I think my “luxury” mindset is buying reserved tickets to concerts these days whenever possible, instead of going for the general admission tickets. Or buying tickets to Rent last weekend without having to worry about where the money comes from - the idea that I’m finally at a relatively comfortable place financial is a luxury to me, one that I do not take for granted.
Although I did buy organic eggs and organic coffee today, in deference to my SO’s eating preferences. I also consider the olives I bought from the olive bar (instead of in a jar) to be a luxury, since we eat so damn many of them.
I bought t-shirts and flipflops today at Target, and splurged on the $13 flipflops instead of the $10 ones.
I do have the typical American luxury things - cable, cable internet, cell phone, etc. - but I really can’t think of anything that fits the intended meaning of the word.
I needed a new dress shirt a few months ago. A gal friend suggest I visit an Armani store, she would go help me find a shirt. I about choked at the prices when I looked around the store. She found a shirt with matching tie for $109.
Damn, I looked good.
I’ve spent my life (up until very recently) buying generic, using hand-me-downs, and haunting thrift stores. Since getting married, I can afford better but I still have a hard time letting go of a dollar. My husband is trying to teach me about Quality. (Both of us would giggle at the idea of Status).
When it comes to really good meals or theater tickets once in a while, I can somehow find it in my heart to spend the money. However, I was thinking about replacing my handbag ($15 dollars at Target, lasts me ten years) with a similar one. My husband is of the opinion that it would be much smarter to buy leather and have it last the rest of my life. Result: stalemate, and I go on using my old purse for another year while I think it over.
Just recently, we bought a room full of furniture from a swanky store. It boggles my mind. Since that day, I’ve taken up styling my hair and I’m getting a lot more done at work. Apparently I feel that if I’m going to own nice stuff, I need to shape up. And it hasn’t even been delivered yet!
Right, my idea of luxury goods is upscale groceries. I justify it to myself because I figure cooking at home is still cheaper (and generally healthier) than eating out, so occasionally I’ll buy fresh herbs and nice meats like lamb, seafood, or duck. Also, I buy nice alcohol compared with most college students (ex: Stolichnaya is my staple vodka).
My family was never in the habit of buying luxury goods. My folks are quite wealthy - not movie star/Fortune 500 CEO rich, but no more than a couple steps down from that - but we’ve always lived very simply given our means. I think the discipline may come from my parents’ religion. They are both very serious Christians, so the ideas of good stewardship and giving freely to charities is strong.
Well I just got an unexpected raise, and went straight to the Barney’s website and bought the Marc Jacobs shoes I have been eyeing for months. I don’t understand when people say they don’t buy designer things because they don’t care about impressing people. Unless you are a total fashionista, no one would have any idea what brand my shoes are, I could give a shit about impressing people. I buy them because they impress ME. Oh, they are freaking beautiful, I can’t wait!!
My mom grew up very very poor, and is now very wealthy, and always taught me to save, and then spend, because she has the hardest time spending her money, and doesn’t want me to agonize over every little purchase like she does.
The closest thing I come to luxury is Belvedere Vodka. Which isn’t all that expensive but expensive enough that some people almost go apoplectic upon learning that I used it as a mixer (although if I had to choose a vodka to drink straight it would be Belvedere.)
Then I discovered that Ketel One tastes just as good mixed for %75 of the cost.
I bought a really nice purse when I was in Paris. It was my reward to myself for a month of working really hard on my research, and for not blowing off days in the archives to go to the Louvre. I’m on a grad student’s budget and it was so expensive that my heart was literally pounding as I left the store.
Then I was looking around further and I saw similar bags for a full 10 times the price. I suppose that’s what luxury means - made me feel a bit pathetic. But happy, because I have a really nice leather purse that’s from Paris.
I wonder why it would impress me to pay $200 for a shirt that I can’t tell is any different than a $40 shirt. I know for a fact by looking at the label that both are made by sweatshop labor in a place like China.
It’s not all made in sweatshops, and there is usually a noticeable difference. The Marc Jacobs shoes I bought today were made in Italy. Some designer stuff is very much worth it, and some is just a ripoff because of the name, but you can’t lump everything together.
I will say though, that there is no reason to buy those $200 Alexander Wang baggy tank tops. Those are in the “ripoff because of the name” category.
A lot of luxury cars have horrible reliability. Jaguar for example are junk - you pay $60k and your car is falling apart faster than a cheap Nissan. Enjoy those leather seats while you pay a fortune for repairs.
I never buy new cars or anything that most people consider luxury.
But I have always lusted after heavy construction equipment, I finally broke down and bought a large construction forklift. I do use it a few times a week but I REALLY didn’t need it. I had to clean out a huge section of my shop to park it.
He’s my baby now and I am fixing him up like new.
My cow-orkers at my IT job kid me non-stop about it but I am happy.
Mac
I don’t buy high-end goods. I’m pretty happy with moderately priced stuff. But I did treat myself to an expensive shirt (100%) cotton. Damn, that shirt feels good! It is like silk-and fits so nicely (it has a little bit of stretch to it). Real nice!
My luxury is clothes and I buy them whenever I see something I like, which isn’t often because I’m picky; it took me years to buy a pair of jeans. I’ll cheap out for something I wear infrequently, like an evening dress, but I’ll splurge for a leather jacket or everyday bag. My latest purchase was a pair of Louboutin black pumps last week. My current wardrobe is actually pretty sparse, but everything in it is well made and beautiful.
This is exactly what I’m speaking of. Luxury goods like clothing, shoes and accessories. Since the economy is in a slump I was just curious how many people still buy premium goods.
And I’d like you to congratulate on the Louboutin purchase. They last forever and will never go out of style.
However, I was thinking about replacing my handbag ($15 dollars at Target, lasts me ten years) with a similar one. My husband is of the opinion that it would be much smarter to buy leather and have it last the rest of my life. Result: stalemate, and I go on using my old purse for another year while I think it over.
