Purses are my Achilles Heel

At the beginning of March, I decided that because I was getting ready to spend a whole lot of money on updating my kitchen, I would challenge myself to refrain from spending money on anything other than gas and groceries. My March Madness. The only exceptions to this no-buy challenge were items for the kitchen update and going out for lunch.  Going out for lunch is something I do a couple of times a week, because I would go completely crazy if I didn't get out of that office every now and then.  I was really hoping to save some money and learn a few things about my spending habits.  This is what I learned:

1. I'm more of a shopaholic than I thought.
2. I spend a lot more money on going out for lunch than I should. 
3. While I have accomplished a lot of my financial goals over the last couple of years, like paying off my debts and building up my savings, I really need to implement a written budget.
4. If anything was going to make me fail on this challenge, it would be would be a purse.  What can I say?  They are my Achilles' Heel.

 In all fairness, the purse I bought only cost $17.00.  And I bought it to replace the purse that I was using that I absolutely LOVED!!  In fact, I LOVED it so much that I had been using it pretty much every day for the last 8 months.  That is rare for me.  I currently own over 20 purses.  And I'm apt to switch them out with the season, or with my outfits, or for different occasions, or with my mood.  There is no rhyme or reason with me.  Ask my Hubs, once you think you got me figured out, I go and do something completely out of character.  Ooops, got of track there. Anyway, I bought it to replace a purse that I had been using for the past 8 months.  I had used it so much that the vinyl was wearing off of the corners.  And heaven knows any self-respecting fashionista would never be seen with a ragged purse!  

This was my old purse. 

Don't you just LOVE it?!! It was perfect for me! It was just the right size.  I loved the buckle detailing; so cute!  It was just the right color.  I love my purses to be bright and colorful.  It had outside pouches that were perfect for my iPhone and lipsticks.  It had four inside compartments; one side for my wallet and checkbook; one side for my note book and pen; the zipper pouch in the middle was great for my lotion, hand sanitizer, tissue, and pill box; and there was a small zipper pouch on one side that was easy access to my keys and pocket knife.  (Yes, I carry a pocket knife.  Every woman should.)  This purse was an organized woman's dream purse.  So you could see why I was reluctant to part with it, even if it had a couple of worn spots on the corners. 

This is my new purse.

It's as close a match as I was gonna get, unless by some miracle the outlet store where I bought the first one would stock an identical coral shoulder bag. (It wasn't happening; I had already checked.)  So, when I walked into my favorite thrift store and saw this coral Liz&Co purse staring at me from the racks, I just had to snatch it up!  It looked like it had never been used, and like I said, it only cost $17.00.  In some ways, this purse is even better than the one I was replacing.  It cost less, and it's a quality name brand.  It has one more outside pocket that provides even better access to my keys, and it has more inside compartments as well.  And even though it doesn't have the cute buckle detailing on the handles, I Love this purse too!!

There you have it; the results of My March Madness challenge.  I saved a bunch.  I learned a bunch.  And I only went off the wagon once.  For a purse.   

Okay, now you know my dirty little spending secret; purses are my Achilles Heel.  Do you have any spending weaknesses?  Come on; share! Confession is good for the soul!