View Full Version : What's in your purse?
Ever look inside your purse and think- WITW (what in the world)? Old receipts, bills, cancelled checks, scrap paper, gum and candy wrappers, loose gum/candy, old pens that no longer work/write...
Seems that purses are one of those things where we seldom ever get around to cleaning them out and going through them to organize, so all sorts of things accumulate and stack up inside them and before long, you have a zoo in your midst!
I just went through mine recently and did an all out good old-fashioned proper cleaning. It was unreal! I literally dumped out the contents on the table and started going through everything one piece at a time. When I was done, I tossed all non-pertinent stuff into the garbage, vacuumed out the interior, then carefully placed everything back in again as if in an attempt to avoid revisiting another cleaning in the future. (What a dream world I live in, huh).
Nonetheless, what's in your purse?
As a side-note, it's funny, because the last time I did a purse purge/clean (too long ago to remember), I still smoked, so this time around there were no cigarettes or lighter present.
goldensmom
8-31-11, 1:46pm
Since you asked, here is the inventory:
Checkbook
Savings account book
Credit card/card holder
with cash, drivers license, fishing license, library card, ATM card, BC/BS card, Car wash
loyal customer card
Business cards
2 combs
small bottle of Tylenol - empty
dogs Rx
3 pens
Tic Tacs
1 paper clip
½ of a peanut
IshbelRobertson
8-31-11, 2:26pm
In the UK - a 'purse' is a receptacle for money - as is a wallet.
Now a handbag? Well, that's a receptacle for all sorts of things! In mine at the moment:
mobile phone
cheque book (although I haven't written a cheque for more than a year)
purse(!) - I've checked it has 13 pound coins, about another 7 pounds in other coins of lower denominations
Wallet - 110 pounds (I've got a hairdresser's appt tomorrow, so I need ready cash), a debit card, a medical emergency notification card, 2 charge cards for department stores, ID cards for work, 100 Euros (don't ask: I forgot to change it when I got back from my last visit to mainland Europe).
2 lipsticks, 2 eyeshadows, 1 mascara, small tube of moisturising cream in a makeup ag
nail file
small, handbag sized hairbrush
hand/face wipes
small pack of paper tissues
Rubbish: ticket stubs from 2 recent air flights, 4 train tickets, 1 local bus ticket
I pretty much change purses daily - I know - but it's what I do.
Therefore I'm pretty good at keeping only what I need.
Small credit card size wallet with Driver's license, debit card, insurance card, AAA card, (sometimes business debit card and credit card).
2 lipsticks and a compact
3 pens
small planner/notebook
A small bottle of Aleve
A small bottle of Zyrtec
gum
nail clippers
and today a small tube of Neosporin+pain relief (I cut my toe - ouch)
no reciepts, loose coins, cash, or trash
Wallet.
Nail clippers (you never know when you might need them.)
Cardcase with business cards.
Pen.
Passport. Ooops, I need to put that away.
Since I ditched the cell phone, I really don't need a handbag, just my wallet. Hmm.
kindle (in makeshift case)
3 x 5 planner w/cash, library card, debit-credit card, 2 checks for emergencies, paper
1 pen
1 pill container
chap stick
eye drops
small manicure case
cell phone
car keys
I have tried going "purseless" but I am really bad about leaving things, (like the all essential planner) so I have to corral them, but I do make my own purses to match my needs.
It is interesting to find out what different types of things are important enough for people to carry in a purse!
treehugger
8-31-11, 3:27pm
wallet (small one with room for cash, 1 check, ID, credit card, ATM card)
card holder (for library card, Costco card, etc.; stuff that doesn't fit in my wallet)
phone (which doubles as my address book/calendar/MP3 player/calcuator)
ear phones (for listening to MP3 player
price book (for grocery shopping)
headache meds
hand lotion
nail file
Trident cinnamon gum
car and house key on one key ring
sunglasses
lense cleaning cloth
mechanical pencil
Strangest item in my purse: coupon for a free 6-piece box of chocolate dipped fruit from Edible Arrangements (from last time I gave blood)
I occasionally stash a receipt or something else in my purse, but I am pretty consistent about keeping extraneous stuff out of it. I like an organized purse.
Kara
I never carry a purse/handbag, only my wallet and a hankie in my pocket.
However, my car is my purse, and you really don't want to know everything that is in it!
Gardenarian
8-31-11, 4:04pm
I always carry a big backpack instead of a purse. What's in it:
Wallet
Pencil case - ball point pens, pencil, eraser and calligraphy pens.
Pocket folder for holding papers (calligraphy blanks and drawing paper, to do list, shopping list, receipts)
Cosmetic bag with various meds, Rescue Remedy, and lip balm.
Lunch! an old bread bag filled with a cheese sandwich and an apple.
My stainless water bottle.
Book.
Keys.
Handkerchief.
2 gum wrappers.
Little bits of leaves and sticks all over the bottom.
Ah, Gardenarian! A kindred scribe spirit! I am a calligrapher, too!
I just switched purses, so I now have: hard-copy planner (I make it on the computer: 4.5"x6.75" - it fits in my purse); wallet with important cards (ID, CC, BC/BS, etc.) and cash if I have any; a small zippered case with a small hand lotion, nail clippers, file, etc; packet of Kleenex ("tissues"); pencils and pens and index cards for making notes in an outside zippered pocket; and lipstick, small mirror, etc. in a smaller outside zippered pocket. I try to carry a small-ish purse (handbag) because if I have a larger one I'll stick who know's what in it.
IshbelRobertson
8-31-11, 6:21pm
Forgot to add: since Christmas last year, I always carry my Kindle!
Sissy/Gardenarian - I'm a calligrapher, too. Ever since I was about 5 years old and went to a local convent school. We were taught what the nun's referred to as 'Covent Script' - and I still use that style as my 'handwriting'! My students find it soothing to read comments, even when they are less than complimentary!
Gardenarian
8-31-11, 7:35pm
Hi Sissy! I'm really a beginner, but a determined one! I've been doing calligraphy off and on for years but I went to a wonderful exhibit in the spring that totally inspired me! I use a dip pen at home but have been carrying around a fountain pen and felt tip to practice. I really love this art!
Wow, have you guys ever got it together! I'm thinking I need to work on getting it together somewhat in order to compete with all of you.
Spare vehicle/house key.
Wallet.
Small travel bottle (alcohol hand-sanitizer).
Pen.
Small pad of Post-it stick-ems.
Small travel size Kleenex.
Gum.
Nail clippers.
Nail file.
Lip balm.
Small travel sized hand lotion.
Small pocket-pal (calendar/notebook).
P.S. As it stands, my purse is clean and organized (for now), but if anyone remembers this thread 6 months from now and resurrects it, or decides to start another thread topic on purse contents, you'll find out just what a failure I am at keeping my purse organized and clean.
And in my Mom’s purse:
As kids, we would tease my mom about all the stuff she had in her purse. We said she walked lopped sided because her shoulder purse had so much stuff in it. We would find ourselves saying ‘Mom do you have a Kleenex, Mom do have a cough drop, Mom do you have hand cream, Mom do you have nail clippers, Mom do you have’…………..and she had it all*. On another occasion at a restaurant she put 5 pairs of sunglasses in her purse. I kept my mom’s purse after she passed away and sometimes chuckle when I look at it.
*Almost, Dad once asked her if she had a manure spreader in her purse, she didn’t.
Good morning Goldensmom. You brought a wonderful full smile to my face when I read about your mom always having everything in her purse for you kids! ROTFLMAO Re: the manure spreader!!!
P.S. I'm thinking if and when I become a grandma, I'll have even more stuff in my purse!
WorldFoodie
9-2-11, 2:46pm
And in my Mom’s purse:…………..and she had it all*.
*Almost, Dad once asked her if she had a manure spreader in her purse, she didn’t.
I'm surprised that she didn't pull out a rubber medical style glove and say "sure, here's an early, non-mechanical model".
Droid X phone
iPod Touch and ear buds
Pocket sized Moleskine notebook. It's one of the ones with the elastic band to hold it closed. I put the few cards I carry (DL, debit card, cc, health insurance card, library card in the pocket).
Cash goes in a pocket
2-3 pens
Tampons
1-2 tablets of my allergy meds
Small tin of Nivea hand cream
Burt's Bees lip balm
All this in a LeSportSak cross-body bag.
And in my Mom’s purse:.....
and she had it all*.
*Almost, Dad once asked her if she had a manure spreader in her purse, she didn’t.
I'm surprised that she didn't pull out a rubber medical style glove and say "sure, here's an early, non-mechanical model".
The manure spreader comment does need clarification. My father was a farmer and the manure spreader needed repair so he thought he’d ask mom if she a new one in her purse as she usually had everything else in there.
Originally posted by WorldFoodie.
I'm surprised that she didn't pull out a rubber medical style glove and say "sure, here's an early, non-mechanical model".Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle, snicker, snicker, snicker... :) I think that's all part of being a mom, staying one step ahead of everyone else.
Out of everything purse related, loose change and old receipts are my two biggest pet peeves.
Out of everything purse related, loose change and old receipts are my two biggest pet peeves.
Oh, yes, my bag can get so heavy from loose change that I try to empty all the change out of my bag every day.
Id.
cards. Lots of them. Credit cards, store reward cards, medical cards, insurance cards, debit cards, membership store cards...too many cards. 3 dollars in bills and 75 cents in change.
A notebook, several pens, a day planner, more pens, a check book, another pen, some carmex lip balm, a lip stick and a compact with powder. A small sewing kit, my car keys, my sell phone, a bottle of asprin. Receipts, gum, candy. The purse is too small.
Originally posted by Tradd.
Oh, yes, my bag can get so heavy from loose change that I try to empty all the change out of my bag every day.I hate that. I find for a time, after going through my purse and getting it in order, I do well in relation to keeping it clean and organized, but within a few months it's back to the old for me. i.e. Receipts, ATM slips, wrappers, loose change, etc. Such a purse slob I am...
Tiam. Like the others, you leave the house well prepared. Carmex lip balm..., my favourite!!!
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