While acknowledging everyone's right to spend their money however they choose, I do believe that it is important to know the value of money. A fool and his money are soon parted. Looking at the hand cream example both products are excellent however the price ratio is vastly disproportionate. £4 for Inecto versus > £30 for l'Occitane. I wonder why anyone would require 300ml of handcream anyway if they are not getting one as a teacher gift / for a backpacker or other such nonsense. I have eczema and use Inecto often, however 75ml still lasts around 6 months. So if I can spend one pound on 75ml of a product that has proven reliable for several years why would I pay £30 more for a vast quantity of a product that is: A) Not better that Inecto coconut cream and B) In a quantity that is not required? All I can see that I would be getting for my 30 quid is a dollop of karité and some fancy brand / packaging!
My friend Georgia bought some l'Occitane hand sanitisers with lavender in for a crazy price. I bought a plain hand sanitiser from Savers for 49p and put my own lavender and tea tree oils in. Excellent! I know the value of money, what is worth spending on and what is not! I don't have a car, I ride an electric bike that costs 2 pence to charge and carries me for 50 miles.
I shop in Asda and eat only the best organic foods at low prices, and enjoy a lifestyle that for many on my income (now £21,315pa) that is out of the grasp of many people who earn more. I have a flat in Vilnius and a bungalow on the Isle of Wight. I look younger than my years, enjoy a high level of fitness and don't go in for marketing hype! If someone chooses to spend a large amount of money on one or two little luxuries it doesn't necessarily make them a fool, but it is certainly a foolish act to pay more for things than necessary. So yes I DO look down on people buying that l'Occitane hand cream. It is a waste of money!