You aren't "investing" your money, you're spending it.

[Torak]

I hate it when people say they are "investing" in the purchase of some sort of pricey consumable item.

I'd be interested to see your ROI on that £500 baby sling. 🙄

Gifting is another one I hate. But today I'm irritable about investing.

You can invest time or energy or whatever.
It's an investment if it benefits your life, just not a financial one.

Haha yeah I see people saying ‘an investment piece’ for something expensive. How many handbags/coats/dresses go UP in value or make you money?! I think it’s a marketing tool. It’s just spending as you say. Maybe it’s worth it to get good quality that will last for years, but highly unlikely to be an investment.

Is something an investment if it saves you money long term?
e.g. A good quality waterproof v 6 poor quality ones?

My rokexes and vintage chanel bags could buy a house tomorrow. I must tell them that they are worthless. Maybe just chuck them away

To be fair, while I don't know what it is like now, there was a time when some slings were so in demand you could sell them second hand for more than they cost new.

@PollyPage

My rokexes and vintage chanel bags could buy a house tomorrow. I must tell them that they are worthless. Maybe just chuck them away

I hope you actually own a house because I know people who spend so much on designer stuff but still live at home rent free..

I dunno, I consider my £300 sturdy boots a pretty good investment. I’ve worn them every day for four years and they are still comfortable and in great condition.

I do think about the Vimes Boots theory almost every day!

I did years of buying a cheap new pair of boots every few months to have them wear out into holes (and were never as comfy to start with).

So in my opinion, good boots (or bag, or coat, or watch or whatever) can be an investment.

Consumable goods, by definition, wear out and need replacing regularly. They don't hold value, in most circumstances. Even expensive luxury ones.

Although I do take the point about buying higher quality items in order to avoid the expense of replacing lower quality ones over and over. Still not an investment.

Carrie Bradshaw 'invested' £40,000 in shoes!

My DH ‘invests’ in something he collects. But when I point out that it’s only worth what someone will pay for it he gets in a huff.

@MissBPotter

Haha yeah I see people saying ‘an investment piece’ for something expensive. How many handbags/coats/dresses go UP in value or make you money?! I think it’s a marketing tool. It’s just spending as you say. Maybe it’s worth it to get good quality that will last for years, but highly unlikely to be an investment.

Oh good god do people actually say that

@PollyPage

My rokexes and vintage chanel bags could buy a house tomorrow. I must tell them that they are worthless. Maybe just chuck them away

Sounds hyperbolic to me.

I’ve always seen it as a slightly tongue-in-cheek synonym for ‘I’m buying this thing’. Invest literally means to put in, so it isn’t incorrect.

Dictionary definition of investment: the action or process of investing money for profit.

Buying a handbag or expensive pair of work shoes to save you money over the long term is not an investment. It may well be spending your wisely though!

I think people say it to justify the cost of something. I've heard it said about an instant pot, once.

I think its fair use. We acknowledge that we are spending a lot of money, but it will benefit us in the future. I also think we do consider more expensive, high quality items investment purchases because in theory we only have to buy them once, they won't need replacing after a couple of years and will hold their value. Sort of like buying an antique piece of furniture as opposed to something from Argos.

When people say this, it's just said light-hearted.
It means it's an investment into their happiness/contentment etc

We have 12 rolexes, worth about 10 to 20k each. I have 4 1980s chanel bags, one owned by someone famous and dead, total worth around 30k. I'm not saying it's the type of house I would care to live in but a house none the less. Do you really care enough to want photos? I can't really be flagged to offer proof to someone who clearly has no idea of assets as they probably don't have any.

You're getting very defensive. 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is jealous and bitter. Who cares what makes people happy. Focus on your own wellbeing before envying others.

YANBU. I think referring to spending on clothes etc as an investment usually means you're trying to justify spending more than you should.

@PollyPage

This is jealous and bitter. Who cares what makes people happy. Focus on your own wellbeing before envying others.

It's not really jealous and bitter, is it? Nobody actually cares about your Rolexes or Chanel bags. Who needs 12 watches? What's the point?

The 'investment' in childcare when mine were very young has paid off in more ways than one. My mental health remained intact, as did my skills and career and my pension looks great.

I'm not jealous or bitter of gratuitous consumerism.