~Ban Island~ Moral Support! ~Let’s Resist Temptation Together!~

[can_do_mom]

I honestly have the feeling that I just have too many bags and now that I'm so much less obsessed with bags I'm rotating so much less which means that I'm not using my collection very evenly and I start to feel stress when a bag sits untouched for months.... I really hate that. I feel that most bags should get touched at least once every month or two....

I’m trying to find the right number of bags as well. I’ve been thinking I should pull them all out at the same time, Marie Kondo style, and go through the entire collection. I would like to sell a few and probably gift a few to my daughters. I do seem to go in spurts where I will not use a bag for a while and then I use it all the time so I don’t want to be hasty. But I have been mulling on this for a while and even then once a bag gets pulled it sits for a while waiting to be listed or given so it isn’t a rushed decision.

 

[can_do_mom]

Bargains are what kills me. I almost bought a tote I know I don’t need (wrong color) just because it was a great price. Silliness. Lol!

I’m definitely motivated by bargains. Sometimes that’s a good thing, other times, not so much. A bargain isn’t a bargain if it doesn’t get used.

 

[HopelessBagGirl]

I get that feeling too, it's why I prefer to keep my bags to a small number. But I'm definitely a minimalist at heart. I think you should give it a few months and see how you feel then. You may settle into a pattern of rotating your collection and enjoying the variety you have, that makes you feel happy about the number

That's so true! Just because I ignored 90% of my bags for five weeks doesn't mean anything long term. I need to see how I feel throughout the year and decide later on if it's too much. I'm not going to be acquiring much so I'm definitely not going to hastily downsize only to then feel bag poor and that irrepressible urge to get more bags hits and I am eaten by the consumption monster!

 

[Evia]

That's so true! Just because I ignored 90% of my bags for five weeks doesn't mean anything long term. I need to see how I feel throughout the year and decide later on if it's too much. I'm not going to be acquiring much so I'm definitely not going to hastily downsize only to then feel bag poor and that irrepressible urge to get more bags hits and I am eaten by the consumption monster!

Consumption Monster Such a great description, I'll remember that!

 

[Cocoabean]

Ok, I really shouldn't get on the internet after I've taken my sleeping pill!

I woke up to an email from PayPal about my payment to So and So. Huh? Uh oh, WHAT did I do? Then I looked at the ebay transaction. It was a Coach glasses case I had been watching for a very long time. The price dropped, I snagged it. I remember doing it. Just not in that first haze this morning when turning on my computer while waiting for my sister and her DH to get up. I haven't even had my coffee yet.

I am still on my purse ban! Whew!

 

[fayden]

I only made it 1.5 months on ban island before I bought another bag. But I did list another bag on ebay to make up for it. But now I'm eyeing another bag... luckily it's not available to buy at the moment!

 

[Senf]

Completed the first month without a bag from my second ban

I am adapting to my new lifestyle. Don‘t go shopping any more and it feels great!

I changed my job three month ago. I earn the most with nightshifts and working overtime- and there are deductions for unions, so this is the first month that I got my final salary. I was surprised- earning almost 1/4 more than with my old employer. This makes me want to save even more because I will reach my goals earlier!

 

[ksuromax]

finally, with one way ticket i am landing on the Island where i plan to stay till the end of 2018!

 

[Sparkletastic]

I honestly have the feeling that I just have too many bags and now that I'm so much less obsessed with bags I'm rotating so much less which means that I'm not using my collection very evenly and I start to feel stress when a bag sits untouched for months.... I really hate that. I feel that most bags should get touched at least once every month or two....

You are moving really fast from heavy buying to now wondering if you have too many bags.

I’d suggest you just sit still for a while...and ya know...enjoy.

Talking about my bags on a daily basis on TPF had made me get a little kooky - feeling that my handbag “collection” needed constant monitoring and evaluation. One minute I was worried about total count, the next about having the “right” pieces from brand A B or C, the next about sparking joy, the next... you get the point.

What I finally realized is it’s ok to just chill out and <gasp> enjoy my bags without worry or guilt. I love them. They make me happy. Perfection isn’t required. Constant evaluation leads to unnecessary churn and chases away contentment.

If one of your bags doesn’t get touched for 2 or even 4 months it’s ok. You can revisit it then...or never.

If it's the wrong colour you made a good decision the right colour will turn up

Thanks for the encouragement! It was a great tote but it would have sat in my closet getting little wear. I’m glad I passed.

 

[Sparkletastic]

I’m trying to find the right number of bags as well. I’ve been thinking I should pull them all out at the same time, Marie Kondo style, and go through the entire collection. I would like to sell a few and probably gift a few to my daughters. I do seem to go in spurts where I will not use a bag for a while and then I use it all the time so I don’t want to be hasty. But I have been mulling on this for a while and even then once a bag gets pulled it sits for a while waiting to be listed or given so it isn’t a rushed decision.

I love variety in my bag collection because I coordinate my bags with my outfits; I never wear a bag for a straight 3,4,5 days just because. But, I don’t want an endless number of bags in my collection. No purse museums. Lol!

So, for me, the “right number” evolved out of my two (conflicting) goals of never feeling a gap in my collection and always using all my bags. Once I knew my priorities, I had to decide what minimum number of wears per year made sense to me. I picked at least once every other month or 6x/year.

365 / 6 = ~ 60. But, I knew some bags would definitely get more than 6 wear per year so, I’d have to have less than this max. I guesstimated half that number would work and I was pretty much right. I currently have 28 bags in my collection and can just about get my minimum wear per year metric accomplished on each bag without forcing it.

When a bag doesn’t meet the 6x/yr quota, I really do know I need to figure out ways to easily use it more or - worst case - rehome it and get something better that can compete with (but not cannabalize) what I already have.

I think that over time I’ll probably reach about 35 bags total as I add new bags and relax the wear/yr standards on older bags that have gotten a ton of wear and still have value to me but aren’t ones I want to wear as often.

But much more than that and I can’t wear all my bags regularly. Much less than 25 bags and I’ll be very frustrated with lack of variety.

 

[msd_bags]

I love variety in my bag collection because I coordinate my bags with my outfits; I never wear a bag for a straight 3,4,5 days just because. But, I don’t want an endless number of bags in my collection. No purse museums. Lol!

So, for me, the “right number” evolved out of my two (conflicting) goals of never feeling a gap in my collection and always using all my bags. Once I knew my priorities, I had to decide what minimum number of wears per year made sense to me. I picked at least once every other month or 6x/year.

365 / 6 = ~ 60. But, I knew some bags would definitely get more than 6 wear per year so, I’d have to have less than this max. I guesstimated half that number would work and I was pretty much right. I currently have 28 bags in my collection and can just about get my minimum wear per year metric accomplished on each bag without forcing it.

When a bag doesn’t meet the 6x/yr quota, I really do know I need to figure out ways to easily use it more or - worst case - rehome it and get something better that can compete with (but not cannabalize) what I already have.

I think that over time I’ll probably reach about 35 bags total as I add new bags and relax the wear/yr standards on older bags that have gotten a ton of wear and still have value to me but aren’t ones I want to wear as often.

But much more than that and I can’t wear all my bags regularly. Much less than 25 bags and I’ll be very frustrated with lack of variety.

I like your analysis! I'm still at logging use per day and observing for patterns/favorites. Hopefully, I can get my collection to a number and selection that I will be totally happy with!

 

[ksuromax]

I love variety in my bag collection because I coordinate my bags with my outfits; I never wear a bag for a straight 3,4,5 days just because. But, I don’t want an endless number of bags in my collection. No purse museums. Lol!

So, for me, the “right number” evolved out of my two (conflicting) goals of never feeling a gap in my collection and always using all my bags. Once I knew my priorities, I had to decide what minimum number of wears per year made sense to me. I picked at least once every other month or 6x/year.

365 / 6 = ~ 60. But, I knew some bags would definitely get more than 6 wear per year so, I’d have to have less than this max. I guesstimated half that number would work and I was pretty much right. I currently have 28 bags in my collection and can just about get my minimum wear per year metric accomplished on each bag without forcing it.

When a bag doesn’t meet the 6x/yr quota, I really do know I need to figure out ways to easily use it more or - worst case - rehome it and get something better that can compete with (but not cannabalize) what I already have.

I think that over time I’ll probably reach about 35 bags total as I add new bags and relax the wear/yr standards on older bags that have gotten a ton of wear and still have value to me but aren’t ones I want to wear as often.

But much more than that and I can’t wear all my bags regularly. Much less than 25 bags and I’ll be very frustrated with lack of variety.

i am now at the point of 60, but figured out it's the max limit, otherwise, indeed, i will turn my closet into a museum
i am more or less settled down on my 'likes' and 'needs' and i definitely see what my closet should and should not have, so i am not adding anything else, last one is going to be delivered tomorrow (along with my one way ticket to the Ban Island ) and i have decided to move out a few, sent requests for the quotes to consignments and listed them on Bay. For 2018 my target will be downsizing to 50, as if feels like more controllable number, but will see how it goes

 

[HopelessBagGirl]

Spark you are right about everything!
I'm just going to let the situation be for awhile.

 

[HopelessBagGirl]

I have a confession to make.
I have slipped off the bandwagon in terms of financial prudency. I was so Spartan in spending for two months but now I've decided to reward myself by spending bag money on my skin!
I splashed out at the esthetician's office for a radiofreqency facial treatment that is supposed to help smooth the appearance of some acne scarring that I have always hated on my chin and temples.
One treatment is like a new bag and I'm planning to get them a few times, once a month....
I feel slightly naughty for 'spending money I don't need to spend' but on the other hand I feel like it's such a better splurge than on purses when I already have my shelves full of purses. Of course that's contingent on whether this treatment actually works! But if it does I'll feel like I'm investing in something that has a lot more lasting value to perking my spirits than a nice purse has.

Is anyone else redirecting their bag spending money to something else?
If so, how do you feel about it? Wise and smug or a bit guilty or both?

 

[fayden]

wow 60 bags! I wish I could handle that kind of number. Whenever I get close to 2 dozen bags I start having anxiety. Right now I have 13 bags and I'm already starting to feel it! Maybe I need to be more relaxed about having variety.