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 think that but in my experience it rarely pans out as expected.

I kind of get what the op is saying, but it's also incorrect.

The instant pot for example, lots of people get them with the Intention of it saving money in long. So it is for financially gain.

Buying a good quality winter coat that will last 10-15 years, is usually cheaper than one cheap one every year. So you are gaining financially.

So even if it did only relate to finances it could still be used. But it's not just financial.

Like the 'word' curate. Technically it's correct in most cases, but also feels like word overkill. So I do get what op is saying.

Investing is more than a monetary return. If someone buys something that saves them time, then they have invested, as the gain is time.
If someone buys something expensive that doesn't need replacing, then they have saved the future spend of having to replace something cheap multiple times, so they have saved times, effort and money.
There is more to investing than popping money in an isa or buying shares in tesco.

Hmm. I think there are a couple of interpretations. The wishful thought that spending a great deal of money on something will render an intangible return: pleasure, longevity, avoidance of buying twice or thrice; or genuine investment purchases.

The real investments are those that render both. Regarding clothes cost per wear is also important.

Examples: I bought a Burberry raincoat in 1984 for £175. I could probably flog it on Ebay for close to £100. A couple of pictures I bought in the mid 80s have escalated due to the then unknown artist becoming famous and I have loved them. The same goes for some antique pieces or beautiful pieces, genuinely enjoyed and loved and bought new.

My engagement ring was £2kish 32 years ago, now valued at £7,500 for insurance but our local jeweller says they would give about £3k. The real mind bender is my wedding ring, bought in 1991 for £165: a simple yellow and white 18ct band with beading at the edges. I recently had to have it repaired after it was cut off after an accident (costing £185). I balked at the cost of the repair and the jeweller told me it would be £2k retail, £1k resale. However if one factors in cpw which after 32 years is miniscule compared to the pleasure they have given me, I think they have been fabulous investments.

Don't get me started on DH's "ridiculous" sports car which has not been an investment.

Things like very expensive kitchens will add equivalent value to a house providing the expense is proportionate to the value of the house but only if sold within five years of installation. After that it's about enjoying them but 10/15 years later they will not extrapolated into a premium.

I invested some money in an actual investment and the company went bust. I actually wish I'd spent it on a baby sling, it would have still been worth more now!

This thread has cracked me up!

'Romford market?'

'I must tell them they are worthless'

'Not a house I would care to live in'

🤣🤣🤣

@merrymouse

Happy baby? Happy parents?

A baby doesn’t know anything about brands and the sling isn’t better than one that is much cheaper, so happier baby would be debatable.

Happy parents possibly, but as pp says, there is no difference in this case between investing and splashing out - it’s just that one is perceived to be more virtuous than the other.

People should just buy what they want to buy.

I'd probably add happy parents for a very short amount of time. Babies aren't in slings for long.

We had a 10 year gap between DC 2 & DC 3 and had got rid of the baby stuff. DC's 1 & 2 had a mamas and papas pram and a Laura Ashley nursery. DC 3 got mothercare . We were old enough and wise enough by then to know that nothing would be used for long and needed to be good enough but we didn't need to spend £££ on designer stuff.

Did you buy the 'rokex' watch and 'chanel' bags from one of those guys with a market stall and a suitcase..?

@GaiusHelenMohiam

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.

They CAN be, but I'd like to know how often they really are. You can buy shoes and then find out they don't really fit or they're not comfortable. 5 minutes of walking around the shoe shop doesn't tell you that. Also, fashions change and people's needs and wants change so I do wonder if people who buy expensive clothes really don't buy any replacement for x years. At least if I buy and have to throw out a cheap pair of shoes, I haven't made an expensive mistake.

@Torak

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

well I think that is a good example of an investment It can save time it actually can save money on fuel bills It actually can be an investment in the family's health

I would broaden the term "investment" beyond money. To me investment means you put something in up front to reap benefits which are, to you, worth more than the up front investment. So you can invest in a relationship, an exercise activity and so on.

@ninnynonny

I have a genuine question here. I have £17,000 in premium bonds at the moment. It's obviously not enough to be life changing or even ever so useful while I'm working and managing, but we will probably need it in the future. What is the best investment for this amount - Rolex? Gold?

I would go for the watch but not a rolex, other fancy brands are available that have better street cred.

rolex is like the chav of high end watches.

gold values go up and down.

Technically you are correct - but it’s just something people say - not a big deal

I agree with those talking about investment as something you do in order to get long-term benefits, or to get a positive result from, not with the idea of making money out of it.
For example, spending money on decent running shoes rather than picking up a pair of trainers in Asda, will mean reduced likelihood of injury and therefore more enjoyment and better performance from exercise -I'm not thinking about making a profit on a pair of Mizunos or Asics.

@Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov

Would you say the same to someone investing in a company? You'll only know the ROI when they sell so up until then it's just spending isn't it?

Don't you get a share in the profit straight away though? (if there is any).

But @VelvetChairGirl watches have to be (or should be) insured - that offsets some of the ROI.

I think you’re using a very narrow definition of “investment”, OP, and not taking into account that people use the word for things other than financial profiting.

As when someone’s says they’ve u vested in a good pair of shoes, they don’t expect to sell them at a higher price, they expect them to bring an intangible benefit like comfort or happiness.

Same with mattresses, dog training, a decent keep-cup, proper bras, an extra long phone charging cable; none of those things will bring you profit, but they’ll add value to your life.

I would say reusable sanitary products are certainly an investment, the initial outlay is a lot less than what you would have spent on disposables over the years.

@CharacterForming

It can be literally straightforwardly true for Rolexes, top end handbags and Lego. And indirectly true for childcare and education.

But usually it's a metaphor that we all understand as meaning "it'll save me money in the long term". An Instant Pot is a metaphorical investment if it will steer you away from ready meals and takeaways.

Definitely true for Lego as DS15 has found out to his benefit over the last year or so

@JTK392

But *@VelvetChairGirl* watches have to be (or should be) insured - that offsets some of the ROI.

true I wouldnt get one unless I really liked it and wanted it anyway

OP I know exactly what you mean! I don't know what's wrong with saying "I bought a scarf". When someone starts with "I have invested in.." I expect the sentence to end in a fund recommendation!

My pet hate is "upgrade". I'm old enough to remember when that meant the company upgraded your phone to get you to sign a new contract. Now people say "I have upgraded my coat". No, you bought a new one, why not just say so?

The OP is talking about misuse of the word ‘investment’.

This thread does however demonstrate that people are very sensitive about investment.

@VelvetChairGirl sorry but you're incorrect.
Doesn't matter if you think they're chavvy, they're still a great investment money wise. There are literally waiting lists years long for used ones.
Something like a Rolex submariner is not chavvy and will appreciate in value more and more.
Omega seamaster, speedmaster and Patek Phillipe are safe bets too.

A Tag for example looks great, but wouldn't be seen as such an investment.

@Ozgirl75

Imagine having 9 Rolexes and going “what do I need more of? Rolexes!” I just can’t imagine being so….brash, I guess.

Indeed! Maybe this person is some weird time-obsessed octopus with multiple limbs that all require a watch.

Or - more prosaically - I’d think they had very little imagination and joy in life. Think of all the amazing holidays and experiences that you could but instead of that ninth Rolex.

I went to Bicester Shopping Village several weeks ago. The place was heaving with people 'investing' their money in designer labels.

Oh well, they say a fool and his money are soon parted.

Are watches actually a fail safe long term investment though?? Seeing as I don’t know anyone under the age of 40 is so who wears a watch, I can’t imagine they’ll be buying/investing/whatever in ££££ watches in 40 years time. I think the expensive-watch buying generation will be a thing of the past by then.