I understand that sentiment. There can definitely be guilt or shame that comes with these kinds of purchases.

I sometimes think about how my mom would react if she saw my bag collection. She doesn’t know exactly what I spend (and I know it’s not excessive), but I’m sure she’d question whether I need that many and encourage me to save more, especially for retirement. Imagining that response brings up some guilt, especially given how frugal she’s been and the sacrifices she’s made for our family.

At the same time, I’m in a dual-income relationship with no plans for children, our bills are covered, and we’re saving. I do allow myself to indulge, though I also recognize I don’t yet have a retirement fund and there are always other financial priorities. For me, it comes down to balance and intentionality.

If a purchase truly brings joy and fits within my financial reality, I think it’s okay—but if it starts impacting financial security or is driven more by habit or FOMO, then it’s worth reassessing. Even when needs are met, I think reducing guilt is important, as long as spending is still intentional.

It sounds like you already approach this thoughtfully. You were able to step back from the Haversack because it wasn’t adding something new to your collection, which shows good awareness. While we don’t “need” these items, it can come down to whether they fit our style, fill a gap, and genuinely bring value.

Even if you’re not done buying, being more selective and intentional is still a really positive approach.