Ladies: when buying handbags and wallets, do you insist on buying expensive brands or is that not part of your decision?

For me, it’s all about the usage I will get out of it plus how it looks. I currently have a pleather purse from Wet Seal, with gold embellishments, and one of those flat type wallets, also from there. For both I paid around 50, and they’re serving the purpose. I do love Coach, Chanel, LV, etc, however I don’t have the money for them. Plus the fact that I like to switch it up every so often. I do have a small Coach bag that my mother gave me for being in her wedding party, however I really don’t use it too often. Maybe if I found a designer bag that I REALLY liked, I’d definitely save up and buy it.
But having a 40 dollar purse that is great in every aspect, is fine with me.

And might I add, I like decently big purses. Not disgustingly huge ones, but big. My boyfriend is always giving me his crap to hold, and I need to put it somewhere!

I beat hell out of handbags and pocket books and yes, I buy good ones. I didn’t used to. I have a vuitton bag thats been run over, lost in the desert and washed in the machine. I have a filson leather bag that’s been beat up too. They still look ok. Another thing I’ve got my money’s worth out of is watches.

I buy what I can afford… especially if its on sale.

Price matters to me… I won’t spend over 50 bucks on a purse because not only am I hard on them, I get bored with them quickly. My billfold does not usually even match my purse, it’s whatever I got for under 20 bucks. I’m on a pretty tight budget, so my money goes on more important things…Shoes!

So far, people have justified spending $50 for well-made bags. I can see why… they don’t want the thing falling apart the way a counterfeit bag would probably do.

But I see absolutely no reason for a $2000 bag. Just because someone is able to make such a huge purchase, doesn’t mean they should. In fact, It’s those very people who the federal government should tax more, since they have obviously extremely and literally disposable income.

Not part of the decision. I get 90% of my stuff at garage sales and second hand stores.

i insist on buying nonexpensive bags lol

I usually buy cheap ones from the thrift store, funky ones handmade by hippies or sold at places like the Renaissance Fair, or I make them myself. Brand names make me laugh, but I insist they be functional. It needs to hold my knitting (when applicable) and at least a paperback book.

In the winter I just stow the important bits in my coat pocket.

I don’t do brand names. I’m not a billboard. But I do buy quality pieces that look expensive. But, no, you won’t catch me with a COACH bag or Fendi shades. That’s unnecessary imo.

I like a nice purse, but the last Coach bag I bought was from www.shopgoodwill.com, and cost me $30. It had never been used.

I’m more picky about size and length of strap than anything else.

I never buy retail for a purse, unless it’s at TJ Maxx or some place that discounts. My favorite purses come from craft fairs.

I don’t insist on buying anything expensive. If it’s in nice shape and it works for what I want then that’s enough.

When choosing a purse I am too more picky about size, pockets, zippers, strap etc..

I go for cheap. I would never buy a “statement” bag just so people will think I spent a lot of money on it.

I get my good bags from a vegan shop, since I don’t buy leather so they tend to be a little pricey. But when I can find cheap vegan bags and wallets for cheap I’m all for it.

No. I go by what looks cute and affordable, and what I feel I can use with any outfit. My wallet is white leather, and I’ve had it for years. I need to replace it but I hate replacing something I love and trust.

I buy what I can afford. For my birthday once I received a beautiful Chanel purse and I love it. But I wouldn’t have bought it myself. There are plenty of lovely no-name purses that are just as good as the expensive designer ones.

It’s not the price but the brand I have loved since my teen years isn’t inexpensive. I justify my purchases by the example the bags hold up very well with minimal care 15 years and more. I’ll take my Brahmin brand of leather bags over a designer named cloth bag any day. I get a ton of compliments on them from co workers who complain about the ugliness and priciness of the designer bags their wives and daughters insist on.

It definitely has to be functional. It could say “Walmart” in big bold letters on the side, and I’d buy it as long as it performed like I need it to. But, a cute one doesn’t hurt. ;)

On the contrary. I do not use anything that advertise who made it visibly on the product. I loved Coach when they first started—just great leather bags that they would fix forever. When the name went on the outside is when I stopped buying them. And I never by anything with little insignias of any kind on the shirts, jackets, or anything. Just quirky me. I also try hard to never buy anything I see advertised on TV—for example, medicines I would never use if they advertise.

I am mostly picky about how many pockets it has, that it has two straps instead of one, and how secure the zippers are. I prefer my possessions to not be advertisements for some company so I avoid anything with the company name on the outside.

Some of the best purses I have purchased were on sale at Kohl’s and Marshall’s, both of which are stores that scavenge the clearance and last season items from other big stores. And the best purse I ever got was an apparently unused one that I found at Goodwill. I typically spend less than $10 on a purse and then use it for five or more years.

I have several different purses, and I generally just go with what looks cute because I switch off frequently. I do enjoy Coach wristlets quite a bit for both the style and the quality, and I was given 2 as gifts in the last few years so I’ve been carrying those around.

I usually just see a cute purse at the mall or Target and go with that.

I haven’t bought a purse in a very very long time…the last one I bought was either my $2 sushi print purse (cheap but does its job) or my $26 NBC purse from Disneyland. (It is actually a perfect purse, even before the decorations come into play. :D ) Recently, I have just put my wallet in my backpack and not even bothered with a purse…why carry two bags if you don’t need to?

I guess I do like to buy some name brand things (quality issues: backpacks, shoes, jeans) but for the most part I buy what I like.

And for the record, I have never owned a purse that cost more than $30. My money goes to books and tea. :D

I get all my handbags at Salvation Army or Goodwill. I have a lot of vintage things because they knew how to sew back then.

i have some brandname purses and wallets, but brandname really doesnt matter to me, if i like it i will buy it…

I don’t buy extremely cheap items, but I change entirely too often to buy expensive!