[feifei87]

^maybe you can sell a bag that you can part with to get some money for some great deals? This way you can lift your spirits and since you already have a lot of bags, you won't miss it!

[MassLaw15]

I thought it might be encouraging for all of us (including myself to list what we have sold (maybe NOT currently sellING as that may be self promotion- a no no on TPF). But...if we list what we once had & now are living w/out it may spark some movement! As in bag out, cash in!

1. Chanel Cerf in Tan (returned)
2. Chanel Classic Flap black w/ GIANT 80's CC
3. Chanel lambskin double flap
4. LV Large Epi Noe Red
5. LV Damier Brera
6. LV Beige Vernis Thompson
7. LV Stockton Mat gris
8. LV Epi Sac D'epaule Black
9. LV Epi Lussac Brown
10. LV Epi St. Jacques Black

I know I've sold more...just a brain freeze!

What have you all gone w/o?



P.S. WHERE IS GrylLaney????????????????

[Virginia]

^I think that's a great idea.! Unfortunately, with every piece I've sold, I think I've bought something new.

[ali w]

Originally Posted by MassLaw15

P.S. WHERE IS GrylLaney????????????????

She's going on vacation with the family until the 21st. So we will have to try to keep up our strength while she's away. I'm so going to miss all the positive energy she gives!!!

[MassLaw15]

Originally Posted by ali w

She's going on vacation with the family until the 21st. So we will have to try to keep up our strength while she's away. I'm so going to miss all the positive energy she gives!!!

OH! Thanks for the heads up! Somehow I missed that! Geez! Hope we do okay w/o her! We will! But I'll miss her!

[MassLaw15]

Originally Posted by mrsjimmyh

^I think that's a great idea.! Unfortunately, with every piece I've sold, I think I've bought something new.

Well, atleast you sold & didn't just accumulate more & more & more......

[MassLaw15]

Originally Posted by annemerrick

Good afternoon Ladies...I am hoping it doesn't count if I sold a bag, then purchased another for the same price!!! From now on...I am going to have to work with the bags that I already have if I want something new!!!
OK...confessional...I don't have such a hard time not buying bags...because I feel like I have so many...but I have a hard time not buying ANYTHING!!! A couple of days can go by, and I will stop at my favorite second-hand shop...and just get a little something to lift my spirits!!
I am working full-time right now for my DH, with no pay (I am not saying that because I mind, but just to let you guys know that I am broke), and I am not sure how to get to a place...where I just don't need to BUY!
I always feel like there is a great deal that I am missing out on!! I bought some pants the other day for $28.00, that were originally $1300 (tags still on)...and though I didn't need to spend the $28.00, I didn't know how to say no to that kind of deal...especially as they looked fabulous on me!!!!
I guess I am rambling...but my whole lifestyle has recently changed, and while I cannot afford to get anything expensive right now...I still want to buy something!!! Apparently...I have a shopping problem!!!!

I can REALLY relate. I can & have OVER-BOUGHT on anything & everything. It doesn't matter if I go to Wal-Mart or Neiman Marcus. I will OVERBUY!

I have more cleaning products then I will EVER use, I buy more pajamas that I don't wear, more socks than I will ever wear...I'll overbuy on anything!

What I am currently doing (somewhat forced to as I am moving to OK from CT) is making piles & pulling ALL my stuff out.

Take out ALL your shoes. You'll probably find several things: you have more black heels than you'll ever wear, you have shoes you fogot you even owned & shoes you know you will never wear.

Take out ALL your bags, coats, wallets, even jewelry!
***REALIZE what you have***

I find I have SO much that its hidden & tucked away for storage & then I buy more because I am not SEEING the 10 LV's that I ALREADY have!

I have been making 4 piles.
*eBay
*yardsale (for no name stuff that isn't worth eBay's listing fee)
*keep
*unsure (this pile can then be dispersed into the other groups). I have found that the majority of my unsure bags get listed on eBay! =)

I think (for myself anyway) that financial cleaning & physical cleaning somewhat go hand in hand. You sell something, get $ for it & it frees up space.

In terms of the pants you bought; YES! that is a killer deal! I say $25 is OK if 1.) you can still pay your bills & 2.) you genuinely LOVE the pants & will wear the life out of them.

I try to look at my current purchasing as 1.) Do I have something just like it? 2.) Am I buying it for the deal, name brand? 3.) Will this be a classic, timeless piece that I will cherish & have in 5 years or have worn holes in it by then from being SO LOVED?!?

IDK, maybe this of some use, some help. I wouldn't kick myself over $25 but I would really think about how much I wanted, needed & would use an item wether it was $2500, $25 or free.

[Melinda08]

I'm in girls! Since I'm a full time student rushing to finish my B.S. in Forensic Science my bf of five years is supporting me. I've had a job ever since I was 14 (I'm 23 now) so ever since I started college I have been attending as a part time student. Now, I'm trying to wiz through school so me and my bf can finally get married and start our well awaited future together. I started getting into designer bags just thist year and have already purchased 3 (4th one on friday when he takes me shopping :X) He understands that it is "my new thing" but wants it to stop before it gets out of hand. He wants to purchase a house and is already looking into it by the middle of next year and wants to really start cutting out unnecessary expenses. We're also planning to purchase a summer home in Hawaii (because my best friend lives there) so the saving must begin. His career is pretty stable and his salary is growing every six months but if I keep buying bags and clothes I guess both our dreams for the future will not happen :( I owe $11,000 on my credit card right now but fortunately my bf just gave me $5k to pay off atleast half of it. I JUST STARTED AND NOW I HAVE TO STOP! I know this is the right thing to do

[Virginia]

Originally Posted by MassLaw15

Well, atleast you sold & didn't just accumulate more & more & more......

That was what I told myself to justify! The only thing.. sometimes what I bought, cost more than how much I sold.

[GyrlLayney]

Halllloooo all my BB BEAUTIES!!!

I have been reading all of your posts so intently and I soooo want to respond to each and every one but, as Ali said, I am preparing to leave for a family vacation and my deadline was yesterday (Weds) for completely packing!

Needless to say, it's 1 AM and I'm still doing laundry, still not YET packed, still have a lot of last-last-11th hour errands to run the early part of tomorrow, ugh. Here's my hectic schedule: 6 PM Thursday night (ACK... that's TONIGHT and I'm still on Tuesday's to-do list!!!) driving from PA three hours to MIL's in Long Island, NY, to celebrate her bday and drop off our dog; then Friday evening driving back to PA three hours to pack up car with Disney vacation luggage and get shuteye; Saturday 9 AM leaving the house to drive 2 hours to Newark Liberty airport to park in long-term parking and hopefully checking in with enough time before our 1 PM flight! *whew* I'm already exhausted!

I believe that there will be a computer at this rented house we're all staying in, so hopefully I will be able to post in this thread. I will so very much miss talking to you all for a whole *^&()^% week! But this much I will say (and I really must get back to my laundry, chores and start packing!):

1. I AM SOOOOO PROUD OF YOU ALL! You can't imagine how much your words fill ME with such incredible encouragement, so much that I do feel I'm taking so much more from each and every one of you... than I could ever give back. God (or whomever you deem Him to be) bless you all!

2. Please do your best to keep your wits about you and try to not necessarily think of the "NO" and "STOP" of this bag ban, but rather as hitting the PAUSE button for now. We're all just taking a breather here...and putting all our manic-bag-buying energy and excitement to good use by focusing on helping one another thru this difficult time. And soon, when things start getting back to normal (defined by each of our unique circumstances), then we can resume normal "PLAY" speed and NOT "Fast Forward" anymore!!!

3. Be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up too much. Mistakes were made. We went a little overboard. Okay in my case I want a LOT overboard. But that was then, this is now. We are learning our lesson, we are all sharing, commiserating and soon we'll be healing, saving and feeling "sane" again!

Stay Strong my BBB Club Sisters! I'm looking forward to coming back on the 21st and catching up with you. Until then I will miss you!!! layney

[Myblackbag]

edit

[Florasun]

I am not willing to say "ban" yet... just that I need to cool it for awhile. I just love bags. It's funny how a nice purse seems to fix everything -- for a little while.

I have always loved purses, just did not buy them. I remember when I would carry one Coach bag for a year or two or three. Then one day I was feeling kind of low, and saw a nice Chanel tote. I realized, hey, I can afford this Chanel tote, so I bought it. I felt so stylish and together while I was carrying it. Then the purse monster came out; if one designer bag makes you feel this good, then why not have a dozen designer bags, KWIM? If I were a better money manager, I could probably afford one or two pricey bags per year, but I want to buy them all. I feel like I am playing catch-up. And my credit card debt is getting higer and higer.

I don't think I can *never* buy a purse again, but how do I strike a balance between paying thousands of dollars on purses, and saving money for other important things in life? My plan is just get one special purse per year, and maybe a medium priced bag for everyday use. Also I find that by not visiting my favorite shopping sites and brick and mortar stores, I don't see things that I drool over. Also, when visiting TPF, I try not to read about people's latest purchases...

Good luck everybody!

[Myblackbag]

Originally Posted by MassLaw15

Okay Layney & the Gals:
An update & some questions....

Yesterday I cancelled my Sears, Kohls, Macys & GAP card! The only one I am keeping is NM & I have only ever used it once!

I also called on all 6 of my major cc & found that three have GREAT fixed APR's. I will be cancelling the other three once they are paid off.

This is what I currently owe:
Citi: $2116.29
Bank of America: $1927.51
Chase: $3,134.01
Capitol One: $138.23 (as soon as they receive this payment the card is being CANCELLED)
Discover: $6,197.68 (this one makes me feel the WORST because 10 weeks ago it had a zero balance)
Washington Mutual: $3,928.47

Grand Total: Aprox: $17, 440.00 (I didn't add in the change).

So $17,000 in the hole. Not good. I have been selling a bunch on eBay & actually beleive my total should probably go down roughly $2,000 once checks I have RECENTLY written get applied to my account but still...a lot of money!

I have sold 2 Chanel's & a BUNCH of LV (think 10+). I still have MORE to list & auctions that are currently going on right now, so hopefully MORE $$$.

I have been thinking A LOT about which bags I will keep. I wanted your opinions on these bags & just see what everybody says.

Chanel cerf in Black Caviar Leather w/ GH (my most expensive bag & thus I could get good $ money for it BUT I love it & REALLY don't want to sell it)

Black Coach Reader Tote (I think) Super cute & very functional. Probably would only get like $150. I know every penny counts but I USE th bag.

Longchamp Pliage in Transparent w/ Orange leather. Again, probably could only get like $80 and I use & like the bag.

Cynthia Rowley White leather zip tote: Super durable (had it for years), functional & I use it!

LV Damier Chelsea: Love it, use it, love the Damier line, love the size of the bag. Just hard c\'cuz I could get good $ for it.

LV Damier (small bag can't remeber the name): Not selling as it was a gift from my mom & she would be really hurt.

LV Mono Large Bucket: I like it, I use it, but unsure on keeping it...

LV MONO Boulogne: Classic bag, never use it, but I feel REALLY weird about selling it.

Linea Pelle: Black bag & another tan one. Great soft leather. Use them. Probably couldn't get a ton for them.

Prada large Leather bag in Eggplant: Great size, classic bag.

So what do you guys think????

I have more bags I just have to find them & then I'll add them!

I completely understand how you feel. When I totaled up my cc debt a few years ago the number was overwhelming! I think that it was close to $20K and for the life of me I could not understand what I had spent it on. At least you know where your money went and can try to recoup some cash by selling some of your purchases.

I had spent money on things like expensive hairdo's, brow waxing, manicures, pedicures, facial creams and cosmetics, traveling, high dollar electronics, expensive Christmas gifts, jewelry, furniture and bags which by tpf standards would not be considered high end at all. But I am here to tell you that those $250 bags can add up over time.

Although I have never owned a Chanel or Hermes I certainly had piles and piles of Coach, Dooney, Tignanello, Perlina, Antonio Melani, Hype, Michael Kors, Cynthia Rowley, and the like. Most of the bags that I owned, had little to no resale value and I ended up giving many of them away to my siblings. At least your bags retained much of their initial cost.

I know that 17K may sound like alot MassLaw15 but I am living proof that it can be done! I also noticed that over time as I paid down balances my credit score began to slowly improve, partially because had been using more than half of my available credit limit and of course I made all of my payments on time.

I think that within one year my fico score went from 620 to 735 which was an added bonus.

Keep up the good work Mass, you can do it! You sound as though you are well on your way.

[ms p]

hi Emily, thank u for complimenting my avatar . i seems to like Hello Kitty more and more when i grow older lol. my computer desktop is Hello Kitty wallpaper too .

hi Momo43, wow u and emily is definitely inspiring me to write down All the bags i have before i head to the shopping malls!

hi Melinda08, welcome to the thread. by starting now u are already doing so much good .

hi Myblackbag, i feel very touch by what u have wrote. u are almost there already so stay on track . i believe the moment when u are debt free u will feel 1,000,000,000 times better vs buying a new bag now. it's amazing and Inspirational that u have come from close to 20K to 1.4K now !

[angelthelson]

hi sistah layney!!! sorry for the late reply, so here goes my story: well, i'm a housewife, just moved here in the states last year, i'm 25, no kids and yes, i can't work yet coz of my visa status. my hubby is a computer programmer/analyst and he is a great guy but he doesn't want me to spoil with material things. he gives me allowance and thats $10 bux a week (he's cheap grr!!) but yea, he wants me to learn how to save coz i splurge a lot whenever i can. eversince i got here, i've been returning/exchanging stuffs which he hates a lot. i haven't saved a lot of money foing crazy things and i can't even remember where the money went (insane, right?) so last week, i bought an MK wristlet which made him really mad and tells me how materialistic i am. we had a huge fight over this coz he wants me to stop buying bags (i have a few, i still don't have that designer ones coz can't afford it as of the moment. i only have 2 coach bags, a wristlet, the sak) so yea, we almost had a divorce over this so i decided to stop my shallow obsessing and i got ban for 2 yrs!! so girls, i am all proud of you and i hope all our bans will work =) we have to make it work =)