What’s Love (And Money) Got To Do With It?

There’s no quicker way to elicit a choked response, followed by a death glare from your partner, than them finding out that your new Chanel bag cost a whopping $10,725 CAN pre-tax.

WTF… for real.

For many of us, one big purchase at Chanel can be categorized as a financial black hole that could suck the life and love out of a relationship. It doesn’t have to!!! I can’t count how many times I’ve told my husband that something was going to be the last bag I’ll buy… Spoiler alert, it wasn’t! But a balance can be achieved between your relationship goals and the Chanels lining your shelf.

So let’s start a discussion about timeless Chanel bags and nourishing a marriage that stands the tests of, well time and money.

I want both, don’t you?

Guilty, As Charged.

All the Chanels that our guests saw on our wedding day were bought by ME with MY money.

For a long, long time, I was free to spend my money however I wanted! It’s called being single.

So it took years to wrap my head around how to manage money as a couple and how I was going to add my dream bag to the equation - the Chanel Trendy CC, better known as Trendo to my hubby.

All the bag blogs I read offered one perspective on these heart-stopping luxuries that I could relate to: buying when you’re free of financial commitments (e.g., family, children, etc.).

Well, what the hell do I do now that I’m married?

How It Started: My First Luxury Bag

It might come as a surprise, but my first luxury bag was a vintage, camel-coloured Dior briefcase that I loved so, so much.

It was a gift from my dear friend while we were in university! My broke ass carried that briefcase to every job interview after graduation. The person I was with that bag got me the jobs that launched my career and fund my Chanels + Dior.

Buying My First Chanel Bag

Even though I was debt-free by 2016, I didn’t buy my first Chanel bag until December 2018.

I had my heart set on a medium Classic Double Flap Bag in black, but was distracted by a similarly-priced Boy Bag in red patent leather. I’m glad I went with the flap bag for my first bag. It is a classic for a reason!

Before 2008’s Great Depression, Chanel’s stunning CC turn-lock (Karl Lagerfeld’s contribution to the French fashion house) was actually plated in 24 karat gold. Oh, be still my heart! It was just my luck to be 10 years late to the party, so I scoured the preloved market for months in search of real gold hardware against a backdrop of buttery-soft lambskin quilting.

First Impressions of the Chanel Classic Flap

I was over the moon with my Chanel! Instead of hiding my purchase, which I had worked hard for, my hubby (then boyfriend) couldn’t hear about it enough, even if he tried.

I regaled him with Classic Flap stories: the secret pocket where Coco hid her love letters (also where I’ll hide his letters if he writes me one!), the Great Depression’s impact on post-2008 handbag hardware, and the burgundy interior was purposefully chosen to make it easier to find things in your purse.

That was how I came to own a beautiful, lasting piece of fashion history! It was the exclamation point to my outfits, and it came downtown with me where I’d sip coffee, people-watch, and write.

Quite simply, there was no such thing as a bad day with this bag.

And it was important that my hubby saw how happy I was with it. Here’s why:

Money Values x Financial Literacy

Having a good relationship with money, whether individually or as a couple, means knowing your own money values (i.e., factors affecting how you feel about money) and those of your partner’s.

Money values should do three things for you: align with your priorities, move you closer to financial stability, and make you happy!

Showing your hubby that a Chanel bag will make you happy is the easiest! And of course, he wants you to be happy too. But what about the other two things?

1. What are your priorities as a couple?
   
   You have to talk to each other about money, or learn how to talk about it. No wife or husband wants to hear about an outrageous expenditure after you bought it! Draw a picture, do a dance, just let us know what you’re planning to do.
   
   Even if you earned the money, your financial decisions now affect you both. You don’t need to ask for permission, but you gotta keep your other half in the loop about what’s important to you.
   
   

2. How will buying a Chanel affect your financial stability?

   Chanel prices only increase. In 2021 alone, there were three price increases!

   At the end of the day, you can’t live in a handbag. Acting on the FOMO because of these increases will only drive you further away from achieving financial stability.
   

So Where Does A Chanel Bag Actually Fit In Your Marriage?

You know what? We made room! Keyword being ‘we’.

The Trendo story goes a little like this:
I saw this exact picture in the Holt Renfrew Women's Fall 2019 Magazine and was smitten. So smitten, that I cut the picture out and stuck it where my hubby wouldn’t/couldn’t miss it.

Then we talked.

Talks about priorities: buying a home, having a wedding, having kids, and at the impressive age of 40 - Trendo would majestically grace my shelf. As you can see, we had a rough plan in place… No surprise ending here!

And we kept talking. Until one day there was extra money put aside to avert financial emergencies AND get Trendo. Hubby wanted me to enjoy Trendo earlier (before 40), and I was thrilled out of my socks!

Even when we had the funds, a small Trendy CC in black wasn’t exactly easy to find in Chanel Boutiques. So imagine my shock when we sauntered in on a Wednesday afternoon and I got my hands on the last one - without being on a waitlist for months. Trendo and me? It was meant to be!

Next,  And Most Importantly…

Who cares what the world’s gonna say? They’re gonna say it anyway!

Luxury bags draw attention, and people will form opinions about them! Some people will think you’re frivolous, some will think your husband buys you everything (Excuse me, I come with my own baggage), some will think your bags are fake, and others just don’t care!

You don’t answer to them, so who cares?

What really matters is you, your money values, and who you’re riding into the sunset with.

Hope this post was helpful in your Chanel journey! Leave a comment and I’ll see you next time!