Do you own these sorts of things?!

I have none of those things.
I don't like writing on my clothes, and I'd only buy designer stuff if it fitted what I actually want.

I'd rather spend the money on my car and good skincare!

With regard to handbags, it depends on what you mean by 'designer'. I regard designer handbags as the ones that come from fashion houses like Channel or Louis Vuitton.

However there are also mid range high street brands like Mulberry, Strathberry, Radley, Aspinal, Knomo etc that some people might regard as designer?

Not everyone spends money on designer stuff. It's what's at the core of your life, happiness etc. Being smart for work is the important thing I think.

I bought a Reiss coat when I stated my first job and was earning about 30k! However I bought it at an outlet so it wasn't full price, and I wore it every winter for years. Well worth the investment.

Since owning that, I never buy cheap coats because I can tell the difference in quality and fit. A decent coat is a good investment in this country. It's likely to be one of your most worn items!

Meh, it’s what’s important to some people. I used to think when I saw people with designer handbags and such that they must be really wealthy, but I have friends on ordinary salaries now (hairdressers etc) who spend all their disposable income on designer gear. One friend has a whole walk-in wardrobe full of it - shoes, jewellery, handbags. Apparently it can be quite a good investment if you take care of things and store them in the boxes… but honestly I think that’s just rationalising!

I daydream about fancy clothes and things sometimes, but then I think what else I could do with that money and I snap out of it!

Some people are like that with holidays. Ordinary folk off to the Maldives every year. If it makes you happy and isn’t hurting anyone, it’s all good.

I never have, but to be fair I totally understand that people might get true enjoyment from buying/owning/wearing

Good quality lasts but brands aren’t necessarily good quality. Many people buy them for the name regardless of them being lower quality than a non branded version

I wouldn't say Nike trainers are exactly a luxury. I buy decent quality trainers as I wear them all the time. They last me years. I wouldn't spend £1000's on designer clothes or bags but basic brands yes.

I don’t but DH is quite into names…. though he usually gets them in sales etc. he has several pairs of Nike Airs.

Kids aren’t too bothered (yet!) about brands though I’m sure that’ll change.

we are reasonably well earning but certainly not well off. Ie we can afford everything we need but not everything we want.

I don't overspend on stuff, but I've never spent £25 on trainers. I'd imagine the overwhelming majority of people spend more than that.

Well I prefer buying quality rather than junk. I am now married but previously had a similar salary and lived on my own. I rented a room in a house in London so it was much cheaper. But travel costs etc were higher. I still managed to save and also buy myself nice things. I shop on sale so bought a really nice Karen Millen coat for £105 which I initially saw priced at £395. I also bought myself Michael kors and coach handbags when they were on sale. And I always wear nice shoes, I use new balance for running and sketchers for regular walking. These things last well and are good value for money. The Karen Millen coat is 10 years old now but even last year someone asked me if it was brand new. Good quality lasts.

Perhaps they bought preloved from Vinted, EBay or similar?

They are probably shopping in the sale you can get some really good Reiss deals

Hi op,

yes I do buy expensive ish brands but only if also good « investments » so if they are going to last. I don’t buy the « last » stuff necessarily except when stuff need to be replaced…after years of good use.

For all the work basic stuff I go mid range so Joules/Boden etc… I guess it depends your age too…when I was younger I was buying other youngish brands.

Be wise with your money. Spending is the worse :)

Good luck 🌺👌🏼

I tend to buy designer things second hand if I want them, but most of my clothes are from Primark. I wear sketchers trainers and they tend to last me at least 2 years. The kids I will buy Nike trainers and backpacks etc but usually on sale and they last a good while.

I didn't think Nike Air were that expensive. I tend to buy them because they're really comfortable. I usually get them from Sports Direct and they last ages. I don't think I've ever spent more than £70 on a pair

I don’t buy designer stuff- I go for the kind of things that work for me. So I really like bamboo and merino clothes because they are comfortable and let my skin breathe. Not cheap, but they last.

Bags are usually rucksacks 😂.

Shoes are ones which support my feet and let me walk for miles and miles. Again, not cheap.

I spend quite a lot of money on travelling, but on a budget. I don’t really do fancy accommodation.

I suppose it all comes down to lifestyle.

I don't (not interested in it) but my 20 year old son has stuff like this, and he's only a full time student with a part time job. It all depends on what your spending priorities are. When it comes to trainers though I'd spend £100+ as I found my cheap ones to be really bad for my feet when I started running. I definitely don't buy them for the name though.

And we are home owners so it has nothing to do with that. We don't have kids though, so that's a massive drain on finances we don't have to worry about.

Everyone is in a different situation and plenty of people do have stuff like this. We both earn a decent income, about 250k, and are happily child free so we have more than enough disposable income. I don't like designer for the sake of it but I have loads of designer bags, shoes, clothes etc. and I have no qualms or guilt over buying them, why should I? I also give to a few animal charities monthly, we have nice cars and we go on nice holidays pretty regularly, about 4-5 times per year. What's the point of money if not to spend it?

People prioritise what they want to spend money on OP. For some it's holidays, others it's clothes and shoes. For some it's expensive handbags.

I also prioritise stuff that others would find weird. I could be a multi millionaire and I still wouldn't see the appeal of expensive handbags. They're things to hold your shit.

100k + here, dh likes branded stuff but im
not interested and buy a lot of my clothes in charity shops and will wear the same things for years and years. I’ve never had a designer bag. I don’t mind spending a couple hundred on boots but they’ll last me a long times

:( these posts make me feel shit. £60k isn't a good salary? Come on, the average person earns £30k. Very insensitive.

Have never found that. Those in my social circle that buy those things are all homeowners, as am I. They also aren’t ’big ticket items’, or purchase out of the ordinary. Nor are things like holidays sacrificed in order to have them 🤷🏻‍♀️