chessmont, you are a very kind person! Best of luck to both you and your friend!
For me, I regret virtually all impulse purchases...probably the worst impulse purchase in terms of cost was the Bal tomato 07 shoulder that I bought earlier this year -- and sold without even using. It was a darling bag in a gorgeous color but waaaaay too small for me. I sold it pretty easily, but at a loss.
I like little backpack purses. I bought a leather one off ebay for about $20. After I'd been carrying it for a while I discovered that it had a secret compartment in the back for a handgun. I Googled the maker and discovered that they make mostly Purses Like That and holsters for packing concealed weapons.
All the mediocre/cheap bags I bought because I didn't / couldn't justify true designer bags. Now I have a couple (MJ and a Bal) I can really appreciate the quality. I am still a bit of a sucker for a bargain but need to work out what I REALLY want and save for it!