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

"You often find they value stuff like huge TV's too"

I thought we were over the time when huge TVs were considered common. Aren't they all huge now? And the old ones don't even work now so not sure how you'd use a small TV anyway.

Because people are interested in different things.
Is that too complicated to understand.

"I don't get why people want to spend £££s on a holiday abroad. Simply do not understand why all that money for a week or 2 and nothing to show for it."

Good weather and new experiences. It's educational (depending what exactly you do) so not true that you have nothing to show for it.
I don't really know why someone would not go abroad if they can afford it.

Couldn't agree more. Especially about Boden!!

Are you really so naive @Watersunscream? I can’t help thinking that this is just an attempt to be goady and disparaging about people who don’t think the way you do.

Anything, surely? My boss earns a lot more than me...

Yes, this is me to an extent as well. No interest in buying designer things, but also no interest in bringing sandwiches every day to save for a home deposit because the number of meal deals I'd have to give up is enormous.

No kids? Mortgage paid off? Vinted? I don’t know half of these brands but I rather buy a Barbour jacket or a nice designer handbag I wear for 10-15 years than something poor quality that I would bin in a year. Not very sustainable is it

I think people on the breadline have learned to be responsible with money too, but without the benefit of being able to think about the long term as a result.

YANBU. For some people it's the label that counts, as in being seen in that brand. They will save up to buy just that Tshirt while other brands are just as nice, more affordable and often of better quality. They claim that owning the right brands makes you belong to "the better classes" but I don't believe that. I know such a person and she's always uncomfortable - Is her bag fancy enough? Do her children look at least as poshly dressed as x, y and z's?

Ive always thought that there is a particular demographic that are very ‘brand focused’ lets say… I think the top band and the bottom band amongst us are equally brand obsessed / snooty about labels but only one of those groups would actually wear visible logos.. the other group are all about plain / low key brand details visible. I think that’s the trick of the marketing - to make it desirable even when really it’s unaffordable. I often think many things are actually unaffordable to most people - but people choose to spend their money on it rather than pension or savings etc. Even if you have a decent savings balance is something XXX£ really worth the monetary value.. probably not in truth

Lower earners get help from the government to make ends meet. High earners can do tax avoidance plus have enough money anyway. If you're in the middle and earning a decent wage you qualify for zilch and pay top whack for absolutely EVERYTHING. By default, middle earners tend to be worse off for the numbers of hours they work to income ratio.
I'm sure I'll get flamed for this comment but my some of my lower earner friends work half the hours I do but with their government help, actually take home way more! This isnt a benefits bashing post but it makes you question if its worth busting your arse?

@Ileithyia That statement alone has echoes of ‘everyone has the same 24hrs in a day’ and “if you want to earn more, get a better job”.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/B-zBfU6aP54

Following on from this point, poorer people are what the better off deem "irresponsible" because they know they can never have the 5 bed luxury home, bucket list type holiday every year, private school for the kids etc. Even any home of their own is unlikely in the current climate and system. It's just not affordable ever. So you can do without and save up bit by bit until you have £6k and then start getting any help withdrawn. Or you can accept that expensive items and experiences are just not for you and go for the little (relatively) wins instead. Saving say £100 for a track suit is feasible. Saving £20k for a house deposit is not.

“Many higher earners have learned to be responsible with money and think about the long term.“

Where as those low income scallywags just squander their poverty wages and benefits on flashy crap, living only for the moment with no thought to being responsible…..

What you don’t understand @Ponderingwindow, is that when you earn just enough to survive, with maybe £30 a month for extras, saving is an indulgence. And, if you’re only able to save £10-£20 a month you actually don’t accrue a nest egg to maintain you in your old age. You might just be able to get a small buffer to cover car repairs or a new washing machine. To save effectively you need to be able to squirrel away hundreds a month, maybe more. Higher earners can be ‘responsible’ and think longer term because they have much more to work with. That statement alone has echoes of ‘everyone has the same 24hrs in a day’ and “if you want to earn more, get a better job”. Both are statements rooted in privilege and ignorance.

To answer your question @Watersunscream, knock-offs, loans/credit, vinted etc.

It would seem like OP thinks they’re not allowed, no.
Nothing but Primark for the plebs!

Vinted Hacoo fakes etc , not sure why it bothers you though

Is this a misguided attempt to gain status? An insecurity thing?

Yes that's exactly what it is. It has always been thus.

But then there would be no fun sneering at people who do things differently to you, or in pointing out how morally superior you are in your supermarket basics.

The side of our family that lives on council estate wear all the high fashion from their holidays in Turkey. You can’t tell the difference apart from when you’re looking at the owner

Here's a novel thought, how about not wondering how or why people you percieve as being in some way lesser than you spend their money. We all have different levels of income, different choices and different priorities.

The phenomenon is well documented. A Google search will provide you with a solid foundation to gather some perspectives. Or you could go up to these ‘low earners’ and ask them. Actually don’t.

Often the wealthiest people have the rattiest, threadbare carpets , old cars , battered handbags because they have nothing to prove and know it’s more important what’s in a purse than what brand it is. Unfortunately certain working class hero’s have made oodles of money linking ability and success to particular brands - so it becomes a status symbol for those with the least money. Usually fakes bought online or “ off the back of a lorry” ; or tk maxx/ Vinted. The pressure for children from poor families to have “ the right brands” at school is enormous.

Classic example of today's society, you
Wanting to go on the offensive rather than actually use basic comprehensive skills

I they’ve got to offload their drugs money somehow I guess!