Purses, bags, etc.
 

I learned the hard way that it's best to carry some of everything with me at all times. This includes items like hairspray, Tums, tampons, mints / gum, nail file, dental floss, Immodium, etc. It's when you need these things most, that you don't have access to them.

I've been notorious for carrying around huge purses for this reason, with family and friends giving me shit for it. However, I've now mastered getting everything I need in a medium-sized purse, with about 3 pockets, using 2 clear make-bags also with pockets. I now feel completely secure when leaving my house. Need something? Ask me - I probably have it.

So what do you carry? Nothing? A suitcase? Just the basics?

Basics, in a small purse.

Wallet, phone, change purse, pen(s), keys, bandaids.

Check out how much time I have on my hands. I took grainy cell phone pics.

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I will have my keys on me at any given time, that's about it. I have purses for when I might need to carry one. I keep a supply of everything I need at school in my desk, and everything I need at home is at home. The things I might need in my car are in my car. This means I have travel-sized lotion bottles stashed in each of these places, along with tampons, light makeup touchup supplies, and a pen and paper.

I can't abide carrying clutter.

I carry a medium-sized purse with:

- lots of pens
- hair ties
- lots of different colored and textured glosses
- HUGE wallet
- aspirin/ibuprofen (whichever one I have at the moment)
- keys
- perfume roll-on
- mirror
- iPod
- medication
- bottle of water
- some GermX
- hand and body lotion
- tissues
- safety pins

I carry a large canvas bag (like one for groceries) because I carry my crochet projects with me. So in the large canvas bag I have spiral notebook, pen, calendar, two crochet projects in their own mesh bags, crochet hooks, small altoids tins for small items and a smaller wallet for money, ID, bus pass, etc. It seems like it would be heavy but it works out well to have all that stuff with me.

It depends. During the school year, I keep everything in my backpack. When I go out, I only carry my cell, chapstick, cigs, a lighter, and money, all in my pockets.

Right now, I'm carrying a canvas grocery bag (I keep a change of clothes in there for after work, so...yeah.) I switch between that and an Adidas knapsack.


Generally, what I carry in a bag or purse:

- cell
- chapstick
- gum
- hairbrush
- a book
- cigs
- combination wine key/bottle opener
- bottle of water
- lotion
- flash drive
- change purse
- keys (with an ID holder on a carabiner, along with a CPR microshield.)

I go both ways. When I'm in a phase that I must read every chance I get, I need a monster purse that will hold my book. If I'm on the road or traveling, gots to carry water or food in it.

The rest of the time, I prefer something smallish, but just large enough to carry my little wallet, phone, lip gloss, phone, cigs and keys.

I carry a small purse with just phone, keys, wallet, Ipod, lipgloss. Since school started back up, I have added a pen.

I have a medium-sized purse, everyday when i go out, i first check my 3 important things, wallet, key and mobile phone. Also some other items!

I have a briefcase type thing for work that holds my laptop and files. Outside of work, I don't need anything.

If I get a big purse I will put EVERYTHING in there...so I don't. I don't need to carry around things, because I like to keep things simple. I have a small purse that I use occasionally. Mostly I just use a wristlet that holds some money, credit cards, ID and my phone. I keep my keys in my pocket. I don't really need anything else.

I have a purse from Timbuk2, the same folks who manufacture a lot of those messenger bags you see around. I love it because it basically has a wallet sewn into it; there are little slots for pens, my cell phone, my iPod, my cards, and a pocket with a key hook for my work keys. It's small but just large enough to fit my planner and a paperback as well as my camera. It's sporty--made of Cordura ballistic nylon--and it matches my Timbuk2 backpack. I like that it's small enough that it fits perfectly on top of my books and computer when they're all stacked up in my backpack. I usually also carry my backpack, which is not only for school but for nannying, and has a bunch of different supplies: herbal tea, first aid kit, sunscreen, water, pencils, extra lead, a snack, textbooks, a notebook, and my netbook.

I have a couple bags that I switch between depending on the day. A pretty blue Fossil purse, a big hippie-styled cotton shoulder sack, and a backpack from MEC. The hippie bag is my favourite, 'cause it's big enough that I can pick up groceries, but it looks good and is super light when it's almost empty.

Every day I carry:
A wallet that's way too big, but I love the colour, so I keep it
Three key rings (work, cars, home/etc)
My asthma inhaler
A book
My iPod
My mobile

But I spend at least one night a week away from home, so I need a change of clothes and a hairbrush occasionally.

I guess you could say mine is a medium sized purse. Although my current purse is a bit larger than I usually carry. I needed room for my eyeglasses and my sunglasses. I carry:

cell phone, when it's not in my pocket
keys
Palm pilot
small makeup bag with lipsticks and other feminine needs.
wallet
2 pairs of glasses
various pens
tissues
gum

sometimes there are things in there for the kids. My son loves that it is big enough to carry his Nintendo DS.

If I'm going somewhere with my Husband, I don't carry anything. He puts my driver's license in his wallet and away we go.

If I'm going somewhere alone, I take a smallish purse that really just holds my wallet, keys and phone.

I don't like carrying around a purse or bag or anything so I avoid it when I can.

I have a medium sized bag and I hate it. I feel the bigger I go, the more stuff I throw in. Then it become a sea of things that make it hard to find anything!

You have to use either clear or color-coded make up bags. That's what helped me organize. One for 'toiletries,' one for 'medicines,' one for 'gum, mints, pens,' etc.

Hit the dollar store for them.

usually larger - a small backpak or a handbag with pockets. Phone, hair cutting tools, tweezers, makeup redo kit, a pad or two depending on the timing, lotion, lipstick, hairbrush, Blackberry, water, keys, pliers multitool, paper-pen-wallet-like-thingy/organizer. O.S. (Other Sh_t)

I have found that the bigger my bag is, the more crap my hubby and kids ask me to carry for them. "Just put it in your purse" "Hey, where is my race car? I put it in your purse" "Will you hold my wallet and keys in there? I don't feel like having things in my pockets"
That's when I decided to switch to a tiny purse that only holds my phone, keys and small wallet. ......that'll teach 'em

I carry a messenger bag with everything I or someone with me might need!

~variety of meds (aleve, ibuprofen, pepto, vicodin, sudafed, eyedrops)
~variety of chapsticks and lipsticks
~tampons and pads
~hair stuff (gel, comb, ponytail holders, hair pins and clasps)
~mp3 player with spare batteries
~cell phone and charger
~first aid stuff (bacitracin, bandaids, alcohol wipes)
~hygiene stuff (purell hand sanitizer, toothbrush, floss, tissues, nail clippers and file)
~pen/paper
~lotion
~gum and candy
~book
~sunglasses
~flashlight
~camcorder (Vado HD--it's small)
~wallet
~puppy stuff (spare leash, harness, clicker and small plastic bag for poop)
~paint samples of my wall colors (I use these all the time when out shopping and considering something for the house or describing my place to someone)

Also carry whatever the SO needs tossed in there when we go out together. I've tried going smaller but the only thing I used to carry that I haven't missed was a travel sewing kit. I try to organize but it never lasts long... There are a couple of sections and pockets so I try to at least keep things in a structured mess.

Would love to be one of those women with the little purse but not having something when I need it would make me crazy.