Do people have purses any more? Why?

[Icanseeasquirrel]

My purse used to be massively important. My cash and cards. Wouldn’t leave the house without it. I can remember the purse my mum had for years. Fat brown leather thing with a snap closure. Full of old vouchers and stamps and things.
I have had many purses in my life but now just have a phone and a single card. A few notes and coins in a bag I use sometimes. I have three adult children and none of them have a wallet or purse.
I do see people at the checkout putting their stuff away in purses sometimes though. Seems so retro!
I think if I had a purse I would carry around loads of stuff I don’t need. Just musing on one of the things that’s changed in my life as a middle aged woman!
So. If you still use a purse. Why?

I have a little card holder thing that holds drivers licence, work ID, bank card, parking pass.

I actually went out with a handful of notes the other day for the first time in about 5 years and was a bit stumped with what to do with them to keep them safe! No pockets in my handbag, and it doesn't have a zip or anything to do it up, so I ended up putting the money in a little fabric gift bag and tying it shut!

Yes I carry a large purse. It contains lots of bank cards, a selection of coins, a £10 note, my drivers licence, library card, and a few essential business cards.

I love purses. I love buying them. My current one is red leather. It's getting a bit past it's best and i'm looking forward to chosing a new one.

I still use a purse. I can't see that ever changing. It's just handy keep debit cards, a few coins, banknotes and stamps in. I just include the same purse into whichever bag I'm carrying.

I have just moved to a very small cross body bag but it still contains my square cloth purse which holds my front door key, bank cards etc but rarely cash these days.

I have a small coin purse but that only has a couple of folded notes, coins and a few cards (debit, ID, library card). It basically lives in my bag 99% of the time.

I like to use cash if I'm buying something DH wouldn't approve of, like chocolate.

I have one, it is mainly just storage in the house though, all my loyalty cards, debit, credits cards etc. If I ever have any cash (rare!) it will be in my purse. I rarely actually take it out though.

I have a smallish one, ID card, driving licence, bank card, credit cards, EHIC, health insurance cards, transport pass etc.

I like to spread risk. I don’t entrust my card details to a phone which can be stolen, lost or run out of battery. I carry two cards in my purse. I have backup cash in case my card is declined. I keep my driving licence in my purse so I have accessible ID on me, especially after I was rendered unconscious in a car accident and it allowed police to quickly find my husband. I have a few coins in case I need a trolley at a supermarket, or have to pay to park in some out of the way village or town where they haven’t converted to contactless yet (I travel very widely for work).

I’d rather not invite stress into my life, so I just have backup plans in case things go wrong - no phone signal, no juice in it, phone being lost or stolen, me needing to be identified, filling the car up and not being able to pay by card. All solved by my taking my purse with me. It’s not much of an imposition, but I take a bag with me anyway, so I don’t even notice it.

Yes, I am not THAT old and have a variety of purses, with handbags to match. The only time I ever leave the house without at least my purse is if DH is with me and has his wallet. I do not use Applepay and do not pay for things on my phone.

Still have one - it's the largest I've ever had. Lots of physical cards, driving licence etc. But I am a typical 'laggard' and the last to embrace anything. Silly as I would love that extra space in my handbag!

Was thinking just yesterday of the tiny handbags we used to take out in the 90s and early 00s with our tiny wallets and tiny flip-top phones. I miss that minimalism!

I hardly ever use a bag never mind a purse. I use my phone with Apple Pay and carry my lipgloss in my bra. I find this is all I ever need. If I ever have cash on the rare occasion,I feel like I’m looked at in a strange way.

Have a wallet - cash and cards - library, bank, medical exemption for prescriptions
i need to take cabs and some don’t take cash. A lot of the students at local college have no concept that anywhere wouldn’t do don’t have a bank card so can’t use the cash points. I asked why no cards - out council doesn’t require it and it can be quite expensive. I thought they would go the other way so less of a target from a dangerous passenger if they have no cash.

So. If you still use a purse. Why?

Because I still use cash. It helps me to budget when I have very little money coming in.

I bought a new one recently. I use apple pay for nearly spending and all my loyalty cards for larger chains are on my phone too but I have quite a few card ones from local places, membership cards for NT and RHS, a credit card for emergencies and a little bit of cash.

No purse, but 2 card holders - one for bus pass and a lot of membership cards, the other for bank and credit cards, Nectar and Boots cards.
I usually have a small amount of cash in a small zip pocket of my bag.

As soon as I read your OP, @Icanseeasquirrel , I wondered why I had never thought of this before. But it seems IMPOSSIBLE not to have a purse. Just such a weird idea, even though I can see that we don't really need one any more.

Mine is comfortably full of junk. My debit card, of course, and a million other cards that I don't really need to carry around with me. Ramblers membership card, National Trust membership card, loyalty cards for shops I can't remember ever having gone into, old receipts. And real, old-style money that I hardly ever spend.

I will never, ever not have a purse though. I'll just put Pokemon cards in it or something.

I get paid in cash from my second job… self explanatory I guess

I just use my phone with an emergency £20 note in the back of the case, although it does occur that the most likey need for the £20 is that I've lost my phone!

My mum does. It’s massive. She takes her handbag everywhere still including THREE purses (1 regular, 1 coins, 1 stack of loyalty cards as thick as my wrist).

God knows why. She has a smart phone and is only 60.

Yes I have one for cash, obviously. You say that you carry a few notes and coins sometimes OP, so what do you put them in if not a purse? 🤔

I've always had and always will have a purse. I carry the usual stuff, cards, stamps etc and always some cash in notes and coins. My youngest uses her phone but that concept seems risky to me. Lose your phone and you're snookered.

I don't like to rely on a phone for everything.

I love my purse, it's got all my cards and cash, photo and little notes and lists. I wear a proper watch too.

I still carry a purse, it’s a vintage Celine I’ve had for years. Not ready to give it up yet!

I have a card wallet – travel card, credit card, debit card, business debit card, discount restaurant card, bus ticket, club card.

My husband still carries a wallet.