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.

I don't really care about possessions either but at the moment it's a good way to hold money and avoid banks and cyber crime.

Whatever.

Could I be nosy and ask what boots you have please @GaiusHelenMohiam? I live in hiking shoes and DM’s and wear them until they wear out so I’m always on the lookout for sturdy boots

I think it is possible to invest in material things, I have some books and weirdly a board game that are worth much more than I paid for them. I got lucky hunting in second hand book shops but I bought the board game new.

I remember a crazy obsession with slings in different patterns years ago when I had DS. I didn’t go in for it but it did seem possible to make a profit. It was the sling version of ticket scalping.

@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

You win bragging rights today!!!

I really don't think a handbag is going to hold its value when basic living costs are skyrocketing. But what do I know! I have no idea about assets!

I think you are both wrong and correct.
For exemple, i buy 3 types of wines: the one we drink with or without friends, the ones we WILL drink with a happy few selected people when they would aged enough, and the ones i invest money in so they have re sell value in about 20 years time —> it is like an isa or similar with a higher return.

In the last 2 exemple i always use the word investment: i invest money in something i love and will get better with age so for pleasure gain, and i invest for financial gain.

Oh you are so pleasant to chat with, Polly. P'raps you also invested in people skills.

Unless you're buying clothes at the highest level (e.g. Patek Philippe watches, Chanel bags), then no you're not investing and it's just a marketing ploy.

Well I don’t have any money, so I’m not investing, I’m out

Ffs investing in clothes means spending more per item in the hope it lasts longer than cheaper items. Many can't afford to do this. Those who say this are normally justifying spending on themselves which the shouldn't.

Nobody is investing in a coat expecting a financial return if they had to sell it. You're being ridiculous.

I used to think this about DHs comic book collection, he recently sold some for a fortune! He's also kick-started a few geeky things I thought were quite expensive and are now worth five times as much anything i do point out that's irrelevant unless you plan to sell them.

Tbf new Rolex watches are now hard to get and there are waiting lists at a lot of jewellers hence 2nd hand ones have really upped in value atm. But at the end of the day what anything is worth is what people are prepared to pay for it. Antiques that were worth a lot of money in the eighties and nineties have slumped in price. Tastes have changed and lots of people don't want that stuff in their homes.

The only thing that has held out is gold. If de beers were to put on the market all the diamonds they hold the price would drop dramatically.

Apparently one of the best investments is Lego!

My baby carrier cost £60 new. Sold it four years later for €50. Another I had spent £15 I sold for €10. Both were priced for a quick sale and they went within an hour. Some stuff does hold value. Obviously I didn't make money, but I definitely don't think I lost money in several years of regular use.

@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’m guessing the Romford market stall you bought the “rokexes” from told you their value? 😂

Certain items are more but will save you eg good quality boots. Not an investment in the true sense but they save me in the long run.

My cloth nappies were a true investment because I sold them for £50 more than I paid 4 years prior!

I think my engagement ring has gone up in value x3 over the years. Not that I would sell it.

Investing in statement pieces is what you do when you have finished curating your space...

@MoiraNotRuby

Investing in statement pieces is what you do when you have finished curating your space...

Ah, yes I finally understand.

@Torak

Oh you are so pleasant to chat with, Polly. P'raps you also invested in people skills.

I think that’s a separate course you need to go on, I think they need to complete “successfully lying on the internet” before moving on to that one.

Totally agree. The only thing I like to do is “exchange” my designer handbags, I never buy them new. I spent the money and the value has held to swap them around. I’ll always make a loss.. same with diamonds, they are worthless.

Watches are the ones to buy, all our watches have gone up in value, not much but we sold one for double the price after 10 years. Patek Phillipe… it was too nice to wear anyway!

Romford market? I live in the Middle East we both high earn tax free, I wait list most watches so hardly fake. Why do you assume everyone is like you?