What's In My Bag: #ItsInTheBag Donation For Share The Dignity

It's that time again! Share the Dignity is asking Australians to give back at Christmas and fill up a bag with some essentials and perhaps an extra special item or two to donate to a woman in need at Christmas time. This is the fourth year I've participated with #ItsInTheBag, it's such a fun thing to get involved with. I've shared how you can get involved below too, as you can start dropping your bags off to Bunnings this weekend!

This year I've packed a bag for a local woman in need to make her feel special at Christmas time. And I picked a nice big bag so I had room for a few extra pieces for her.

What's In My #ItsInTheBag Donation For 2021:

The past couple of years I've done a mums and bubs bag to help out a new mum in need. This year, I decided to go back to basics and just fill up a similar bag to what I did the first time I donated in 2018. This bag will be given to a local lady in need at Christmas time. Maybe she's homeless, maybe she's fleeing violence, maybe she's just having a hard time making ends meet and has reached out to a charity for help. Whoever she is I hope that this bag helps her see she's loved and worthy, and brings her a little joy at Christmas time.

This bag has all the basic essential hygiene items and a few extras. Things like tissues, a face mask, wipes, hand sanitiser, hand cream, a necklace, a journal and some pens. And I hope whoever receives this likes coconut, as you can see I ended up with a bit of a coconut theme going on! Almost everything was on sale. I stock up in advance, and don't shop all at once. Half price sales at Woolworths on beauty products are good for this, to add a little extra to the grocery shop, and the bag itself was a $8 bargain at Kmart with lots of room for everything.

What To Put In Your Bag:

Other Ways You Can Participate:

If you're in Australia:

• Don't have time to shop, or ideas for what to put in a bag? (It kicks off this weekend!) You can sponsor a bag on the Share the Dignity website.
• If you can't make it to Bunnings between the 19th and 28th November, why not see if any local charities near you are collecting anything similar? A thoughtful bag of essential hygiene items is likely to be well received. Maybe your local library is already collecting such items, or your local food bank would appreciate some donations.
• Maybe you just can't stretch to something like this at Christmas time - there's always the sanitary items donation drive later in the year.

If you're outside Australia:

I've seen this idea by other names in other countries too - blessing bags, kindness bags, etc. You can research and see if there is anything similar where you live.

More Ideas For What To Put In Your Bag:

• Mum and Bub Bag 2020
• Mum and Bub Bag 2019
• Woman in Need Bag 2018

I'm not sure how many times you need to do something each year before it becomes tradition  - but I'm glad I can do this for the fourth year in a row and that I have the avenue on this blog to share the donation drive with a wider audience. It makes me so happy when friends or family want to include things in the bag or have even put their own bag together to donate. My mum helped me with this bag, the little pouch was a great addition!

 

I plan to do this next year as well - are there any little extras you think I should include that I haven't this year? Or anything you considered a must-have when you donated something similar?

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The 2021 Budget Friendly Handbag Lover Gift Guide

It's gift guide season! Just like last year and the year before, I'm sticking to one gift guide post this year: the ultimate annual gift guide for a handbag lover. No matter your budget, you're sure to find a gift for the bag mad person in your life, or a cute piece for yourself. And while this isn't a wishlist of what I want for Christmas, I wouldn't say no to any of these things!

Handbag Adjacent Gifts for the Budget Conscious: Under $50

This is my favourite category as you can be so creative. Maybe you can't get that budget-breaking Chanel bag they have their sights on, but Chanel do make nail polish! Beauty items like lip stick or lip gloss allow you to gift a little piece of luxury at a much more affordable price point. 

Sticking with a general bag theme, look for things like a bag shaped crossbody phone holder, a passport holder, phone case, or personalised embroidered dust bags for the bags they already have. If they really love one designer, why not get a book or print featuring their favourite fashion house instead?

Small Leather Goods For Those With More To Spend: $50 - $150

A budget like this lets you stretch a little further and while you might not be able to pick up a full sized handbag at this price point unless it's on sale, you can definitely get them a SLG (small leather good) to put in the bag of their dreams! Think coin purses, wallets, card holders and clutches.

Suitably Spendy Splurges: $200 - $400

A big splurge can pay off here - you won't get the high end luxury bag they lust for but you can certainly get a handbag from a contemporary designer at this price point. Rebecca Minkoff (my favourite!), Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Coach, etc. Or what about a wallet on a chain or pouch from a luxury brand? Hover over these bags to see prices.

Money Is No Object: $1,000+

For a very special someone or just because you're feeling extra generous, these bags are sure to make the recipient smile. If you're not sure on their preferences but still really want to spend at this price point, stick with neutral colours to guarantee it will get the use such a splurge deserves.

You Know What They Want But Your Budget Just Can't Stretch To It!

• Check out places like The Outnet to get past season bags at clearance prices. You might find a current style that doesn't fit in your budget in last season's colour at a much more budget friendly price point! The Outnet has bags up to 85% off.
• Shopbop has a wide range of designers and a decent selection of bags on sale too.
• Don't forget that with the Black Friday sales coming up in the US things might be deeply discounted in the next couple weeks. Add to cart and wait for a sale or discount code!
• Take them for lunch! Organise a day out of window shopping at all those places you (or they!) can't afford and a nice lunch to refuel after trying on all the pretty bags all day! Because at the end of the day, bags are pretty but time with loved ones is always the best gift.

Special Mention: Preloved Purses For You

Second hand buys are kinder to the budget and the environment, but sometimes you can be disappointed when the item is not in the condition you were expected and isn't worthy for gifting. You can minimise the risk of this by sticking to shopping second hand stores in person so you know what you're getting, or trying a reputable online reseller that has a good returns policy and lots of clear photos. Fashionphile is always good for gifts, as authenticity is guaranteed and the photos are clear and show condition well. Fashionphile has a sale section too!

The best time to buy second hand is when you're buying for yourself though, and it's easier to accept that the "pristine" bag you ordered has an undisclosed scuff on the corner. I've scooped up a few lucky finds on eBay and Gumtree myself for designers lesser known in Australia. 

You can also go this route when the person you're buying for has already checked out some preloved bag bargains and sent you a list of ones they like and are happy with the documented condition of. Ask them if you're not sure! I've already sent a few links to the family with preloved bag bargains I have my eye on at the moment! 😂  

I always have a lot of fun putting this gift guide post together and I hope you enjoy it! Are you hoping for anything handbag shaped under the tree this year?

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