Splurge vs. steal...
Several times this week I've seen a segment on the Today Show telling us how to "get the look for less." Although I appreciate the effort, I'm not sure that I'm buying into the hype. Sure everyone likes a good deal, but come on...is $228 for a pair of pants really a steal? Sure it is, when you put them next to a pair that cost $1305! Seriously, who spends that kind of money on pants?! The cute brown leather Kenneth Cole boots I recently purchased from the clearance rack for $25 is a what I consider a steal. Not to mention the 3 adorable dresses I found at 20 bucks a pop...that is a bargain!!! Please, someone tell me, am I just out of touch with what things cost these days because I love the thrill of the hunt for a good deal? Or maybe I'm not part of the target audience that the Today Show is attempting to reach. Regardless, if I spent $200 on a pair of pants, no matter how fabulous they claim to make my ass look, I'd be in therapy working through the guilt of post purchase dissonance for the next year.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: FOR ANY READERS IN MY AREA...DILLARDS IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. GOOD DEALS GALORE!!!!
14 comments:
On most days I don't like to spend a lot of money on myself. Sometimes I splurge, but it has to be absolutely perfect. I didn't have the chance to see these episodes that you mentioned, but I'm wondering the same thing that you are. Also, I'm wondering, who did the producer of the show think was watching this? Well, I guess that the today show doesn't cater to the average person anymore.
Well let me preface this saying I may not be the best person to respond to this one because I HATE TO SHOP! But regardless, I am a person who suffers SEVERE post-purchase dissonance when I pay more than $40 for a pair of pants let alone $200!!! Being a fuller figured woman has it's effect on the prices I pay anyways, I don't need any other contributors to the inflation!!!
It does make you wonder who watches that show, I mean (and no offense to those of you that do it), when I see a person who would even consider paying that much for a pair of pants, I want to slap the s*** out of them thinking, that would cover my childcare bill for the month and more!!! The mere concept of a 75-80% off sale to me suggests that the crap was WAY over-priced to begin with!!!
They put "deals" like that in magazines all the time. Are they crazy. I don't think I've even spent that much on a wedding dress-or all of my wedding dresses together!!! I don't know if I'm thrifty or cheap but I do love a good bargain, and I'm always looking. This is not a bargain.
Anonymous~I enjoy splurging on somee things from time to time. But it's definately got to be something that can have for almost a life time, bags, art etc. Hardly ever clothes that I may not be able to wear in a year because I've gained or lost a few pounds.
Tera~No friend of mine hates to shop. I may have to rethink some things :) You know, I never thought about the deep discount in that way, interesting.
Michelle~You know, my wedding dress was pretty inexpensive too. Bargin hunting must run in the family!
The Today Show originates in NYC; that automatically pushes it out of the price range of anyone who ISN'T living on either the right or left coast. I watch junk like that with a very filtered view. It's like walking into Banana Republic. That store kills me. They want you to think that $90 is a perfectly reasonable price for a boring khaki skirt. Or that someone is really going to pay $120 for essentially a vee-neck sweater. Period. It is to laugh. That store bores me silly. At least at Express, you are paying for quality AND STYLE.
Nina-I guess there is a first time for everything!!! No need for re-evaluation :)
You know I wasn't going to "shout out" the Banana Republics and Abercrombies of the world, but those stores are INSANE!!! But regardless of price, their marketers don't "speak" to me anyways...aside from the fact that their prices are absolutely ridiculous, they are among the dozens of stores that still think that everyone in America wears a size 7/8 pants and 8 1/2 shoe!!! NOT!!!
Nance~I guess us "little city" girls just don't measure up in the eyes to big time producers! I personally don't like express because they make shirts for women with small chests and I'm not one of them! At least that's the way it used to be, I boycotted that store years ago :(
Having lived in NYC for a few years, I know many people who would spend that much money on clothing. There was a particular gay guy in one of my classes who raved on his blog about how he was so excited that he got a D&G shirt for 70% off...so it was only $130. I also remember him buying two pairs of sunglasses for a steal at $400.
I also have a JAP friend who has several pairs of shoes that are each worth over $500. It's ridiculous.
It's a rare day when I spend more than $30 on a single piece of clothing.
Induced~ I guess spending the big bucks on so called deals maybe translates to living in big cities? Good for you though for not succumbing to the pressures of high fashion city life! I must say, I don't completely disagree with the shoes...I LOVE shoes. I just can't afford to love shoes!
Splurging, saving, splurging, saving,....Living in BIG cities and small, I've only met a hand full of people who have gone way out of their way to by something so that they could brag about it. And really, that's the only reason why they bought them. I've never walked up to a friend and noticed that they were wearing the 300 dollar pants that I saw at the store the day before, without them asking me if I noticed them first. I think that it's a pride thing or peer preasure thing. Although, the whole Ice Cream line intices me. I bet that I'd brag....hehe.
anonymous~most braggers have pride issues to begin with. I think the two often go together.
Thanks for dropping by my blog Nina! You have quite a nice one here and I LOVE your dog's name! Scrappy Doo! He is just too cute!
I've been having a hard time with their idea of a bargain too. I'm very impressed with $25.00 Kenneth Coles. That is a real bargain! And that you were able to get boots this time of year? I'm very impressed. I've been looking for boots and have just given up until next season. *sigh, sigh, sigh* : (
Anali~Thanks!! I definately stumbled upon the boots by accident! But I have found that if you can hold off...the end of the season sales are always the most rewarding!
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