I know how you feel and I have someone at work who is a little like that. She always has to have the expensive purses and the expensive car and house and I know it's because she feels so inferior that having those things helps her feel better about herself so mostly I just feel sorry for her and try to tell her that those of us in the office love her without those things but I don't think she really hears me.
My sister has donney & burke (is that even spelt right) purses and I was going to but one once and went to macy and it was over $100 and I thought, how can I spend money like that on a purse when there are children starving in the world and couldn't bring myself to buy it. Not critisizing those that do, but if I have a $100 I choose to buy my $20 bargain purse and give the rest to someone who really needs it..... But also feel sorry for those that think an expensive purse or expensive anything makes them better cause that's just plain sad.