To have just spent £135 on a bag?

[FlyHighLittleBee]

I'm always buying cheap handbags (primark) that break within a few months, due to lugging around my laptop and books. My old one has just broke, so went to buy a new one for uni when I fell in love with a moschino bag from ASOS - £135 I couldn't resist. I've never bought an item of clothing/ accessory that costs anywhere near that. I'm not well off by a long stretch of the imagination, but I've got a new job and my wages/ tax credits will pay for my rent, bills and food. The money I get from uni will pay for savings, stuff for DD, days out, Christmas, unexpected outgoings etc. DDs dad pays her nursery fees.

I deserve a treat, I think. I've broken up with her (EA) dad in the past few months, which has been really shit - but took a crazy amount of strength to first do it, and then stick to it. I got one of the top 50 grades out of 20000 students in my first year at uni, so will receive an extra £1000 scholarship this year. I've just managed to become a samaritans volunteers after a gruelling selection process, which will stand me in good stead for my dream career alongside my job in a psychiatric hospital. I don't get many congratulations from family and friends, but I feel really bloody proud of myself at present, especially since I was made homeless at age 16 (6 years ago), and developed severe mental health/ substance abuse issues. It took a good few years to get better.

I don't go out as her dad won't have her at the weekends, so my social life is non existent (but a great way to save money - silver linings ). I cook from scratch to save money (mostly) and try to walk everywhere to save money on public transport.

My DD wants for nothing. Me and her dad spent £200 each last month to buy her a new wardrobe for the colder weather in the next size up, and lots of new toys as she was really bored of her baby ones (she's 16mo now). So why do I feel so bloody guilty?! I keep thinking of other, more important things I could spend the money on, or that I should really save it. Plus I get a little bit of tax credits every month, which I know a lot of people despise on here. Should I really be spending so much on a bag when some people receive no benefits and are struggling to do their shopping every week?

Argh. Should I just cancel my order? I'm feeling so anxious and guilty about it that I don't think it's worth it.

[SingingSands]

This bag is your reward, for all the things you've listed above. Use it, and feel proud of yourself every time you do.
Bloody well done OP, you sound like a hard worker and a sensible woman. Now enjoy the bag!

[kilmuir]

You don't need to justify it, enjoy. And I have never had guts to spend more than £30 on a bag

[Pixilicious]

Nope

[PurpleDaisies]

You're only unreasonably in not posting a picture!

[Elliemayclampett]

Keep the bag. You deserve it.

[JellyBelli]

Stop justifying it! You're a grown adult, its your money.

[SabineUndine]

No, I've spent more. A good bag lasts me about five years, so it's an investment.

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Errrr... Link!

(YANBU but I want to see it!)

[TopangaD]

Stop feeling guilty or trying to justify it.. enjoy when it arrives x

[SaggyNaggy]

Everyone deserves treats, what is life without them?
My general rule of thumb is as long as you don't have to sacrifice necessity to afford unnecessary then non justification needed.

Plus.... Its a bag, its £135, it will hopefully last far longer than a £30 one so in the long run you've saved money.

[TheGoodEnoughWife]

You will get lots of use from the bag so stop justifying it! The only need thing you should have done is put up a link or a pic ;-)

[Blondieblondie]

Enjoy the bag, OP. You deserve it, and hopefully it's a little bit of incentive, showing you the nice things you can treat yourself too once you've finished studying and achieved your dream job. Well done for getting this far. Keep it up!

[Onenerfwarfrombreakdown]

I bet in "pence per use" it will work out a lot more economical in the long run as it will last much, much longer than constantly replacing cheap bags!

"Buy cheap, buy thrice" is a saying for a reason (well, it is where I come from).

You deserve it. Use it every day with joy. You do not need to justify this to us, or you. Be proud of all you have achieved.

[Mooey89]

YANBU. But you need to show us.

[FelixFelix]

Really want to see the bag!

[gunsandbanjos]

You don't need to justify it if you can afford it.

I'm of the mindset that I'd rather by one decent thing that lasted ages and looked great than a cheaper version that fell to bits and looked rubbish.

I do like a handbag, I will confess to a modest Mulberry collection.

[needsahalo]

You deserve it. A treat one in a while does you good. On a handbag note, I always bought cheap ones till one day I fell for a Radley bag. I still have it, 5 years later and it is in good condition. It is always choc-full. I now but one decent bag a year and am building a small collection. I save for it by rounding up to the nearest £5 in the supermarket and putting it on a gift card. I then use that to pay for shopping when I buy a new bag!

[FlyHighLittleBee]

Oh I thought you would all slaughter me. Sat here for 10 minutes thinking about posting it as I wasn't sure if I could take the firm YABU response after a nightmare day with my little DD who has suddenly turned into the most adorable whiny whingy little devil, who hates food, sleep and pretty much anything that doesn't pose a risk to her

But she's gone off to her dads so I'm enjoying a glass bottle of prosecco, reading your comments and now looking forward to my new bag. I still feel guilty. But you guys are right. What's life without a treat every now and then!?

And sorry if I sound pathetic trying to justify it to myself. I still struggle with anxiety and sometimes worry a disproportionate amount. But you've all made me feel a ton better already and thanks for the lovely comments. You don't know what they mean

Picture included. I hate the scarf thingy by the way. But it's detachable, thank god. I'll give it to DD to play with I don't know why I love it so much, but I do. It's perfect. Big enough for my mountain of stuff. And it's my favourite colour

[FlyHighLittleBee]

Oh I thought you would all slaughter me. Sat here for 10 minutes thinking about posting it as I wasn't sure if I could take the firm YABU response after a nightmare day with my little DD who has suddenly turned into the most adorable whiny whingy little devil, who hates food, sleep and pretty much anything that doesn't pose a risk to her

But she's gone off to her dads so I'm enjoying a glass bottle of prosecco, reading your comments and now looking forward to my new bag. I still feel guilty. But you guys are right. What's life without a treat every now and then!?

And sorry if I sound pathetic trying to justify it to myself. I still struggle with anxiety and sometimes worry a disproportionate amount. But you've all made me feel a ton better already and thanks for the lovely comments. You don't know what they mean

Picture included. I hate the scarf thingy by the way. But it's detachable, thank god. I'll give it to DD to play with I don't know why I love it so much, but I do. It's perfect. Big enough for my mountain of stuff. And it's my favourite colour

[MissLadyM]

Shit! I've just looked and fallen in love with one for £115!

[PurpleDaisies]

That's a lovely bag. I love the colour.

[MissLadyM]

ps - enjoy your bag and prosecco - you deserve them!!! and you could maybe sell the scarf on Ebay? x

[TheLastHeatwave]

Congratulations!! So many great things, but especially for leaving your EA partner. That takes real courage, especially so young & with a baby/toddler. You're doing exceptionally well for anyone top 50/2000 but especially for someone with your background💐

I'm sorry you don't have people telling you this in person.

£135 on a sensible bag is fine. I don't spend much on bags as I usually buy them at TK MAX. or when I see one I like at a French market or something. They're usually about £35 because I can't be done with fussing over them. But if I saw the perfect bag for £135 I'd buy it. Some people on here spend thousands on designer bags - I seriously don't get that, but each to their own 😁

It's a very practical treat that you definitely deserve. It's not like you're starving DD to pay for it, so just enjoy it! 😊

[Stevefromstevenage]

I love it. That is all expect congratulations for being you, you sound awesome.

[MalbecAndLindt]

Definitely NBU. Sounds like you deserve it to be honest. Enjoy your new bag!

I live handbags and have several Guess ones (similar price range), some of which I've had for years and still going strong so well worth the money for me.