Explaing Your Purchases

@Raine38 (12387)
United States
January 10, 2016 12:54pm CST
I witnessed a conversation among my friends one time during a party: Friend A: That is a very expensive purse! How much did you pay for it? Friend B: $900+. Friend A: OMG! Why did you buy it? Do you realize what you can do with that money? Friend B: I have been saving up for it for months and I made sure that our bills and other payments are updated. Friend A: I will never spend that kind of money for just a purse. It's just a purse! Friend B: .... Honestly, my sympathies are with my friend B. She is not in debt, she is not bugging anybody, she is not flaunting it, and if she wants it and she can afford it by all means she's got all right to buy it. I do not think she needs to explain herself to anyone, and she definitely does not need to justify her purchase to friend A. I am not saying this because I also happen to own luxury bags, this is in general. A person's choice, especially if it makes him or her happy and definitely not harming anyone, should not be judged nor ridiculed by anyone. We all have our own "thing", that is friend B's thing: bags. I am sure friend A has her own "thing" and I am also sure that she will not appreciate being judged by it either.
8 people like this
11 responses
41Combedale
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
10 Jan 16
I hate being asked how much something costs and it happens all the time in Greece. As I am English I find this quite rude and the result of answering is not good anyway. If it was expensive there is either a comment or silence., if it was a cheap but good buy people can resent having missed a good deal. As I am hopeless with figures I usually plead my inability to remember numbers. So I give a vague reply that is no answer at all.
4 people like this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
11 Jan 16
@Raine38 I tell people that is my business and leave it at that as they should not be asking about prices or earnings.
1 person likes this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
11 Jan 16
@Marcyaz sadly some people feel entitled to those details about someone else
1 person likes this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
10 Jan 16
That is one good way of handling it. It's pretty much the same when people ask you how much you earn.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238342)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 Jan 16
I reckon it's just a conversation. If they know each other well, they're just discussing priorities. For me, it's not purses. It's musical instruments. I own more guitars than I "need." But I'm debt-free and can afford them.
3 people like this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
10 Jan 16
And that is the important thing. We work hard and I do not see why it is wrong or frowned upon to indulge ourselves in our interests.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
11 Jan 16
@TheHorse If very good friends that is a different matter. Good for you being debt-free and can buy as many as you want.
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
10 Jan 16
You are correct we should not judge anyone it is her money and what she does with it is her business. I have a family member who buys shoes and more shoes. She buys a lot of them on ebay and they are expensive but she pays a small amount for them. She must have 50 pairs of shoes and boot. She asked me one day how many pairs of tennis shoes do you have and I said two as I don't need more than that as I can only wear one pair a day. She laughed at that statement.
3 people like this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
10 Jan 16
You have plenty for you. She might feel she still has few despite her numerous pairs. It is really subjective.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
11 Jan 16
@Raine38 Yes it certainly is subjective.
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
11 Jan 16
I can understand that a person wants to spend $900 on a single purse, provided that she does not buy an expensive one every year. i have friends who have 20 luxury bags. The price ranges from $1000 to $4000. This is the kind of behavior I do not like.
2 people like this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
11 Jan 16
Wow $4,000? I think that's way out of my reach. The only way I'll buy a purse of that amount is when I win the powerball
Boingboing
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
10 Jan 16
In her shoes I would have not told A what it cost. We all have different priorities.
2 people like this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
10 Jan 16
I believe that we can just agree to disagree. What is important for A may not be that for B, and vice versa.
Angie
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
10 Jan 16
back in 2003, I had a tenant say this to me after I bought my new car : You just wasted money! I could have bought a house for what you paid for that car. I could not help myself when I said " my money and not yours"
3 people like this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
10 Jan 16
Exactly. And good for you for not falling into the I-have-to-explain thing.
1 person likes this
Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
11 Jan 16
I totally agree with you! Everyone has their own likes... Friend B may like purses but Friend A may like to go out drinking (which also costs a lot) or obsession with shoes. I love purses also and prefer quality purses!
1 person likes this
Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
11 Jan 16
@Raine38 Exactly why I purchase a little more expensive because they last longer and a better investment. I rather have 1 compared to 5-10.
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
11 Jan 16
I am also a purse person, and I only have a few, but they are real quality ones. I don't mind having few that lasts me forever. In the long run, it will be a good investment as I do not have to buy new ones to replace them because they do not get ruined easily.
2 people like this
hereandthere
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 Jan 16
i would probably be afraid of misplacing or dirtying such an expensive bag.
1 person likes this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
12 Jan 16
No kidding! And even if i am mot using it, i will probably baby it.
1 person likes this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148749)
• Roseburg, Oregon
10 Jan 16
People think nothing of buying a great big TV that you do not need. Your friends would not say anything about that.
2 people like this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
10 Jan 16
Or a new vehicle.
1 person likes this
Sharon
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
11 Jan 16
I couldn't agree with you more. Even if friend B put herself in debt to buy the purse, it's still her business. She is the one that has to be accountable for her actions, not friend A. And, unless friend A and B are great friends, friend A shouldn't be asking friend B how much something costs. That's rude.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
11 Jan 16
@simone10 Very rude indeed.
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
11 Jan 16
Somehow, some part of me says that A could be jealous of B. And since A is not equipped like B, she makes B feel bad of her choice.
Dalane
@Dalane (691)
• United States
11 Jan 16
Person A is definitely in the wrong for for asking how much it cost. Peson B should have just said "Excuse me?" and nothing more.
1 person likes this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
11 Jan 16
I wonder if she is merely curious or I there is some jealousy into play. I can somehow understand her want to know, but I think the extra side comment is unnecessary.
1 person likes this