How much would you spend on a nice bag?

[marghini]

Lately I have been thinking about purchasing a very expensive designer bag. It is around £1000, so it would be a huge investment. I really like it, but I don't know if a bag, albeit very nice, is ever worth spending so much money. I've never purchased such an expensive bag, the bags I already own are in the £200/300 territory.

What is the maximum you would be willing to spend on a bag? Do you think it ever makes sense to spend a lot on it?

Gorgeous bagsif I had the money i would go for it but I don't so probably £300 would be my max

My current everyday bag cost £45 I've had it around 4 years now and is in excellent condition still but I had to faff about finding a good leather conditioner that was colourless!

I bought one secondhand yesterday for £5. I'll probably wear it all through the summer.

I have my eye on another for £105 - a leather satchel.

I really want a Vivienne Westwood bag and they are £300-ish upwards.

Would I spend a grand on one? Probably, if I didn't have any other bills that needed paying and all that. I would be a bit concerned if I couldn't treat the material myself. Leather bags are usually easier to care for than patent bags for example. That would put me off because if I'm spending a grand id want it to look like I'm carrying a grand around on my shoulder not something so beaten up it could be my grans if I can't look after it well myself. I won't own it.

On my spending priority list bags are probably at the bottom, and Jackets at the top.
I've never spent more than £100 on a bag and my favourite one that I use for work was £3 from a charity shop.
I could never think of a bag as an investment but if you like it, want it, can afford it without debt and think you would use it loads then it's entirely your decision.
I'm not an admirer of bags and don't take much notice of them and annoyed my friend recently when we went out as I didn't notice her new and expensive designer bag. After a while she asked "Do you like my new bag then?" Then I had to pretend that I did, while really thinking it was hideous.

£200-£300. Usually every other year for day in day out bags and I get about three seasons from them. I like them quite plain and not too big or too small. Enough room for purse, notebook, pens, glasses, lipstick, I, comb, etc. I use them until they look scruffy.

If you spend more than £1000 on a bag I'd be interested to know what your disposable income is.

I've never spent more than £70 on a bag but some are worth more (£150). I do notice the difference in quality between, say, a mulbs and a £100 leather bag but it's not enough to make me part with the cash. I'd not spend more than £250.

To my mind those bags don't look expensive and therefore not worth the money. If it was an exquisitely beautiful rich conker handmade bag that would look better as it aged and not something identifiable by branding-fair enough.

I think the money should be in the quality of the leather and craftsmanship along side long time functionality rather than the obvious flashy hardwear etc.

If you have the income, then yes definitely buy the bag of your dreams.

i probably wouldnt at this stage in my life, spend any more than £250 at birthday or christmas time but when we go back to two incomes, then i imagine i'll spend some time browsing nicer bags.

One thing I don't like about many designer bags is you feel you are a walking advert for them (labels or just the 'look') and they are often incredibly heavy before you put anything in them.

I'm like a PP in that I often make mistakes with bags; find them too big, too small, wrong style, once I've used them a few times.

I wish someone would start a 'borrow a bag' company where you could rent a bag for 3 months then exchange for another one!

I'm sure there is something like that Polly it's called bagborrowsteal.com or something like that?

polly there are several businesses that offer bags for rent , but they do charge a lot, and for some people its more realistic to put the money towards a bag they can own ,

beau, I had a discussion almost an argument with some friends on what level of income people who buy luxury items are on, and it was very interesting hearing everyone's point of view, some said that they save to splurge on luxury , some said that they only buy luxury items that can easily be replaced in case it gets stolen or ruined within their disposable income ie not dipping into savings or,saving for a few months to replace one,so if your disposable income is around 6k and you buy a 3k bag then you can afford this bag and if it gets stolen you can easily replace it, which theoretically is correct, but it can't be applied on everything, I think both point of views are right,and I'm smack in the middle, some items I can afford to buy every month and I can replace if ruined,but some items I need to save for, and if something happens I can't replace them straight away, and as long as financially it doesn't affect me or my family, then no harm is done, I can easily live without the bag!

There are some students or people on not so high wages , who own prada and mulberry bags, and are debt free, and then there are people who are high earners over 20k PCm who are walking around with a huge mortgage and CC bills, and can't afford to buy bags that are 1k ,

I'm sure you would Beaufort but what sane person is going to tell you that on here.

Suffice to say I can afford it and still feed/educate/house my children without getting into debt

I think people just like to spend their money on different things. I really want to buy a birkin this year but it will depend on a variety of factors not least whether Hermes will actually sell me one

Some bags are investments like classic chanel or Hermes. However I don't buy for investment reasons, I buy because I like them and use them a lot.

Spend what you can afford, but stop kidding yourself that spending money on a handbag you are going to be using is an "investment"

Beaufort - equally I would be interested to know what your disposable income is if you consider £200-300 is reasonable for a handbag.

Like Lara - I am quite interested in what people consider 'reasonable' expenditure on luxury items.

I can never get over the fact that on Mumsnet (certainly not in my RL) it is common place for nearly everyone, children included, to own an ipad or ipad mini.

If you're talking to me lovelyfriend I did say I don't buy for investment reasons as I use my bags.

However hermes and chanel will keep/increase their value if they are in excellent condition and are hard to get hold of. The price increases are insane on those brands year on year so the pre-loved market is very strong.

I guess it depends on the people you know. I'd say all my children's friends have an ipad etc.

My most expensive bag was £18. From Accessorise.

I get really worried reading threads like this

why would someone spend £65K on a bag even if it is a flippin' Hermes Birken?

That to me is just madness whether you have the cash or not. (I do, but wouldn't dream of spending it on a bag. )

I don't think you can genuinely say that the bag will give you any more pleasure than one costing a fraction of that. I also wonder if the whole point of pricing a bag at that level is to create envy and need.

Given that sum I'd rather buy original art, a car, an experience, a holiday, and even if I could afford all of them AND a bag as some of you can, I'd still not buy it!

And that's fine polly - that's your choice isn't it?

I wouldn't spend £65k on a bag either but if people want to then it is up them.

Unashamed marking of place, in anticipation...

My most expensive bags are Hermes Evelyne, a Bottega Veneta and a Celine luggage thing(which it so HEAVY I don't use much, and sadly never did, what a waste). That was a few years ago. I don't spend quite so much anymore. I loved the bags but went off them as quickly as I go on and off cheaper ones. Not worth it for me.

I am currently shopping for a garden shed.

I know it's about choice but it's also about people's values.
I'm afraid for me it's not about the cost but about how ostentatious people are and how they like to flaunt their money- in some cases.

I get what you're saying Polly but then I guess someone may spend £65k on a bag and donate £10m to charity. It is just relative.

However, I am not a fan of some of the blingier/exotic bags or of gold Ferraris Good job I'm not in the market for either.

I'd be the same as you Pennypants, I sometimes see people carrying bags that look nice but I have no idea whether they are £70 from Debenhams or £1000+ designer ones, I wouldn't recognise any particular brand unless I could see a logo. So the difference in price isn't worth it for me, it really is all about practicality as far as I'm concerned.

I have a nice collection of Mulberry, Prada, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors (but the high end butter soft, not the MK), Furla, Kate Spade, Coach so something for every occasion from work and nice restaurants to beach and play group. I love having a bag for every occasion and completing my look for the day. That's worth the spend for me. Next present is a Birkin, that will work with any outfit! Spend what you can afford- price per day makes any bag a bargain in my book.

I'm with a lot of the posters on this page: I've never actually seen an expensive bag I like. Don't want to be a walking ad for any company and hate blingy hardware.

So I guess my price range is somewhere in between extremes.

Most expensive bag I've ever bought is £90, but guess I would go up to £200. I only like leather (or obviously canvas or fabric for a casual or beach bag, just never PU leather).

I just prefer plain, beautiful, well-made, a nice colour and not being able to tell where it's from. I've never seen a designer bag I don't think is ugly - yet. Doesn't mean they don't exist.

And if I could afford it, I would spend a LOT on a coat, clothes, shoes etc, because I think the more expensive, the classier they can be. Just not with bags.