While killing time on Yahoo today, I found a link that said "Hottest hand-bags for under $50!". And it made me (irrationally) upset.
Why is this a news story?? In this economy, I find it hard to believe that I'm the only one who would look at a $50 price tag on a sparkly, "special event" purse and leap for joy. Show me the article that says Hot Handbags for under $20, and then maybe I'll be interested. If it was a bag I would get multi-seasonal, long-term use out of (or one that could double as a diaper bag!) then I would consider spending $50 on it. I saw an article last week that was something like "the perfect LBD for less than $100!!" Uh, it better be way less than $100 or it's certainly not finding a home in my closet!
Maybe it's the shift in my life recently, going from a two-income to a single-income family while also preparing for a new child. Maybe it's because I'm pushing 30 (less than month now...). Who knows why. But, I grow increasingly more frustrated with the conflicting messages in our media. We are constantly reminded how piss-poor our economy has become. Layoffs all over the country. Rising prices for basic essentials. Foreclosure rates on the rise. Families making choices between health insurance and food.
But on those very same news pages, we find stories like the one I came across, touting the everyday accessibility of these sometimes very extravagant items based on their "low" prices. My favorite version of this are the articles Yahoo posts at least weekly "How Much House Will $X00,000 Buy You?". These articles compare the differences in houses for the same price in various markets around the country. And more often than not, the "$X00,000" is typically $500,000 or more. I'm aware that housing markets vary greatly across the country, and that there are many places in the US where $500K is the median home price. But again, in this economy, I doubt that the average American is looking for a $500K home. I doubt many of them see that article and read it with much interest outside of just wanting to see what amenities $500K could buy.
Much in the same way the average American woman is probably not bouncing with delight over spending just $50 on a handbag to match that $100 LBD (insert snark here). Now mind you, to me, the "average American woman" is a mom. And whether she stays at home or works outside the home, I assure you that one of her top priorities is finding ways to stretch every dollar. She likely has methods like couponing, buying things in bulk, buying items used when possible, the list goes on.... But - hold on to your hats, Yahoo! - one of her methods also probably includes NOT spending $50 on a bedazzled purse.
I know it's hard to believe, but it actually is possible to clothe ourselves and our families in something that doesn't look like Hillbilly Holly once wore it AND not spend a fortune. Is it easy? Not always. Is it always convenient? No. It usually requires clearance rack shopping, or perusing consignment stores. Looking for sales and price-matching around town. And God forbid you be a size outside of "normal", that just adds to the complication. But is it possible? Absolutely. And if you are blessed with a seamstress' hand, you can customize your look as much as you want for even less.
So please, please, please, media sites, I beg you. Stop telling us how bad things are, then insinuating we simply must have the hot new $50 handbag. Because trust us, we already know how bad things are and more than likely, that $50 handbag is pretty hideous anyway.
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