the way they've turned out. I often think that a lot of my unhappiness has to do with my materialisticness (sp?) and message boards such as this one.

It feeds our greed/envy/whatever and we get down on ourselves because we can't afford what others can.
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Sororities are to me what message boards are to you, as silly as that might sound.

I have very beautiful sorority sisters who marry *extremely* well. This is like a norm, and an expectation. We constantly compare who we are dating, who married who, etc. etc., and sometimes I think we need men to validate us the same way some women need possessions, like handbags, to validate them.

I'm about to turn 22 and I feel huge, huge pressure to find a man and get engaged. It will sound really crazy to a lot of girls, but it's such a norm in my set that I feel like I should be hustling to find a perfect starter home in Conneticut than applying for graduate school.

Sorry, I hope that makes sense. I just want to say that I understand where you're coming from in a way, that's all. Best wishes to you, girl!
 
#22
When I was 23, I was a waitress, and shopping exclusively second-hand. Thing is, now that I don't HAVE to shop that way anymore...I still want too! There is something about the thrill of the chase. I have never just walked into a designer store and bought a handbag. Every one of mine has been bought second-hand, and I enjoy them more because of it!! I understand your sentiments though, about everyone's collections, because there is a lot of shopping going on here on the PF, and it is hard not to want all of this beautiful stuff!!!!
 
#23
I have many ways of acquiring new bags. I'm only 21 and work full time and still live at home. Most of the time I try to save $50-$100 a week and put that aside for my "bag fund". I do charge the occasional bag or accessory. I save money because most of my clothes are from Old Navy or other mall stores. I bargain hunt on clothing and only pay full price if it's something that I love. I make a good living at my job and love what I do and the people that I work for and with(for the most part) I just bought a brand new car and that has slowed down the "bag fund" a little bit but if I really want something I always find a way to get it.
 
#24
Um, I'm 23 too btw. I'm law student, but I did get my first job ever that I started about 2 weeks ago.... Umm..... Anyhow, how do I afford my bags + shoes + clothes I usually get at NM? My dad... basically. After I'm by myself, I'm guessing I'll have to save to buy? :)

Btw, I agree with what I said above. Don't buy anything you cannot afford. For example, I don't think I would be able to buy a Hermes if I wanted to go shopping for other stuff, so I don't. Maybe some day I'll save up for it hehe
 
#25
I'm also 23. Just married. And I just bought my new Gucci bag. Well I have a lot of Dooney bags, but most of those I bought at an outlet store.(TJ Maxx) I don't buy bags every week, or every month. I saved up for my gucci bag. I already have an eye on my next purchase, but I know it won't be anytime soon. Maybe 6 months to a year. I'm not rich, but I know that where there is a will there is a way. And that counts for everything, not only handbags. I understand there will be times when I will not be able to even save up for a bag, but I'm ok with that. I don't envy what anyone has or doesn't have. I'm happy with what I have, even if its just something small!

P.S. TJ maxx is great! I get all my designer glasses (versace, gucci, D&G) for 30 dlls or less! With the case.I love it! :heart:
 
#26
Hi, I'm 23 as well:D

I'm still in college (finishing up at the end of this month) so I get a monthly allowance from my parents (exclusively for spending on going out and shopping) and than my dad gives me seperate money for gas, bills, and groceries. I probably get more than I should, but I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful parents and though some people call me spoiled, I'm not ashamed of my parents working hard and making it well, at a country they knew nothing about (I'm Korean).

I'm also a double major (web-programing & design and a technical writer) so I do a lot of private contract jobs, while I'm at school for "extra" money. If you're interested, the industry is in a high demand right now (of course it's also not designed for just "anyone" to do either). But every job I've had has paid a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $65 (I usually knock out these jobs within 4 to 5 days and make over $1000). For more of a "part time" job I also have my own fashion column for a local newpaper, which produces bi-weekly.

I can put aside $500 a week, into savings, and the rest I probably blow on useless stuff but I think it's because I still don't understand the value of money. When I offically graduate, at the end of this month, I'm thinking about saving more and spending less. I can't rely on daddy's money all the time or be fortunate to land all these fabulous paying contracts.:rolleyes:
 
#27
satine112 said:
i'm 23 :smile1:

I suppose for me, i just assume the majority married very well. and i, on the other hand, didn't. We are young, but not wealthy at all. We get by. We have a nice car and take nice yearly vacations, but i can't go out to buy LV all the time. Once a year is it. And i was bad and put my 2nd one on my cc. If i wanted more, i'd have to sacrifice, and not get clothes or something. sucks.

It's so funny, cause i THOUGHT we were doing ok (though we still rent...so, ok is relative) and then i come on message boards, not just this one, and everyone has so much.

I guess my sin is envy.
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Hi 23, you are very young and from what you said above, are very lucky.

I went through the same thing when I was 23. I have 5 older sisters who had jobs at the time and could afford really nice designer bags. At the time, I felt frustrated b/c I was slogging through grad school and really wanted those bags myself.

Well, fast forward ten years later. I have a great job running a hedge fund and am trying to finish my phd in poli sci and russian studies on the side. I can buy all those bags now. BUT even with my salary now, I still find it hard to buy a designer bag at full price and have NOT bought one single bag at the retail price. I just hate throwing money away - would rather invest it. Oh I also buy clothes on sale -- just hate paying full price.

So I would not fret. As the previous PFer said, it will come to you!

Good luck!
 
#29
Hi! I totally sympathise!

I live in Los Angeles and am SURROUNDED by blingy wealth - 18 yr old girls in head-to-toe Dior and a Chanel bag. A typical Saturday shopping day will guarantee me a designer handbag on the arm of every girl I see, who all seem to be younger than me (and I'm late 20s!), richer than me, and prettier than me. And though I have a few designer pieces myself, it drives me nuts! What more, many of these girls are actresses or heiresses and are probably given a lot of this stuff for free, even though they can afford it! There's no way I could keep up with these girls...

But then I don't really need to. Because I've had to budget and plan, I know the value of things and can appreciate my purchases because they're not frivolous. Likewise, there are things in life that can't be quantified... great friends, a home, loving family, good health... To me these things are the most important... and celebrities don't often have these things. Don't compare yourself to 'high flyers' because they don't even fly so high themselves. Likewise, you don't need tons of cash to have a great sense of style. Designers take their inspiration from 'the streets' - and often it's the hard-up hipster kids who run around South London in vintage shop finds that inspire Marc Jacobs' next collection. Take advantage of your youth to experiment and go crazy with your look!
 
#30
You can't assume that everyone is glamming it up in every aspect of their life. I haven't been on vacation in three years, I don't eat in expensive restaurants that often, I don't do the club thing, the car was paid for loooooooong ago, expensive designer clothes don't interest me in the least, and I don't have rent because I'm "working" as my father's caretaker and such.

Two of my bags were bought with an employee discount when I worked in a high-end handbag department, two more from a store card's initial discount, other accessories tend to be bought on sale, and when I go for jewelry, I usually hit the antique shows instead for a much better bargain. When I can get beautiful gold for under $100, why would I pay hundreds for a designer's costume stuff?

Maybe what makes it easier is that I'm not sold by the designer name. I don't want to be dripping in the stuff because after selling it, I know that much of it isn't worth the hype AND price. Just because something is "designer" doesn't mean it's good. Some of the junkiest items I've ever seen were by Chanel, Balenciaga has had quality issues, Leiber minaudieres can lose crystals like crazy, and I've seen plenty of expensive straps break.

IMO buy what you can afford, and if you want something that badly, save up.
 
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