Spring Cleaning (a little early)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Allegra
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Allegra

Guest
This is the time of year where I tend to go through closets, drawers, the garage, and even the dreaded basement in order to determine what things we don’t need anymore and donate or trash them.

Every time I do this I rediscover my “bag of bags”. I have, in my closet, a bag of various handbags, all pristine and brand new, that people keep giving me as gifts, and I’m ashamed to throw out without every having used them. There are probably twenty-five or so bags of all different sizes, but mostly too small to be practical for any purpose. The fact is, I don’t carry a handbag. I never have. When I was a student, I carried a backpack. When I became a teacher, I carried a computer bag. When I became a mom, I began carrying a diaper bag. When I go out and all I need is my phone, wallet, and car keys, I put them in my pockets. I don’t really need an extra bag that’s likely to get left somewhere or stolen.

Even though I have no earthy reason to keep these bags, I’m afraid to get rid of them. First, I feel bad for getting rid of a gift that someone who cared about me picked out and gave to me. Second, there might come a day when I need one of them. Of course, that’s silly because people keep giving them to me all the time! I guess they see that I don’t use one and figure it’s because I don’t know they exist? 🤷 Anyway, I don’t NEED to worry about getting rid of them because I know I’ll just get another one! And now, it’s started with my daughter! She’s two years old and she already has four handbags! What is a toddler going to do with a handbag? And why can’t I throw the silly things out?! 🤷

I don’t have this problem with other kinds of objects. Just bags. So I have a bag of bags in my closet. Am I the only one who has this problem?
 
Maybe you could donate them to one of those groups that help women get ready for job interviews, etc., with “office” clothes – for free. Cannot remember the name of the group/organization. There is a lady in my area that helps young women like that. Just an idea. You could also take them to a consignment shop.

Happy 2016!
 
Thrift store or, if you need the money, a consignment shop.

I get most of my clothing at the local thrift stores. Not long ago I was in need of a decent purse, as my old one was pretty ratty looking. Looked at the thrift store & there were 2 lovely purses - a large one for every day & a small one for dressing up. Both looked like new. The price would have been out of reach for me had I found them new in a regular store. But $3 each was perfect!

If you donate those purses, think of how many women you’ll be helping! 🙂
 
Near me there is a home for abused women and families. They have nothing as they usually arrive with just the cloths on their backs or what they can carry. I am sure there is one near you somewhere. Think of them. Peace.
 
All excellent replies, and I too think you would be making another person much happier!
 
Luz_Maria said:
Maybe you could donate them to one of those groups that help women get ready for job interviews, etc., with “office” clothes – for free. Cannot remember the name of the group/organization. There is a lady in my area that helps young women like that. Just an idea. You could also take them to a consignment shop.

Happy 2016!
Click to expand...
The charity Luzmaria so graciously spoke of is called “Dress for Succes”.
 
jaimeleglise said:
The charity Luzmaria so graciously spoke of is called “Dress for Succes”.
Click to expand...
That’s a cool idea.
I was also thinking of a place for homeless women, with maybe a few bucks tucked in the pocket. 🙂

You could donate one a month maybe. That way it wouldn’t seem so bad, LOL
 
Allegra said:
Am I the only one who has this problem?
Click to expand...
I think a lot of people have that ‘1 area’ they just can’t overcome. I don’t know if it is a deep issue re purses or a deep issue of not being able to part with a gift. Or a psychological block because you always receive as a gift something that just isn’t you which could be a source of resentment.

Personally, I do think there are times when a ‘house keeping’ issue is really just an emotional issue one needs to bring to God. Perhaps pray about it
 
A group of us are going to meet and discuss a project involving the handbags we no longer use. We plan to fill them with toiletries and personal items and donate them to the local shelter for battered and homeless women run by a group of Sisters. I read about this idea on the internet where a woman kept some in her car and whenever she ran into a homeless woman she gave one to her. Most women would appreciate a new handbag, and they could be filled for various needs, the larger ones could be given to mothers with small children to carry a couple of diapers, etc. as well as personal items for the moms.

Just an idea for a good use for your handbags, either on your own or as a project with others.
 
With all due respect, I think everyone is missing the point of the post. The OP is clear she has no problem giving to charity and getting rid of things. She just for some reason can’t seem to part with purses. I don’t think she needs ideas on what to do with the extra purses
 
Finding an idea that clicks is what helps one get over the “hump” and take action.
 
Anglewannabe said:
With all due respect, I think everyone is missing the point of the post. The OP is clear she has no problem giving to charity and getting rid of things. She just for some reason can’t seem to part with purses. I don’t think she needs ideas on what to do with the extra purses
Click to expand...
Did I misread the OP original post? Where did she say that she had no problem in getting rid of all the purses? If that is correct, then why has she not done so? Now her child is receiving purses, too. Is this not a small step in hoarding? Please correct me if I am wrong. Peace.
 
Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut! I’d probably just give the bags to the Vincent de Paul store down the street. Some of them are big enough to put toiletries in for the homeless, but a lot of them are little clutches that don’t even have a strap.(Like the kind you’d take to prom or a wedding.) I think the main reason I don’t want t give them away is I feel like I’m disrespecting the people who gave them to me. Maybe I should just start putting two in the pile everytime I take a load of baby clothes to St. Vinny’s.
 
Allegra said:
Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut! I’d probably just give the bags to the Vincent de Paul store down the street. Some of them are big enough to put toiletries in for the homeless, but a lot of them are little clutches that don’t even have a strap.(Like the kind you’d take to prom or a wedding.) I think the main reason I don’t want t give them away is I feel like I’m disrespecting the people who gave them to me. Maybe I should just start putting two in the pile everytime I take a load of baby clothes to St. Vinny’s.
Click to expand...
Yeah.

Can the disrespect worries thing–that’s one of the trains to Hoarderville.

If your benefactors SAW the bag of bags, they’d say “OK, you have too many bags” and you’d have their blessing. A gift becomes the property of the recipient–you don’t take on a lifelong obligation to store the item in your basement.

I haven’t read the whole thread (so apologies in advance), but tween or young teen nieces might appreciate the clutches.
 
Mary_Estelle said:
Did I misread the OP original post? Where did she say that she had no problem in getting rid of all the purses? If that is correct, then why has she not done so? Now her child is receiving purses, too. Is this not a small step in hoarding? Please correct me if I am wrong. Peace.
Click to expand...
The last line in her post says she has no problem getting rid of other thiings
 
Xantippe said:
Yeah.

Can the disrespect worries thing–that’s one of the trains to Hoarderville.

If your benefactors SAW the bag of bags, they’d say “OK, you have too many bags” and you’d have their blessing. A gift becomes the property of the recipient–you don’t take on a lifelong obligation to store the item in your basement.

I haven’t read the whole thread (so apologies in advance), but tween or young teen nieces might appreciate the clutches.
Click to expand...
😊 Yeah, that’s the other thing. I was thinking of holding on to them for when my nieces get old enough to maybe want them.
 
Anglewannabe said:
With all due respect, I think everyone is missing the point of the post. The OP is clear she has no problem giving to charity and getting rid of things. She just for some reason can’t seem to part with purses. I don’t think she needs ideas on what to do with the extra purses
Click to expand...
Instead of just storing the bags in her closet, she could use the bags for storage and organization of various other small items in her closet.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top