How do people afford Mulberry bags?

[Stokey]

There were two girls on either side of me on the tube last night each with a Mulberry bag and both in their 20s. And there are often threads on here about which one to buy.

Just wondering how people can manage to spend £800-1200 on a bag? I consider myself quite well off and couldn't justify it.

I have a friend who has a few designer bags. She is loaded. She and her husband both inherited loads of money.

However, she tells me that Mulberry bags are not worth it anyway these days. She says that the price has gone up a lot and the quality has gone right down. She also dislikes the fact that they aren't even British made now.

She has moved onto Hermes now.

Personally, I quite like the Accessorize bags....

I have one. Sil brought it for me 4 years ago when had eldest as 'baby gift'. Have used virtually every day since, with baby stuff in/ iPad etc etc. It still looks like new although has been well used. Imagine it won't need replacing for a
Long long time.

I also wear a Chanel coat. It was my mums 30 years ago, she wore loads, it's been dry cleaned every year and now I have and still looks new. She said it cost her £240 30 years ago. Bargain now I say per year of wear

We can afford to spend money in certain things, but also look after things and pass on. Gifts to each other are considered and discussed about what will last longest.

Ie we brought a sheepskin rug instead of baby playmat when eldest was born. Since he's used as baby play mat, ds has used, it's now used in bedroom as regular rug and looks great and I hope it will last until we don't want a rug there. All friends baby mats are in lofts or charity shops.

When I used to work for Chanel I used to get 70% discount. I had a lot of bags and jewellery - I was 24 and living at home and nothing else to spend on!

They're a bit too popular now aren't they, despite the price they're like the uggs of the bag world. I have friends and family with them, they're not well off and just like them I suppose. With a few of those I just mentioned the rest of their wardrobes leave something to be desired! None are living at home and are between 35 and 65. I'm nit sure a mulberry bag would be a 20 something's coveted bag.

It is probably worth it to people who save for them, look after them and use them for years and years. Constantly buying the latest 'It' bag is madness though, unless you are super-loaded.

I wonder how many people living with parents and splashing their cash on branded goods will be happy with that choice in ten years' time. I know I regret my young spendy years. I'd rather have a bigger pension fund.

i think the same about how people afford ipads.

my mulberry has been used daily for 5 years, it is still pristine, in fact it looks better now than it did when brand new.

i think that's a pretty good iuse of resources, more so than a piece of technology that will become obsolete within a shorter timescale

Fairylea

Not many people pay ££££ for a Mulberry bag or similar - sales are frequent at 50% off, and the factory shops are very cheap, Ebay bargains, fakes and so on - anyone can have one if they prioritise it. I have one which I love, it's excellent quality, was £275 from an outlet. I have better bags (Celine and Anya Hindmarch) but I like the Mulberry as it's tough as nails for toddler crap (Mitzy crossbody). Prices haven't always been so high. I think people who buy say an Antony or a Bayswater style, the real classics, would get 5-10 years wear out of them.

Out of interest OP, do you judge men who spend ££££ on cars?

I love mulberry , I save birthday and Xmas money and also do overtime at work . I don't smoke drink or take drugs , so I think it's a nice vice

Fairylea... 70%! Fabulous!! I would've spent my wages evey month before I got them!

I have a few Mulberry bags, I agree that the price has risen and the quality fallen. I get my luxury goods by saving, unexpected bonuses, or a combination. I have quite a few bags now so I can but one away for a year or two then it comes back out and is like having a new bag.

But they are only bags! Honestly, you can find really nice, quality bags in street markets in places like Spain and Italy. Outlets are good too for bargains, again Italy has amazing outlets. Gucci bag for £120, don't mind if I do. Never seen bargains like this in Gucci Biscester Village.

I've never liked them, but I do like a nice handbag. I never pay full price though, I wait for sale bargains and avoid the big name brands because there is such a price premium.

70% discount, serious envy!

I have a genuine one and a fake one. My genuine one was "only" £230 from the sale at the Bicester village outlet about 3 years ago. That was all my spare money for the month but I had no children then, just rent and food. My fake one was £100 but it's massive and really good quality!! I don't think people who aren't in the know can tell...

I've just bought a chloe marcie bag (with a good discount) as my going back to work treat.

People spend money in different ways. I'm not into cars but do like a nice bag.

My SIL gave up smoking and saved up what she would have spent on cigarettes. After 6 months she spent the £1000 she had saved on a handbag. I'm more amazed about how people are able to afford to be able to smoke tbh!

I have two. One was a Christms present from DSis when she was making really good money at work.
And the other was from by BF ( best friend is that right ?) for my 40th

Very spoilt me.

I bet if you started a thread asking 'How do people afford cigarettes?' you would get flamed pretty quickly, especially if they were asked to justify the cost!

Priorities. I used to work in a law firm where the lawyers earned 60K min and were in their late 20s upwards. Most of us had high street handbags. We hired an office junior for not a very high salary - an 18 year old first jobber, still living with her parents. After a few months, she bought herself a Chanel handbag. She had no mortgage, no bills, no dependants. It was what she wanted to spend her money one.

I went to Cheshire Oaks outlet for mine and got it for £369 reduced from £750. My mam went halfies on it as a present.

I love it. I don't have any other expensive bags but I'll probably get another one when I go again in February.

It's a question of what you choose to justify though, I wouldn't think twice about spending 200/250 on a pair of boots, as I work on the assumption that they'll last me years, others like more disposable items and will want to replace annually (or even more often) so buy cheaply.

I guess with the bags, maybe 21st birthday presents (my dad bought me my Tag for my graduation - I still wear it 19 yrs later). Maybe they're 2nd hand or bought from outlets for a lot less, fakes or perhaps it's all on mastercard

Does anyone know when the Anya sale will start?

Mine was from Bicester - it was £2000 reduced to £350.
It was a grown up I'm going back into my career after mat leave gift to myself.

I've had it nearly 9 years. Longer than most people keep a car. I treat it twice a year with leather cream and I reckon I could sell it for at least £300, even vintage.

There are two Mulberry bags in my office, both are fakes.

I don't have Mulberry bags but 2 Dior ones (£1600 and £1800). I hadn't had anything very expensive before and just got to a stage in life where I thought I really like and want them and can afford them so why not. It just felt the same as paying out for an expensive holiday instead of a cheaper one, or a nicer settee etc

I've got one I got in a charity shop :-)