How and why do people who aren’t actually well off pay for this stuff?

[Watersunscream]

If I told you our income I would be told we are in the top percent of earners etc but I honestly couldn’t actually justify or financially manage these sorts of purchases.

Has anyone heard of the essentials brand? Literally hundreds for a tracksuit. I think another is Bergen? Expensive t shirts. Then there’s the usual like Fred Perry etc.

Obviously I know lots of wealthy people buy these things too but it’s mostly people from low income backgrounds. How do I know this? Because people I work with who live in deprived areas and not paid much are forever talking about these things! They actually buy the stuff for holidays or as gifts at Christmas etc. Is this a misguided attempt to gain status? An insecurity thing? I find it really bizarre, it wouldn’t ever cross my mind to spend this.

What brand were his jobbie catchers?

It’s a bit like Mod culture, isn’t it?The working class getting very smartly dressed for leisure time. The outfits may have changed but it’s a means of identifying your ‘crew’.

I’m not knocking the WC, by the way- I’m one of them (but I’d rather spend my hard earned on adventures than clothes).

No, you couldn't be more wrong. Vinted and Depop are overflowing with designer clothes and footwear. I got a Fred Perry long sleeved polo shirt and Adidas trainers from Vinted for my Birthday last month. Both 100% genuine, but considerably cheaper than from the shops.

A friend of mine went to a car dealer where they had loads of cars on display. She had a beat-up ford escort, which she parked near the door of the showroom. Then she went to look at the cars.

No-one came out to ask her what she wanted (normally salesmen/women are all over you like a rash). So she left.

What they didn't know was that she'd just had a lottery win and wanted to buy a "better" car than she usually bought.

So she got her car from another dealer that didn't make judgements about potential customers.

But you’ve literally just said “possibly credit cards? Possibly loans? Other means”

So why are you confused?

Bingo! LOL

My daughter has just ditched her knob head partner partly because of this. To say that he's intellectually challenged is an understatement. He would rather drive an ancient BMW than the perfectly sound Ford that I helped to finance. They both work, daughter part time, they have a toddler and are not high earners. He asked her the other day if he could buy a quad bike and when she said no, he suggested instead a bottle of £400 after shave . He follows rich people on Instagram and is very easily influenced and impressed by anything designer.

Sorry, I can't be arsed to RTFT, but the sort of brands you're describing may be expensive, in monetary terms, but they are absolutely not desirable by people with real money to spend.

It's not hard to understand.

Brands = meaning something significant to the purchaser.

Whether they think it means better quality or just want to buy it because the societal association with the brand means better than non-brand or luxury.

That's it.

If I had a billion pounds I wouldn't spend £400 on a standard white T-shirt whatever the brand because nobody would know the difference and I'd see it as a huge waste of money.

I might spend a few hundred or more on a luxury brand handbag like Chanel if I really loved it. Because not only did I love it, Chanel is a brand associated with wealth, style, chic and so on. Owning a Chanel bag would be a big deal for me.

I wouldn't buy more than one even if I was a billionaire because I know I wouldn't get enough use out of multiple bags so it would be a waste of money. But one would signify something to me and make me feel a certain way.

Reminds me when a relative brought a not very well off friend over to our house who couldn’t understand how we could own a 5 bedroom detached but have such cheap and broken things

Maybe they are happy where they live and enjoy having extra money to spend rather than a large mortgage?

I would have to a windfall of millions before I considered moving. My area is fine and honestly, I can't be arsed with the hassle!

Yeah you’re not a high earner. Clearly. Firstly anyone with wealth tends to buy quality clothing snd doesn’t question it. As they know why. And they don’t start threads saying how do average or poor people afford this.

my take is you’re in this bracket.

Yes, there is a whole culture now of pretending to be like the con-people you see online, truly sad that people can"t see that they are being milked like sheep.

I wouldn’t spend my money on designer crap but I don’t have to. People know we’re well off. Those that don’t have money make purchases to try to buy into the social circles of the wealthy by trying to do things that they think the wealthy would do, without realising that there’s no way a well off person would be wearing an Armani knock off from tk maxx.

Yep, individuals have to wobble their own head and wake up, Big Corp certainly isn"t going to do it for you, they are going to milk you hard until the day you die.

Lawyers in the top % of earners are not working with people in deprived areas and non lawyers even
more so

Agree with this, however it’s not only about showing off. It’s also wanting to give you and your family the best of life you can.

You can Klarna in shops? I need to get out more (or not, with my broke self).

I remember school friends making similar comments about our house when I was younger. It was in a very well to do area, but our furniture was all my grandparents’ old stuff (I’d love it all now- G-plan Ercol, that kind of stuff). Our TV was black and white, and we didn’t have a phone. My grandparents had given my parents a 50% deposit for the nice house, and they bought Dad a new car every 3 years, so everyone assumed we were well off.

Yeah, it sounds like she didn't understand your priorities. Lots of people would rather a smaller house with nice things than live in a larger house surrounded by broken tat.

There are loads of massive houses around me and whenever they are up for sale most of them are pretty grim inside. Unless someone has 5 kids I don't understand why someone would choose to live in a large grim space over a smaller, nicer space. It's just different priorities innit. I'd rather have nice surroundings others would rather big surroundings.

Seriously doubt anyone shopping at tk maxx is trying to buy their way into the social circles of the wealthy, that is just an absurd notion.

Why do people buy anything that isn't basic food, clothes, furniture etc?
Because they want to.
I personally wouldn't "waste" money on alcohol, going to Disney World for two weeks or paying to watch opera or a boxing match. But I understand perfectly that some people want to do that.
Their money. Their choice.

It’s easy come easy Go.
If you’ve actually had to work for your money, you’re not going to spend it on shite
If you are a shoplifter for a living or a drug dealer or a prostitute
You’re more inclined to spend money than attempt to save it on the basis that you can’t launder it and put it into a savings account anyway so you might as well buy something that you want that has perceived value to you

I think it’s status and because they don’t prioritise money in the same ways as other people.

it makes them feel good to look like they can afford it?! Even though the only ones who can afford those kinds of clothes are usually more like them!

I live in an ABC1 demographic area up north. Small, semi rural village, period houses. Out of the 6 most expensive houses in my cul de sac, 3 are owned by builders/retired builders.