Secret Life of Objects: My Dempsey Weekender Set

I don't often treat myself like this. Given the story around it, the bag's name will probably be Coach Hayley. 

I took Pia to Chicago over Christmas and sloppily threw things in a tote bag for our overnight adventure. I didn’t like the look. The bag was five years old, an inexpensive striped beach bag from Ron Jon Surf Shop. Things were spilling out and the bag was dirty. 

Then a few weeks ago, I found myself killing time at the outlets making a return and saw this at Coach, the Dempsey 40 tote and matching toiletry case.  The story of my toiletry case is even sadder, a teal plastic train case obtained from Clinique as one of those "free with purchase" makeup bags from 15 years ago.

I walked away because I couldn’t justify the price tag. I thought about the crass commercialism of our culture, need vs. want, and the fact January is the time when I purge cupboards and closets of our excess. Then I thought about excess - I have bags, did I really need another one? I am guilty of the FOMO mentality, the fear of missing out.

I thought about it for the next two weeks. Coach didn't help by geofencing my location and urging me to buy with a daily email nudge. 

I was on my way to a cheer comp near the outlet mall and I remembered my fun money account. I save my judges’ gifts and expense checks for… what exactly?  I squirrel away my cash for a rainy day, using the balance from time to time on a down payment for a car, the cottage, and most recently, a new furnace. 

So I've been a good girl, if not a bit conservative with my savings. 

I veered over to the credit union and made a withdrawal, budgeting myself to a certain amount. On the way to the shop, I debated if I needed it, making the deal with myself that if, and only if, the set was there, I would get it. 

I got it. And instead of being 60% off, it was 75% off. 

Bringing it home, I left it in the shopping bag for a moment before taking it out and removing the tags. It's pretty. It's professional-looking. This new bag allowed me to get rid of at least eight tote bags, including another "free with purchase" overnight bag from Elizabeth Arden that is 20 years old, ripped, and fixed with liberal coats of nail polish. 

With a quality bag, it's unlikely I will purchase another one any time soon. I will also resist the urge to buy other things to obtain the "free with purchase" bags I normally do. I'm also satisfied, which usually quenches the thirst to get more.  

Addition by subtraction. 

I always name my Coach bags, the hot pink purse I'm using currently is Chloe. I'm going to think about this one, as it is closely tied to my experience with competitive cheer. It's Coach and the girls' coach is Hayley. There you go, it's Coach Hayley.