Net worth or income needed to justify a designer bag purchase

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My income is $300,000 and NW is about $4 M. I’m nearing retirement but not ready yet. I would like to buy a $3000-$4000 bag. I have a few other bags and designer item but nothing that expensive, and usually don’t buy high end stuff. I would not say I NEED this bag at all but I would like it. I can’t seem to find a less expensive alternative bag that is not a $100 Chinese fake of some sorts. The middle level designers don’t have something quite what I’m looking for.

How do you justify buying something this expensive?

Your primate brain knows that your lizard brain desire for the bag is wrong, and you won't be happier having bought it. Maybe you're subconsciously embarrassed about the image it puts out of you as a superficial status-chaser. It's moments like these when you decide who you really are. It's a little bit of self-discovery and a little bit exercise of free will, as the angels and devils of your nature struggle for control.

+1

[Anonymous]

It’s called cost per wear. You’ll get a lot of mileage buying a bag you love and using all the time than these $450 sweaters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s called cost per wear. You’ll get a lot of mileage buying a bag you love and using all the time than these $450 sweaters.

Great point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s justified when I send a link to DH and it ends up in my closet.

Side track…this never works for me. My DH has the money, he knows that buying me gifts is my love language yet I send him links of things I like and he never buys them. I know he loves me and wants me to be happy, but he never does this. I have to buy everything myself.


Op, just buy it. But first, reply with a link so we can give better advice.

Four page later, OP still has not responded.

OP here. I don’t think the bag itself is relevant to the discussion, but it’s a basic designer bag. I appreciate all the opinions. I need to talk to DH before buying anything like this. He would not be very supportive of a big expense, but has told me I can buy ‘whatever I want’. We do not exchange expensive presents and our expenses are near our income so there’s not much left but I don’t really know the details of our budget as he handles the finances (he is a SAHD) since I’m busy working.

It's relevant, boo. You should let us know since we all here having a discussion and multiple people are asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Your primate brain knows that your lizard brain desire for the bag is wrong, and you won't be happier having bought it. Maybe you're subconsciously embarrassed about the image it puts out of you as a superficial status-chaser. It's moments like these when you decide who you really are. It's a little bit of self-discovery and a little bit exercise of free will, as the angels and devils of your nature struggle for control.

This is exactly it. It's an existential problem. Who are you? Are you a person who carries a $3K bag? My net worth is higher than yours, and I am not a person who carries a $3k bag. But I am a person who spends $600 on a Bottega bag from the Real Real, because I like the quiet luxury and classic quality. This is why I don't have breast implants. Because I don't want to be (or rather I am NOT) the person with breast implants.

I think this primate brain/lizard brain dichotomy is false. Your primate brain has been conditioned to believe that buying a $4K+ designer bag is "wrong" because it's "wasteful" and "bad" to spend a lot of money on something "trivial."

Okay - have you ever been on vacation and spent more than 4K? I sure have. There's tons of people who share their budgets on DCUM stating that they spend 50K+ on travel because they "value" it and no one bats an eye. But if one person said they bought 5 Chanel flaps that year, because they "value" luxury, people will go insane.

The only difference is that that society has conditioned us to believe it's "wasteful" to spend too much money on a bag, but it's "good" to value "experiences" [as if wearing something you love isn't an experience].

Ultimately, OP, you're entering the final phase of your life [retirement, not that you're going to die], and you want to own a designer handbag. If you don't ever own a designer handbag in your entire life, would you be happy?

For me, the answer was no. I wanted to be someone who had a designer bag. And I realized that the sooner I buy a bag, the longer I get to identify as someone with a designer bag. As long as I take good care of my bag, it will last and I will get a lifetime of opportunity of wearing it. Thus, I purchased one over the holidays and I have no regrets. As I was buying it, I definitely thought to myself, wow this is so much money. But honestly, I have had zero regrets since owning it. Only excitement!

Have fun OP picking out your new bag!

[Anonymous]

OP here - I am considering a couple similar options.

https://www.gucci.com/us/en/pr/women/handbags/shoulder-bags-for-women/gucci-blondie-small-top-handle-bag-p-815714AAEC21000

https://www.gucci.com/us/en/pr/women/handbags/shoulder-bags-for-women/gucci-horsebit-1955-soft-small-top-handle-bag-p-815206AAEFH1000

Not sure on the color but possibly the red. I love the top handle and long strap options. I think these would work for many evening events for me.

[Anonymous]

You have our blessing OP. Just buy whatever you like!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have our blessing OP. Just buy whatever you like!

Since I posted the bags for all the boos, I hope I get a few more opinions, so bumping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I am considering a couple similar options.

https://www.gucci.com/us/en/pr/women/handbags/shoulder-bags-for-women/gucci-blondie-small-top-handle-bag-p-815714AAEC21000

https://www.gucci.com/us/en/pr/women/handbags/shoulder-bags-for-women/gucci-horsebit-1955-soft-small-top-handle-bag-p-815206AAEFH1000

Not sure on the color but possibly the red. I love the top handle and long strap options. I think these would work for many evening events for me.

Whatever you do, go see it in person. And try on all the bags in a similar style to make sure it's what you really want.

[Anonymous]

I love the first one. Very understand Gucci, if that’s a thing! Lol. I’m tired of the gucci horsebit. I would definitely get my initials added too unless it’s super expensive to do that. Go for it. YOLO!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the first one. Very understand Gucci, if that’s a thing! Lol. I’m tired of the gucci horsebit. I would definitely get my initials added too unless it’s super expensive to do that. Go for it. YOLO!

Understated (not understand). The shape of the first one is much better too. The 2nd is kind of oddly wide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s called cost per wear. You’ll get a lot of mileage buying a bag you love and using all the time than these $450 sweaters.

.+1 I justify high/overpriced jewelry similarly. Cost per wear.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for purse 1 for the reasons PP stated.

[Anonymous]

Just buy it since you can afford it or if you feel guilty over the price try to find it lightly used on posh mark or the real real

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s justified when I send a link to DH and it ends up in my closet.

Side track…this never works for me. My DH has the money, he knows that buying me gifts is my love language yet I send him links of things I like and he never buys them. I know he loves me and wants me to be happy, but he never does this. I have to buy everything myself.


Op, just buy it. But first, reply with a link so we can give better advice.

Four page later, OP still has not responded.

I know right. We wanna’ know