Repair or Toss?

I got this bag about ten years ago from TJ Maxx - I think it was about $35 and it was SO nice. It's leather, it's a nice bag - and it's made to look worn. I bought it when I was traveling so much - and I needed a nice overnight bag or if I was going to be gone longer (in the days before Kindles and IPads) and I was carrying books and magazines - a nice carryon bag. The longer you carry this thing, the more worn it looks. It's really nice.

About 3 years ago I pulled it out for an overnight trip to Philly and one of the back straps had snapped and I was HEARTBROKEN. (here it is fixed!)

I don't even know what happened but I was SO SAD. This is where my frugality kicked in - I didn't know what to do. It is a nice bag - and it's pure leather and I think the tag said it would have normally sold at something like $200 - so I just stashed it in the bottom of my closet. I have a hard time throwing anything away. I buy RIT dye for when my white clothes start to look dingy and the next thing you know I have new black pants or a new navy shirt. I'm just like that ... and I could not bring myself to throw my bag away.

So this week I pulled it out again - since my credit card is paid off- and finally felt like whatever it cost, I could afford to go get it repaired. So I took it to a tailor over here by my work on Friday and I picked it up Monday at lunch. $20 and it's like new. If I had known it would be that cheap, I would have done it a long time ago. I really am so glad I had this done. Every time we would travel I would pull it out and just be sad all over again. This bag served me very well back when I was living in Dallas. Welcome back into the rotation, leather bag!

Now I can't wait to travel again!

Kah