How and why do people who aren’t actually well off pay for this stuff?

Because they want to and its ultimately no one else's business how they spend their money. My BIL and SIL have to have the latest iPhone. I still have my 4 yr old android phone. I am not interested but it makes them happy, its their money, its none of my business.

So, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this, because we’re financially in a better position than most, but don’t get Ubers and designer stuff and whatever, whereas a lot of our kids’ friends have much less, but their families do spend on these things.

My conclusion, after quite a lot of thought, is that everyone wants some joy in their lives. Houses, cars and holidays are too much of a stretch, but many people have enough, or can stretch enough, to have a few nice things (in the few hundred pounds bracket, as opposed to a few thousand), and so that’s what they do.

What they then don’t have is money in the bank, or their own house, or a new car.

However, they’ve got something they like and feel good about it. Life can be hard and depressing at times, so why not? Can’t expect people to endlessly grind along and only do sensible and affordable things

There is no real rational other than it is an attempt to look richer than they are or to fit in? The rich plan for three generations , the poor plan for the weekend.

the problem also is they need different products to sell to different wage bands, eg you dont usally get a millionaire getting co op own brand tea bags etc

so instead they would have eg £150 for 240 tea bags of some fancy company

In our house, its grandparents who buy the stupid expensive for no reason things

Otherwise the kids wouldn’t have them

because basically nike is like hyachet bucket would wear as an example to seem posh and keeping up with the jones,

the reason why many would not wear tu / sainsburys is because its seen as cheap and no status attached, to it, so why would anyone wear it etc unless somehow someone made sainsburys the next nike etc then its just seen as cheap

Status projection matter more, the less you have. I think that's it 😄

People watching is my thing, so I spot them all, and that's why I mentioned regular school days too. Even the ones in jeans and tops do not look poor. Not even the homeless looking ones do.

And based on the OP's and others' description of how people without money dress; they do not 'look like everyone else'. They're not branded and they do not stand out; but you have a fair enough idea that they're not low income.

What do you mean? How do you know how much they earn and whether they’re living beyond their means? Odd post.

It's a simple sociological thing. If you're middle class, well off etc. I assume you don't care if your child has hand me downs, you might even shop in charity shops (I do), and you are not concerned with the labels of your clothes. Less well off people, and indeed "new money" (apologies for the term) do not want to appear down at heel and the designer items define their status as "not poor".

The children at my school all come back with stuff from Turkey. One boy was very excited to show me his £5 Nikes. But it's obviously deeper than that alot of these children are desperately trying to fit in, and often relate being able to have branded items to their self worth. Especially when they don't have a lot else.

If you really want to blow your mind Google playing the Hermes game. (Mostly in America but the stores in Europe do it too)

It already costs something like $20,000 to buy one of the famous name Hermes handbags like the Birkin or the Kelly.

So that’s a crazy amount for a bag to start with but to promote exclusivity (and boost sales of other stuff) you aren’t allowed to simply walk into a store and buy one.

You have to spend months building up a relationship with a 1-1 sales associate - buying all sorts of other Hermes products - once you’ve spent thousands showing you are a serious customer then they bring out a bag for you to consider buying - you often don’t get any choice in the colour or metal trimmings.

Probably because some builders earn a lot of money, far more than a lot of white collar jobs

I agree, wealthy people don’t have any pressure to look wealthy. They know they’re wealthy so it doesn’t matter what other people think. ££££s give you confidence. Whereas a poor person would hate people to look at them and think they’re not wealthy, because it’s true.

Even my ExH who mostly dressed like a homeless person (worked in tech from home) knew to wear clean jeans for speech day.

seriously, if you are spotting the millionaires because they are wearing diamonds and carrying expensive handbags (this is presumably the women?) then obviously you won’t spot the ones in jeans and a top.

my dc’s school had loads of parents in tech or biotech and they looked just like everyone else.

My pupils buy fakes or rob people to get these clothes - yes its instant quick status

i can gain status from my job / position and feel good about myself a few different ways such as achievements hobbies and community roles

if you are on low income/ benefits and can not boost your self esteem in any of these ways then whacking on a track suit that everyone knows is worth ££££ is a quick and powerful way to make you feel like billy big bollocks as you walk down to the pub

How do you know what they earn?

Yes. It’s a bit daft. You could buy a 10k car on a credit card and UC don’t need to know anything about it, but any amount of money over £6k in your bank account has to be declared, even if it’s just in there minutes.

When I was very young my dad had a large cash income and we all had great stuff… lived in a council house but we were all kitted out. A lot of the time it’s because they have a lot of cash but don’t have more than £12,000 yearly going in the bank.

Not saying it’s right but in my experience this is the answer to your question from a former povo.

Who are you to police what other people purchase?

And why do you care?

Concentrate on your own life. 🙄

Another one of those how can other people that are poorer than me afford to buy things, mocking and nasty.

Is this true?

I was at Speech Day yesterday and the millionaires looked wealthy - sparkly diamonds, beautiful pearls and gold, expensive handbags etc.

On a regular day, I can easily count thousands of pounds in quarter zips and such; and stupid money in car value.

The clothes may not have brand names plastered across them, but they're not walking around looking poor either.

Sales. 😂

What I’ve noticed is builders living way beyond their means. They seem to have the money to buy all kinds of things. I assume they can borrow a lot…

My son wanted a nike tech fleece hoodie
£70!!!!

Got him one on vinted for £13