When I fell in love with the brand, it appeared constantly in my dreams and on my wish list. When I think of beauty and sophistication, I associate it with Chanel. On my list of financial goals, I allot resources to allow myself to purchase the Chanel bag of my choice.

I remember vividly how I began my love affair with designer bags. I needed/wanted new bags, one for the day and one for night. At the time, sellers were taking to Instagram to sell their products and I happened to come across one account which showcased my preferred items.

It started out as 2, then 3, then 4 bags. Before I knew it, I had splurged on a Louis Vuitton bag. 

When I first received the LV, I felt a mixture of pride, joy, guilt and shame. I felt proud knowing that I had worked hard to earn my keep and pay for the bag myself and I felt joy in my first purchase of a known luxury item. However, I also felt guilt for spending an exorbitant amount on an item I knew was more a liability than an asset; the shame came when I realised the same amount of money could feed an entire family for a couple of months.

I told myself that would be my first and last luxury item. For a while, I was content with my LV. 

Then I met Chanel. 

I haven't bought myself a Chanel bag. I don't intend to. You see, I learned the following things from my experience with the LV.

I still dream of that Chanel handbag. But now, every time I come close to getting it for myself, I pause and remind myself that it's just a bag. Every time I find myself coveting material objects beyond my budget and needs, I try my best to pause, assess and remember the teachings of Buddha. It is much easier said than done and I struggle many times. However, I plod on and hope that with each passing day it gets easier to choose simplicity and humility.