Designer purses, how do you afford them?
 

Ok, we talk a lot about Coach and LV and D&B purses on here.... many of you have multiple designer purses that range from $400 up to $1000. :eek: How do you afford them? I got my 2nd coach at the Coach factory store for $225 and the wallet for $107. I was sooooo very happy but felt so guilty spending $350 on a pocketbook and wallet. I have another coach pocketbook and wallet that were a gift to me, but thats it. How do you all afford them? I see teenagers walking around with Coach all the time now... I can tell when they are real and I wonder how does a 17 year old afford a $400 pocketbook? :confused: I want to be able to buy MORE of them, maybe an LV but there is NO WAY I could afford to even buy one used for $500! Any ideas?? Or do I just save save save then blow it all on a pocketbook and matching wallet (cuz you need those to match right?)? LOL :D

I'm a big designer bag fan lolol I have a very nice collection now because I've been buying them for a few years. Hubby and I both have good jobs, so that helps. Also, hubby is extremely generous and is always surprising me with bags as gifts. I think it helps that he's so generous because I have a lot of friends who can AFFORD designer bags but whose husbands would never let them buy one.

I don't think we do anything extra special to afford them. But if I were you and I really wanted a nice expensive bag, I would put some money aside every month ... say, $400 a month. It would only take you 3 months to save up for a $1,200 bag (but don't forget the tax lol) :p

My FAVORITE designers are LV, Gucci, Chanel, Prada and Dior. But I also really like Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry (not a HUGE Burberry fan cause I'm not THAT into plaid but I do have a few really cute ones), Versace, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Valentino, Chloe, Miu Miu and Giorgio Armani.

I'm also really into the "not so well known" couture designers because I like having a bag that people can't always guess the brand lol Like Chloe and Miu Miu, for example. :p

Ok let me stop hogging this thread lolol It's just that I can talk about my bags all day hahaha :D

Ok, here's my secret as to how I get mine but you have to keep this just between us. :p

I am a super good girl all year (well,I just make sure that I don't get caught being naughty) and then I am given beautiful designer handbags at Christmas. :D For me, it's a tough job to behave allllllllll year, but hey....those Coach bags make it worth it.

Seriously, mine are normally gifts. :)

Tammy

I go to the Coach Factory Outlet store when I go with my friend to visit her family in San Juan, PR. Purses are like 1/2 the price than at the store. The only thing is they are the past season or later. Plus, I just found at the a DSW Shoe Warehouse has discounted Coach shoes.

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It is all priorities...I would spend several thousands buying a Yorkie, but not a purse, shoes or even jewelry...no one looks twice at my real diamonds, haul out the fakes and people always comment on them...
I do not travel in $1000 purse circles, so it is not important to me...but if it was.... I would save for it, look for sales and resales...and sit up all night looking at it to make sure it did not get stolen ...LOL

HAHAHAHA Thats me!!! I bought my Coach from the factory store and it was only $225. (I know CHEAP RIGHT??? LOL) and I swear I don't EVER leave it in the car or anywhere that my eyes are not on it. I can't afford to replace it! HAHA :D

I was more wondering if anyone had any secrets of getting REAL ones at knockoff prices and that is how they have sooo many! :) Please share THAT info!!!

Sometimes you can find really good deals at the outlets, department stores like Macy's have them on sale at the end of a season to make room for new ones. If you are lucky that they still have them on sale days you can get an additional % off if you use your Macy's card. Occassionaly T.J. Maxx/Marshall's will have some Coach and Dooney too. Another way is to use mypoints.com and you build up enough points to earn gift certificates to deptarment stores and apply it towards a bag. As for Coach shoes, besides the regular dept. stores, DSW also carries them from time to time. My most recent Coach bag (Denim Signature Stripe Satchel) was a bday/xmass gift from my Bf. For the boys I got their Coach collars and leashes from the outlet, which is half the price in a retail store. I personally am not so much into the ultra designer bags, since they tend more to be "of that season" and will not be used again after that.

I wanted a couch bag so bad several years ago that my son bought
me one for Christmas with matching wallet. I'm gonna be honest and
say after the novelty wore off I disliked it very much. I thought the
leather felt like cardboard and in time did crack around the buckle.
I threw it up in the closet for a couple of years and then stuck it in
good will! I am not a designer person. I rather take $400.00 and go shopping
and come home with something other than one purse.
I bought a beautiful Tommy Hilfiger bag Sat with price tag of $95.00.
I got it for $14.99:p Now that I can get excited over.
My granddaughter and two daughter's collect designer bags. Not me.
You gotta do what like, life's to short not too.

My only splurges have been thrown on a credit card and I am MAJORLY regretting that now! I am banned until I can pay everything off and then I am saving up and treating myself to an authentic LV Speedy 25. Im pretty sure I will be sleeping and showering with it when that finally happens! haha

I would go for bags that are more timeless. Black/brown leather and stuff you can wear over and over again. It will make you feel better about spending the money on it if you get TONS of use out of it. Check out Marshall's/ TJ Maxx..they have last season bags that are even cheaper than the outlets. You can always go the replica route..people have such polarized opinions on them, but they are an option... I know of a few replica websites if you're interested you can PM me :)

Well I guess I call it splurging but I am a big fan of Dooney but I don't spend more than $150-175 on those but I am getting a coach this summer and I will spend no more than $400 (which will be the most expesive purse I ever owned) but I can tell you this much, my purses last me a while....I'm not the type of person to switch up my purses alot (well designer purses that is) :)....but thanks to God's blessing us me and the hubs have fairly decent jobs :)

ETA: Also I am the kind of person where if its not the REAL THING I will NOT wear it oppose to my sister who will wear a REPLICA in a heartbeat, I would refuse to wear it but thats just me and ALWAYZ been like that. I would rather wear a $30 JcPenney purse than where a replica Coach purse.

Check your TJ Maxx. I was at mine a few days ago and they had Coaches and Dooneys for around $199. Also a few Cole Haans which IMO are much nicer leather. If you have a runway TJ Maxx within driving distance you can really score- they always have tons of designer bags. I'm not a Coach or Dooney girl personally, they are really popular in my town and I hate seeing my stuff on everyone around me. There are a lot of great purse designers who are lesser known and fabulous quality. Check out Bergeren, Gustto, Dutchy, Tano, Moni Moni. All much nicer than Coach or Dooney IMO and you wont see everyone and theur mother carryinf a version of your bag. I don't put LV in the same category as any of them. It's a high end handbag and all of the others are mid range. If you really really just have your heart set on Coach then watch the sales and hit the outlets.

I guess it just all depends on what you want to spend your money on...and I guess how much money you make.

Right now, I can afford my bags because I live at home, have a good job and relatively few bills. I also have a very generous boyfriend. In addition, I have never paid full price for a bag. I wait until my PCE card comes every three months and then I get 25% off.

In a few months, my boyfriend and I will start building our house and then I won't be able to afford them. :cry:

Designer purses are one thing that I LOVE. I'm not a big shoe freak or obsessed with many other things. (Mainly just purses and clothes) so I guess I have more money to spend on nice bags since I don't have to have expensive shoes and stuff! LOL im not sure if I made any sense at all! I guess what I'm trying to say is designer purses are important to me, so I am cheap with other things! :)

I am the same way! Its gotta be real... Im spoiled, what can I say? LOL

I wish I had a sig other/hubby/whatever to help with the bills, even though I have a pretty decent job and make decent money I own my own townhouse and that takes all my money! :)