Originally Posted by centaur532 (Post 1381655)

I don't drink Starbucks coffee at all. I'm all about Fair Trade Coffee. I'm as meticulous about it as a vegetarian is about not eating meat.
Well, my example-right after the tsunami, I had money from christmas. I wanted this really nice leather jacket that was on sale, but I knew I couldn't justify spending $100 on something I wanted but didn't need when there were people who'd just had their entire lives wiped out halfway around the world.
It's not a price cutoff, it's just how my conscience feels on a particular day :D
This christmas I didn't know what I wanted from my parents and they kept asking, so finally I showed my mother this website : http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/ and spent $50 investing in a fair trade coffee collaborative.
I am a privileged westerner as is. I have clean water, clothes, food and shelter. I have a cell phone and a computer with internet access. I drive a decent car which I can fill with gas whenever I want, no problem.
Don't get me wrong-I do not begrudge people for wanting and buying expensive items (except Paris Hilton etc. she disgusts me!). It's all a matter of perspective.
Occasionally I do remind myself that I am allowed to spend large amounts of money on things I want because the cost of living is so different over here. Also I can't save the world, as much as I'd like to.
Oh, on topic-I own a fake Tiffany necklace. It looks pretty real, not very, but real enough. I'm not sure where it is actually.

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga (Post 1381672)

Starbucks was just an example of something one could buy that costs probably five time what it would cost to make something yourself, but that would still wouldn't kick up my "is it immoral to buy this" meter because the amount of money I was handing over wasn't that big. In your case, it would kick up the "is this immoral meter," but for different reasons.

I didn't see the Unwrapped page before. I've been intrigued by Heifer International in the past and we had a fundraising contest at work for them, but never purchased anything on my own.

If only international fundraising could be the next expensive college fashion trend. . .

Originally Posted by macallan25 (Post 1381704)

The proper Southern fratty sorostitute should be wearing pearls and David Yurman. "Return to Tiffany's" crap was cool in 7th grade.

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby (Post 1381678)

This is why I can't stand the idea of a wedding registry. I have dishes and stuff, why would I replace them?

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby (Post 1381678)

This is why I can't stand the idea of a wedding registry. I have dishes and stuff, why would I replace them?

Originally Posted by FuzzieAlum (Post 1381742)

Are you sure your interns aren't from Nashville?

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin (Post 1381714)

David Yurman is like the jewelry they sell at Sears, but marked up in hopes that people pay for it.

Originally Posted by Denise_DPhiE (Post 1381459)

I used to manage a department of sixteen recent college grads, almost all women. I was paying them $30k a year. They were living in NYC apartments with one or two roommates to make ends meet (and probably eating Ramen noodles). They ALL had real Kate Spades, Coach Bags, Louis, Tiffany pieces and whatever else.

To me, if you don't have $400 in cash to put in the purse, then you shouldn't be carrying a $400 bag.

Originally Posted by sigmadiva (Post 1381756)

I agree!!!! I look at Yurman and ask why would anyone pay all that money for twisted silver jewelry!!!

Originally Posted by KillarneyRose (Post 1381748)

Too weird, but one of them is actually from a suburb of Nashville (Mead something. I'm thinking Meadeville, but that's a town in Pennsylvania so I know it's not that).