Why It’s Okay to Spend on Quality

By Shannon Kate Murray, editor of high flying design

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There’s something quietly powerful about choosing quality - and standing by that choice.

Not because it’s flashy. Not because it’s trending. But because it reflects who you are - or who you’re becoming.

It’s not about showing off. It’s about alignment.

My Money Story

Growing up, we didn’t have much. We lost our home before I was a teenager. I learned early that nice things were for “after” - after you earned them, after you struggled enough, after you proved you deserved them.

But I always loved quality. Not designer labels - everyday beauty. A perfume that made me feel older. Stationery I saved for. Tools that worked and lasted. These weren’t signs of status. They were quiet signals of self-worth. A way of saying: I know what I like, and I matter enough to choose it.

The Quiet Hesitation

As an adult with my own income, it still surprises me how hard it can feel.

Even when I can afford something - the version that feels right - I hesitate. Maybe you do too.

We overthink and overjustify. A sturdy bag feels indulgent. A £30 mug feels excessive. A proper office chair? Do I deserve that?

And yet, we rarely question the £90 spent on iced lattes last month.

Why? Somewhere along the way, we learned that practicality is virtuous - and that pleasure should wait.

But here’s the thing: quality, chosen with intention, doesn’t just last longer - it changes how you feel.

Spend wisely, and you don’t just buy an object. You buy clarity. Relief. Ease. Self-respect.

When you choose quality with intention, it doesn’t just last longer - it changes how you feel. It lightens decision fatigue. It removes the background hum of “this will do.” You buy clarity. Relief. Ease. Self-respect.

And the discomfort we sometimes feel when spending on ourselves? There’s a name for it. Behavioural economists call it the pain of paying - that pang of guilt when we part with money on something we’re not convinced we deserve. But when a purchase feels right - when it reflects who you are or who you're becoming - that discomfort eases.

It’s not about indulgence. It’s about alignment.

Even the spaces we spend time in matter. Psychologists have found that thoughtfully chosen surroundings help us feel more grounded, more focused, more ourselves.

So no - you’re not “bad with money” for wanting the linen sheets, or the handmade mug, or the kettle that brings a little calm into your morning.

You’re not frivolous. You’re paying attention.

The Faith Purchase

My turning point? A kettle and toaster set.

I didn’t need them - not yet anyway. But I wanted them. For the life I’m building, not the life I’m surviving.

It wasn’t about aesthetics. It was about belief.

A quiet “I see you” to my future self. A gesture that said:

You’re allowed to enjoy your space. You’re allowed to grow into someone who doesn’t explain everything.

They sit in my bottom drawer - my nan’s phrase for the items you collect in quiet faith, for the life you’re creating.

Not for show. Not for guests. For me.

It’s Not About Stuff. It’s About Self-Trust.

Growing up with uncertainty teaches you to expect things to break. But every “just okay” choice echo the message:

This is good enough for now. You’re not quite there yet. Wait a bit longer.

But what if you already are there - and it’s just your belief that’ hasn’t caught up?

You Don’t Need to Explain

If today feels like choosing what you really want - not the cheapest, not the “just-okay” - let that be enough..

Buy the luxury kettle. Wear the outfit you’ve been saving. Use your favourite mug.

You don’t need to wait for permission to spend your money on what matters to you.

You don’t need to justify it. You don’t need to explain it. You don’t need to delay joy.

That perfect moment you’re waiting for? It might never come.

You decide what counts. You choose what supports you. You’re not here to prove your worth. You’re here to live like you already believe it.

Sometimes, we have to act before we feel - as though belief follows action. To start walking - and trust that every step confirms who we already are.

And maybe, that’s the most powerful thing about spending on quality.

It’s not about what it costs. It’s about what it confirms.

That you’re already becoming the person you’ve always hoped you could be.

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