The reason for living luxe?


I admit, I’ve been quite neglectful of this blog in the last few days. That neglect is attributable to a number of factors (muwahaha not like you guys would really care, but I’m about to give it to ya anyway hahah).

1. I’m on a diet. Yes, you read that right. I’m on this insane all- meat diet. (I loooove lamb shabu shabu right now hahaha) Yep, Atkins. Hello, it seems that I was left behind by the Atkins trend which “happened” some years ago. This all- meat diet was triggered quite recently only actually. Sooo, I attended that fashion awards event at the Intercon, remember? I wore a nice red number by Vivienne Tam, (I tried this gold version on too, which was lovely since it was of stiffer brocade fabric and hides the back fat so well, but HAH it was too expensivo so I went with the regular red version hahaha) and I had to wear support hose to hide the bulges. But here’s the thing– the underwear line wouldn’t have been able to keep the “fats” under the wraps hahaha. So when my friend JaninaDH gently “pushed” me forward (to indicate that we should go inside the ballroom), she felt the damn sixpack of backfat *muwahahaha… dies* I felt that it was time to go on a carb-free diet. It’s those pasta and rice dishes that got me them sixpacks (I only wished I packed on the fat on my bumpers hahaha). Sooo anyway, because of this carb-free diet, I now lack sugar in my body– sugar which has caused me to have that bouncing-off-the-wall-like-Tigger energy :D). Sooo I’ve been tired a lot lately. Which brings me to reason number 2!

2. I’ve been sleeping early. Nope, no need for sleeping pills, especially not after what had happened to Heath Ledger (God rest his soul). Oh, and here’s probably why I was able to sleep early too– I sorta killed that Green tea latte in my diet. I honestly think that green tea latte has absolutely nothing to do with my insomnia. Really. I mean, green tea doesn’t have as much caffeine as black coffee (not the decaf one). I think it’s all psychosomatic. But doesn’t matter. I just took green tea latte out of my regular habit. πŸ™‚ I was able to sleep!

3. I’ve been stressed. As a person, I know myself enough to believe that I actually enjoy taking problems of other people as my own *call me stoopid haha*. I’ve always been the type of a person who likes to solve everyone else’s problems *except that of my own hahahaha*. So in the last few weeks, I’ve taken on some problems of some peeps and burdened myself for a solution *sigh, like I said, call me stoopid haha*. I always want to sincerely help people if I can, because helping people generally makes me happy (seriously!! Especially if it’s a bag dilemma hahaha). The saddest part here is, the problems have absolutely nothing to do with me (haha sad, not bag related), but I tried helping them anyway– although I doubt if my version of “help” was helpful at all *sob I tried but I also don’t want to be called insensitive if I offer advice that can be quite harsh, but then again, I’m not a person who likes beating around the bush (ahem, I hate talking BS haha)*. In the end though, I realized that some people just cannot be helped– at all, in spite of all efforts and attempts to help them, giving them a second/ third chance. Call it incorrigibility (and stubbornness). They’re simply impervious to repercussions until it really hits them in the head– hard. So I am slowly learning how to detach and dissociate myself with all things negative. After all, my own roller coaster of a life has been generally a happy one (like 88% happy– show me a 100% happy person… I have yet to find one– peeps taking those “happy” pills not included please hehehe), and I’m not about to rain on my own parade πŸ™‚

Which brings me to a more important discussion below.

THE REASON FOR LIVING LUXE…

It really scares me to find out that there are people who are willing to go broke just to be able to live a luxurious life. Well let’s put it this way– I’ve been in that situation myself. Hello, Grapes cost me my whole financial life. And I’m suffering now as a result of such beauty *Muwahahaha*– I’m on a purchase ban (it’s an all- encompassing purchase ban– not just bags! hahaha) We live in a nation of ostentation where image has evolved to become “what bag does she carry, what brand of clothes does she wear, what are her shoes, orrr…. is her bag fake?”. I know this statement can infuriate many people, but it’s so true now. I am bold enough to admit that I’ve often asked that question ( I can be so biatchily judgemental too). But in this time of my self- reflection (which comes with not having blogged much– haha see, there is merit in living a “real” life too hahaha), I asked myself, have we become so shallow that we judge people by what they wear, what bag they have? The answer I’m afraid, is now a YES (even if we don’t want to openly admit it– because it IS embarrassing to admit it). This is the very reason why people socialclimb *ouch I’m hurt hahaha*, and more importantly and alarmingly why counterfeiters exist!!!

Our world has become so enamored with materialism that it has become something of a necessity to own a piece of something luxurious. It became so de rigueur to be seen in a Louis Vutton tote, or let’s climb on top of the bag chain, an Hermes birkin. It’s no sin to carry such beautiful things if you don’t have to go broke over them. True friends of yours won’t give two cents if you can’t afford a Louis Vuitton speedy or a Louis Vuitton neverfull. True friends won’t judge you because you can’t find it in your financials to cough up $9k for an Hermes birkin. Let’s face it. We love to get validated in society (of our social standing *Guilty your honor haha*) by owning some premier designer bags– in fact, there are indeed only a handful of people who buy such expensive bags because of their sincere appreciation for exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail. I know I’m being such a hypocrite for actually believing in what I have just written, but it’s true. We all LOVE luxury, and we can’t be faulted if we have caviar taste albeit having only a fishball stick budget (I confess I am one of them). After all, loving luxury is not a sin. Going broke over luxury however, is a mortal sin not to anyone else but yourself.

What is luxury? Luxury is an indulgence, not a necessity. It’s not like oxygen. So, lack thereof isn’t gonna kill you. You don’t really NEED to own that beautiful Gucci hysteria bag. But hey, if you really have a extra stash of cash that you don’t “need”, sure, indulge. And this, is the very reason for the existence of this blog. To live vicariously through the peeps who really CAN afford luxury without batting an eyelash πŸ™‚

*Dang, I gotta get me a job to fund my insane purchase! Muwahahaha* Find ways to make moolah (everyone needs to make a living, but please, don’t swindle or cheat people out of their money. It’s baaaaad!!! Hello, karma!), and then indulge in luxury πŸ™‚ And please, don’t borrow money to fund a luxurious lifestyle. It will only get ugly πŸ™ *Look what happened to me!! Purchase ban indefinite, hello?! hahahaha*

x
Mrs.T
(Bah.I’m not so Jackie after all *muwahaha*)

No Comments Yet
  1. Dear Mrs. T,

    Whilst I normally would not have made a comment, your post today made so much sense. I felt the need to commend you for profoundly explaining an ugly aftermath of a luxury storm. Louis Vuitton as Luxury Mc Donald’s immediately comes to mind.

    You are spot- on with your discussion on why people like living luxurious lives– to be socially accepted. The problem is of course society itself that which extols people who have such luxurious things. We are forgetting the real important things in life in the process– true happiness which ultimately cannot be bought by no matter how much bags or jewelry you can buy, love which does not include buying friends expensive gifts to gain their loyalty, self-worth which does not include dropping cash at some swanky store just to validate that you are VIP-treatment worthy and that the sales assistants should kiss the ground you walk on.

    There is more to life than showing off your beautiful bags, impressing sales people of your purchasing power by buying things that you don’t really need, and will probably never use or wear. And thereafter? A vicious cycle which will never end– until time comes you need to borrow money to cover ridiculous expenses.

    Overspending on luxury is such an important point that you have made, one that has, until now, been a hush- hush subject at socials. It’s a growing problem of epidemic proportions. Then you have a faltering economy, then you have the worsening debt.

    Life is so much more than the beautiful and expensive things that you would like to buy or have already bought. Life should not be lived with ostentation. I echo your sentiments when you stated that you don’t fool anyone but yourself. In your words, “going broke over luxury is a mortal sin not to anyone else but yourself”. You are spot- on.

    You have a fecund imagination that leads to such a powerful observation on human behavior when exposed to luxury. You should be writing a story on this. We could consider publishing it.

    Best of luck,
    J. Allen
    http://www.guardian.co.uk

  2. Luxury is all about somethin you can afford not something you have to borrow money to afford.

    Good observation

  3. you’re obviously updated with whats happening in the multiply world of baghags. there are 21M reasons to sleep easily at night too if you dont scam innocent folks. thank you for posting this tonight.

  4. Hi MrsT! Im happy to hear you sleep early now! I sleep late so I can read your blog ha ha!! Your post is so perfect timing because recently there are people who got scammed because of luxury and there are also people I know who have credit card problem because of luxury! Napunta ang pera sa Zara at sa Gucci Prada Louis Vuitton!!!

  5. Dear Ms. Baghag,

    Been an avid follower of your blog (since i live vicariously through it while maintaining a penniless auditor..haha i wished i was a sitar player)…

    I share the guilt and burden.

    I think collectively, we have been programmed into this wanting and needing this and that early on from childhood (i remember your blog about graduating from esprit or khumbela bags to louis vuitton or something)… i can totally relate.

    Maybe were still brainwashed by carrie bradshaw and people named serena but i noticed there was this movement from “buying” luxury to having “bespoke” (the emergence of viktor jeans and tenorio & lilia almario)

    Im re-learning not to have the latest purple gommini tod loafers (goes well with grapes for a total grimace look…haha) right now but to settle with the pretty suede blue zara mocs instead (same effect)

    I guess what im trying to say is… its nice to have an awakening of sorts, once in a while (kaya nga aha moment) but its nice to read your reflections on this crazed world of need and want. Nothing wrong with luxury/luxurious goods or experience but if the manner to which to acquire or buy into it is dubious and self-serving (nothing to do with the appreciation for beauty and quality) then ibang usapan na yan.

    Besides, my black prada nylon backpack from 15 years ago still looks great, it break my otherwise college level piggy back in the 90’s and i dont think i will part with it anytime soon…

    more power ms. baghag and maybe you can purchase some stocks while everything is down…(who knows)

  6. Oh WOW You do have keen observation because everything you wrote is true true true!!! I know women who borrow money to live a certain lifestyle and they pay by post date checks (pdcs) and always have problems getting funds to cover checks they write!

  7. your post is an eye opener to those who are guilty of such living beyond their means, lying to cover their a$$ and their debts… i was victimized this way, someone borrowing money only for me to see them use it on something unnecessary like new clothes bag and shoes, so i know what it feels like… some of us are decently making a living only to have a compulsive spender and liar borrow money from us to pay for their luxury… pathological liars exist next to counterfeiters. just goes to show we live in a sad world today… and i now have no remorse for those who are in debt because of it. thank you very much for this…

  8. Thanks peeps.

    Anonymous: Ive vaguely been told about that bag scam. I think it’s really sad. I hope those victimized can get their money back. Such a terrible story. πŸ™

    rgs- Indeed! This post has been an eye opener and I do hope overspending peeps get shaken enough to realize that luxury is not the air we breathe! And it’s not the ultimate passport to social acceptance!

    J.Allen- Thanks for your comment, I am so flattered πŸ™‚ I never thought of myself as having a “fecund imagination” haha. (I was by the way, not an anthropology major. I took up journalism though I doubt that did anything to improve my writing haha)

    anne- I know what you mean. It’s sad indeed. I think that’s the peril of PDC payments, you don’t realize checks are due and woopsie, no funds. It’s really terrible when that happens!

    anonymous (re: prada bag)- You go girl! I think we somehow need to detach ourselves from this false reality and realize that there is indeed a lot more out there than designer bags (hahaha I should talk! Ouch!!) πŸ˜€

    iya: Greenbelt 4 is the luxury bank of Manila hahaha. I know, I had made my deposits there before hahaha. Not at Zara though, but at the mighty Louis πŸ™‚

  9. It seems that the reason why a lot of luxury-goods lovers insist on toting around ΓΌber expensive items is to send the not-so-subtle message to onlookers that they’ve “made it”. It is the most supreme of ironies that a lot of people are willing to mire themselves in debt, or tote around a fake, to get this message across.

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