Ever purged your collection in pursuit of one bag? How did it go?

[Loquita]

:salute: u are my new bag purge hero!

i love to declutter so in most area of my life i'm constantly buying and then selling/ donating. i do that to bags too so u are not alone . also the truth is i rarely used my more expensive bags. i feel terrible to have so many pieces of "art" sitting inside my closet. when i buy a new one i feel the need to send one away.

if u are used to having 1 bag than i can understand why 1-2 bags may be the most comfortable for u . i'm letting myself have maximum 12 bags all in including my baby bag backpack, nylon bags, LV etc. i figure i can talk myself into allowing 1 bag for each month of the entire year lol

Ha ha, ms p, you and I would be dangerous together!! I am in constant declutter mode as well...every 2-3 months I do a significant purge and divide items into the following piles: consignment, donations, auction sites sales, and giveaways (the latter usually go o my younger, very broke grad student sis and her friends). My SO does this as well. And then I make a concerted effort not to replenish anything unless I really need to do so - this system works wonderfully, and I have learned over time that I can most certainly survive (and then some!) with a few well-chosen handbags, and enough shoes and clothes to fit into one small coat closet and a few drawers. This makes me very happy - and far more conscientious about any new purchases. It's all about quality over quantity (and not paying retail unless there is absolutely no other option).

 

[Loquita]

:salute: u are my new bag purge hero!

i love to declutter so in most area of my life i'm constantly buying and then selling/ donating. i do that to bags too so u are not alone . also the truth is i rarely used my more expensive bags. i feel terrible to have so many pieces of "art" sitting inside my closet. when i buy a new one i feel the need to send one away.

if u are used to having 1 bag than i can understand why 1-2 bags may be the most comfortable for u . i'm letting myself have maximum 12 bags all in including my baby bag backpack, nylon bags, LV etc. i figure i can talk myself into allowing 1 bag for each month of the entire year lol

Ha ha, ms p, you and I would be dangerous together!! I am in constant declutter mode as well...every 2-3 months I do a significant purge and divide items into the following piles: consignment, donations, auction sites sales, and giveaways (the latter usually go to my younger, very broke grad student sis and her friends). My SO does this as well. And then I make a concerted effort not to replenish anything unless I really need to do so - this system works wonderfully, and I have learned over time that I can most certainly survive (and then some!) with a few well-chosen handbags, and enough shoes and clothes to fit into one small coat closet and a few drawers. This makes me very happy - and far more conscientious about any new purchases. It's all about quality over quantity (and not paying retail unless there is absolutely no other option).

 

[sugar&spice]

I sold my LV damier canvas papillion because I wanted the Chloe heloise small hobo real bad when it just came out...but eventually I did not make my purchase, cuz the colour looked different than what I saw online.

 

[jxwilliams]

You know it's funny, maybe you are right ms p, maybe I am not meant to have more than 1-2 bags! Duh! I have been thinking a lot about my coats/clothes/shoes/jewelry and with the exception of handbags, I use things till they fall apart and I have to replace them. I wear the same jewelry, the same watch, same shoes, you get the point, so why am I trying to break out of my comfort zone with bags!?

Plus you are right, the expensive bags really just sit there, I feel like I don't want to ruin them--I am frugal at heart and would be devastated if anything happened to my *1* bag! I am glad I'm not alone! Thanks ms p for giving me some things to ponder.

 

[viba424]

I have never purged my collection. Ive never even sold a single bag! I would not be opposed to it though for a Hermes (that will never happen). I would never sell my BV for anything however. Anything else I could totally part with.

 

[ms p]

You know it's funny, maybe you are right ms p, maybe I am not meant to have more than 1-2 bags! Duh! I have been thinking a lot about my coats/clothes/shoes/jewelry and with the exception of handbags, I use things till they fall apart and I have to replace them. I wear the same jewelry, the same watch, same shoes, you get the point, so why am I trying to break out of my comfort zone with bags!?

Plus you are right, the expensive bags really just sit there, I feel like I don't want to ruin them--I am frugal at heart and would be devastated if anything happened to my *1* bag! I am glad I'm not alone! Thanks ms p for giving me some things to ponder.

now u've me thinking! i always wear the same 2-3 pairs of shoes, 3-4 pieces of jewelery, 10 pieces of clothes until they fell apart before i buy/ wear my new stuff. eg my best friend whom i meet once every 2 months commented i've definitely got my mileage out of the $20 top i owned for 3 years (ie she keep seeing me wearing it ).

i also realise usually in my case it's always the first love that's true love. anything bought after that is just impulse and soon gets sold away. it's like i started on a brand with my eyes wide open knowing what to look for and then soon i got blind by the variety and started wanting to try everything.

Ha ha, ms p, you and I would be dangerous together!! I am in constant declutter mode as well...every 2-3 months I do a significant purge and divide items into the following piles: consignment, donations, auction sites sales, and giveaways (the latter usually go to my younger, very broke grad student sis and her friends). My SO does this as well. And then I make a concerted effort not to replenish anything unless I really need to do so - this system works wonderfully, and I have learned over time that I can most certainly survive (and then some!) with a few well-chosen handbags, and enough shoes and clothes to fit into one small coat closet and a few drawers. This makes me very happy - and far more conscientious about any new purchases. It's all about quality over quantity (and not paying retail unless there is absolutely no other option).

u are definitely more organize than me! i declutter on a more like random timing when 1. i don't have enough clothes hangers, 2. my shelves are full, 3. when the night is silent and everyone is asleep but i just can't sleep declutter gives me a feeling of more freedom lol so it's always a positive thing to me and i enjoy it tremendously.

 

[klj]

klj, Your new Bal is soooo GORGEOUS!!!

I have had my head in the Beauty Bar and missed it until now, lol...Anthra is one of my favorites, and I have a thing for Regular Hardware as well. Excellent choice for a Bday gift!!!

Thanks, girlie!
(I have been gone for awhile for a few reasons and just now got back..so I'm late responding.)
(My Gramma past away..I also went back to my fiancee's family for a visit in Kansas...and then work can be HELL> What a whirlwind.

Hope everyone is doing well with their personal purging..

 

[klj]

I have to say that after everything is said and done...I'm very content with what I have...saving for one recent special bday bag really made me step back a bit. I love coming to tpf now...not obessively as I did in the past...but just to see what's going on...roam around the threads,etc.
My fiance is aware of all of my bags now..lol( I'm down to about 8 now) which wasn't the case before and feels soooo MUCH better ....
I am most likely a one or two bag purchase/ year gal...I already have my eye out for my next bday b~ bag.
Thanks for all the helpful words, everyone!

Now.....about my Anthropologie obession....he, he...

 

[thedseer]

I was actually just about to follow up on this thread! You are totally at the place I would like to be at, klj. I’m happy for you (and your bags are gorgeous, too!). Sorry to hear about your grandma : (

Things with Bonz have been slow, so I moved some stuff to the Bay, with mixed success. Sold about 50% of the items I’ve listed, selling prices haven’t been great and I hate fees, but clearing out is good. Considering consignment, but I still think I could get more money on my own if I’m patient.

So sick of selling, but not quite finished. I’m at 11 bags, 4 clutches/wristlets, and 4 SLGs. Of those, probably 5 bags (2 hobos, 2 satchels, 1 crossbody) and 4 clutches/wristlets/SLGs are definite keepers (they are also all very neutral colors – not sure if that tells me anything). A few I’m on the fence about, and 3 I’ve been trying to purge.

Doing okay with the ban thing, but lurking on the Bal subforum is dangerous. I’ve cut my wish list down to 2 for now, but trying to hold off. I think I’ve finally kicked my RM addiction. Still trying to figure out what my ideal number of bags is – I just know it’s less than what I have.

I have some other non-bag big ticket things possibly on the horizon, so I want to focus on saving in general, and saving for these. I’ve found in the past that when I’ve curbed my buying in one area, I’ve shifted it to another (i.e., clothes to bags). I need to make sure this doesn’t happen!

 

[klj]

Thanks for the thoughts,thedseer..
^ I think the consignment idea is good....I just never knew where to sell at so I ended up on ebay or Bonz too and selling for way less on some items but like you..was happy to be free of the clutter....selling can be so tiring..I hear ya!
I think my RM addiction is over too...I love what I have of her's though...and keeping them. I went on the Bonz the other day and couldn't believe how low the asking prices are now for RM's...craziness.

LOL..yes, I'm keeping myself in check on switching addictions too... I'm good most of the time with Anthro shopping...but have had a few binges now and again. I needed a slight closet makeover anyway.
Glad things are going well for you .....and yes...BAL=Crack.

 

[knasarae]

I was just coming to do a check-in as well! I too moved to eBay, very reluctantly. I even submitted to sell to BBOS and Fashionphile but the offer from BBOS was ridiculous and Fashionphile wasn't interested.

So I have two bags left for sale now.

I have a total of 7 bags: 2 LV, 2 LAMB, 2 RM and 1 Dooney. I have 7 MACs and 3 Rockers. I'd still like to get my MAC count down a little lower but I'm good for now.

I am still battling the impulse buy but I'm getting better. I bought a few bags lately but I made sure they were returnable. By the time they were delivered it was super easy for me to open them, try them on, pack them back up and return. It's getting easier, day by day.

 

[thedseer]

you're doing great too, knas! i was thinking of consigning with AFF, but not sure. i'll see how impatient i get i guess.

 

[knasarae]

I consigned with AFF. My bag is still waiting to be sold.... it's been a long time, maybe even a year? It doesn't bother me cause I tried to sell it for a long time... on both Bonz and eBay. I suppose it's not a popular bag. Most times I forget she even has it. I'm hoping one day I'll just get a nice check in the mail and it'll be a complete surprise, lol.

 

[klj]

Your doing great
^ Your wedding is so close! Wow..time has gone by....Hope all your plans are going well.. How exciting!!

 

[Janinevs]

Haven't checked in here for a while, but I need some inspiration. Got some free money in the form of a better than expected bonus and of course immediately started thinking about bags! I've actually been very good, enjoying what I have bagswise and spending my money on other life-enriching things. Original plan was to spend the bonus on a fun trip (Inca trail is top of the list now), but it lacks the instant gratification factor of a new bag. Luckily I'm off to South Africa for 3 weeks in a week's time, so temptation will be gone and then I'm just gonna book that trip when I get back! Just have to get through this week and not buy a bag!

BTW Tejasmamas re the big 4-0 and a special gift to yourself, I was in the same position earlier this year and didn't really want to spend all that money on a super special bag, so bought my first H scarf instead. Very gratifying and I love that scarf!