To think that it isn't insane to have a 'just in case' bag?

I must be an odd one out as I don’t even take a hand bag with me. Everything I need goes in my pocket. Phone, cigarettes and lighter and keys. Everything else can be picked up as and when needed

I have one - but it is my hospital just in case bag, containing jammies, chargers etc. I needed it yesterday!

Isn't this the kind of stuff we carry in our handbags anyway? From the title I thought you meant a 'go bag' packed with clothes etc in case of emergency situation. I used to live in an earthquake prone country and we always kept go bags by the door in case.

I have one too, includes a brush, handcream, paracetamol, carmex lip balm, asthma pump, spare glasses, hair elastic, sanitary stuff, indigestion tablets dental floss. I also have one in my car. I think it's a very practical thing to do personally

I triplicate certain items ... downstairs, bedroom and car. Oh and handbag as well.

Hand gel, moisturising cream, Tissues, lipstick, spectacles, phone chargers, lip balm, eyebrow pencils.

Makes life simpler for me, yes I have issues. X

Not stupid at all. In DBT we had to make a self care kit to take with us every where. Mine contains a touch stone, a small essential oil bottle with a smell I like, an embroidery hoop and needle and thread and some beads for if I need to create something instead of self harming. Also some candy.

I suffer from ibs a d anxiety and I never go anywhere without painkillers, immodium or similar, baby wipes, toilet roll, as well as hairbrush, lipstick, small perfumes, small boxes of juice and gluten free biscuits. If the grandkids are with me, extra drinks snacks and wipes.And their coats whatever the weather. I don't drive so I'm a bag lady when we go out.

A tin of vaseline is essential to me, I need it with me at all times as I can't stand dry lips 😆
OP is it just stuff that goes in a handbag? I have everything in there

Great idea, I always need a lip gloss or plasters, paracetamol, spare knickers would come in handy for time of the month as well as pads/tampons. Ignore your partner

I carry this kind of thing in my bag anyway. Not lip balm.

I have 2. One has pain killers of various strengths, Imodium, plasters, antiseptic wipes, mints, smelling salts, rescue remedy. My other one (I have IBD) has a spare pair of knix, a pad, some water wipes, an adhesive heat pad, a small bin liner. Yes, I have large handbags

I have this. I take a lot of stuff round with me everywhere.

I'm now wondering if this conforns my neurodiversity. 😬

Is that just not what you have in your handbag anyway? My bag always contains lipbalm, multiple lipsticks, paracetamol, pen… I guess if I changed bags a lot I would keep the essentials in their own bag to make it easier to move to a new bag.

3 packets of hankies, wet wipes, alcohol gel, body spray, scented plastic bags, spare hand soap (because public toilets round here are NAAAAAASTY), paracetamol, paracetamol and codeine, Gaviscon tablets, glasses kit (repair screwdriver, cleaning spray and cloth), nail kit (clippers, file, tweezers and a strange gouge-like thing), spare file, spare carrier bag for life, sunglasses, glasses, dental floss, breath spray, multitool screwdriver thingy, pen, notepad, marker pen and chalk pen - All in two pencil cases

I go out with just keys and a wallet because my grab bag will be in my car. If I am not travelling in my car then the bag goes in my bag.

I agree. It’s not clear what do you have in that bag and when and where you take it with you. Only knowing these details we can comment.
its one thing if you have Nurofen and pad with you in your everyday bag and another if you try to fit spare top and socks in your bag when going to the theatre.

Isn't this just a handbag? Mine always has lipstick, tissues, paracetamol and ibuprofen (I've got an arthritic knee) reading glasses, pen, note book (I'm a compulsive list maker!) some spare change, umbrella and if I'm going to be out all day and using trains - a phone charger. I've got one of those bags specially made for swapping between bags too to make it easy.

Men go out with just keys and a wallet so take no notice of what your OH says - it's a normal female thing!!

I have a hospital bag packed and ready too, I too have chronic illnesses. When I was admitted throuhh a&e with pneumonia I had to get DH to bring my stuff for me, mostly ok except for the lack of a towel🙄 Since then my bag has been ready, including big fluffy towel😅

I have a bag in my car with enough of my medication for four days. If I am going away anywhere I bring enough for that number of days but delays might happen. Car might break down and take a couple of days to repair. I might be away from home and get a call to say one of my parents has had a fall and have to drive 3 hours to go help out for a couple of days. I also have a small first aid kit and a couple of space blankets. A small pouch with a couple of pairs of knickers and a couple of pads. My key ring has a resuscitation mask on it. I am as prepared as I can be without carrying a full suitcase around.

I started doing it when I was at sea on cargo boats and oil tankers with my husband. Pretty much everybody did it in case we needed to abandon the ship and take to the lifeboats. In case anyone is laughing/rolling their eyes, Its part of health and safety law (or used to be) that lifeboat drill is run once a week on all british registered ships. I never did have to abandon ship in the 20 years we travelled together but twice there were fires on ships and I had to wait ready to abandon the ship while I knew my husband was fighting the fire and the third time the cause was bad weather. It gets ingrained in you. In drydock once where the work goes on 24/7 I was in bed asleep and my husband was on watch. The fire alarm went off by accident, and I woke up in the alleyway (corridor on the ship) fully dressed clutching my go bag.

yup. I don't own a sleeping bag but I do keep a winter kit in the car for the same reason. I have had a breakdown with no warm stuff in the car and its not pleasant.

Had one for years, it is quite fun stocking it. Less in it now that my girls are grown up, but recently have still managed to produce nail scissors, a small tape measure, a plaster and a sanitary towel on separate occasions when they were needed.

I have 2 of these. Just small zip up bags - one very small to fit in smaller handbags and a larger one for my work bag. They contain things like paracetamol, germolene, volterol gel, sanpro, spare pants, hang gel or wipes, a lemsip sachet (smaller amounts in the smaller zip bag). I’ve done this since I had kids and used to put these things in the nappy bag. Now they are teens I still do it so I’m prepared if either I or anyone I’m with needs anything. I also have a bag in the car with spare underwear, leggings and a hoodie in case they are needed for whatever reason.

I never thought it was strange. A friend used to do it years ago when we were in our 20s. She had a spare bag of clothes and make-up in her car in case she went out late and stopped at a friends. That way she would always be prepared.

Edited to add: I’ve just realised that everyone I work with knows I have this little bag, so if they need anything they come and grab it. So that probably means it’s less common to have one than not have one!

Perfectly sensible and good practice to be organised.

I have my handbag, work bag and office locker set up like that. It gives me peace of mind and has proven to be of use to many colleagues and friends over the years.

I don't understand how it's different from your normal handbag. If you take something out to use it and forget to put it back then its the same issue as with any bag surely