I am somewhat of a collector of purses.  Nothing too formal, but when I see something I like, I buy it if I can afford it.  I have several coach bags just because I found a really good deal on eBay when a woman was selling off several of them.  My favorite though is a Brighton purse that I bought at a specialty store when I was visiting California.  Brighton purses are known for their high quality and for having a great warranty.  This last part means a lot for me for a purse or for any other product.  I prefer to only pay for something if I know it is being backed up by its maker.  Brighton purses do this and look good at the same time.  My next purchase that I'm saving up for is another Brighton to add to my collection.s

You should always keep in mind the real value of what you are purchasing when you think you are getting away with a steal.  There are times that buying the cheapest possible item is fine, but sometimes, you should consider whether the loss in quality is really worth the "savings" you might see at first.

Designer purses are a good example of this philosophy in action.  There are some people who are perfectly happy buying cheap knockoff purses that will fall apart in a month.  Others would rather spend a small amount of time finding authentic designer purses at reasonable prices and know that they will have a great looking bag for years to come.  To me, the second method is the only one that makes any sense.  It is a personal decision, but long term value should always be considered if you are buying something for more than just the extreme short term.