Gucci Belts and Lattes

The following article was inspired by these patronizing quotes:

“Are you latte-ing away your financial future?” Smart Women Finish Rich, David Bach

“Attended a financial conference full of millionaires this week, not one Gucci belt in sight. Wealth is quiet” @betterwallet on Instagram 

I mean, throw in a designer purse and you have the essentials of any basic bitch wardrobe. And don’t misunderstand – I AM HERE FOR IT.

These items are dripping in feminine swag energy, and I fully support women investing in themselves in all forms – including purchasing/wearing/doing whatever the fuck lights them up.   So, leave it to the patriarchy to swoop in and demonize said objects – reiterating the stereotype that women are irresponsible with money, spending on such frivolous items as Gucci belts and lattes. 

The truth is, this is complete bullshit and statements like these are harmful and incredibly patronizing. The latte controversy was, in large part, sparked by “The Latte Factor.” A book written by middle aged white men with none other than a young working women as the subject, desperately in need of out of date financial advice from a mansplaining millionaire hero. The Gucci belt Instagram post? Also a male in the financial industry.  

Notice, in both cases, that men chose to focus the frivolous spending stigma on predominantly feminine subjects or items. They aren’t calling out beer, sporting events, Rolex watches, the latest tech gadget….. You get my point. The subject of the book wasn’t a young man struggling to manage his finances in the big scary world. In fact, there is rarely any stigma surrounding frivolous items that are more masculine in nature. And, according to this article, men spend more money with less guilt. 

So, what’s my point? Wealth isn’t masculine or feminine, good or bad, basic or luxury. Sometimes it is quiet, sometimes it is loud as fuck. But it is always personal. Do not let someone tell you what your path to wealth should look like. Don’t fall into the trap of sacrificing your values because someone implied they were frivolous, basic, generic, or unnecessary. If you value Gucci on your waist and a latte in your hand, there is no reason to feel guilt or shame for making room in your spending plan for these things. Your values are your own. You can value being financially responsible and do it with a designer bag on your damn shoulder. Despite the rumors, there is room for both. I am not encouraging you to buy whatever the hell you want on any whim that comes your way. I am also not implying that you should live beyond your means and buy unnecessary items on credit. I am telling you that valuing, wanting and having luxury items does not make you irresponsible. Figure out what you truly value (not what you think makes you look/seem valuable to others), and plan for it without guilt, regrets or shame.  

Let’s be clear – Women are as good, if not better than men at managing money; wealth is personal; and lattes are delicious.