She Can Afford a $13,000 Birkin but Refuses to Buy One: Social Media Star Explains Why She Won’t Splurge on Hermès’ Iconic Bag

Nara Smith, the 25-year-old influencer with more than 17 million followers, has admitted that she has long dreamed of owning an iconic Hermès Birkin bag. However, despite being able to afford the luxury accessory, she is not yet willing to spend five figures on it.

“Could I afford it? Absolutely. Have I bought it? No,” Smith said on the Aspire podcast, hosted by entrepreneur Emma Grede.

The reason is simple: the influencer believes the money could be put to much better use. Rather than splurging on an expensive handbag, she would prefer to invest in her four children’s education, buy stocks or put the money into other investments.

“I just don’t think it’s the smartest use of money. I think, could I put that toward my kids’ education, buy stocks or invest in something else? Yes. So I’d rather do that. One day, I’ll have a Birkin,” she explained.

Smith, who is known for her viral videos of making popular dishes from scratch, has four children with her husband, model Lucky Blue Smith. Alongside her social media career, she is building other sources of income, including an upcoming cookbook titled Homemade.

Her cautious approach to money, however, developed long before she became famous. Smith began modeling at 14 and earned $337 for her first runway show. At the time, the sum felt enormous. She recalls being thrilled to spend some of her earnings on a €6 Starbucks coffee.

Her father had a particularly strong influence on her financial habits. She describes him as extremely frugal and remembers how, even when she was a child, he taught her how to manage her earnings. He even created a kind of pie chart showing how much money she should save and how much she could spend.

“He always said, ‘Invest, save and live within your means.’ That’s the mindset I grew up with,” Nara said.

The habit has stayed with her. For example, the influencer might refuse to pay around $20 for food delivery and choose to go to the store herself instead. However, she is willing to spend money on high-quality groceries, which she considers an important part of family life.