To Purse or Not to Purse

Things that I never leave home without, hence the need for a purse:

Cell phone
Keys
Chapstick
ID, Credit Card, Debit Card, Health Insurance Cards, Auto Insurance Cards, American Red Cross Donor Card (with blood type), list of Emergency Contacts (also saved in my phone)
Tampons (for me the MOST important reason to carry a purse -- discrete tampon storage)
Hand Sanitizer
Pen
Sunglasses

I keep most of my important cards in a little wristlet which I can easily switch between my purse and diaper bag, as well as use alone for date nites or any time that I'm out and about without kids. I started carrying a purse when I got my first non-teaching job out of college, and realized that I really couldn't continue carrying my stuff in my backpack if I was working in the corporate world.

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I currently carry a diaper bag since I have a wee one and one potty training but if I am going someplace without the girls I often do not carry a purse/bag. If I am wearing something with pockets, I carry my wallet. It has my debit card, cash, ID, etc. so everything I need and I put my cell in my pocket. If I don't have pockets then I do carry a bag just so I have a place for my phone. When I worked outside the home I did carry a purse to work. I kept lip balm, extra hair bands (my hair is crazy and they break frequently), lotion, sunglasses (prescription), wallet and phone in it.

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You sound just like me :) I gave up on carrying a purse in college. Twice I either left it at work, or left it at home. I kept my pencil in there, so I'd get to class without a pencil!! So I gave up on the whole darn thing! I don't even own one anymore.

Love your comment: "I would have to put the purse with the kid to not forget the purse." LOL :)

I keep my IDs (drivers license & military dependant ID), credit/debit cards, Sam's Club card, insurance card, etc, etc. in a wallet. My pants are REQUIRED to have at least 3 pockets, and belt loops! LOL I keep my wallet in my back right pocket. My chapstick and any cash go in my front right pocket. My cell phone is put in my front left pocket. My keys are kept on one of those little "climbers" hooks, which I then hook to my right front belt loop. Who needs a purse?? :)

I just empty my pockets in the SAME place every night (my desk) so I know where everything is when I get dressed the next day.

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Great question.
I am going through a serious hand bag buying phase right now. I carry a purse because it is convenient to get to all of the thing in there. It also helps me to look more polished and put together in the work place (office setting) and I am becoming such a girly girl.

I don't like to keep my wallet in my back pocket for several reasons and here they are:
A. My butt is big enough without the extra bump.
B. Don't want to ruin my jeans with the bulge from the wallet.
C. Got pick pocketed in Europe while wallet was in back pocket. Still can't believe my butt felt nothing (What's up with that?)

These are the items in my purse right now:
1. Wallet
2. Change purse
3. Lotion
4. 2 Lipsticks
5. Burts Bees Lip Balm
6. Eyedrops
7. Sanitary napkins
8. Cleansing wipes
9. Beano
10. Keys (to almost every lock in my world - I've got to trim that mess down)
11. Miscellaneous - 2 portable drives, paperclips, safety pins, lemon juice packets (even I'm questioning this don't remember how they got in there), pens, pencils (from miniture golf), and business cards.

Since I love reading, I almost always get a bag big enough to hold a book. I have noticed the bigger the bag the more things you will find to put in it.

I also have a standing rule that when I buy new bags, old ones or less used ones must go out. I can only make an exchange of one size for the same sized bag when buying. I can be a hoarder and this new rule has seriously made my life much better when it comes to bag storage. In my world bags must be beautiful and functional.

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I always use my glasses, paper, pen, chapstick, drink or snack for myself or child, extra clothes for kid, my phone, keys. I do at times simply take my very small wallet for quick trips.

As strange as it sounds, I don't carry a large purse - but I swear it's bigger on the inside! :)
I carry a wallet type thing with cards & cash, advil, qtips, my phone, an iPod touch, a camera (when I want to), a pen, some papers, nail file & clippers, gum & floss. Whew! I'm thinking that I should carry some wet naps too - once I get them out of the car!
I only paid about $15 for it at Target. I'm not into fashion purses - basic black does it for me.
So, yes, I *always* carry & use what's in there! :D

I am also very good at losing purses. So I use a fanny pack -- one of the small purse like things that attach around your waist like a belt. You actually can put in a fair amount of stuff, and not worry about losing it. I put my wallet (with credit cards and money), hand sanitizer, lipstick, car keys, and change in it.

My life! LOL

cell phone
make up bag for touch-ups
wipes for my daughter
baggie of snacks for my daughter
sometimes her water
tampon
wallet
pen
breath mints/gum

of course. i mean putting CCs in back pocket, that's dangerous. in and out of the car, aren't you afraid they'll slip out, and you lose them?
i hate purses, but i always carry one. i keep two small water bottles with me, for my kids, my wallet with appt cards, and CCs and driver's license. keep a lipstick in my purse. how can you go out without one? how old are your kids?

My purse does not have a shoulder strap, only a handle and I have found that that makes all the difference for me. Every purse that I have ever owned has been no bigger than a large wallet with a handle, except that it has two compartments. I try to get ones that are fun colors so that I don't lose them, my current purse is pink, green, yellow and orange stripes with beading, really quite cute.I carry my keys, a small change pouch, and little wallet, I mean little, for my debit, credit, license cards and cash, etc. Then I carry a separate card holder, different color for health cards and insurance cards for at the doctors. I don't carry social cards with me though. This card holder also has a few pics of my kiddos in it. Then I have a compartment for receipts, which later get transferred into my file system if they are needed. I also carry a pen, and a pad of sticky notes and a small travel sized bottle of mixed tylenol/advil. Most of the time the wallet I need comes with me and the purse stays in the car, thats why I have 3 separate ones, but then I always I have what I need if I need it. If I am going into the dentist I take the whole purse because I know I will need the insurance cards and the debit or credit cards. If I am going to the grocery store I only take the debit card wallet and leave the purse in the car. Oh, and I always have a panty liner and a tampon in a ziplock snack bag tucked in a zipper pocket too. You never know when you might need those... I am not a bag carrier either, but this system has worked for me. I switched to it shortly after a having my wallet stolen because I was leaving things everywhere and didn't have a set place for my stuff. I haven't lost anything or had to replace any cards since I switched to my new system and that was 7 years ago. Best of luck and no it was not a silly question. I have asked the same one, on numerous occasions.

S.

I'm with you - I forget purses all the time (ask my husband about the 60 mile backtrack or the leaving it on the security belt in London....). When we go out someplace nice, it never fails that within 30 minutes my cute little clutch is in his suit coat's inside pocket! Annoys him to no end! I'm also somewhat of a tomboy and don't see the need or have the desire to accessorize.

I carry a small wallet, cell phone, and a chapstick in my front pockets. Back pockets are too easy to pickpocket. OK - so Stacy London would chastize me about ruining the look of my clothes because there's a bulge or two! The wallet is the size of a credit card and has an outside pocket that holds bills folded in half. I feel things are much safer in my small wallet than loose in my pocket. In my wallet are my driver's license, cash (when I have any), a credit card, a debit card, grocery frequent shopper card, AAA card, and insurance card. there's enough room that I can slip in a museum membership card and gift card or two, if I want. One of my criteria for buying casual pants is that they must have decent pockets - voila need for a purse disappears. Work pants can be without because the wallet can be tossed in my work bag. The wallet is small enough that I can carry it in my hand for quick trips into the store, if needed.
So, for years, I've been very smug about not needing a purse. Well, then my car went in the shop......turns out my car is my purse. need a pen - in the console. need paper - in the console. need kleenex - in the car. need a magazine - in the car. need clippers - in the car. you get my drift.... so, I went and bought a bag that could carry some things and you would've thought I'd won the lottery my kids were so excited about it and bragged to everybody! Still hardly carry the thing - mostly when we do museums or stuff and need to have a snack and a water bottle.

when my kids were younger i carried the diaper bag. I was SO excited to be untethered from that thing! But, the wallet had its special pocket in the diaper bag so I always knew where it was. I never got carrying a diaper bag and a purse - whatever you would have had in the purse, throw in the diaper bag!

There's no real reason for needing a purse except you like the way they look, you feel like you need to carry more than a wallet, or you feel the need to take care of your (over 4 years old) children's every whim. My kids know that if they're thirsty, they can wait the 10 or 20 minutes until we get to the car or get home to get a drink of water. If they need a kleenex - they can wait or we find a restroom and use toilet paper. If they're bored - we make up a game or gasp, talk and tell stories. So, you may not be normal - but you're not missing out on anything either!

Have you see the Haiku bags? They are available all over the place (Amazon, REI, Title 9) http://www.haikubags.com and they have a variety of sizes, including really little ones for just money, keys & cell phone. The website has one style, but you can find tons more on other sites. I agree with others that having your ID and money in your back pocket can be a recipe for disaster (though I have done it before) and this seems like a happy medium. It's not really "purse-y," but it hold your stuff! (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3...)

20 years ago my mother bought me a large wallet that had a very long strap. it opened and closed with velcro and was made out of fabric. I never used it because of the fabric (cherubs) but I started using it and i love it. the strap is so long I can put it over my head and shoulder, the strap goes across my back and my chest, and the purse rests comfortably on my stomach area, near the left of my belly button. I dont even feel it is there. I use a bungee type key ring that goes over my wrist to hold my keys. Now I never have to bring a big bulky purse anymore! I especially love this "pack" when i go garage saleing and shopping- no worries it will be put down.

I carry a purse, just big enough for my wallet and a paperback. I cant stand to be somewhere and have to wait with nothing to read. I also carry post its, as my daughter is scared to death of automatic toilets and they keep it from automaticing on her.

I always have a little bottle of lotion, 'cause my hands are dry, lip balm, 'cause my lips are dry, my keys, my wallet with all the billions of cards (debit, credit, insurance, library, driver's license, Costco, Albertson's, Fred Meyer, etc.) and some cash. I've also recently added Neosporin To Go spray for boo-boos (my kids love that). I usually have a shopping list and pen/pencil, a Hot Wheel or two, a band-aid, and sometimes a piece of candy, hidden away for when I want a little treat.

My husband carries tons of things in his pockets. His wallet, cell phone, a thumb drive, his keys, pens, change, etc. I couldn't stand that much bulge in my pockets, especially because women's pants tend to fit snugger than men's slacks. And I don't really want the wallet making my butt look bigger :)

I recently upgraded to a bigger purse. Not because I really needed space, but because my old one was looking a bit out of style. I found a bigger one at a thrift store for $7 and really like it. I wore it around the thrift store to make sure it didn't bug me or slide off my shoulder, and it fit so great that I actually almost forgot to pay for it!

But I understand how you might not be able to get used to a purse. For the life of me, I can't stand to wear a watch! It gets me into jams sometimes when I need to be somewhere on time and I have no idea what time it is. I don't have a cell phone, either, to help with that.

When I had my first job, I figured I would need a purse and had a hard time getting used to it. So I got what was basically a wallet with a long strap. I slung it diagonally across me and it wasn't bad at all. I could, for example, sit and watch a movie, without even taking it off. So that meant I wouldn't forget it.

Another option that I considered is just putting my purse contents into my diaper bag! But it doesn't have as many little compartments, and has sippy cups to leak, etc. So that didn't work out for me, but maybe it would be a good option for you.

Another option I see is getting a small, one-shouldered backpack. That's what my diaper bag is right now (maybe you got one at the hospital like I did?) Then it's not so pursey.

I was never a big purse person either. I have misplaced mine as well. But I think that was because I wasn't used to carrying one. So I wouldn't remember that I had it. My husband got me a nice purse a few months ago. Big enough to carry what I need, but doesn't feel like a suitcase. I LOVE IT!!!! I now can carry tissues and chapstick, bandaids, lotion and gum or mints. I love being prepared if someone needs a tissue or bumped their knee. It also is just big enough for wipes and 2 diapers. Now that I have had it and take it everywhere, I am used to having it so I don't forget it. I love knowing right where my wallet and keys are (and usually my phone too) and I can also carry a check book which I never did before. Another think that I suggest in a purse is pockets and dividers. I have usually just gotten a bag that you throw everything into. I now have 3 sections. One in the middle has a zipper so that is where I keep my wallet, phone and keys the two outside pockets: one for the diapers and wipes and the other for misc. things like lotion, tissues, brush, whatever you may need. That has really made a difference to me so that I know where everything is.

I think women have purses because a lot of womens clothes don't have pockets. We also don't wear baggy jeans so not everything fits in our pockets without our butt and hips looking lumpy. At least these are my reasons for carrying purses. Its also good for throwing random things like sippy cups or half eaten sandwiches that may get eaten later. In my purse the major things I have are cell phone, keys, and wallet. In my wallet I have debit/credit cards, ID, and millions of store cards and a few gift cards and expired coupons. I often leave my purse in the car and lock it if I know I won't need money or ID or phone. Then I only have to put the keys in my pocket and try not to lose them. Otherwise I'd have to put cards, phone and keys in my pocket even when I just go to the park. I don't like to leave the house without $ just in case (gas or whatnot) or my cell phone, in case the car breaks down. I think having a purse is essential to my life, but if you are used to not having one and are doing ok without it then who cares. Even with a purse I have certainly lost my debit card and ID on occasion, also phone and keys but those are usually in my house somewhere.

I hate carrying a purse. I got accustomed to having my ID, credit card, some cash and keys on a small wallet in college, and I never got the whole purse thing. Well, that, and a coworker stole my purse in college.

I carry a diaper bag in my personal time and a computer bag for work. My only must haves are my keys, my wallet and my cell phone.

Otherwise, I keep chapstick, tissues, bags with toys/activities for the kids, etc. in the car (great on days like today where the thermostat is reading 95).

I am, though, admittedly a tomboy at heart, so I don't usually subscribe to a lot of trendy girly things. I only started putting nail polish on my toes a few years ago when I noticed all the other women in the world were and felt odd that I wasn't.

I am such a handbag person, I didn't even realize there was another option! : )

I'm super organized so everything in there has a purpose and gets used. Maybe not every time I go out, but often enough that I want it in there.

Wallet
Keys
iPhone
Nail File
Pen
Pill Box
Tissues
Baby Wipes
Lip Balm(2...colored and clear)
Hand Cream
Hair Tie
Eyeglasses
Dental Floss
Mints
Current coupons

I must have 30 handbags of all shapes, sizes and colors and wouldn't get in the car without it.

If they're not your style and you're good with a back pocket of stuff and keep forgetting it when you do use it, maybe it's just not for you. Too bad those heinous fanny packs aren't in style any longer...or maybe that's a good thing!

I never use a purse, I just end up leaving them places, instead I use a wristlet. Just big enough for cards, cash, cell phone and chap stick (I kept leaving the cards in my pants and washing them) but small enough to stay out of my way).

In diaper bag land I use a Petunia Pickle Bottom. I have a back pack that I use, great space, lots of pockets but I can wear it on my back so I feel like it is out of the way and easy to carry.

I have carried a purse more often than not during my life - esp when my kids were toddlers (basically my purse was in lieu of a diaper bag). Generally, my purses were smaller than average though. I now am down to a large wallet that has a strap, although I recently took the strap off and I like it that way. However, I have a laptop bag that goes with me to work and back and has things like medications/vitamins/pain reliever, lip gloss, pen/pencil, business cards, plastic bag(s), bills I need to pay or other paperwork I need at the moment, and of course my wallet/purse thing.

When I run to the store I end up carrying my wallet/purse, car keys and cell phone. I find it to be kind of a pain, and usually wish I'd tossed everything into a bigger purse (I have a few lying around), because rarely does any of it fit in my pockets - maybe the keys, and I end up dropping things or putting them on my cart and worrying the whole time that they'll fall on the ground or if I leave the cart unattended someone will steal them. Course, I tend to leave my bigger purses in the cart anyhow since I hate carrying them. :)

Hi,
I am using a backpack because i have four kids 7 and under and when we leave the house we always out for at least two hours ,one car family so we walked a lot i have to take a lot with me as even short errands to the grocery store can take up to two hours versus 30/45 mn by car. The backpack is always on my back so out of the way. Currently i have diapers for two kids(toddler and infant ) ,change of clothes for those two same kids,wallet,keys, cell phone,babyfoods ,snacks ,we do four sippy cup/water bottles I have my water bottle too when out (Cuts on money you have to spend to buy them drinks,with four kids it's add up really fast ,I have spend 10 boxes just on drinks for all of us the rare time i did forgot the sippy cups or water bottles,same for food it add up too fast too,this why i have snacks in there too so, i can make them wait until home for lunch.) Hand sanitizer,wipes.a few bottles if we out a very long time.Both infants are breastfed and bottle fed sometimes with the toddler if we out a long time.A pocket that i use as emergency kit for my own kids or other.I can not tell you the number of time that another mom was so happy that i had something to clean the blood of her child head or nose (often)arm or whatever.
My diaper bag basically has everything .I am probably a little over prepared as i do not have the convenience of storing everything in the car.My stroller and diaper bag are my car.Plus i use to do childcare with 5/6 kids and you do need stuff to fix them up when they do fall as it is not your own kids .Not that i will not fix up my own kids too.
bye .Hope this help .N.

I use a bag. Like a messenger bag. I keep my wallet, a small notebook (otherwise I would forget everything), pens, a sharpie, lipgloss and whatever the kids have foisted over on me. I also can use it to hold my school books or paper. I don't always carry it. But it works better for me to have my hands empty and I don't like to heft a handbag everywhere.

Edit after update: When I carried a diaper bag, I never carried a purse. Ever.

Okay, so I know you've already gotten TONS of respsonses, but I want to put in my two cents! I HATE purses! I always have. I think I carried one two times in my life when I was about 12 and gave up because it just isn't me! I keep my cell phone, chapstick and pocke knife in one pocket and my Chisco wallet (it has a key ring if you want to put your keys on it, which I used to do) in the other pocket. The wallet is big enough to hold ID, debit & credit cards, ins. cards, plus a few other things the same size. My husband has a Chisco wallet and just recently got a bigger one that has an ID window and a couple pockets. Last year my mom got me one of those small clip wallets, mainly because I wanted to be able to show off my beautiful daughter's picture. I carry that in the winter when the pants pockets I have are bigger or I'm wearing a jacket. I have to admit I leave that in my jacket pocket a lot, but I also wear the same jacket a lot. Just a couple suggestions. My daughter is 4 and I did the diaper bag thing when it was necessary, but I even downsized on that as soon as I could. I even had her carry her own little Kelty bag from the front carrier once she was walking more on her own and then once she was potty trained, extra clothes were in the car but not carried around. As far as snacks, water, entertainment, etc...she has learned that life does not provide immediately and instant gratification is not something she should expect.
Good luck and keep stuff out of your back pocket when you're out and about - too vulnerable!

I have a purse for work so I can carry the mail I have to send out, my compact, pens etc, as well as a wristlet. i cannot stand to carry a purse al lthe time. I always can take my little wallet/wristlet though and not worry about losing it since it is looped to my wrist. The only time I don't take it is for bike riding or something like that. Then I just put my wallet in my pocket with a couple of bucks and clip my cell phone to my waist.

I carry a purse when I don't have my diaper bag. I don't feel safe shoving everything in my pocket. Things have a way of falling out of pockets. I keep all my cards together in my wallet. When I carry a purse I have my wallet, my cell phone, a pack of gum, a pen (or two), keys and whatever else I feel like putting in there. Lately I've taken to just carrying my wallet though. Mostly because I don't like any of my purses :)

If this is really a real question...
*lipstick and powder, which I could do without, but like to have just in case.
*My cellphone stays clipped to my purse at all times (even at home). That way I never leave it anywhere.
*Keys (to car, home, etc)
*Cards (driver's license, car insurance, credit, debit, bookstore/grocery discount cards, etc)
*pens/pencils (my kids are always needing one for some reason, and I don't like to use the one on the counter at the doctor's office or whatever... why pick up unnecessary germs somewhere like that?)
*Sunglasses (I wear prescription ones, so when I put them on, I put my regular glasses in the empty case in my purse to protect them)
*Cash and receipts for debit purchases
*Coupons for grocery shopping
*Travel size tissues (I have a son with bad allergies)
*Change (the coins have to go somewhere)
*Gum. for whenever my mouth needs refreshing

I am currently using a backpack because I need my hands free for my infant and toddler. My wallet is too big to put in any pocket (license, insurance cards, debit card, library card) so it has it's own pocket in the backpack. I also have a small cosmetic bag and my mobile phone. The rest of the backpack is kid stuff. On the rare occasions when I don't have the kiddos I quickly empty my stuff into a purse. The rest of the time we three share the backpack.

Why not just carry a small wallet that will fit in your pocket? Then its small but secure, I've thought about doing this myself! Honestly my purse is always full, it is small but there's not much in there I really use.. Wallet, keys, occasionally chapstick and I like to have my pepper spray in there too.

Like you, I need very little when I'm out and about. Cash, credit cards, ID, car keys. I carry a very small, lightweight fabric purse with a long strap that I wear criss-cross over my shoulder, so I don't forget it:).

My diaper bag is pretty small too, just a few diapers, wipes and a receiving blanket to change diapers on. I add a water bottle and snacks if we'll be out for awhile, sometimes sunscreen and a sun hat (or a warm hat, if needed). My 2 year old daughter is all the weight I need to carry around!