There was a time when buying a designer bag was fairly straightforward: you liked it, you could afford it, and you bought it.

Now, things are a little different.

People are booking appointments, joining waitlists and hunting down specific colours, materials and limited-edition pieces. There are collectors with entire rooms dedicated to their handbags. And increasingly, buyers aren’t looking at these bags only as fashion purchases; they are looking at what the bag could be worth years down the line.

That got me thinking: when did a handbag start looking like an investment?

The Numbers Are Making The Case

According to the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index, handbags were the best-performing luxury collectible category in 2024, gaining 2.8%. 

Economic Times also highlighted how certain luxury handbags can sell for significantly more in the resale market than their original retail price. One example cited was an Hermès Birkin 25, which retailed at around ₹10.2 lakh but was selling for roughly ₹18 lakh in the resale market.

That’s a pretty interesting premium for something that is technically still a handbag.

Forbes has been making a similar argument for years. Its research has looked at designer handbags particularly sought-after Hermès pieces as an alternative investment, comparing their appreciation with traditional luxury assets such as art.

Of course, that doesn’t mean your wardrobe is suddenly a stock portfolio. But it does show that something interesting is happening in the luxury market.

Scarcity Is Doing A Lot Of The work

The most valuable handbags aren’t necessarily the most expensive ones. They’re often the ones people can’t easily get.

Limited production, discontinued designs, rare colours and materials, celebrity associations and strong brand demand can all contribute to resale value.

And that explains the waitlists.

The scarcity itself becomes part of the product. If everyone could walk into a store tomorrow and buy the same bag, some of that exclusivity and potentially some of its resale appeal would disappear.

It’s the same basic idea we see with many collectibles: when supply is limited and demand stays strong, people are willing to pay more.

This Is Also Creating A New Kind Of Collector

There are serious collectors building entire portfolios of handbags. Some buy specific models because they believe they will hold their value. Others look for pieces that are rare or difficult to find.

And yes, there are people whose collections are large enough to require dedicated storage.

At that point, we’re moving beyond fashion. We’re talking about an asset that someone is deliberately acquiring, preserving and potentially reselling.

And Then There’s The Collateral Angle

Here’s where things get even more interesting.

In some markets, specialist lenders allow owners to borrow against valuable luxury handbags, using them as collateral. In simple terms, the bag is valued and the owner can potentially access a loan against that value.

But this is where one should draw the line between “valuable asset” and “investment.”

Not every designer bag will qualify. And not every bag will be appreciated. Brand, model, condition, authenticity, rarity and resale demand can all influence its value.

So, are designer bags actually investments?

Sometimes. But not every expensive handbag is an investment. A stock can generate dividends. A bond can generate interest. A property can generate rent. A handbag doesn’t do any of that.

Its investment potential comes from what someone else may be willing to pay for it later. And that makes the market much more dependent on trends, scarcity and consumer demand.

So yes, a ten lakh handbag could potentially become more valuable over time.

But that doesn’t mean spending ten lakh on a handbag is automatically a smart financial decision. The smarter way to look at it may be this: a designer bag can be a luxury purchase that happens to have investment potential, not an investment that happens to be a bag.

Destination weddings are having a big moment. But before you book that beach resort or palace, there’s one thing worth checking first: Can your budget actually handle it? A 2026 report estimates the average destination wedding in India at around ₹58 lakh, with destination weddings expected to make up an even larger share of Indian weddings in the coming years. And that ₹58 lakh isn’t just a venue bill.

Your Guest List Is Your First Expense

Every additional guest can mean another room, meal, transfer, activity and possibly a flight.

So before deciding on the destination, decide how many people you’re actually willing to spend on.

A smaller guest list could leave you with more room in the budget for the things you genuinely care about without pushing your total spending higher.

The Destination Changes The Math

Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur or a luxury resort in the hills may look very different on Instagram and on the final bill.

You need to factor in:

• Venue and accommodation
• Food and beverages
• Guest travel
• Local transportation
• Décor and entertainment
• Photography and makeup
• Vendor travel and accommodation

And during the peak wedding season, higher demand can also mean higher prices.

If your dates are flexible, comparing peak-season and off-season prices could help bring the cost down.

Don’t Budget Only For The Wedding Day

A destination wedding often means paying for multiple days.

That means your budget needs to account for hotel nights, meals, transfers and all the little expenses that tend to appear once the wedding planning begins.

One useful approach is to create an all-in budget before paying any advance.

Not: Venue = ₹30 lakh

But: Wedding = venue + stay + travel + food + vendors + décor + contingency.

And Please Keep A Buffer

Wedding expenses have a habit of growing. An extra room here. A last-minute vendor there. Additional décor. A delayed flight.

Keep a separate contingency amount instead of putting every available rupee into the wedding. And if you’re considering wedding insurance, check exactly what the policy covers, its exclusions and claim limits before buying it.

The Money Checklist

Before booking that dream destination, ask:

• What’s our maximum budget?
• How many guests are we actually paying for?
• What’s the total travel and accommodation cost?
• Can changing the date reduce the cost?
• Have we included a contingency fund?
• Are we borrowing more than we’re comfortable repaying?

Because a beautiful wedding shouldn’t come with a financial hangover.

The goal isn’t to spend the most. It’s to celebrate without spending the next few years recovering from it.

Sources: Economic Times and 2026 wedding-industry estimates. 

Disclaimer: Costs are indicative and may vary depending on the destination, guest count, wedding date and venue. 

Living abroad but still owning a house, flat or other property in India?

Managing it from thousands of kilometres away can get tricky. Whether it is collecting rent, dealing with tenants, paying property tax or completing paperwork, you may not always be able to fly back to India whenever something needs to be done.

This is where a Power of Attorney (POA) can make things easier.

A POA is a legal document through which you authorise another person to act on your behalf. For an NRI, this could be a parent, sibling or another trusted person in India.

What can a POA help with?

The powers given to the person depend on what is written in the document.

For example, you could authorise someone to:

• Manage tenants and rental agreements
• Collect rent
• Pay property tax and other bills
• Deal with housing societies
• Handle routine property-related paperwork
• Sign certain documents on your behalf

In some cases, a POA can also authorise someone to represent you in a property sale or other transaction.

But there is an important distinction: giving someone a POA does not make them the owner of your property. They are simply authorised to act on your behalf within the powers given to them.

General POA vs Specific POA

Not all POAs give the same level of authority.

A General Power of Attorney can give the person broader powers, while a Specific or Special Power of Attorney limits them to particular tasks.

For example, if your brother only needs to manage your tenant and pay society charges, you may not need to give him the authority to sell or mortgage your property.

That is why the document should clearly mention what the person can do and what they cannot do.

Can you make a POA while living abroad?

Yes, an NRI does not necessarily have to travel to India just to execute a POA.

A POA executed outside India can be authenticated through authorities such as a Notary Public or an Indian Consul/Vice-Consul, depending on the circumstances. Once the document is brought to India, applicable stamp duty and other formalities may need to be completed. The exact process can vary depending on the state and the purpose of the POA.

So, before preparing one, it is worth checking the requirements applicable to the state where your property is located.

Selling your property? Be extra careful

Giving someone authority to handle routine property matters is one thing.

Giving them the authority to sell your property is a much bigger decision.

If a POA is being used for a sale, the document should clearly identify the property and specify the powers being given. Depending on the transaction and local requirements, registration and other documentation may also be necessary.

And remember: a POA itself does not transfer ownership. The actual property transaction and sale deed are still required to legally transfer the property.

The person you choose matters

A POA is ultimately about trust.

Choose someone who can keep track of rent, expenses, documents and other transactions on your behalf. It is also important to keep proper records and stay informed about what is being done with your property.

Most importantly, don’t give more power than necessary.

If you only need someone to manage your tenant, give them the authority to manage the tenant, not a blanket power over the property.

For NRIs, a carefully drafted POA can make managing property in India much simpler without requiring a trip back every time something needs to be done.

Source: MoneyControl