My husband and I couldn't afford a Birkin bag, so we bought one..

**TL;DR:** My husband and I bought a Birkin bag on the secondary market, and we now rent it out. Here’s what you should know if you’re considering doing something like this.<br><br>**Context:** My husband and I are in our mid-30s and are on track to have saved over 1M€ by the time we are 40. But, we also enjoy indulging in experiences and the nicer things in life. For example, my husband loves luxury watches, and I have a strong appreciation for Chanel and designer handbags.<br><br>**Why we bought a Birkin:** In the past, I’ve bought a few Hermes bags from the secondary market. The last one was the Birkin. It was one of the larger Birkins at 35cm and was made of pink cactus leather - a beautiful, unique color. When I bought it, there was the original receipt included, which showed that it was purchased in June 2020 for 11,350€. I bought it in 2022 for 120,000€, which was a significant investment for us.<br><br>**Why we decided to rent the Birkin bag:** After buying and enjoying the bag, we started getting requests from friends and family who were interested in renting it. I decided to list it on one of the luxury handbag rental platforms to see who was interested. We got our first request just a few days later, and since then, the bag has been rented at least 50 times. We've had a few requests from businesses looking to rent the bag for photo shoots, which has been a great opportunity for us to earn more. In total, we've made around 100,000€ from renting out the bag.<br><br>**Our experience with the rental platform:** The platform we chose to list the bag on has been great. They handle everything, from marketing to customer service, which makes it very easy for us as the renters. They also handle any issues that come up, which has been really helpful. As far as the costs, we pay a 15% commission on each rental, and they charge the customer a 20% deposit.<br><br>**My experience with buying a Birkin:** I've owned several Birkins, and my experience has been that the pricing can be high, depending on the material and size. For example, a pink cactus leather Birkin can cost around 120,000€, while a beige cactus leather Birkin costs around 80,000€. I've also found that the smaller Birkin bags tend to be more affordable and popular. My advice would be to do your research and consider factors like the material, size, and color before making a purchase.<br><br>**My advice for buying a Birkin:** If you're considering buying and renting a Birkin bag, here are a few things to keep in mind:<br><br>* If you want a bag that will increase in value, the Birkin is a great choice. It tends to hold its value well, and the price of the Birkin even goes up a bit every year.<br>* The bag comes with a lot of paperwork, which helps verify its authenticity and increases its value.<br>* If you’re looking for a bag that’s easy to rent and will yield a good return on investment, consider the smaller sizes. These tend to be in high demand and are popular with younger women.<br>* Be careful when buying from the secondary market. Make sure to research the seller and verify the authenticity of the bag. Some Birkins may have gone through a dealer or a middleman, which can drive up the price.<br>* If you're looking for a more affordable option, consider buying directly from Hermes. If you have a good relationship with your sales associate, they may be able to help you get your hands on a Birkin. Keep in mind that the prices at Hermes are lower than what you'll find on the secondary market, so you may need to wait a bit longer to get your bag.