You Can Have it All (If You're Willing to Wait)

The other day, I saw this wonderful quote. It said: "Don't buy the $300 bag to have nothing in it. Buy the $20 bag and have $280 to go in it."

I love this quote for so many reasons. Probably because it defies the consumeristic voice that surrounds us. This is the choice to have less, to spend less, and to not have to be "on trend."

Given my involvement in the vintage clothing industry (I sell vintage clothing online), I realize that while this quote is true, there is a way to get around it -- a way to have it all.

The truth is, you can have that $300 bag...you just have to be willing to wait for it. I buy and resell (and wear) a lot of vintage clothing and accessories. And trust me, there are very expensive handbags out there for a fraction of the price. I see them all the time.

If you're trendy, this won't work for you. But, if you're into classics, if you're into quality, if you're into having less but having better, my friend, you can have the $300 bag for $20, but it will cost you time instead of money. 

And that is where most people fail. Waiting. You have to deny yourself instant gratification to have it all later. You have to search and look for that piece you want at estate sales, garage sales, thrift stores, or Facebook Marketplace. You do the work of looking now, and then it's a time game until it shows up. I know this from experience. Things I bought and sold fifteen years ago can rarely show up again in another ten years. Other items are a dime a dozen, and I've sold many repeats.

But this is also where the value of the piece lies. Waiting for it, and looking for it, because the reward is great when you do find it.

Here are a few reasons to buy vintage:

1. Quality - It's all about the bottom line in the textiles and manufacturing industry today, so the cheaper the item can be made, the better the profit. Gone are the days of making something to last. Most things you buy today are meant to last a season or two. This is also why I tend to buy and sell vintage USA-made only items. The quality, a mere twenty years ago (let alone fifty), is like night and day. So, by holding out and waiting to find that vintage bag for $20, you're truly getting a bag that's not only worth a whole lot more, but is going to last you ten times longer than any new $20 fake leather bag from Target. 

2. Uniqueness - Why be like everyone else? With vintage, I can guarantee you'll have trouble finding anyone near you with the same item. You will stand out. That bag on your shoulder will be a quality piece that most ladies around you won't have. And that you paid a fraction of the cost of it, well, that's just icing on the vintage cake!

3. Sustainability - Have you been in a thrift store lately? If you haven't, I suggest you do. And try not to cry while in there because it can be overwhelming. There are so many clothes, so many new clothes still with tags on them, stuffed in the racks. And most of the items, after a short life in the thrift store, will end up overseas or in a landfill. By buying gently used items, quality, classic items - items you couldn't even think about buying today for pennies on the dollar because they don't make clothing the same anymore - you're helping to keep one more piece out of the landfill. You're being responsible, wise, protecting the earth, and saving yourself money.

Your money or your time? Pick one. Have the bag you want now for the money (and an empty wallet), or wait for the bag for a whole lot less and get quality, uniqueness, and sustainability with it. There's no question the second choice is the one for me, which is probably why I'm so happy in the vintage industry.

If you want to buy that $300 bag now, fine. That's up to you. It's different for everyone. But, if you're feeling a bit squeamish about spending that money, then don't. Try a different route: hunt for it, wait for it, and then spend less for it.

You can have it all (if you're willing to wait.) And guess what? Here's a little bonus to take away today: This motto works for nearly every area of your life. Why go broke looking rich now, with immediate gratification, when with a little time and patience, you can have it all?