Do you own these sorts of things?!

[featherrr]

And if so what do you earn? I am in a professional career but don’t earn masses, it’s only really at the top when you tend to start making a lot. That said we are all on above minimum wage and salaries in range of 50-70k.

Everyone I work with has designer bags, coats from Reiss, Nike Air trainers etc. I have none of these and it wouldn’t occur to me to buy them as I would find it a huge outlay on my salary (mid range of the above). Do people just spend this? Even on a modest income? What do you sacrifice to buy it? I am in rented which is 1500 a month so maybe that is the difference?

For us, it’s more about our outgoings than our income! Our joint income used to be about £100k per year and we had no children. The mortgage was only £850 a month and we have low cost cars so we used to put loads in savings and still have disposable money income. At this time, we would probably buy a large purchase for ourselves every 2-3 months. This might have been a tag watch, decent coat (my last one was a £250 jack wolfskin one in 2018 but I’ve looked after it and it’s still going strong), Fairfax and Favor boots or a nice handbag.
Now, our income has grown decreased by about £30k and we spent £1500 a month on childcare so we don’t make these purchases anywhere near as frequently but we definitely do still pay more for decent quality things that last. I would still happily spend £250 on a coat as the ones I’ve had previously have lasted me for years. Same with sunglasses…I bought a pair for £300 about 9 years ago. I still wear them all the time and they are still in great condition…I actually look after them whereas prior to that I’d buy a £20/£30 pair every year and lose or sit on them.

Bags - no. Bags aren’t my thing so I don’t buy cheap ones, let alone designer. I’ve got a cheap
leather rucksack from TK Max which is all I really use.

Coats - I have a bit of a problem with coats. My office is freezing and my boss is too tight to put the heating on so I buy a lot of coats, all price ranges.

I have a lot of trainers - mostly Adidas but a couple of pairs of Nike. Most are several years old.

Nope. I could afford to but as far as I'm concerned a coat's a coat, trainer's are trainers and a bag's a bag. Why spend a lot of money on something when you can buy something cheaper that does just as well?

FWIW I used to work for a designer handbag company (begins with "M"), and could buy them at a discount and despite being able to get them at a 50% discount, still refused to spend that kind of money on something just to put stuff in.

@Blondiebeachbabe what's wrong with being new money? Do you think people who don't inherit should stay poor? What exactly is wrong with social mobility?

When our income was in excess of 100k, 10 years ago, we were able to afford designer bags. I only had some mulberry bags, but mulberry was a little cheaper and you could buy an Antony, for example, for less than £200. I bought expensive, quality brands, i don't know if I'd call those designer.

I don't have that income now (temporarily I hope), but I still have my good wardrobe and I supplement it by buying quality brands from Vinted and I don't think I would change that if my income increased again. I'm also still able to do my expensive hobby (the tuition is reasonable the equipment is not) by purchasing second hand.

If you're on an income between 50-70k, even with your rent, I don't understand how you can't occasionally manage something like a pair of trainers of that price range, if buying new. Unless your other outgoings are significant or you have debt?

£25 on some plastic trainers where I can't remove the insole to replace with orthotics? No thanks, I'm not a fan of being in pain - trainers are usually £160-180 for work as well as exercise. Would spend similar or more for shoes if I could find a pair that actually fitted and wouldn't cripple me within the first twenty minutes.

With bags, I'd spend more if I actually found one that felt 'right'. I just don't get that from a Mulberry - my most successful bag purchase has been an £80 leather (as in actual leather, not plastic) one from Amazon that is appropriate for carrying stuff to meetings. The people I know who have expensive bags usually get them as gifts or from outlet shops.

I moved up from the Primark/New Look level for work clothes, as I needed to look a bit smarter to offset the being short, fat and older bit, but only to the Boden/Hobbs price level (and preferably on sale). If I found the 'perfect' anything, I'd buy it, because I don't think you can beat not just feeling comfortable in your own skin, it's being comfortable in your clothes and shoes, too.

I'm in that salary bracket and I could afford those things if I wanted them (not all the time, but a few a year). My partner earns about the same and our mortgage is £600 less than your rent, so we do have more disposable income. It makes a huge difference to live with someone else, especially if they earn well too.

I would spend £300 on a coat if I really loved it and it was well made (but would be more likely to spend £150-ish). A good coat will last you years and years. I don't buy designer brands because I don't think they're any better value than other stuff, but I will pay more for good quality fabric and stitching. I think very obvious labels are tacky so would never buy anything overtly branded. Reiss don't make clothes in my size, but they do seem good quality, if a bit dull.

I prefer to spend my money on coffees and meals out, day trips and plants, but everyone has different priorities.

I have several designer bags. Only in the last 2 years have I wanted as much as you - however my rent/mortgage was about a third of what yours is which is probably why.

I also buy a lot of clothes on vinted other than the designer stuff which I buy new.

If you run you need proper trainers. A cheap £25 pair will not do you any favours in the long term.

If you are looking for something to wear to the pub then it probably isn't worth spending £200 plus on super technical shoes.

I have Prada, Mont Blanc and Aspinal bags, bought when I was young and had a lot less sense. These days I have a mortgage and two sets of schools fees to pay, so I can't actually remember the last time I bought a new anything for me! I have plenty of 'stuff' and get no pleasure from shopping these days, I'd rather spend any spare cash on a meal out with the kids, a weekend break etc.

Every mine is different but I'd find it difficult to find a good quality pair of trainers for £25 unless used I guess

salary is barely relevant these days.

I lived for 3 years with husband's family and saved up 60k for a deposit. I have no student loans as my parents paid for my education and also my rent in London. My DH lived with family during university and other than 2.5 years in a cheap city in Germany where he did his masters, he has never paid rent.

The cumulative money saved from these circumstances must have amounted to 100k which has multiplier effects on our later wealth accumulation. Also bought when interest rates were 2% and had 5 years of paying that off.

Other people I know have had inheritances from grandparents, marriage to an older spouse with property, outright gifts from parents. Many of these people I mentioned have incomes of 50k to 70k. People never talk about this, I think we should normalize talking about this because so many are struggling and they don't understand why.

I can tell you why. salary is obviously relevant in the market of z3 london terraces as even property equity of 500k means you still need to be able to borrow 900k but for more modest abodes in London, you can still 'make it' with family gifts and a very modest income. However whether one can buy designer ware or have a 'nice' lifestyle, a couple of hundred quid saved per month due to earlier wealth accumulation/gifts, one's salary doesn't come into it.

Edit: sorry must have replied to wrong person

Total income over 100k?? Yes, id expect you to be able to afford that sort of brand pricing.
FWIW, we earn less than 100k but could - if we wanted - have that sort of stuff. As it is, we're not bothered, so save and go on an expensive holiday instead.

As people have said a lot of these are carefully considered long term purchases.

Mr Monkey is planning to buy a Reiss suit for a wedding we are going to later this month. He has not bought a new suit for years and years and his current one is a little old fashioned (he no longer needs to wear a suit for work). He has been saving to buy a new one and wants something of decent quality.

Nope. I hate designer stuff I think it's tacky and ridiculous. I buy quality and it lasts years.

Occasionally I might buy a fashionable dress but I always regret it when the following year it's so obviously 'last year' like a big puffy prairie dress I've got.

I'm pretty much retired now at 53 but DH earns considerably more than you mention in your post. But neither of us are remotely bothered about bling or gaudy designer labels, we never have been.

Admittedly I do drive a very expensive car and I have one beautiful Mulberry handbag, but that's about it? I do like quality underwear and good skincare, but I'm very partial to a Vinted bargain too. DH likes his expensive tech' but he's currently wearing old M&S jeans and I think his linen shirt is from Next?

I believe that most people binge on designer labels because they like to show they can afford it? They feel the need to prove something to the world.

No. My son though - man he will save and save (he IS on minimum wage) in order to get some branded clothing. Luckily he works in an specialty men's store and gets a good discount!
My DD only buys from charity shops and Vinted so has some nice pieces at rock bottom prices (she has a long debate if anything is over £10, but recently scored a stunning evening dress for £15).

Yes to all if I could afford them and wanted them. I’m by no mean a big spender overall but if those items had longevity (fashion and robustness) then why not? Just in case someone, Shock! Horror! Thought I was new money 🙄?

Thanks for the thread though because I just did a search for my favourite type of trainers and I found some for £20 so that will do me nicely. Edited should have been £70 www.gola.co.uk/womens-boston-78-snake-trainers-p3963

I don't own any 'labelled' clothing/bags/shoes - unless you count Tesco etc!

For me it's not really worth buying labelled goods as I CBA. But each to their own and their own pocket.

More durable might be a good idea but most of my clothes meet their maker due to tears, paint spills etc. But I feel that some of the 'more durable' are often much the same as others but you just pay more?

I did splash out on a DeWalt cordless drill a bit ago that counts?
It seems better than the offerings, and my usually purchases, from the middle aisle of Lidl and Aldi. (although theirs aren't bad)

Same here. I'm just not interested in 'status' symbols.

My dh earns almost that and no we don't have any designer stuff because we aren't interested in it. He wanted air Jordans but they are actually really uncomfortable!

I think bags in particular are one thing that you can continue using no matter how much weight you put or lose. Even my shoe size has increased over the years. Partly due to putting on weight, partly due to fallen arches. But I can still use bags I got 20 years ago.

A decent designer bag will never go out of style and holds its value pretty well. Some even increase in value depending on rarity.

I have several expensive bags (actually bought for me by an ex) and they are my little insurance policy. Whenever someone posts on MN about being broke the response is always "anything you can sell?". My bags would be that thing. They're in all good condition and would give me a decent amount.

Similar here but 2 kids.

I do splash out on a naice handbag though every so often (which will be used daily for a number of years until it falls apart). And I'll buy it in the sales because I still baulk at justifying full price.

I don't earn anything like those salaries,and I don't buy designer anything.Pretty much all my clothing comes from charity shops and car boot sales.
However,we do have no mortgage,6 cars and 3 horses,which most people would regard as something that only wealthy people can afford. Status symbol items are not important to me and I've never dream of having a flashy car on the never never,just like a lot of people wouldn't dream of buying second hand items.

No, I don’t buy designer clothes, bags or shoes. The only time I bought a fancy outfit from ebay was when my DC got married. My winter coat came from a charity shop 10 years ago and it’s still ok. I don’t do any sport so don’t own trainers or sports equipment. I understand why people enjoy buying designer brands but it’s never been something I’ve aspired to. Any burglars would find very slim pickings here!