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

If the item /s are relatively cheap then why not have multiples of it . Using your lip balm as example , I have a few handbags , each has a lip balm in them.
I have a car , dh has a car, lip balm in each .
My chair in living room is near a coffee table with a drawer = lip balm , lastly one by bed .

I have most, if not all of the above actually on me (meds) or packed in a small bag when I travel.
(I now double and triple check that I have my meds on my person after DH, who was taking everything down and loading the car, left my essentials bag behind. He had assured me he had loaded everything)

Oh I LOVE a Swiss Army Knife

@graceinspace999 not sure whether that was a serious post or not - although I do have keys to our work depot which is in the middle of fields nexts to a river with a boat so that would be where I would head with my bag in case of the zombie apocalypse.

But on a more serious note I've kept a hospital bag packed and ready ever since I was once admitted and had no one close to get me things. I had to have an acquaintance attempt to find things as I was living away from home, hadn't done any washing in a week due to being ill - it wasn't great. At least now I can say, the green suitcase under the bed and know everything they bring will fit and that no one's had to rifle through my pants drawer

who says I don't? .....but in the real world, I had my car set up so the dogs and I could sleep in there for a night or more. It wouldn't have been massively comfortable but it would have been ok in an emergency.

I have one, also a pencil case, lip balm, pain killers, hairband, sanitary towel, hand cream, deodorant in the car. Seems sensible to me. Used to carry a power bank as well.

When DC were small, spare clothes in the car at all times.

Completely normal. Even my 12 year old carries that type of stuff around with her (her idea, not mine). I keep a bag in my car which has deodorant, hand cream, lip balm, Tic Tacs, medicine, charger, etc and another bag with gluten free cereal bars and peppermint tea. Got to cover all bases!

This thread has really inspired me to get organised, I’ve never got much with me - also ND, I’m not good at being organised. So maybe if I just do it once and leave that in that car, it might be really helpful.

I do, however, have a Swiss Army knife keyring which is worth its weight in gold. I can’t count the number of times I’ve used the little scissors.

Sounds quite reasonable to me. I have similar.

My daily handbag is a 'just incase' bag (because I only actually ever carry my phone and keys, so I've no real need for a handbag). I have OCD so I always think of new what if scenarios to add to it because I'll just worry about it if I don't have whatever it is.
I bought a bigger handbag for this reason and it's completely full of random (but light) shite that I will likely never actually need. Although I have used the emergency mayonnaise sachets a few times.

When the kids were babies I had a hospital grab bag with chargers and change in lip balm wipes etc it was easy then to just throw the tablets in and go

I think my handbag probably counts as this anyway tbh. I have a mini sewing kit, tampons, painkillers, lip balm, hand cream, tissues, flushable wipes. I never really thought of it as weird till now 😂

I have a spreadsheet which has a packing list so I can quickly get to work when needed. I live a long way from the UK and for an emergency visit, I would need to pack enough for 2 weeks minimum.

I need to update my spreadsheet for changes of meds etc.

I have a wee pouch that transfers between my 2 (!) handbags or a hand luggage bag. Apart from the obvious stuff already mentioned I carry a week's worth of my medication, which includes antidepressants, mood stabiliser and neurological painkillers, which I really couldn't do without.

I'm terrible at unpacking so almost always have a half packed bag ready to go, so usually a dress, a pair of jeans, a top and some pjs.

I tried to have a version of this for the car when the kids were little so I had a clean & dry set of clothes etc if necessary

I did this seriously at the beginning of COVID as Dh extremely vulnerable and I wanted to be sure I can drive him to hospital asap if necessary.

And sunblock (I also have a small child to think about!)

I do this. I have a rucksack, which is basically my handbag, and it has a pouch containing my phone charger, Air pods and power bank, a pouch containing paracetamol, wipes, a few plasters etc, and pens and tissues. I don't think there's anything weird about that at all.

Lemon teabags - office coffee machine is temperamental and frequently there is no milk, but I can usually get boiling water out of the machine. I like lemon teabags, and they will do a couple of cups per bag.

Pack of tissues - obvious

Emergency bus fare - cheaper than emergency taxi fare

Black pen - can spend ages looking through colleagues drawers looking for a pen. Don't know what they do with them.

I don’t have one but starting to think I should! I usually just go out with my phone, keys (and my vape 🤫) unless I’m going into work in which case I pack my laptop bag the night before.

I have one (a small pencil case), and in are: spare contact lenses, lip balm, tiny power bank, air pods, tissues, paracetamol and cough sweets. It moves from handbag to handbag when I change over, and stops me getting rushed trying to find the things. I just think it's practical, not to be wasting time over little bits and pieces.

My my your husband must think I’m utterly potty (I have a medically complex son) but I carry a 3 day overnight bag in the car with me! I’ve spent too many nights with no clothes or toothbrush so I learnt me lesson!

I have a large washbag which has all essentials in it. Saves having to remember millions of items each time you go away. And having ended up in hospital at very short notice then asking my partner to pack for me, I think a hospital bag is a very good idea! I swore if it ever happened again I'd ask my friend to pack for me not my partner!

Yes. We have an emergency medical bag also packed at home.
It just has the basics in for one of us having to stay with Ds who has had several last minute dashes to the hospital with allergies. When you’re busy with ambulance crew, you forget what to take.

It has chargers and battery pack so we don’t end up with a dead phone, underwear and T-shirt and thin leggings for everyone (Ds has a habit of projectile vomiting after allergy!). Some snacks, few thin books for Ds. Basic toiletries and medicine. It’s basically enough to get us through the first night until dh arrives to either go home or with extra supplies ( it’s always me who ends up going with Ds)

I also have small bags of supplies in the car. Mini medical kit, calpol. Socks for Ds as he always end up in mud. Add more winter stuff if snow likely. Drinks and snacks incase of traffic. Some toys Incas rid traffic or long journeys. Tissues. Everything is in small pouches hidden away in side pockets or under boot storage

Not a bag, but I have a draw of these things at work. Spare charger, paracetamol, hairbrush, cardigan, tights, pens, chewing gum, lighter, San pro, deodorant, chocolate, and so on.