It’s week 11 of the 52-Week Decluttering Challenge. This week, we’re doing a purse and bag declutter. In addition to purses (handbags for my British readers), this week’s challenge includes other miscellaneous bags like backpacks, tote-bags, briefcases and even luggage.
This post was originally published in March 2021 and republished in March 2024.
What is the 52-Week Decluttering Challenge?
In this year-long journey, we’re tackling one task at a time with the goal of cleaning up and organizing our homes. If you’ve just joined us, no worries. You can jump right in with this week’s challenge. Just check out the first two posts in the series to download your free checklists.
You can get easy access to all previous weekly posts on the main Decluttering page.
Are you ready for week 11? Gather up all your purses, backpacks, tote bags and briefcases and let’s get decluttering!
Week 11 – Purse and bag declutter
For years, purses were my “go to” purchase when I needed something new to cheer me up. I would treat myself to a new purse pretty much every season. Hearing that, you might expect that I’d have a lot of them laying around. Surprisingly, I don’t. I’ve pretty much always followed the “one-in, one-out” rule. Each time I bought a new purse, I’d donate or give one away.
This article from the Daily Mirror says the average British woman buys 3 new handbags every year, and owns 14 in total. The article also says that handbags are the favourite fashion purchase for more than half of women. This tells me bags and purses present a great decluttering opportunity.
These days, I rarely carry a purse. I have a backpack that I use for work, and a small crossbody wallet/phone case that I take everywhere else.
I did an initial clear-out of my purses and bags last fall. Even so, I was kind of surprised when I gathered what I had left into a pile. Here’s what I started with this time around.
This week’s decluttering and organizing tips
I’ll get to what I got rid of shortly. First, here are my tips and learnings from week 11.
- Purses are a popular item on Buy & Sell groups and Buy Nothing groups. I posted 4 bags on our local Buy Nothing group on Facebook and they were claimed within 30 minutes. If you’re not familiar with Buy Nothing groups, they are an amazing way to repurpose your old items. Check out 6 ways to turn your junk into treasure for more information.
- Tote bags are a common giveaway at conferences and meetings. I wish there was a “no bag” option because I never know what to do with all the bags I bring home, and I hate throwing them out. Surprisingly, someone on the Buy Nothing group took several conference totes off my hands last fall.
- If you have a large purse collection and you’re serious about decluttering, consider streamlining to one light-coloured purse for summer and a dark-coloured one for winter. Stick to neutral colours that go with any outfit. Not only will you save space in your closet, but you’ll save time moving your things from one purse to another.
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Purse and bag declutter – What I got rid of
In round one last year, I got rid of 9 items: a sports bag, 2 wheeled tote bags, 2 purses, 3 conference totes and a laptop bag.
This week, I choose 4 more items to get rid of – 2 purses, a laptop bag, and a travel tote. These are the items that were claimed within 30 minutes on the Buy Nothing group.
2024 Update
It has been three years so I’m rebooting the 52-Week Decluttering Challenge to see how much I can get rid of in 2024.
I have acquired a couple of new purses since 2021. When I went through my closet, I identified one purse, and three totes that could go. Earlier in the year, I also got rid of two rolling duffle bags that my daughters used for travel when they were small. So, that adds up to six items.
So that’s week 11 done. I’m definitely seeing a lot more space in my closet after the last few weeks. I hope you’re seeing a difference too.
If you have friends or family members who could benefit from a little less clutter in their lives, please share this post and spread the word!
How many purses and bags did you declutter this week? Tell us below.
Buying three handbags a year and having an average of 14 handbags seems excessive. Also, who would own more than one briefcase? Does anyone even own a briefcase anymore? Surely their all laptop type bags nowadays
You’re right. I haven’t owned a briefcase in years. I use a backpack for work now.
If I didn’t need a place to put my phone (other than a back pocket on my jeans which doesn’t feel secure) I probably wouldn’t carry a bag of any kind. I sound like a broken record I know but my small canvas cross body purse is even too big for me in general. It’s useful when I travel I guess but as with other things, I just don’t have “stuff” and if I did I wouldn’t be lugging it around 🙂
I agree. I love my wallet/phone case and rarely carry a larger purse unless I’m travelling.
I’m with you about a good cross body bag and I’ll only EVER buy those that allow a switch out of the strap. I love changing up the look with a new guitar strap, woven and in fun colors. 😎
Ooh, that’s a cool idea Vicki. 😎 Another advantage of a cross-body bag I thought of as I was packing for a trip this week is they fold flat and don’t take up much space in a suitcase. As someone who likes to travel with just a carry-on and personal item, that’s key for me.
I think you’ve got the best travel strategy! 🥰
Thank you! 🧳✈️🤗
Oh, your post made me think about what is my go-to pick me up. My mother has a lot of bags. It is her go-to, I suppose. She does give them away over the holidays every year, and makes room for new ones. Haha!
That is a good way to stay on top of things. I know lots of people who love new clothes and follow the one-in-one-out rule.
I always seem to get bags and totes as gifts! I have used some to store toys, books, or winter accessories. Some I even kept as reusable gift bags. If I don’t find a meaningful purpose for them though, I pass them along or follow the one-in-one-out rule.
Using the bags as gift bags is an excellent idea, but they do accumulate. I really wish conferences and meetings would let us refuse the bags. Those are the ones I seem to accumulate a lot of.
Purses are definitely one of my weaknesses. It is not going to be easy to do, but I’m up for the challenge. We’ll see how it goes.
Good luck Tiffany. Let me know how it goes!
For a while every time I saw a purse sale I was out shopping! I’m kind of thankful for the pandemic because it made me stop buying purses! haha! I’m taking your advice and decluttering my purses this weekend. I love the idea of just carrying a crossbody!
It is hard to resist a good purse sale. LOL I haven’t bought a new purse in about 2 years. I love my cross body and don’t miss the stuff I used to carry in my bigger purses.