So hard to say goodbye...

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snsaundersva

Member
Aug 5, 2013
179
8
So help me fellow addicts. I looked at my closet and realized that I probably need to purge. But as I scan my babies, I can't seem to part. Some of them have sentimental value while others are too unique or discontinued from the designer so if I give it up I'll never see it again. How do I do this?? I'm not saying I haven't ever sold stuff, but the ones I have NOW seem to be hard to part with. I use them and I do rotate, but some see more light than others and.....aaaaahhh.What are your limits for bag count? Input...friendly please...:)
 
Hmmm...perhaps ask yourself why you feel you need to purge and that can guide you on what to offload. Are you not wearing some of your bags? Do you need storage space for other things? Has your style changed? Really pinpointing the source of your discontent can help you decide which bags are the "offenders" and which are keepers.

For me: I don't keep any bag that I don't regularly wear in its appropriate season. I keep a daily log of the bags I wear. That helps me see what was used and what wasn't. If a bag isn't used in a year, I will more than likely sell it. To me, that is wasted space and locked up funds I can use for a new bag I will love.

My limit on bags seems to be about 25-30 (not including evening bags which are an additional 5-7) That gives me variety for style, occasion and season. When I get much beyond that, I end up with bags I really like but don't wear because I LOVE something else. I actually could see myself paring my collection down to 20ish because I like being able to have a new bag that is on trend that I may wear a little bit more that season than some others. But I need my foundation of gorgeous bags that I'm crazy about as well.

But as I said earlier - figure out why you are feeling restless. Then select one bag to purge based on that concern. If that feels "right" keep going until you feel your concern is satisfied.

Let us know what you decide to do!
 
There are no hard and concrete rules on this, it's about what you feel comfortable with. Lifestyles play a role in what you need and what you can use.

I agree with figure out why you are wanting to purge then think carefully, if they truly hold sentimental value or cannot be easily replaced, the choice to part with them must be well thought out.

By standards here i barely own any bags, for the real world? probably a couple more than i should lol.
 
I would suggest before making any decisions you use each one again and try to figure out why you use some more than others. You might fall in love with some again and you might have an easier time letting go perhaps they are just not functional etc.

I hold onto bags too, I can't help it.

The number of bags you have is a personal decision, I don't think there is a certain number and I don't know how many I have. I do keep some that I don't much use though, just a few.
 
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I recently purged my collection down from about 20 bags to 10. It was difficult to decide which bags to let go but I feel much better now with a more manageable collection!

I decided I ONLY keep bags I love AND carry... If I looked at any bag and though: "I love her, BUT (she's too heavy/ not practical / I don't use her much) off she went :)
 
I recently purged my collection down from about 20 bags to 10. It was difficult to decide which bags to let go but I feel much better now with a more manageable collection!

I decided I ONLY keep bags I love AND carry... If I looked at any bag and though: "I love her, BUT (she's too heavy/ not practical / I don't use her much) off she went :)

I think I remember this!
 
I don't set a limit.
But own single digit # bags.
Works for my lifestyle.

Sentimental attachment is tricky.
Won't say doesn't exist for me.
Will say I recognize emotions--but also recognize fruitless burdens.
Even when expensive/rare/personal touchstone objects.

Experience says I don't burst into flame or diminish myself, by letting go.
Quite the opposite.
Not to say always easy. ;)

I am not my bag collection.
Though has sentiments associated & is very appreciated/enjoyed.
Am not the sun rising over treetops or a rolling ocean, either.
Such things have meaning, too. But don't fit on wardrobe shelves. :D

Hope helps.
 
I recently purged my collection down from about 20 bags to 10. It was difficult to decide which bags to let go but I feel much better now with a more manageable collection!

I decided I ONLY keep bags I love AND carry... If I looked at any bag and though: "I love her, BUT (she's too heavy/ not practical / I don't use her much) off she went :)

I remember, too. Kudos :)
 
I recently purged my collection down from about 20 bags to 10. It was difficult to decide which bags to let go but I feel much better now with a more manageable collection!

I decided I ONLY keep bags I love AND carry... If I looked at any bag and though: "I love her, BUT (she's too heavy/ not practical / I don't use her much) off she went :)

I've been trying to do this, too. I've been donating the bags I don't carry to charity or giving them to people I care about who will use them more than I will.

On the whole, it's been easier than I thought it would be. It turns out that I get more pleasure from the idea of them being used and appreciated more than I enjoyed owning the objects myself.

I have one more pretty (and expensive, by my standards) bag to re-home. This is the hardest to part with, as it was my priciest bag. But I really don't use it and my dad's widow is far more likely to use it, so she's going to be getting it when I see her next.
 
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I've been trying to do this, too. I've been donating the bags I don't carry to charity or giving them to people I care about who will use them more than I will.

On the whole, it's been easier than I thought it would be. It turns out that I get more pleasure from the idea of them being used and appreciated more than I enjoyed owning the objects myself.

I have one more pretty (and expensive, by my standards) bag to re-home. This is the hardest to part with, as it was my priciest bag. But I really don't use it and my dad's widow is far more likely to use it, so she's going to be getting it when I see her next.

That's very nice. You can see your bag now and then, when you give it to her. I do the same with bags I love, but can't carry for whatever reason. I give them to my sister. :smile1:
If I may ask: what bag do you want to give away?
 
Hmmm...perhaps ask yourself why you feel you need to purge and that can guide you on what to offload.
I think this is a good question. Purging/decluttering is something of a trend right now, easy to get caught up in the feeling that you should be living with less. This works for some, but for others becomes a cycle of getting rid of stuff just so you can get more stuff! If you feel overwhelmed with stuff you don't use, by all means, weed out your collection. But if you love and use them all, and don't need to sell any for financial reasons, and have the space to keep them, why purge? :smile1:
 
I'm a hoarder so I totally get it. I remember every story that's attached to an object. But every so often when I feel something isn't getting the love it deserves I pass it along or sell it. But yeah, it's really hard. I believe in having a dozen basic black bags. My collection has very little to do with function. My mom tells me stories of having only two dresses growing up. She wore one and washed the other. I like to have stuff just in case LOL.

OP what do you consider too much? Are we talking 20 bags or 100+?
 
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