Do you own these sorts of things?!

@featherrr Im retired. DH earned a lot, DD now earns a lot. I have a Chanel bag and so does DD. Mine cost £2,200. They are now £5000 plus second hand on Vestiaire. Much more new. Yes. I love it. Ive always loved fashion and both Dads do too, That doesn’t mean we don’t like other activities!

I don’t think £300 is a lot for a coat - it’s high street prices. Buying a classic coat (I have a Max Mara wrap cost) lasts forever. As I’m older I’ve got many items bought over many decades. So handbags and jewellery were my favourite items. Not buying so much now and we like travel and cars! Jewellery still interests me. All sorts of things and activities interest us. Plus I’m very aware I’m lucky,

However DH ran a business that employed many and was very successful but that comes with stress too. Lots of people depended on dh for their mortgages.

I wouldn't buy any of those things regardless of salary. I have no interest in handbags or trainers. I have some designer clothes (not Reiss) because I liked the item and it was good quality but they were all Vinted bargains.

I spend loads of money on theatre and cooking stuff though!

Designer clothes don’t interest me, so no. My wealthy friend gets swept up in what’s fashionable for rich people to own and he’s bought some utterly hideous items imo. The Tod’s loafers at £500 a pop were especially repulsive.

i spend loads on holidays though, each to their own.

I think the issue is that salary doesn’t necessarily tell you much about what disposable income someone has. Do your colleagues have partners earning too? Children? Rent or own a house? Share housing costs with flatmates/partner? Do they have children? Debts?

Your rent is around half your salary which is pretty high. e.g. I earn a similar amount but share a £1000 mortgage (lucky to get gifted a deposit) with my partner who’s also on a similar salary. I could afford the items you mentioned but tend to spend disposable income on holidays

Would you like to be able to spend more on clothes or were you just curious? Is there any way you can lower your housing costs to have a bit more disposable income (to spend on clothes or otherwise!)

No. I don't do "stuff" really. I spend a lot of money on travelling though.

i have a senreve backpack which cost over £600 (gift from my DH). Dh also once bought me a longchamp leather handbag years ago which was around £250 in the sale

We earn £121k combined but at that time was earning £80k combined with a £1020 mortgage (now increased to £1282). We bought it just after the pandemic and we had saved a lot of money.

I don't own anything else expensive though

I'm comfortable but don't buy fancy stuff because I have little interest in 'stuff' fancy or otherwise.

i was going to say similar. I own a 5,000 sewing machine (didn't pay that!), my laptop cost more than that and you do not want to know what I spend on plants for my garden but I don't do high end fashion.

I'm comfortable financially but I don't buy those things. I would if I wanted them but I don't.

I buy nice clothes from expensive designers that I love and that last a long time and make me feel confident BUT I buy them second hand on vinted!

I have a couple of designer bags, but 100ish ones bought in sales, not super expensive - I also just ordered a made to measure leather jacket for 300 but that'll last me for years. These aren't frequent purchases though

On Mumsnet there is often bewilderment that people spend different amounts of money on things, and that people like to use their disposable income on stuff of their choice, whether that is holidays, experiences, cars or clothes etc. And there is a splash of inverse snobbery sometimes thrown in!

Just buy what you like and ignore the opinions of others. It doesn’t matter.

I don't have anything expensive at all and buy all clothes and almost all shoes secondhand, have done for many years. But our household income is under 50k and anything spare goes on the kids, maintaining two old but reliable Skodas, or very slowly renovating the house.

I do feel a bit sad that I never had that spending power even pre kids, but was in a poorly paid entry level job after uni then went self employed and worked for now ex h's business for many years.

No interest in designer handbags but as I've got older I do spend more on clothes and shoes/ runners. They last and some quality general everyday items such as coats/ jumpers/ shirts etc can last year's. Fast fashion isn't sustainable. I would rather spend £200 on a decent coat than £50 on one I've to replace every year. There is a massive difference in quality

Vinted is your friend here!

I have a designer handbag that cost £1400, I love it use it every day and it's big enough to cart stuff around for the kids.

I don't have the other stuff, designer trainers seem to make my feet look 10 times bigger but I have been eyeing up the NB ones but again, they look huge so I doubt I'd like them on me.

I'm happy enough with my handbag

Yes to trainers - but biggest soend was £146 - sports equipment
No to designer bags/clothes
My most expensive outfits are Sweaty Betty including jumpers and raincoat.

I'm poor 😂 and even I've got a decent coat and a (2!) pairs of air max!
25quid trainers don't last long.

I don’t own designer bags and don’t even know what a Reiss coat is. I do have a couple of pairs of Nike air trainers but they were only £60-£80 in the sale which I don’t think is unreasonable for trainers. I earn just shy of £40k.

I earn more than that at the moment, but still had designer bags when at a lower salary. Often bought at outlets but a few full retail. They are my indulgence and I enjoy them.

I don't spend money on hair/nails/botox and a Reiss coat wouldn't go near me. If I were slimmer I might spend on fancy brands but I'm not that fussed. When I was younger I was obsessed with having the right jeans etc but changed as I got older/fatter.

I don't have kids, which are a far bigger expense. I expect I've spent less on all my bags than a years worth of nursery fees.

/companies

I do shop with functionality at the top of my list though so yes it may be a designer bag but it’s a leather backpack with loads of pockets that can be wiped and polished to maintain it - I don’t follow fashion I just buy useful things that serve a purpose

I'm happy to spend a lot on the things I value, like good outdoor gear etc. (because I know it will last, and I'm more like to get out and about if I have decent kit). I couldn't care less about designer labels though, so I don't buy those things.

I tend to keep a small wardrobe, and to wear things that I love to death, so even if I buy something high end high street, I usually get my money's worth. I also buy things from company's that I know and like on Vinted.

I think Buy cheap, buy twice is often true, so I like to consider purchases carefully.

Nike trainers have never fit me well, so I don't buy them. I wear Brooks for running/sport - but that was because they were the ones that fitted me properly. For work, I wear Skechers (I'm a nurse) but am very tempted by the Birkenstock clog style shoes. A good quality and comfortable pair of shoes is really important to me for work! If they're on sale, then even better!

I don't have designer handbags, but did get a lovely one from a charity shop years ago, that would have had an RRP of around £500. I use that for "formal/best". My everyday bag is a Kipling one that I got from Ebay. I was looking to buy a new bag (my old one was broken) and one of my patients had one that was years old and still in perfect condition. She recommended it.

I don't buy designer labels/brands because of the name, but whether they will last/are functional and are good quality (all of my family are the same there - and they all earn many times more than me!). Having said that, my SIL has a BEAUTIFUL pair of Jimmy Choo shoes (they were a present from my brother) and I'd love a pair like that (even though I can't walk in heels and would hardly wear them). Would I pay hundreds for them? No, I will stick to my Birkenstocks/flats, but they do look beautiful!!

I have bought myself an ebike, a thermomix and robovac - but I use them all a lot :) I think it is horses for courses isn't it?

I guess it's buy cheap buy twice.