2023 Downsizing Your Bag Collection

[poleneinblack]

I started collecting bags last year, and I told myself I wanted to save more money and stop buying this year. However, in the last few months I accumulated a lot of cheap bags, which necessitated my first downsizing. I also reminded myself of what my rules are for bags. Would love to hear about other TPFers' downsizing experience.

Bags that were sold/donated: twelve or thirteen bags. Mostly cheap shoulder bags and some bags I bought years ago and never wore.
Trade: sold two Celine medium sized bags. Vintage Celine Horse Carriage shoulder bag and Celine box bag in medium size and black.
Bought/Replace: I bought two Celine box bags in teen size, black and brown.
Current count: 18 bags.

 

[poleneinblack]

I've seen so many deinfluencing videos online, but I wanted to see actual tips on buying less and reducing the urge to keep searching and collecting more handbags. Here are the things that have helped me so far. It would be great if everyone could share the tips and tricks that work for them so we can all make better, more mindful purchases.

• Buy secondhand as much as you can. Wait for deals. If you miss one, there will always be another deal, another bag.
• You want the item, but you also want your money. The sellers also want your money. This means your money is very valuable, and you should think twice before spending it.
• A lot of bags you see online touted by influencers could be rentals or gifts. Some are also fakes.
• Don't listen to what other people say are the bags you NEED, or the categories you have to get at least one bag for. Think carefully about what your personal needs actually are.
  • Example: I thought I needed a top handle style evening bag, but I never used it. Similar to style categories or use categories. I only have two categories: daily bags, and fancy bags I can use on a daily basis as well as take to a nice evening event if the occasion arises. I have a few Celine bags that meet that standard, so I have no need in my life to continue buying expensive bags when I'm not going to get the same value out of owning that item.
• The company can set whatever price they want for that bag, but that's not the actual value of that bag. Do a cost-benefit analysis. On the cost side, what's the value of the materials used to produce the bag? The labor? The brand? On the benefit side, what's the value of the bag to you? How much value would it bring to your life? What is the design worth to you? What is the brand worth to you? How do you want to use the bag?
  • Example: I have enough bags at this point that another bag wouldn't bring me much additional benefit to my life. I wanted to try black shoulder bags so I bought cheap ones to try out the style and see if I wanted to invest in a more expensive luxury designer one later. I ended up donating those bags away because I lost interest in that style, so I'm glad I didn't spend that much money in the first place.

 

[880]

I only buy bags I love; that I am certain I will wear; and, whose style will stand the test of time.
Even though I don’t resell and rarely consign, I do prefer that the bags I purchase retain value.
I don’t return purchases, so I have to be very certain in order to avoid expensive errors.
DH loves to shop and has great taste (often he and my SA have the same opinion on prospective purchases,
so I try to listen). These factors all lower the chances of mistakes and buyers remorse.

ETA: do not go too minimal. It’s terrible to miss something and then have to repurchase

 

[poleneinblack]

I only buy bags I love; that I am certain I will wear; and, whose style will stand the test of time.
Even though I don’t resell and rarely consign, I do prefer that the bags I purchase retain value.
I don’t return purchases, so I have to be very certain in order to avoid expensive errors.
DH loves to shop and has great taste (often he and my SA have the same opinion on prospective purchases,
so I try to listen). These factors all lower the chances of mistakes and buyers remorse.

ETA: do not go too minimal. It’s terrible to miss something and then have to repurchase

Yeah, you can always try it out and sell it later if it doesn't work out. I think the only drawback would be if it affects your finances very negatively.

 

[Hine]

Being out in the nature! Cliche but I have noticed a huge reduction in my urge for shopping as I spend a lot more time hiking and camping now. There is very little need for another bag or another purchase out in the woods

 

[Nibb]

For what it’s worth here are my tips. If you want to save money try sticking to a list and only shop in brick and mortar stores, most importantly take inventory and be realistic sometimes two cashmere sweaters as opposed to six will get you through the season.
My problem is lack of space and bags need lots of space.

1. Stay off the internet! At least limit it to emails and current events.
2. Go through all existing stuff.
3. Look at your stuff with fresh eyes. A bag that may be out of style probably isn’t. By going through your stuff both holes and excesses will appear. Be creative by filling the holes with what you own.
4. Consign, donate, gift, toss, or set aside for a later date.
5. If the mind is made up and the bag is gone make a note on why. Like too big, too heavy, lack of shoulder strap or just done with it because boredom is real.

 

[CoastalCouture]

For what it’s worth here are my tips. If you want to save money try sticking to a list and only shop in brick and mortar stores, most importantly take inventory and be realistic sometimes two cashmere sweaters as opposed to six will get you through the season.
My problem is lack of space and bags need lots of space.

1. Stay off the internet! At least limit it to emails and current events.
2. Go through all existing stuff.
3. Look at your stuff with fresh eyes. A bag that may be out of style probably isn’t. By going through your stuff both holes and excesses will appear. Be creative by filling the holes with what you own.
4. Consign, donate, gift, toss, or set aside for a later date.
5. If the mind is made up and the bag is gone make a note on why. Like too big, too heavy, lack of shoulder strap or just done with it because boredom is real.

#1 cannot be emphasized enough! Giving up tPF would probably go a long way reducing the urge to acquire.

 

[Swanky]

My tip, stop following “influencers”

 

[EmmaPeel]

+1

Imho the main problem is constant dealing with this stuff. Even the discussions about how ro reduce the urge to buy new handbags are an expression of obsession with it.

It might sound harsh but for me it is a kind of self-deception. Not really changing anything but instead dealing with the same topic in a way you can pretend it is more reflective, responsible and grown-up.

I don’t want to offend anyone, it is just my personal opinion based on the reflection of my own habits.

 

[lill_canele]

Great points from everyone!

This is what I do sometimes.

Think about how much the bag (or whatever item) costs and then think what else could I do with the same amount of money?

$5k for a bag vs other things like:
- travel
- multiple fine dining outings
- multiple spa/facial sessions
- investing more into my garden
- a 3rd puppy (Currently banned by my husband lol)
- savings and investments of course
- OR, that could get me 4 pairs of designer shoes lol, or 2 pieces of RTW, or a nice piece of fine jewelry, etc.

 

[mocktail]

With care and good luck, good quality leather will last a long time. But I assume that all of my bags have a limited lifespan, and that makes me limit how much I’m willing to spend on them. Whereas jewelry will last much longer (even if it gets scratched) so I generally prefer to allocate most of my luxury budget to jewelry instead of bags. This has helped limit my spending on bags.

 

[myeyeonpi]

My favorite luxury minimalism YouTuber, Colorful Noir, gave me my motto for luxury purchases: “Buy for the life you have, not the life you want.”

That idea has helped me. Most advertising is trying to project an image of an imaginary life. It’s better to try and look at your current collection and see if there are any legitimate holes in what you can use in your life vs buying a bag that you think is beautiful but don’t have a real need for. I won’t buy any bag I can’t picture using at least a few times a year.

 

[leechiyong]

I'm odd, but I don't wait for sales (if I can wait, I don't need it/love it enough), only buy second-hand if that's the only option (same reasoning), and love being on tPF (living vicariously through others helps curb my desire for my own delivery).

What I've learned is to ask myself if I love it and can afford it. I'll compare everything that's out there with it, making sure I love it (I might see a detail I love, then realize it's not as uncommon as I thought, and debate the items until my attention's caught by something else), and compare it with pieces in my collection already to see if it holds muster. Occasionally I'll ask DH's opinion, but outside of that, if I'm debating it or feel compelled to ask others, I don't get it. There will inevitably be something else out there that I do love and will know it immediately. I'd rather wait to spend on that.

 

[poleneinblack]

+1

Imho the main problem is constant dealing with this stuff. Even the discussions about how to reduce the urge to buy new handbags are an expression of obsession with it.

It might sound harsh but for me it is a kind of self-deception. Not really changing anything but instead dealing with the same topic in a way you can pretend it is more reflective, responsible and grown-up.

I don’t want to offend anyone, it is just my personal opinion based on the reflection of my own habits.

I agree with all this. It's why I'm also working on my other hobbies and interests. Going outside, reading, exercising. The important thing is not spending energy and brainpower on thinking about bags because there's so much more to do and think about in life.

 

[Alienza]

Don’t follow influencers! But I am not sure how well it will work though because I don’t follow any influencers but I still do lots of shopping . My excuse for now is I am moving to a different country in a few months so I have been buying vintage or second hand bags now because I think it will be more expensive and difficult to find in the country I’m going to.
Make a wish list and stick to it, even if its still not fulfilled after many years. I find it keeps me on track most of the time. My wish list is very broad in a sense I don’t specify the brand, just the bag style. For example, I want a hobo bag. But it could be any brand. So the search is long and fun .
Choose style that are timeless. I dont tend to buy trendy bags. But I think the definition of timeless is different for everyone. To me a simple tote bag like neverfull is timeless. A simple hobo or a simple sling bag is timeless as well.