Sparkles and Shoes

A Fashion, Travel, and Lifestyle Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • Fashion
    • My Style
      • Spring Style
      • Summer Style
      • Fall Style
      • Winter Style
    • Really Love My …
    • Shop My Instagram
    • Style Icons
    • Trending
  • Travel
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Southern Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Qatar
      • Russia
      • Singapore
      • Turkey
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Scotland
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Turkey
      • Vatican City
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Caribbean
      • Central America
      • US: East Coast
      • US: West Coast
    • South America
  • Lily Harper
  • Favorites
    • Beauty
    • Delicious Eats
    • London
    • My Wedding
    • Sparkle Sessions

$500 is Not a Steal

06/24/15 | Apple, Burberry, Fashion and Style, Ferragamo, Sephora, Top Shop, Tory Burch

I received an email over the weekend with the subject “Shop These Under $500 Steals!”. Without even opening it I was rubbed the wrong way. I am not sure what world some people live in but in my world $500 is an investment and perhaps in the most whimsical way, a splurge, but I would not classify $500 as a steal.

The email was from ShopBAZAAR and featured what I would classify as basics; a t-shirt, a necklace, a pair of jeans, sunglasses, flats, a bikini, and a pair of shorts.  Really?  Those are simple items that you could pick up at Target or Gap and it would be hard to tell the difference.ShopBAZAAR  is considering those items as a steal for having price tags under $500?  I think not.  No, none of those item are a steal at $500. Perhaps a vintage Chanel bag might be classified a steal at that price but not too many other things. To me $500 is….

… Flights home for Thanksgiving AND Christmas

… Five months of unlimited workout classes

… Three nights in a hotel and five tours in Vienna

… My cell phone bill for one year 

Thinking about the dollar amount in this way just reinforces the point.  However, if I did have to spend $500 right now on one item (and was not able to invest, save, donate, or use it towards travel) these items would be on the top of my shopping list:

Sparkles and Shoes $500 Wishlist

Burberry Brit Quilted Jacket | | Gold iPhone 6 | | Salvatore Ferragamo Patent Ballerina Flat
Sephora Collection SU Easel Brush Set | Tory Burch Medium Shoulder Bag in Fleming Patent 

If you had to spend $500, what would you buy?

Signature

Subscribe

« My Fitness Journey
My New Bedding »

Related Posts

  • The International Best-Dressed Poll
  • Statement Pants - 06Statement Pants
  • Metallic Skirt shot by Brian SchutzaStyle Icon: Ren Gray
  • Style Icon Tara Gibson Jimmy Choos and Tennis Shoes 07Style Icon: Tara Gibson

Comments

  1. celyn says

    June 25, 2015 at 11:10 pm

    I completely agree! $500 is so NOT a steal. and If i were to spend it on one item, I would probably buy a nice piece of jewelry! Or on a short vacation if it covers $500. Nothing beats spending a lot of money on experiences vs. material things

    lifeisashoe

  2. Tracy says

    June 25, 2015 at 5:51 am

    Thanks for keepin’ it real! A gorgeous Prada handbag at $500 would be a steal though! If I had $500 for one item it would be a Tory Burch handbag. The 797 Satchel and her totes are my picks.

  3. Lee says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:33 am

    SUCH a great post! THANK YOU for saying it! It is so great to see bloggers being real… because seriously $500 “steals” is just crazy.

    I am SO glad you stopped by my blog so I could find yours! I love it, and am excited to start following along!!

    XO
    Lee | LegalLee Blonde

  4. t says

    June 24, 2015 at 9:20 pm

    I;m with you on the sephora brushes! I love love love your style of writing! Keep it up!

    Chanel Lipstick 99 “Pirate” Swatches and Review

  5. Julia @ Grace Makes New says

    June 24, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Totally agree, $500 can buy a lot of things, no way i’m spending that one ONE article of clothing! Ridiculous!

  6. Heidi says

    June 24, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    100% agree! Not in the world the 99% live in.

    Wishes & Reality

  7. Misty says

    June 24, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    $500 for a Disney vacation would be a steal! If I had the extra funds, I could spend $500 on designer shoes or handbags. I could spend it on a phone. I couldn’t spend it on makeup brushes though. I’d rather have another pair of shoes.

  8. gloriadressup says

    June 24, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    Iphone 6 is also in my wish list 😉
    ciao gloria
    Gloriadressup

  9. Nadine says

    June 24, 2015 at 11:38 am

    I totally agree, $500 is not a steal. Some magazine used to do a splurge/steal section in every issue and I never thought the steals were actually steals. It’s crazy how different some peoples ideas about money are.

  10. LornaMi says

    June 24, 2015 at 10:03 am

    Agreed. I think I was most frosted at a blogger who recommended a beach cover-up for $825. Oh, sure, $825 to wear over a wet bathing suit. I laughed all day.

  11. Alecz says

    June 24, 2015 at 9:49 am

    Oh my goodness, I TOTALLY agree! $500 is SO far away from being a steal. If the email had said something like “deals under $20!”, that would’ve been more like it hahah.

    https://forsevenseasons.wordpress.com

  12. Alyssa says

    June 24, 2015 at 9:31 am

    I’m totally with you—I really can’t think of ANY item of clothing I would spend $500 on (except like, a wedding dress haha). I would put that money towards a flight for SURE!

  13. Rachel says

    June 24, 2015 at 9:27 am

    This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, too. I love when bloggers include things as “steals” in their posts, too. Or write “it’s 15% off!” but the item is still a shirt for $150. I’m like…. no, honey. No.

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog founded in 2012.  After six years of living in London I am back in New York with my husband and two littles! 

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Newsletter

WHERE I SHOP

Amazon

Anthropologie

J. Crew

Minted 

Sephora

Target

Walmart

Zappos

Archives

  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

Fine Print

Sparkles and Shoes is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms (including Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest), I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. All opinions are my own.

© Kelly Donlin and Sparkles and Shoes, 2012-2022 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kelly Donlin and Sparkles and Shoes with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Get the latest

Receive Sparkles and Shoes right to your inbox!

Connect with me

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2026 · Designed by High Note Designs, LLC

Copyright © 2026 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework