To not understand peoples' obsession with expensive handbags?

[GMajor7DeadlySins]

Gonna get roasted for this, but I honestly don't get it.

I've seen a few threads on here lately where people have openly admitted to possessing several designer bags costing many hundreds of pounds! Why?

I have ONE handbag. It is in a neutral colour so goes with everything. It's only there to conveniently transport my general effects - hairbrush, phone, purse etc. Why the need for 15 of the damn things!

I thought we were in a recession FFS! Please enlighten me as to how one affords to even think of spending in excess of 500 quid on a bag. Madness!

I don't get it either. Every bag I own has been a present. I just don't understand the obsession!

YANBU. Not sure what makes a 500 pound bag more effective at carrying my purse than a 30 pound one.

Me either, or shoes

I would rather have a new carpet

(not to carry around you understand)

I guess you're poor then. Enjoy your frugal life.

If you can afford it, then why not?

When you say things like "openly admitted " it makes it sound so shameful that someone should buy something beautiful and expensive

I have some expensive bags - they were bought when I could afford it and I love them

It may seem distasteful but I don't see boastful threads about it

YANBU... I own a few different ones so that I can mix/match with outfits and also de-crappify them every so often. But the most I've ever spent is about £80 on a leather one from M&S. And I had to think twice before I did that!

Mind you, I never got the whole 'designer' thing anyway. Why spend extra just to advertise someone's brand on your jacket/jeans/shoes? Hopefully, the 'age of austerity' will shake us out of the sillier excesses.

Expensive handbags look euqally as good on a model or on you - I guess that helps. You don't have to be the right size or shape to carry one.

The most I have spent on a handbag is probably £40, but if you have £500 and nothing else you'd rather do then why not? Some people spend money on all sorts of things that I wouldn't enjoy.

Yes Trillian - it is like maybe buying designer shoes or perfume ...

Does anyone think that some people buy the £500 handbag because of the price-tag rather than for how they look? Maybe I'm in a minority but I look at something described as 'this season's must have' in a magazine and I really struggle to see why.

Exactly ruby. I've not seen, and certainly wouldn't join in with 'my handbag is more expensive than yours' thread, but I have a few. Have bought each one when I got a bew job, with subsequent payrise, as a treat. They last for a very long time, and don't fray / look tatty after a year or two like cheap ones.

Fair enough if you don't want one but there's no need to be sniffy about people who do.

Behave yourself Privet. Reasonably price handbag does not necessarily equal poor.

Actually ruby I think may people would be a little embarrassed to admit to such self indulgence.

Your bag sounds lovely, Riven! I like sparkly things too, there is nothing wrong with a bit of razzmatazz.

I love designer bags and own several. What I chose to spend my money on is down to me, really. I have plenty of jewellery and I see my bags as an equally luxurious treat. I enjoy wearing them and they add a certain zing to even the most simple and inexpensive outfit. Not sure yet which bag I will take out today.....

My handbag costed me £9 a few weeks ago but I still think YAB a bit U. I think probably they buy them because they can afford them, I have never heard anyone with an expensive handbag (know a few people for whom expensive hanbags are "the norm") letting their family go hungry in order to finance it.

I agree with Rubyslippers.

Yes, OK...but do you really need so many?

Exactly Riven.

@Gorionine... I'm afraid I know at least one person that got into terrible CC debt because of an obsession with expensive shoes they couldn't afford. Their kids may not have actually starved but the family was in deep shit for a long time.

Really?!

I am not embarrassed - I work bloody hard and have done for years

Why on earth shouldn't I be self indulgent once in a while?

What is wrong with treating yourself? Seriously - if you can afford it, what is the big deal?

Everyone has their thing. Mine happens to be handbags and shoes. I can afford to spend that amount of money on them so I do. I prob have around 50 handbags (I do a cull every once in a while) ranging from £5 to £1,500. My expensive bags don't carry my crap around any better than my £5 ones but I like them all!

I don't know but I do love them. Handbags are definitely my Thing. Not much money though so only own one really expensive one by Burberry. I love it though. Whenever I used to go into central London I would always nip into Liberty to gaze at the Chloe Silverado bag in Tan, my dream bag.

Handbags and Perfume, fascinated by them.

I don't get the fuss about bags either but I do spend stupid amounts on money on other pointless things ( strokes iPad) so I can't judge too harshly - everyone e has their " thing" don't they.

I dont "get" buying designer stuff just for the sake of it being designer.

I buy what I like, so if I saw a £800 bag I liked and I had the money I would buy it, and if I saw a £5 bag I liked then I would buy it. I am the same with cloaths, furniture and everything really. I buy things that I think are nice and stuff what other people say, but when it comes to handbags, I just use one really as I cant be arsed to switch stuff from one to another.