BagBible

This Mary Norton clutch is very dainty and feminine looking.  It is perfect for spring and summer parties.  The chiffon makes this clutch looks so delicate. You can buy this from Saks for $995.  I’m sure that not everyone is willing to pay that much money for something as small as 7″W X 6″H X 2″D which will only come out of the closet a handful of times in a year.

For my budget conscious readers, I have an alternative that will give you a similar look but cost less than $30. I found this Rose Clutch on eBay. This cheaper clutch is a little bit bigger than the Mary Norton clutch, it measures 9″x 5.8″x 3.0″ and it comes in many different colors.

I have never bought anything from this seller, so I can not share my experience with you.  However, the seller is a power seller and has a good rating.  Regardless, you always have to be cautious when shopping on eBay.  I find that the safest payment method on eBay is PayPal. If there is something wrong with your transaction you have a better chance of getting your money back if you are paying with PayPal.  I’m planning to get this clutch for my next summer party, however I still haven’t found the dress yet so I can’t decide which color Rose Clutch I will get.  Don’t you just love shopping? I know I do.

Here is how:

Step 1: Buy your bags at deep discounts.

I usually can get my bags at deep discounts. Especially in this economy when everything is pretty much on sale.  I don’t buy my bags right when it comes out because it won’t be on sale. To be a smart bagaholic you should be patient in shopping. Always look around and find the best price.  It’s really not that hard. All you have to do is just click, click, click.  I like to go on eBay, Bluefly and the private sales sites such as Ideeli, Gilt, Hautelook and Rue La La.  If I happened to go out, I like to check out Saks and Neiman Marcus outlets. They sometimes have very good deals.  If you are not an experienced eBayer I would suggest to be extremely careful when shopping on eBay for designer bags, such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, Prada, Bottega Veneta, etc. These particular brands are a common target for counterfeits. If you are new to eBay, start by buying contemporary designer bags such as Rebecca Minkoff, Bulga, Gustto or other similar designers, because those brands are not widely counterfeited yet.  If you don’t mind buying vintage designer bags, there are also some reputable sites that sells pre-owned, gently used, authentic bags such as, Yoogi’s Closet, Authentic Bags for Less, and Fashionphile.  I don’t have any experience with these sellers however, I’m sure you can go to the Purse Forum and ask for tips from those that have done business with them.

Step 2: Keep your bags in good shape.

Use you bag gently and maintain your bag well, so that it will look almost new. Read here on how to keep your bag looking nice and new. This step is very important in order to recoup most or a big part of your investment.

Step 3: Sell the bags that you haven’t worn in a year (except for classic bags).

I’m the kind of person that gets bored easily. Whenever I have some new bags I tend to use the newer bags more often compared to my old ones.  Set aside the bags that you haven’t worn in two seasons (I’m talking about fashion season which is spring/summer and fall/winter).  Try to sell it. I prefer selling my bags on eBay, because I usually can recoup most of the money I paid. Sometimes, I even make a little profit. However, if you are not familiar with selling on eBay, you can always sell it to  someone you know or to the pre-owned bags seller that I mentioned in step 1. With the money you made selling your old bags that were just sitting in your closet inside the dust bag, you can now shop for your newest obsessions.

As for classic bags, you probably don’t want to sell them yet after a year because these bags tend to appreciate in value over time.

Image from Polyvore