Diana (42): "I made a small purchase of 17,000 euros on my credit card, it kept me awake for nights"

I have been doubting all my life

I did something I can hardly comprehend myself. I bought something for 17,000 euros. On my credit card. And I still don't know if I should be proud... or completely insane. In the days before, I made lists, pros and cons, reason and emotion. I went to the store three times. And yet, the idea kept pulling me: the idea of doing something once that's not about 'practicality', but about desire. A burning desire since my teenage years. I wondered if I was trying to prove something to myself, or to make up for something from the past. Maybe both. Somewhere I knew: if I don't do this now, I'll still be thinking about it in ten years.

That evening I was sitting at the table with my husband Tony

I told him what I had done. He looked at me for a moment, blinked, and then said, “Okay. If you think it's an investment.” No argument. No drama. I rambled on about value retention, scarcity, and resale. But honestly, it wasn't just the investment. I had wanted this for so long. It seemed impossible until it came my way. In my head, I also heard my mother's voice: “Girl, it's just a bag.” And over that my own voice: “Yes, but it's more than that.”

The purchase itself

Ik weet nog hoe mijn hart bonkte toen ik mijn creditcard in het apparaat stopte.
De verkoopster glimlachte breed. Ik hoorde het piepje van de betaling. Ik had het gedaan. Ik had het ècht gedaan. Er ging van alles door me heen: spanning, trots, angst, en pure ongeloof. De verkoopster pakte het in, zorgvuldig, met handschoenen aan. Het ging in een speciale zak. Iedere werknemer applaudiseerde en gaf me een hand. Ik kreeg ook een glaasje champagne. Ik had het gevoel dat ik in een film zat, een scène waarin een vrouw iets waanzinnigs durft. Ik hield de tas dicht tegen me aan op straat. Dit was echt next level.

The revelation

And there it was, lying in my wardrobe. My dream. My bag. Black, leather, with golden details. Special zippers and lining. It was as if I suddenly became an adult. The bag stood for elegance, truly something special. I ran my fingers along the seams; perfect stitching, not a single thread out of place. Handmade. The clasp clicked softly. I picked it up, felt the weight, not showy but a calm authority. And at the same time, a thought rolled in like a cold gust of wind: do I dare to walk down the street with this? Because that's what I wanted. I really wanted to use the bag. During a work meeting, to a get-together with friends.

The bag is still in my closet

Not hidden away, but also not in use. Every time I wear it, I feel a bit of tension. Will I really take it outside? But there's always that voice: what if someone steals it, damages it, or spills coffee on it? A forum advised: don't use the leather belt, tie a scarf around the handle, only take it out of the closet for something exclusive. The bag symbolizes courage for me, about becoming an adult on your own terms. And yes: of course, it also represents the luxury I never allowed myself before, because I am a mother, practical, down-to-earth. Maybe that's exactly why it's still in the closet: I'm allowed to get used to a version of myself that can handle this. Next level. That's allowed. I'm allowed to have this bag. To wear it.

The conversation with Tony

Recently, Tony asked: “Have you ever worn it?” And I shook my head. He looked at me with a smile and said: “Then it's just an expensive memory now.” We talked about value, about things that carry stories.
Tony thought it was wise. But was it really? According to him, that bag should only come out on very special occasions. Otherwise, it should be kept under lock and key. "You might get knocked down for a bag next." He scared me. And he has a bit of a point, of course. People rob a gas station for less.

The revelation

You're wondering what kind of bag it is, I know. It embodies status, craftsmanship, but also a story. I've questioned whether it fits who I am, and the example I want to set for my daughters. I've realized that sometimes you can show your children that desire is okay, as long as you pair it with responsibility. It's a Hermès Kelly. Black, in Togo leather, with a clasp that almost sings. And yes, it cost me 17,000 euros. Because I believe that adult life can also include space for something completely impractical and ridiculously beautiful.

Fact Framework: Hermès Kelly

• The Hermès Kelly was designed in 1935, but it wasn't until 1956 when Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco was seen with it in public that it got its name.
• New Kelly bags have a retail price of around €9,000–€15,000, depending on size and leather, but increase on the resale market to €20,000–€50,000.
• According to the Art Market Research Luxury Index (2025), Hermès bags increase in value by an average of 9% per year, making them one of the most stable luxury investments.
• The Kelly 25 (most popular size) is known worldwide as one of the hardest models to obtain, with an estimated waiting time of 1 year to 18 months.
• 1 in 3 buyers of Hermès bags indicates that they see the purchase partly as an investment and an emotional reward.

I'm not sharing this story to boast

Moreover, I still find it exciting to say it out loud.
But I believe that every woman has something that symbolizes daring to choose for herself. Maybe I'll wear it tomorrow. Maybe next week, on Tuesday, at a work meeting. Maybe it also just stays in the closet sometimes, as a reminder that I am big enough to also want irrational things. When Mare says, “Mom, it's really beautiful,” then I know: it's not about the bag, but about giving myself permission, to be myself.