View Full Version : Ever leave your purse or wallet at home by mistake?
I was supposed to meet DD1 today and drove an hour before I realized that I had no purse, no money, no cellphone, no ID, and we were meeting in a short while. I had 25 cents to try the payphone but to call DH I had to put in $4.30 before my call could continue. He would probably be outside anyway.
It was very stressful, scary but all worked out after I raced home (within the speed limit) and got DH calling family members to try and let DD know that I was going to be late.
How did it work out for you?
This is the one thing I am paranoid about. I have left my wallet at home before. Usually I put it in another bag (diaper bag, backpack) and forget to put it back in my purse. No dire consequences, but I was going to go grocery shopping and couldn't. One habit I have is to check my wallet before going into the store. I would hate to have a big cart of groceries and not be able to pay for it!
I know people who leave cash in their cars in case they run out of gas and forget their wallets at the same time. I've not done that, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a few bucks in change or something, just to get home. I don't run my gas tank dry either. Too paranoid about running out of gas and being stranded!
I realized I left my purse at work once, when I got to the pickup window for pizza and realized I had nothing with me. Ever since, I've usually carried a $20 in my glove box.
I did that once after we moved to our new place -- got all the way to the bus stop when I realized I didn't have my purse (where I keep both bus pass and cash). Also didn't have keys to get in the security door downstairs, and at that point I didn't know the code. It was 5:30 in the morning, DH and the kids were still at his parents' house (I had come back early after Lunar New Year) and I had to wait until someone came out to get in to the elevators. I think I waited about 10 minutes, which wasn't too bad considering it was a holiday for everyone else. Another blessing was that we have a keypad function on our door lock at home, so I could get in without a key. I would't really have known what to do otherwise -- our fancy locks are not easily opened by a locksmith...
I have also made it all the way to the office only to discover I don't have my keys. I usually get there around 6:30 am, and the next person to arrive comes in around 7:30. Not fun sitting on the floor in the hall waiting for an hour...
lhamo
gimmethesimplelife
5-14-12, 9:30am
This Spring has been a bit hard on me and I have found out that if I don't get a little bit of downtime, I end out moving too fast and doing things like leaving my wallet at home, leaving my cell phone at home when I am expecting a call, just in general not taking things with me that I need when I walk out the front door. I have learned as I am healing from burnout to slow down, and to do a check when I leave - do I have everything I need with me? Seriously, that saves me from stress and chaos right there.....Rob
This is kind of a sidebar topic, but its my feel good story and close to the OP. DW went on a trip once and left her purse in a Taco Bell. She drove several hundred miles before needing gas and realizing she had no money, no phone, no credit cards, no ID, etc. The gas station owner let her fill up and promise to return to pay on her round trip back. He let her use the phone to call the restaurant. Someone had found her purse, turned it in to the manager and they had it in their safe. The gas station owner called the owner of the hotel and they arranged for her to stay there (by this time it was late) and also said she could pay on her way back through. She spent the night in the hotel, drove back to the restaurant, got her purse from a completely different shift of employees, turned around, paid everyone and finished her trip. Between the person who found her purse and the restaurant employees there were a lot of people who had access to her phone, credit cards and cash. Nothing was touched. Between a tank of gas and a hotel stay some other people trusted her to pay them when she could. The most difficult part in the end was figuring out what to do to thank all those good people.
Back to the OP, I'm just like Rob. Every time I leave the house I zip through my mental check list to make sure I have what I need. That, and I write a lot of stuff on lists these days.
jennipurrr
5-14-12, 11:38am
Yes...I am completely absent minded. Last thursday I put my wallet in my bag for the farmers market. When I took my veggies out I left the bag and wallet on the counter. Thursday night I ran to the store for some milk when I was in the middle of cooking. Got to the store nearby and realized the wallet was at home! Rummaged through my car to find enough change for a small thing of milk. When I got home I should have put the wallet in my purse, but didn't. Friday I was going out to lunch with a coworker and realized I still didn't have the wallet! She picked up my bill and of course felt like a complete idiot. Friday night when I got home the wallet went straight into the purse.
Glad to hear that it doesn't happen to just me. I had to go out today and kept looking to be sure that my purse was in the car with me.
I left my wallet (small credit card size with 2 credit cards and $50 cash) in our Culver's restaurant last year. Thankful that a sweet employee (young man) found it and put it in the manager's safe then looked up our last name in an old phone book to call me and let me know that it and how much money was in it was safe. Left him a reward.
I was in Jr High and the family was 3/4 across kansas headed to colorado for vacation when my dad realized his wallet was still at home. Thankful that mom was carrying the vacation cash and traveler's checks (pre credit ard). He stopped at a police station to ask what to do and they notified colorado and kansas highway patrol of the situation. We continued on our way and managed 3 weeks without a problem.
goldensmom
5-15-12, 7:33am
I realized I left my purse at work once, when I got to the pickup window for pizza and realized I had nothing with me. Ever since, I've usually carried a $20 in my glove box.
Money in the glove box, excellent idea. My husband asked if I wanted to ride in town with him to get gas in his truck. I jumped in the truck (no purse, no money) and went with him. He filled the truck gas tank, went in to pay and realized his wallet was in other pants at home. He stayed at the gas station while I drove home without any drivers license, identification or money to get his wallet (took back roads). I've have also left my purse at home (at work, at a restaurant), drive fine without it until I realize I don't have it with me then I nervously drive where ever to get it.
I ended up purchasing this Zip ID case from Vera Bradely. My car and house keys are on it. Inside I have my license, debit card and some cash. I can't get far without it, since my car keys are on it.
http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/VeraBradley/10125111?hei=170&wid=216&op_sharpen=1 (http://www.simplelivingforum.net/product/Color/Happy-Snails/Zip-ID-Case/154781/defaultColor/Happy+Snails/pc/639/c/0/sc/707/p/154781.uts)
These are great stories! I live a boring life, so even if I were to forget my clutch or purse, I'm only minutes away from home to go back and get it, but I have heard stories where people forget wallets/purses when going on vacation! How miserable that would be.
Mighty Frugal
5-15-12, 4:13pm
This is kind of a sidebar topic, but its my feel good story and close to the OP. DW went on a trip once and left her purse in a Taco Bell. She drove several hundred miles before needing gas and realizing she had no money, no phone, no credit cards, no ID, etc. The gas station owner let her fill up and promise to return to pay on her round trip back. He let her use the phone to call the restaurant. Someone had found her purse, turned it in to the manager and they had it in their safe. The gas station owner called the owner of the hotel and they arranged for her to stay there (by this time it was late) and also said she could pay on her way back through. She spent the night in the hotel, drove back to the restaurant, got her purse from a completely different shift of employees, turned around, paid everyone and finished her trip. Between the person who found her purse and the restaurant employees there were a lot of people who had access to her phone, credit cards and cash. Nothing was touched. Between a tank of gas and a hotel stay some other people trusted her to pay them when she could. The most difficult part in the end was figuring out what to do to thank all those good people.
Back to the OP, I'm just like Rob. Every time I leave the house I zip through my mental check list to make sure I have what I need. That, and I write a lot of stuff on lists these days.
what a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing Gregg, it made me smile!
I have done these things many times over the years so I now have a car that the keys stay in the purse
to open and start. So, can't start car without purse, but can still leave wallet at home. Always keep a few dollars
in glove compartment and gas tank never below 1/2 full.
Best story was 50 years ago, yes I was very young then with 2 children under 3.
My husband, mother and I and the kids were visiting family in Southern Ont. we were living in the north at that time.
We took a drive for lunch over the border into the states for the afternoon when we got back I realized I must have
left my purse in the restaurant. We called and they had it. Dh and I drove back to get it leaving my mom to babysit so we
ended up having a lovely date night something that we never got in those days because we had NO money.
But, the funny part if the story was what was in the purse that was so valuable. Birth control pills....lol.....
I once had a couple hundred dollars in my bra as I felt that was safer in case I were robbed. It fell out in the supermarket and an honest employee turned it in. Whew!
Here is a good one.
End of May when my ladyfriend and I were going to the airport to fly to Florida for our cruise I drove to her house to pick her up.
I throw her duffel bag into the hatch. She has a little backpack and purse she puts in the front seat with her when she sits down. Now, we are not running late. But we are also not early either. So before I start the car up to drive away, while I am sitting in the driver's seat and she is in the passenger seat, I says to her: "Phone, wallet, keys? Got'em?"
I say this to her often when she leaves my apartment or when we are leaving to go anywhere. "Phone, wallet, keys?" She has forgotten them a bunch of times.
Anyway, in this instance she says: "Yes! Yes! I do have them. Of course I do!"
I could tell she was annoyed for me asking.
Because we are about to leave the state and country by car, plane, bus, and boat I say: "Are you sure?"
Now she is getting pissed off and gives me this look like: "I don't need no man telling me I need to remember everything! I am a strong, independent woman!"
She says: "My iWatch says my phone is right here."
So I says: "Okay, let's go."
But I am still dubious because I did not actually see that she had the wallet and phone, which are in one case together.
We drive to the airport. We park. We ride the shuttle to departures. I lug her duffel bag and my little backpack through security.
Once we get on the other side she says: "I think the TSA agents lost my wallet and phone."
I am thinking: "Yeah. Sure. That is what happened."
So I say: "Well, better go ask them."
She goes and asks them. Nope, they don't have it.
She says: "I bet it fell out in your car."
I was like, even if that is true we don't have time to take the shuttle back and go through security. I asked: "Do you have anything on you?"
She says: "My passport and $500 USD. I also have my iWatch and my iPad."
Then she starts freaking out thinking that someone will break into my car and steal her wallet and phone which has her "whole life" in it. Or that she dropped it in the parking lot and someone already stole it.
Then she starts entertaining the idea that she left it at home.
I am like: "No, duh."
So she texts my sister on her iWatch. She asks my sis to go to her house and see if the wallet and phone are there.
My sis agrees, gets the punch code for the door lock, and heads over to my ladyfriend's.
Meanwhile we fly to Orlando. At this point I tell my ladyfriend: "You cannot lose your passport. It is your only ID. Keep it on your person in a secure place where only your passport will be, like a dedicated passport pocket."
She is very annoyed with me at this point but has no option but to agree with me that she must do this. So she does.
My sis sends her a text on her iWatch when we get to Orlando. The phone and wallet are at my ladyfriend's house. Apparently the iWatch was not super accurate in tracking the location of her phone. Can't trust gadgets with other gadgets!
My ladyfriend instructed my sis to take the phone and wallet with her because my ladyfriend lives in the ghetto and was worried about a break-in.
Anyway, we made it work. I had cash and my debit card. My ladyfriend had $500 USD.
But the whole thing was annoying and nerve racking. The silver lining is that now whenever I ask her: "Phone, wallet, keys?" She has to be grateful for the reminder because she knows I can always ask: "Remember the cruise?" LOL
I'm like jennipurr. I have so many incidences of having left something at home I can't even list them all. I'm terribly absent-minded and I also am bad at putting things back in my pocketbook once I've taken them out. Such as, if I take out my credit/debit card to make an online purchase, I'll forget to put it back in my wallet, and then I get to the store and realize I don't have it on me.
For that reason, I also have adopted herbgeek's idea: I usually put a credit card in the zippered part of my purse along with $20.
That didn't help a couple of weeks ago when I forgot to put my driver's license back in my purse, and when I had to show it to get store credit for something, I couldn't produce it.
iris lilies
7-4-18, 8:22am
I purposely went to Hermann, a drive of 1.5 hours, a few weeks ago with little cash because I just dont carry cash. I intended to go to an antique show.
Well, they charged $7 to get in the door and I didnt have it! Couldnt go to a bank because
I didnt have a bank card.
Pretty stupid!
Haha, UL!! Great story. You made me laugh, although I hope you don't torture your gf with the "remember the cruise" reminders too excessively.
You reminded me of a very similar situation when DH and I stayed at a hotel in Orlando for a couple of days. As is typically the case, by the time we left, DH was on a first name basis with the entire hotel staff. He ordered the car from the valet, and we brought our bags down to the curb outside the lobby to wait for the car, and meanwhile, DH is the only guy I know who gets hugs from hotel bellmen and front desk clerks, and there we are, hugging and laughing and waving, "Goodbye! Goodbye! Hope to see you again!" and we see them in the rear view mirror like long lost family, waving after us.
We get to the rental car return, and I pop open the trunk andl--whon whon whon--no luggage. We were so involved with the leave-taking that the bellmen forgot to put the luggage in the car. Thank GOD we left in enough time to go back to the hotel and pick it up.
I tend to carry a very small purse that fits a small cc holder that is my wallet. Don't care how dorky it looks, but the shoulder strap goes on immediately every time I leave the house - lol.
I purposely went to Hermann, a drive of 1.5 hours, a few weeks ago with little cash because I just dont carry cash. I intended to go to an antique show.
Well, they charged $7 to get in the door and I didnt have it! Couldnt go to a bank because
I didnt have a bank card.
Pretty stupid!
Such a bummer! Were you able to salvage the drive? Sounds like $20 in the glove compartment would have saved the day.
(just noticed that this thread originated in 2012. I got all excited when I saw Mrs-M).
iris lilies
7-4-18, 10:08am
Such a bummer! Were you able to salvage the drive? Sounds like $20 in the glove compartment would have saved the day.
(just noticed that this thread originated in 2012. I got all excited when I saw Mrs-M).
i now keep a bit of money around, but NEVER in the car. Our cars here are regular targets for breakins. Never give the idiots satisfaction.
As for that trip, I walked around the building and peerd into windows and saw a fair amount. Stayed the weekend there anyway.
Teacher Terry
7-4-18, 11:07pm
All I can say is really?
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