2019 resolution - shopping my own bag and wallet collection. Any one else?

[catsinthebag]

I have paper calendars, too. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] On the wall at home and on the table at my office. And I circle days on it. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

I like jotting my shopping list on papers. I can cross them out. Sometimes I put it on my iPhone note, but putting it on paper gives me more satisfaction.

I prefer paper to computer / phone. But I need to access things during the day wherever I am and I don’t want to carry a bulky journal or diary any more.

It’s really satisfying to make a list by hand and cross things off! But you’re right, Sparkle, having to carry a notebook or agenda around is a PITA. If I’m just running errands, I’ll jot things down on a Post-it or a piece of paper and stick it in my pocket. The question of how much I really need the notebook is starting to affect my handbag decisions. I could carry a very small notebook, but I’d still want the larger one at home since I have big, messy handwriting and tiny notebooks don’t work for me. And then, I don’t want to keep two notebooks — I like having everything in one place.

I want to be a small bag person, but I feel like the notebook and a water bottle are two “crutches” I don’t want to leave home without (at least if I’m going to be out for several hours).

 

[Rhl2987]

Two questions popped into my head and I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts:

1) Do you know how much your total collection cost? Do you care? Has anyone ever thought to manage their bags by total cost vs total number, total amount of space, etc? If you knew how much your collection cost would it change your behavior?

I have no idea but could add it up pretty quickly. The number isn’t important to me at all.

2) How do you and your family communicate with each other on what you want as gifts? We keep Pinterest pages - one is X’s Wish List (items over $1000) and the other is X’s stocking stuffers. That way we always have a number of things to choose from that are exactly what the person wants but they’re still surprised. Getting my DS to use Pinterest was a problem til he saw how happy my DS was with her presents.

Mmm I like these questions. Keep this kind of stuff coming! I like that you make me think about things and also question or think twice about what I’m doing. Plus I’m super curious about other people’s answers.

1) Yes, I do! Not a memorized number but my collection is so small that I could add it up quickly and I have a ballpark in my head. Also, my husband has an idea and it is the one this he is least pleased about with me. Understandably so. It’s a humongous number since I collect H bags. I actually feel decently guilty about this a good portion of the time. My bags bring me much joy, but I also have to pay for school (for the foreseeable future since I’m pursuing a career in medicine a little later in life) and I no longer have the very comfortable income that I once did for many years. So, I always think about the cost/benefit and what that money could have or could be going to. Plus, with the baby on the way it makes it even tougher. I think that the best thing I can do is sell the bags I no longer swoon over or use and then use everything else that I have well, so that nothing in my collection is too precious to be enjoyed. Even with a young baby. That way, I will be getting what I should out of the bags. It’s always easier once they are more used, which sometimes takes a little diligence to get there. Some of my bags are very precious to me so I don’t use them often and I hope to get out that stage with them early this year!

2) The holidays aren’t huge in my family. They are a time to come together but we’re not big on traditional meals and presents. In my family, if there was something that we wanted, like a sweater, my Mom would buy it on the spot. Obviously not everything we ever wanted but the point is that gifts like that came throughout the year so it wasn’t ever a huge list of gifts that we asked for over the holidays. Now, I generally don’t have any presents to open on my birthday except from my husband and I think I will only receive a check this year from my grandma for Christmas. My grandma has been incredibly frugal in her life and generous with us, so I’m always grateful. And then I can pick out a couple of nice (usually H) gifts for myself! My husband’s family is big on gifts so it took awhile for me to reconcile his gift buying/spending for them and what I’ve always done in my family. I’m just glad to spend quality time with family this year, and anything we get we can hopefully use for the baby.

Also, I wonder how this will change with our baby on the way. Obviously we’ll have to make it more fun and have more holiday spirit (we don’t generally even put up lights or a tree since we’re gone over the holidays every year), but I wonder what we’ll do gifts-wise. I’d love to include some giving, like adopting a family for Christmas and/or Thanksgiving. And I’d like to make sure baby doesn’t get too crazy extravagant of gifts because that’s not really what the holidays are about, in my opinion. We are Asian (and my husband is not) so I think that’s where some of the difference lies with how we see the holidays. But I love hearing about others’ traditions and techniques! I remember going over to my neighbor’s house on Christmas morning after they opened presents and being in awe of how many they received, and just how festive it was! Maybe at the time I really felt I was missing out but I no longer feel that way and it shaped how I want Christmas to be in my family with me, my husband, our baby, and any future kids we may have.

 

[vink]

Two questions popped into my head and I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts:

1) Do you know how much your total collection cost? Do you care? Has anyone ever thought to manage their bags by total cost vs total number, total amount of space, etc? If you knew how much your collection cost would it change your behavior?

I have no idea but could add it up pretty quickly. The number isn’t important to me at all.

2) How do you and your family communicate with each other on what you want as gifts? We keep Pinterest pages - one is X’s Wish List (items over $1000) and the other is X’s stocking stuffers. That way we always have a number of things to choose from that are exactly what the person wants but they’re still surprised. Getting my DS to use Pinterest was a problem til he saw how happy my DS was with her presents.

To answer the first question, I don’t have the exact number, but I have the least number that it should cost if I’ll round up the cost of my premieres together. But to be frank, I don’t want to know. It’s too much and will just give me headache to think I must be crazy for spending that much on bags alone. So... yeah... better leave it there.

About gift, it can be tricky. Our culture doesn’t celebrate Christmas or giving gifts and my parents are not big on presents unless it’s a really huge milestone for them. We’ll go out for fancy meals on ones birthday. Fancy like the price of a Birkin fancy. There’re 3 roof-top restaurants in the city that’re ranked as the best top 3 in the world and we’ve been to all of them and some more of that kind of fancy. Or we take a family trip, private tour guide, fancy resort and authentic local meals. But they don’t gift us any presents unless it’s a really important event such as graduation or getting married. As for my DH, he earns less than me, therefore, less disposable income. So, most of the time, I’d let him pick whatever he sees fit. (Yeah... definitely no brandname stuff. That didn’t fare well. Most of the time, he’d pick out some electronic gadgets, which of course, are totally not my thing. And he’d feel sad when he doesn’t see I use them enough so I’ll have to use them. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]) So, last years, it’s the first time I simply told him what to get me. He’d see if it’s within his budget, which most of the time, I’d already make sure of that. But he’ll also have his choices ready. Sometimes, I’d go with a surprise which would be his choice, but if I have something set firmly in my mind, I stand by what I want and I tell him as I mean it and he’ll get it for me.

 

[Rhl2987]

To answer the first question, I don’t have the exact number, but I have the least number that it should cost if I’ll round up the cost of my premieres together. But to be frank, I don’t want to know. It’s too much and will just give me headache to think I must be crazy for spending that much on bags alone. So... yeah... better leave it there.

About gift, it can be tricky. Our culture doesn’t celebrate Christmas or giving gifts and my parents are not big on presents unless it’s a really huge milestone for them. We’ll go out for fancy meals on ones birthday. Fancy like the price of a Birkin fancy. There’re 3 roof-top restaurants in the city that’re ranked as the best top 3 in the world and we’ve been to all of them and some more of that kind of fancy. Or we take a family trip, private tour guide, fancy resort and authentic local meals. But they don’t gift us any presents unless it’s a really important event such as graduation or getting married. As for my DH, he earns less than me, therefore, less disposable income. So, most of the time, I’d let him pick whatever he sees fit. (Yeah... definitely no brandname stuff. That didn’t fare well. Most of the time, he’d pick out some electronic gadgets, which of course, are totally not my thing. And he’d feel sad when he doesn’t see I use them enough so I’ll have to use them. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]) So, last years, it’s the first time I simply told him what to get me. He’d see if it’s within his budget, which most of the time, I’d already make sure of that. But he’ll also have his choices ready. Sometimes, I’d go with a surprise which would be his choice, but if I have something set firmly in my mind, I stand by what I want and I tell him as I mean it and he’ll get it for me.

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing. When I was in my last job, I also was in the same situation to you in my marriage. And I’d say our gift giving was similar as well. Sometimes, I feel like I can buy myself the more expensive gifts that I want to, but the inexpensive gifts my husband gets me are special because he picked them. For early Christmas presents, he got me a couple of maternity outfits he chose himself, and I opened them and started using them a couple weeks ago.

Also, wow about your fancy meals and expensive trips!! It’s nice to spend quality and memorable time together like that! I’ve been to a couple of very nice meals in my life but certainly nothing anywhere near that. Someday...

 

[ipsum]

I’m going to jump in with a bag I’m considering selling. My ivory Chanel.

Now I can’t truly tell if I don’t wear it because I don’t want to wear the color or if I don’t love the bag. But, I think it’s the latter. I feel like I’d wear an ivory bag more if I loved it. This is a good amount of money to have tied up in a potentially underperforming bag.

If you don't need to free up the funds tied into this bag, it'd be good wait till spring when this colour is back in trend and you might get more inspiration to pair it with your outfits. You might fall in love with the colour or not. At least, you've tried to make it work. Seller's remorse is the worst. You need to be sure that you want to sell the bag.

I think I should have gotten a white bag. White goes a little more easily with my wardrobe. Or maybe I should have just not gotten either.

If you ever decide to get a white bag, you might like to consider something from lower price point because white will eventually turn to yellow and colour transfer is another problem. My white bags are all chrome tanned with "covered" feeling on the leather which offer greater protection than vegetable tanned.

Do you know how much your total collection cost?

I don't know and to be honest, I don't want to add up It's enought for me that a) I stay within my budget and b) every purchase is well-thought-out / no impulse purchases / no buyer's remorse. Great way of using Pinterest! We have no gift policy so we put emphasis on quality time spent together. No headaches

I didn't at this time for me but they're still on my list for my aunt's Bday

It'd be nice to hear your opinion about the quality of the leather if you decide to get something for your aunt from them. I know they offer free returns, but still, I hate any unnecessary returns which could be avoided upfront.

GF: yeah yeah yeah.... and it all will pass. 2 is already too much.

You've such a great friend, Vink!!! Mine just encourage me to purchase anything I have an eye on so PF is my only help to buy more mindfully which is why I highly appreciate everyone's input. In my opinion, you can absolutely carry a mini if that's the size which works for you.

I get laughed at almost everytime these days I take out my cute little monthly planner to jot my new appointments on.
And I’m doing a bullet journal. May I borrow your idea? [emoji4]

I use paper planner as well because my diary on smartphone might get erased after any update. Lesson learned. Of course, I set reminders if there's something important I need to remember. If you need any inspiration for bullet journaling, this is an excellent source: https://www.reddit.com/r/bulletjournal/

@catsinthebag
Do you have GP in gold? If you do, could you describe the colour? The pics I found look more like vivid tan but I'm not sure if that's the truth knowing Negonda has matter effect.

 

[essiedub]

How’s this for low tech?
I started a bullet journal a couple of years ago and decided to just keep track there. I actually like that it’s in a physical notebook and I don’t have to go online to look at it.
View attachment 4286665

I also track by month, and have a list of what bags I bought by year dating back to 2011. Yes, I’m a dork.
View attachment 4286666

I love paper.

 

[catsinthebag]

Two questions popped into my head and I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts:

1) Do you know how much your total collection cost? Do you care? Has anyone ever thought to manage their bags by total cost vs total number, total amount of space, etc? If you knew how much your collection cost would it change your behavior?

I have no idea but could add it up pretty quickly. The number isn’t important to me at all.

2) How do you and your family communicate with each other on what you want as gifts? We keep Pinterest pages - one is X’s Wish List (items over $1000) and the other is X’s stocking stuffers. That way we always have a number of things to choose from that are exactly what the person wants but they’re still surprised. Getting my DS to use Pinterest was a problem til he saw how happy my DS was with her presents.

I don’t know how much my total collection cost, but I do know how much each of my premiere designer bags (and most of the others) cost so could add it up if I wanted to. But I don’t want to! I already know I’ve spent too much on bags for an entire lifetime!

What knowing the costs did do it show me where my ceiling is for an individual bag. When I bought my pre-loved Barenia Kelly, something in my brain clicked in and I knew I’d never spend that much on a bag again. Maybe I’ll be wrong, but it will take an extraordinary bag and an extraordinary circumstance for me to spend more than I spent on that bag. Also, I feel now like I don’t want to spend that much anymore. I want premiere bags, but in the $2-3K range, not in the $5K+ range. Somewhere along the line, I just stopped feeling comfortable spending that much. Not that $2-3K isn’t a lot of money, but I also am buying fewer bags. There aren’t many bags I consider getting rid of, so it’s good that my desire to accumulate has tapered off a bit!

Re. Christmas gifts, my family is small and spread out across the country. My mother has given up on trying to buy things for us so she sends a check instead. When I met my future DH, it became clear very quickly that our family “Christmas cultures” were vastly different — for our first Christmas together, I got him three things. He got me ten things! Opening presents with my parents took minutes, with his parents it took hours. It was fun to fall into his family’s way of doing Christmas! But as we’ve gotten older (and his parents have both passed away) it now feels excessive to buy a lot of stuff. Our Christmas shopping has been impeded this year by the fact that he had major ankle surgery and just recently got into a walking boot, so this year, we’re going to go shopping together after Christmas and have fun finding a few things together.

 

[Miss_Dawn]

I just have to say, we are 8 pages in to the 2019 thread and it isn’t even Christmas yet! How am I ever gonna keep up?

I can only keep up with this thread when I have a relatively lax work load (and right now I’m off work for a fortnight ).

 

[Miss_Dawn]

How’s this for low tech?
I started a bullet journal a couple of years ago and decided to just keep track there. I actually like that it’s in a physical notebook and I don’t have to go online to look at it.
View attachment 4286665

I also track by month, and have a list of what bags I bought by year dating back to 2011. Yes, I’m a dork.
View attachment 4286666

This is fantastic!
Gosh, I need to up my “shopping my wardrobe” game. I just wear what I like, when I like, without a tally. I’m missing so many tricks!

 

[ElainePG]

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] I think he and I are almost on par. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] I keep notes, too. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] I feel like it makes me remember much better. I have my to-do list and shopping list written on a piece of paper as well as some notes. I also use planner book. But I keep addresses on my iPhone though.

DH and I are getting ready to go food-shopping in a little while. I said to him "Help me make a shopping list, please." He said "Shall I get you a piece of paper?" I said "What for? I'm putting the list on my phone!!!"

 

[whateve]

DH and I are getting ready to go food-shopping in a little while. I said to him "Help me make a shopping list, please." He said "Shall I get you a piece of paper?" I said "What for? I'm putting the list on my phone!!!"

I use the out of milk app. I don't use all the bells and whistles that come with it, but what I like is that if I've put something on my list before, it remains on there, but at the bottom crossed out after I bought it, so it is easy to back through all the crossed out items and check them to put them back on the list. It's like a reminder of all the things we usually need.

 

[bellarusa]

Oh, wouldn't THAT be nice! A win-win!

I'm almost certain that I will be told that THAT is not in the spirit of "get rid of stuff" though, as the STUFF is still in the house!

She’s only 8 now. Such a long way to go. [emoji29][emoji29][emoji29]

Time will go by soon enough that she'll be looting your closet in no time.

T
1) Do you know how much your total collection cost? Do you care? Has anyone ever thought to manage their bags by total cost vs total number, total amount of space, etc? If you knew how much your collection cost would it change your behavior?

I've never actually calculated the total cost of my collection and didn't think I care but now that I think about it some more - it is an interesting concept to manage the collection by total cost vs. total number. Say we are constantly trying to maintain a total cost (initial cost) of $15K - and end up having to sell 3 bags at $5K total to purchase one bag at $5K. Is that what we are talking about?

 

[CeeJay]

Interesting thread; I have really curbed my Handbag spending and while I have always been a Balenciaga gal, I will only spend the $$$ if it's an old bag (Chevre) and RARE .. period!!! I have so many bags, that I really don't need anymore .. and when I see something I like, I question myself "do you REALLY need this?" and most of the times, the answer is 'NO'!!

Since I also design/make jewelry (high-karat gold & diamonds), most of my energies / $$$ has been on that. I buy gold that I can recycle and get my gemstones from overseas wholesalers whom I trust. Been working on getting my line together; alas, I need to find a cheaper goldsmith out here in LA 'cos that is what is using up all my funds.

More importantly, after being laid off from Corporate America in 2016 (I guess my shelf-life was up), my work has been sporadic .. which is ridiculous because it's not like I don't have the skills, it's that companies want cheap labor and I'm not going to bust my a@@ to work cheap!!!

 

[whateve]

Two questions popped into my head and I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts:

1) Do you know how much your total collection cost? Do you care? Has anyone ever thought to manage their bags by total cost vs total number, total amount of space, etc? If you knew how much your collection cost would it change your behavior?

I have no idea but could add it up pretty quickly. The number isn’t important to me at all.

2) How do you and your family communicate with each other on what you want as gifts? We keep Pinterest pages - one is X’s Wish List (items over $1000) and the other is X’s stocking stuffers. That way we always have a number of things to choose from that are exactly what the person wants but they’re still surprised. Getting my DS to use Pinterest was a problem til he saw how happy my DS was with her presents.

I know exactly how much my total collection costs, and I care. I keep a spreadsheet. I don't think my total cost isn't bad at all compared to the number of items I have. I am frugal and can't bring myself to drop a huge chunk of dough on one item. My problem has always been the quantity of items I have. I think the cost has helped change my behavior because at one point the amount I had spent on keychains and purse charms was more than I had spent in any other category. These are items that were supposed to relatively cheap that I started collecting partly to stop me from looking at purses. The collection got way out of control.

I also keep track of how much I've made or lost on each item I've sold. I include other things I've sold in that sales list, like kids clothes, school books, various household items, and things I've bought at thrift stores specifically for selling. At this point, my profits from sales more than cover the money I've spent on my collection, so I should be guilt-free.

We never really communicated about what we want as gifts. DH has never been one to buy me gifts. It used to really bother me. The most he will do is take me shopping so I can pick out my own gift.

When I was growing up, my family didn't make a big deal out of Christmas. We are not Christian. We only celebrated it at all because everyone else did and just minimally. We didn't have a tree or decorations. My parents usually bought me 4 modest gifts each year, one of which was always clothes. The others were games, art kits or puzzles. My father had a friend who owned a toy store and he would often get the things that didn't sell. Once we got a really neat pen and ink art kit I absolutely loved. I would go to a friend's house after Christmas and see what other kids got. For some of them, it took them all day to open their gifts.

When the kids were little, I went overboard with gifts for them. I guess I was trying to compensate for my childhood. After we moved to this house, when the kids were older, I couldn't get the energy to do it anymore so they started getting money. Now that they are grown, we don't do anything to celebrate the holiday. This year my son is coming over for dinner, but that is it.

 

[whateve]

I'm almost certain that I will be told that THAT is not in the spirit of "get rid of stuff" though, as the STUFF is still in the house!


Time will go by soon enough that she'll be looting your closet in no time.



I've never actually calculated the total cost of my collection and didn't think I care but now that I think about it some more - it is an interesting concept to manage the collection by total cost vs. total number. Say we are constantly trying to maintain a total cost (initial cost) of $15K - and end up having to sell 3 bags at $5K total to purchase one bag at $5K. Is that what we are talking about?

I never understood the practice of selling bags to purchase bags. You are always going to be selling those bags at a loss, and you'll have to likely sell 3 or 4 to get enough to buy one new one. That doesn't make sense to me. Eventually, you'll run out of bags to sell and won't have enough money to get the new one.