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

Ok.
I don't quite understand what you meant by your reply but never mind.
🙂

This is very true!!

here an interesting article about why:
www.forbes.com/sites/peterubel/2017/02/28/do-luxury-brands-benefit-from-income-inequality/

Because I was answering someone else's post with the same kind of phrase!

The converse is true in that very wealthy people often dress in a scruffy manner as they don’t have the need to look rich - they are rich!!

It’s probably a case of priority - they might not spend money on things like extra curricular for kids, putting money into pension fund, having savings.

Then you are very lucky to be in that position, I bet all your basic needs, roof, food, utilities , transport,maybe holidays, are all covered before savings,much poorer folks simply don't have that option and are trying to enjoy life now whilst they can, their way. Poor person here who can't even manage one treat a year lol ( and my idea of a dopamine hit is buying a small piece of steak for my birthday, not even been able to do that past couple years!)

Klarna

This 👆🏻 why are you concerned about why people less well off than you are buying expensive brands or not? I mean Honestly - how is that any business of yours?

i’ll never understand why people feel the need to tell everybody that they’re in the top percent of earners in the country, yet here we are.

I have to say, using the Spencer girls as an example of going the other way is quite something. Unlike others in the family, they’re (not all) models and it comes with the territory. They’ll have access to stuff that others don’t, even in the fashion world.

My feeling is a lot of those girls end up doing the Bezos thing not Spencer.

You said...
"I don't really know why someone would not go abroad if they can afford it"
So if you know people like different things why would you say "I don't really know" ?

They have been brainwashed into thinking they have to have this stuff.

As others have said, people have different priorities. I won’t go on holiday unless it’s 5*. When I used to fly long haul, it was business class. I’m not prepared to be uncomfortable. That said, I don’t drink, smoke, eat out, buy take aways or buy designer clothes.

Not all is fake
I know of a person who spends that type of money on their 13 year old son
bundles of gifts for Xmas and birthdays ect all branded always big brands.
her son wants more and more and the requests are getting out of hand tbh, she’s promised him 600 for his birthday
she also has about 10,000 worth of debt (she’s told me) and she’s on universal credit now after loosing her job recently she’s now worried about paying it all back and she still has a child that wants more.

also I do think these brands aim these items at people that have a bit less money that want people to think they have more iykwim

It's possible to buy really well made unbranded clothing. Label doesn't guarantee the best quality.

Im kind of sick of these threads where high earners just cant understand how the poor people live.

What? I was answering someone else's point! Of course I know that different people like different things.

I don’t understand it, I buy everything from Vinted/supermarkets, but then I get lots of Ubers (can’t afford to learn to drive) and I’m sure many people wearing those designer labels would wonder how/why I spend my money on that when I could walk or catch the bus and save for lessons/car/insurance. Best not to judge how others spend their money and just be thankful if you’re comfortable

I have always noticed that I buy lottery tickets when I’m feeling unhappy at work.

I find it interesting how many women in benefits spend in having their nails done, fake lashes, hair extensions and the like. These regular expenses can amount to 1000s a year. I simply cannot allow myself to spend that amount of money without having to rely on credit that could easily get out of control. Same goes for cigarettes and takeaways.

I wouldn’t blame people experiencing hardship wasting their money in gambling, I have never felt more tempted to buy lottery tickets than when I had gone through a bad patch. It just seemed like the only way out…

Some people prioritise things like clothing, cars and holidays over mortgages, pensions and savings. Where I live nearly everyone deals in cash, presumably to avoid higher tax brackets... I don't think you can do much about it except just keep on being sensible and have the last laugh when you're retiring in a more comfortable position than they will.

Of course is worth it busting your arse. The country cannot afford paying benefits at the current rate for long, especially with the threat of war being more present. They need to get the money for the defence budget from somewhere and they are already saying that it will be from “getting more people into work”, which translates into “sorry but your benefits helps is being reduced by x percent unless you do x, y or z.

Trying to find a job in this climate would prove that staying fully employed was the best decision you could make.

I'd rather not have to agree with this, as it makes me sad, but yeah - total nonsense that millionaires "don't look wealthy." I think about my wealthy mil, compared to many of the women her age from my home community, and the difference between poverty and wealth is so visible in their bodies and faces as well as their clothes. Teeth, hair, weight, even the stress is visible I think. And that's before we even get to the pearls and quarter zips.

I feel like this too. I’m utterly baffled. I earn about £100k, give or take depending on bonus, and I drive a 2013 Ford Focus, holiday usually in the UK, and own no designer clothes. And yet people I know earn way less than me have new cars, holidays abroad, flashy clothes etc.. Do we have a whole nation of people getting into masses of consumer debt and vehicle payments? What am I missing?

Hahahaha, I didn't want to be the one to say it, and could never have put it so beautifully. @Watersunscream I'm afraid she's right - it may shock you, but some of these tracksuits may be short of the paperwork.