Ignes mindfull ladies thread

[kuwa]

I like that concept, Jane. It's only just in the last few years worked for me. I was always one of those that saved expensive things for special occasions, so they were rarely in use. I am turning a corner, though. I'm having a great time using some of my more exclusive -and I use that term loosely- items.

[starkfan]

Hmm... Again, excellent points. There will definitely be other sales, but I guess it's a question of whether those future sales will take the form of the refer-a-friend type of deal (i.e. all leathers are available and eligible) or if it'll only be select leathers on sale. Is the latter type of sale more common than the former?

It's definitely a bag that I want and would get if it wasn't on sale (i.e. with the 15% tPF discount), but the reason why I'm hesitating is because I wasn't planning on getting it until closer to the last quarter of the year. It won't hurt me financially to go for it now, and I will save more with the 35% sale than with the 15% tPF discount. That additional discount is certainly a sweetener too, since that's around US$79 in additional savings.

Okay, looks like I'm still on the fence. So, the question is: are the 35% off sales usually only for select leathers, or do they also usually have 35% off sales that include all leathers?

Thanks for all your help, ladies! There's definitely plenty of useful advice that I can apply with other sales, but this one really has me torn...

[Euridice]

Well, RECENTLY, mind you, they have been on introducing new bag styles. OR in this case and with SS leathers, they have brought out their seasonal leather selection and done it. And, I think I read that this is hte kind of sales they are having from now on. Also, Maria told me that tinted choc in this sale = her just being nice. She views it as an Ignes classic so not really part of the sale.

But, who knows. Maybe they will do another 35% off on referring friends or something. I think it is unlikely that they will have this leather on sale like this again anytime soon but you just never know...you know?

[Jane*Bond]

Bumping this thread, for the sake of my sanity and wallet.

I must stay away from this latest sale. I am currently enjoying my Tinted Chocolate Mini-E (have been wearing it all week) and enjoyed my Veronica on vacation very much. A new Mini-E will be arriving to me today, and I may be using that on a labor-day weekend trip I have planned. My Messenger Mini-Sophia has not really gotten much use, but I knew that when I bought her (she is for museum trips, movies, ball games and outlet shopping, which means only about 10 uses a year). Plus, I have a number of bags from other brands that need attention (including a BV where the cost per use is still over $1K - not good). And, I don't have room for any more bags. I did manage to sell a bag and a clutch so that has freed up some space, but with Cherry-Red Mini-E on its way, I am back where I started. Finally, I have gone totally overboard in spending this last year and I need to scale back.

There, now I just need to go back and read this every time I think about buying anything.

[irainei]

LOL thanks for bumping this Jane! I was telling myself that I needed to STAY in this thread once A/W comes out because I'd probably get into a lot of trouble.

Break out that BV already!!! It's so hard to get into a rotation sometimes(at least for me it is...I hate switching out bags because then I have to coordinate accessories, redistribute, etc. etc.).

As for me, I'm still debating to sell two more bags and give the rest away (I have an opportunity to send some old bags to my family in another country). Then I'd be left with 3 Igneses (GIB Petra, Aubergine/Gunmetal mini-E, Dark purple GHW mini-G) and a few Coaches I will never part with. I still would like to get some "basics" in there i.e. all black, all gray and all brown...but the more and more I thought about it, why do that, when the "fun" colors are what I'm drawn to (unless I do suede interiors...lol)? But this is where it could go wrong because if there's a color I'm drawn to in A/W and there's a sale... Oyy. That's what got me in trouble in the first place!

...you'd think that having a baby would be the ultimate "mindful" reminder right? LOL...as I tell DH often..."but it was on SALE!"

[No Cute]

I need a visit here, too. Forgot my head and started obsessing.

[elizat]

This is the never ending sale! Holy cow!

Jane- what you wrote makes sense. You can stick by it.

Irainei- take a look here: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...ids/P37245.asp

Does that help?!

Plus, here: http://www.babycenter.com/cost-of-ra...ild-calculator

This calculator estimates that for one child I would spend $420k and that is only up to age 18!

You can share yours if you want- I think we will all be shocked by the costs!

[irainei]

^^ Thanks E! Ugh...sobering indeed. I applaud those who are able to raise multiple kids in their house because I sure as heck am definitely thinking only child land for B. LOL

My number was $356K through age 18. Which is strange because I think that's not quite right. Especially since I live in So Cal. Still alot though!

[Euridice]

I know, there has been pretty much a non stop sale the last several months!

Jane, you have been doing great resisting the sales, and I know you will enjoy the cherry red mini Emilia along with your other bags. You need some time to get to know your new Ignes and enjoy it, so once you have it in hand just focus on that!! Take lots of pictures!!

[gingeybear]

Stopping by here to catch my breath because I'm already obsessing about another bag (or YIKES two) while I can..and then calling it quits for a long while. I will be rehoming the majority of the full size purses and totes I own gifting and other means. I will be left with two Ignes, plus my first "customized" one, two BE, three HH, one Goldenbleu and my vintage collection.

I resisted buying an Ignes for the past many months because of many reasons. Amigas, since January I realized that I had made stupid mistakes in purchasing and put the brakes on. Believe me it was really hard. All I bought from HH was boots when they went on insane sale because I needed boots for work, under jeans too and I am very hard to fit..I had a discount code on top of the discount plus free ship so three pairs cost less than half of one pair would have.

No BN bags from anywhere. Two rehomed Ignes. One pair of Fryes. One pair of dress shoes because I needed a pair that was stylish but orthopedically correct and Dana Davis usually runs around $500. I paid $100 and they are very comfortable and pretty sexy. That was it. No clothes nothing for me.

What I can't keep thinking about now is one bag in Rose Dust and one bag in either Cherry Red, or Dark Purple. I've decided that I will never be able to get the green bag of my dreams..at least for now so what I might do is dye a gorgeous but hopelessly discolored cream bag I own and then glaze over it with leather paint. I leather painted a badly damaged Oyster Tharpe and it's as good as new.

Sooo..here's the thing. Am I running scared because I want to take advantage of this sale plus the limited edition status of Rose Dust..and or/Warm Pewter in a bag..do I really NEED another bag right now? I've rehomed more than 20 this summer btw.

Elizat..you are correct about the costs per child. I know this from personal experience and that doesn't factor in all the unforseen expenses, and unfortunately sometime necessary procedures or medical and psychological expenses as well. I keep track of the finances in this family and although I may appear to be profligate, I'm really very aware of what I need to maintain in the bank plus save for retirement.

Irainie..I factored in so many things while planning..but this economy is insane...but we dodged the buller because DH & I really are very frugal overall. May I offer a suggestion, out of friendship and based on my experience. If you have a financial adviser, or use an accountant sit down with him or her and see how you can plan for your future as a family. If you don't have either, there are many websites, including the two best ones that Elizat shared that will help.

There are many ways to save for the future, reduce your taxable income and put away money for your retirement and for emergencies. You can factor in fun money and vacation money too. Life always throws curveballs, and my friends and family call me "in case of emergency break glass" or "worse case scenario prepare for it because you never know" mama or amiga.


Thank goodness we alway figure on living on the least amount of money DH & I can earn as a couple (no fixed income, we are both independent contractors in a sense).

Mindful means every purchase we make shouldn't be impulsive and I have decided to maintain a 10 out for every one I purchase at this point until I have reached the stage where I don't need to keep buying as retail therapy or whatever.

That's why it took me so long to purchase my first Ignes. I needed to really focus on a bag that would serve me well, that I could wear comfortably in all seasons, that would not fall off my shoulder, wouldn't be too heavy, wouldn't be open to the elements, and wouldn't break my budget.

I would have loved a Gabby or a Chiara..without the drawstrings dangling..perhaps stiched closed instead? I really need to think my next purchase out carefully, not just jump on it. I also have to wait until I my tutoring and teaching picks up again before I spend. There's a lull in my earnings during the summer so I am very careful. But when I start again in September I will put away a few dollars a week towards another Ignes.

Mindful is good. It doesn't mean no spending and unlike other threads thank goodness it doesn't mean a way to creatively enable. FWIW... I realize I can't be totally banned..so perhaps like the HH thread I jump onto if I feel like I am thinking of spending for all the wrong reasons..semi-banned might be better for me. It helped me resist a majority of what would have been impulse purchases for no reason this summer..not just HH.

Thanks for letting me jump in here.

[irainei]

GB- Thanks for the advice. Funny, my mom's an accountant ROFL, so I've always been a great budgeter and expense planner (which, also made me a great SPENDER too ROFL). It's just coming into the reality. I believe that my son was a miracle for us and he is being born for a reason, so we'll be OK. Besides, if people who are less fortunate can raise a lot of children and be OK, we can do it too! I think it's just switching from the focus of "DH and I" to the baby...which is slowly happening, but once he comes into the world, there's no more time for planning. He's here and that's what'll be. In the meantime, DH and I have already rearranged withholdings, made a spending plan, paid down debt and he's constantly looking at our investments.

I actually feel good that I'll be fine the rest of this year, impulse bag purchase wise. I have a couple of great bags that are coming to me and they will just have to tide me over until at the very least when I get back to work next year...hopefully there'll be another sale I can jump in on (I'm determined to only buy on sale from here on out).

As to your situation GB: I think you have a good plan! We all know that we are trying to be as mindful as POSSIBLE (we're only human after all). But I think you were wise and very mindful when it came to deciding what your first bag will be! I wish I could tell you not to jump on the sale (after all, it's a great sale!), but, there will be another sale. Dark purple, you can wait on (classic leather). The rose dust is something only you can decide on...and cherry red... well, they're known for getting random colors back in, soooo...you never know! It could show up again!

[elizat]

Wow, I, sounds like you have a plan. I feel very unorganized financially at times. I do put away in my 401K, but don't do any investing in stocks or bonds on the side. I guess my reasoning is that I think that money you invest should be money you can stand to lose, especially w/ the market right now. I don't feel comfortable putting a couple thousand in, just to lose it maybe, when I have over 70k in student loans. Plus, I do have some c/c debt. I just feel unorganized though, but I don't know what else I can really do, aside from put away in the 401k and pay down the c/c debt, then try do investments on the side once I don't have debt aside from my mortgage and student loans.

I've said it before about being pretty sure I don't think I'll have kids, but if I did, I'd want to have at least $150k as accessible money. With my current financial picture, there is now way I'd have that sort of money sitting in savings during my "fertile" years b/c I'm 30 not too far off. My salary is fine and while I wish it was more, I don't know how people manage to save a year's salary while working in a year or two, as Suze Orman wants you to do. There is no way I could put away that amount of money w/ my expenses in her 1-2 yr time frame and I think I try to live pretty smart.

Thinking about this stuff depresses me. I look at the compounding chart for retirement and know I'll be fine, but I don't know how ppl save a yrs salary in such a short time...

[lionlaw]

Ok, I need to shove myself into this thread. I have gone jewelry and purse crazy (even more so). I just ordered four new BEs on top of the new Ignes and then found the pearl outlet's August sale and ordered four more strands of pearls, including tahitians. Plus the hautelook and editor's closets emails have made me just crazy.

All of this plus on top of redoing my whole deck with new patio furniture for the puppies means I need to stop.

If you see me order another bag or jewelry, just hit me.

[sandysandiego]

I need to get my butt in here too! I am trying to gather up the strength to refuse to buy another bag in 2009! Mind you I have 3 on order.

LL - what BE bags did you order? The new Rock Me midi looks interesting.

GB - what second and third bags are you pondering??? Do tell!

Eli - you are def. the strong one here!

[Jane*Bond]

Originally Posted by lionlaw

If you see me order another bag or jewelry, just hit me.

Umm, did I see you trying to start a bespoke at BE?

(Okay, seriously, that Rock Me even has me thinking, but I will be strong if it kills me.)

I will never be of any help to anyone with jewelry. It is my first and true love. I am a proud enabler there!