The "what do you carry everyday" and "what to keep it in" thread

[herbgeek]

Not sure if we've had this discussion in the past, but comments on another thread I had got me curious:

What kinds of things do you carry every day and what type of container do you use to hold them all? (I made this more generic to include people who might bristle at the term "carrying a purse" :~) )

For me: I like to carry small/tiny purses for around town. I carry tissues, my wallet, my cell phone, mints, a small notebook and pen and reading glasses. If I'm going out for the day, or going to be more than an hour from home, I'll also throw a bigger bag in the car with a water bottle, simple first aid (eg bandaids and pain reliever), my daily tools (swiss army knife or Leatherman), hand wipes and a snack. In the summer, there's also a Pashmina shawl to cover my skin if I find myself out in the sun and a hat. If I'm going somewhere I might be waiting (Dr's office) I pack a book or my ipod.

I'm particularly curious on all those humungous purses I see out there. What do you ladies KEEP in there? :laff: I understand that moms of small kids often need a big bag with toys and snacks for the kids, but I see these huge bags even for women who don't have kids present.

In college, I never used a purse, everything went into my pockets. But then electronics like we have now hadn't yet been invented, and I was at most 2 minutes away from my dorm should I need anything. And I didn't need old people reading glasses. :laff: I was also more willing to do without. Now if I get a headache, I want relief immediately, or if I touched something gross, I want to be able to wipe my hands immediately.

What about you? What do you carry and why?

[happystuff]

I carry a small 6 x 9 inch version of a healthy back bag. Inside is a folding comb/brush; 2-4 small mechanical pencils/pens; a 2 x 2 inch flat square quilted ob-tampon bag which contains a small sewing kit/small pen knife/twizzers/baby clippers/"john wayne" can opener, glasses screwdriver; 1 x 1 inch medicine bag; 3 x 5 Day Runner LifeTracker notebook system and same-size 2 year calendar; pack of tissues, cell phone; small 2 x 2 inch folding 3 picture holder and a simple square wallet insert that I use for credit cards, drivers license, library cards, etc. Open outside pocket currently has 3 bandaides in it. Outside zipper pocket holds money - when I have any. LOL. Hanging on outside loop is a small flashlight and small emergency car escape tool (the thing that can cut a seatbelt and break a window), and a whistle/compass combo. It sounds like a lot, but everything is small versions. I still have room for my keys and miscellaneous items I may pick up here and there.

[ctg492]

Not much on me or in my purse. Most all fits in my pockets. Keys,Phone (the evil thing I hate),lip gloss and wallet.
Now in my bike bags, oh boy I get teased for how much stuff I have! Lock, assorted tools, multi tool, fix a flat, rain pants/jacket, hat, gloves, small amounts of cash,sunscreen, egg carton incase I need eggs from the egg lady and then all the assorted stuff mentioned in my purse.

[Fawn]

Non-working day: billfold, cell phone, keys, pen, lip balm, feminine product in a small cross body purse.

Working day: the above goes into my brief case which also carries lap top, blood pressure cuff, non-latex gloves, business cards, tape measure, sanitation wipes for my equipment, stethescope, printed info on patients, reference material, thermometer, extra pen, bandage scissors and probably somethings else that I'm forgetting.

If I am gone for the day: also lunch, water bottle and sometimes coffee cup.

[Float On]

I have a lot of purses so I switch almost daily so I don't have a big pile-up of stuff I don't need, or change that floats to the bottom and adds a pound to the overall weight.
I carry a tiny credit card size wallet with license, insursance, AAA, and debit card. 2 pens, 1 lipstick, 1 powder, one small planner, cell phone, nail clippers, sometimes a book.
I wish I could keep my car as clean.

[Mrs-M]

Plain medium-sized handbag styled purse.

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)

[Miss Cellane]

I have yet to find the right purse. Either they are too big and every thing gets lost in the depths, or they are just a tad too small and I struggle pulling things out or they have too many compartments that are all just a bit too small for what I want to put in them. So I change out purses, depending on what struggle I'm in the mood for that day.

In the purse, I have a little zipped pouch with a small comb, lip balm, tube of hand lotion, pill case with a few OTC pain relievers, a Tide-to-go stick and a spare car key. Then I have a wallet with cash, debit and credit cards, check book, pen and room for any receipts I pick up along the way. Then there's the cell phone and if I'm going to be away from home a while, my iPod.

If I'm taking public transportation for the day, all that goes into a tiny purse, which goes into a larger tote bag that also holds a water bottle and a book, an umbrella if the day calls for it and maybe shoes if I need to wear walking shoes and change to nicer ones when I get where I'm going. If I'm driving, I can take a small purse and just stick the water bottle in the car cup holder.

I always carry my keys in my pocket--if my purse gets stolen, they've already got all my money. I want to be able to get back home if that happens, and be able to get into my house. If I lose my keys, then I've still got my wallet and can get a taxi or something home and call a locksmith to get me inside.

[iris lily]

Yep, we have this discussion regularly.

Now as then, I carry exactly the same black backpack from a big box store, purchased many years ago. This backpack is an upgrade from the last one because it has more easily adjustable handles, important for fitting over my winter coat.

For some years I would carry books in it off and on, hence the size. But lately I don't carry those, I schlep them to the Library in a car. That's why this particular backpack has lasted many years, the last one wore out after two years. But I have gained a lot of weight from not schepping those books around! The backpack does come in handy when I DO have to carry stuff. Just last weekend I stuffed a load of lily bulbs in it.

But often I grab keys and wallet and go. So that my wallet does not get lost in the depths of my black backpack, It bought a bright red one. Works like a charm to find it.

The whole handbag fascination gene skipped right over me.

[bekkilyn]

I have a laptop bag that I carry to work and back. It usually has the laptop, my Kindle, two calculators, a pencil zip bag, and my Nintendo DSi or 3DS. Sometimes it has a small wallet for cards and keys, and other times I put those in my pockets. When I'm not commuting, I just carry the wallet and keys in my pockets and carry a a book or electronic gizmo (if needed) in hand since I'd be using it. Never could figure out the fascination with purses. I don't like to be weighed down or look like a "hey, come rob me" target.

[Miss Cellane]

I don't see the people here as "fascinated with purses." We're people who need to carry stuff. Different people carry different stuff. Purses just happen to be a convenient way to carry stuff.

Before I got the car, I took public transportation or walked everywhere. It takes longer to get places without a car. If I'm stuck on the subway for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, I want to put that time to good use. So I bring a book. If I'm going to work, I bring a lunch. If it's snowing, I need to wear boots and carry my indoor shoes. In addition, I need a way to carry my subway pass, a debit card if I want to run errands after work, some hand lotion and lip balm because I have very dry skin, a comb because the slightest breeze messes up my hair completely, a water bottle because I try to stay hydrated, and so on. All this stuff needs to be carried in *something*.

I used a large tote bad with shoulder straps, so that I could have my hands free to hold on to something if I didn't get a seat. In that tote I had a small purse with a wallet and the other small stuff, which I could easily take to run errands at lunch, without having to lug the big tote bag around.

Now that I have the car, I take a lot less, because I'm not gone from home as long. And if I need something like a water bottle, I don't have to carry it with me; I can leave it in the car.

Be it a laptop bag, a backpack or a purse, we have all chosen the thing that allows us to carry what we need.

Now, my friend with 8 expensive Coach handbags, I'd say she has a "fascination with purses."

[Gardenarian]

The things I must carry are my med (for seizures), water, and usually a wallet. I also like to carry a handkerchief, notebook, pens/pencils, a shopping bag & a book. I use a backpack; I'll often use a small sling backpack when I'm going on a hike. I also keep stuff in my car: binoculars, a snack, something to read (I hate getting stuck with nothing to read) a sweater, etc.

[Rosemary]

I usually use a healthy back bag, size small. When I need to take a bunch of books or my laptop, I use a backpack. If I don't need to carry much and/or will be walking a lot, I pare down to just a tiny sling bag or my coat pockets, and just take my wallet and phone. If I will be walking a lot and definitely need to carry water (hiking, state fair, etc), I use my lumbar pack, which has a pouch large enough for wallet & phone, as well as pouches for 2 water bottles.

[Spartana]

I almost always carry only my keys (if walking, running, biking, etc...) or my wallet and keys if going into a store, visiting someone, movies, etc... I have a very small backpack that I store in my car under the seat (which stays in the car) and I have cell phone, lipstick (which I have never used), cell phone charger, and a small handgun for when the zombies attack while broken down by the side of the road. That's it. I basicly bring the same stuff if I'm going out but might add a hairbrush if I'm wearing my hair down rather then in it's usual Barbie ponytail. If I go on long trail runs or hiking I carry a small fanny pack that has two water bottle holders attached with basicly the same stuff including the gun (except no hair brush or lipstick). I also have some stuff stored in my car like sunscreen, water, etc.. that stays there and I don't take it with me anywhere. For instance: I just got done with my morning run during which I only carried my car key. Now I'm at the library and have my wallet, car key and laptop (which also stays in the car all the time). When I stop at the grocery store next I'll just carry my wallet and key. Easy!

[pinkytoe]

I find the larger the container, the more things get lost in it. So...I carry a smallish shoulder strap purse with the essentials - wallet, keys, glasses, phone (reluctantly).
The humongous purse thing of the past few years did not appeal to me.

[shadowmoss]

I carry a backpack to work that has a rain jacket, pens, my coffee mug once I finish the coffee, 2 wallets (local Honduran money in one and US money in another), and a baggie of things like hand sanitizer, tissues, travel toothbrush & toothpaste. There is room for whatever I may need to take in or back home on any given day such as a book, or my laptop (try not to travel with it much). In my pockets are my hotel room key (with a very large wooden oval fob), taxi money, my money card (like a pre-paid debit card) and my small cell phone, and around my neck is my cache of IDs I need to get around on the military post where I work. When I go down to the capital city for the day for fun, I just take money, a wallet with some ID and my cell phone and I carry them in my pockets so that I don't look like 'a walking ATM machine' as we call robbery targets.