To take my handbag to bed?

[hellcarryingahandbag]

Hi all,
I have always put everything I will need or want in my handbag, and taken it to bed, or the room I’m going to sit in. I am not in good health, so I like to have everything with me. The thing is that I put things in my bag that I want to put in a different room, or that I want to have handy, I don’t go out with the cordless landline in my handbag or anything . My grandmother has always done the same thing, and my mother thinks it’s lunacy. I am never without my handbag, as I feel better knowing everything I need is easily accessible. Are my grandmother and I right or is my mother?

@BinkyandBunty I have chronic pain and my mobility isn’t very good, so it is much easier to have everything nearby rather than having to go and fetch things, especially as I don’t have very good balance.

I need to start doing this! I hate not having my hand cream, medication, bottle of water, lip balm or chewing gum where I can find them. I also am always losing my phone. I could pop the remote control in there too and then would never lose that (plus the kids wouldn't hide it or change all the settings or knock the batteries out and lose them as happens all too frequently). Plus I could keep all the bits I need for the kids but never have to hand like hair bands, nail clippers, cotton buds, baby wipes and teething powder on hand too.

I do think I used to do this when I was younger and loved in shared housing, I also used to sleep with my bra on under my pyjamas and socks on so I could just pull my shoes on, grab my bag and be out the door if I needed to be. I never felt relaxed in shared digs, though.

I take my bag up with me when I go to bed but that's because a neighbour had her house broken into and because her bag was hanging over the bottom of the stairs the theives were able to load all the stuff they nicked into her car and took that too.
The rest of the time it's in whichever room I left it in when I came into the house.

I don't think I ever take my handbag upstairs. I'd rather leave everything downstairs so that if someone breaks in they can have my purse and car keys without coming anywhere near me. I think I'd be too anxious to get to sleep if it was in my room, which I realise sounds ridiculous.

that's because a neighbour had her house broken into and because her bag was hanging over the bottom of the stairs the theives were able to load all the stuff they nicked into her car and took that too.

Sounds like the best possible outcome of being broken into.

It’s just dawned on me that I’ve been doing this for years and used to laugh at my nan and grandma doing it when I was a teenager. My handbag has my glasses, contact lens stuff, purse, mobile in so all my essential stuff that I need with me all the time. So yes, I take it up to bed, along with my glass of water!

This is an interesting thread.

I alway took my handbag to bed and about 18 months ago a friend’s house was broken into and the intruders came into the bedroom (armed I might add) looking for car keys (which were in her bag) and other valuables.

After that I just leave it downstairs and my friend was advised by the police after the incident to be careful about taking handbags etc to bed.

Probs derailed the thread here but I jogged my memory.

Handbag comes up to bed with me too. I can’t settle if I don’t know where my regularly needed belongings are, it’s an anxiety thing for me. I don’t always have the bag with me (mostly use the same one as it’s battered and I don’t care if a bag of sweets up ends in it ), but I like to know where I’ve left it iyswim?

@steff13 I keep absolutely everything I could possibly need in my bag, and I put my phone and glasses in there overnight so they are there if I wake during the night. What do you do if you want to go to a different room and you need to take things with you? And I don’t understand why you would keep things in a bag in your car, what do you do if you need something from it at an anti social hour?

I suppose you could always leave a decoy handbag downstairs near the door with old set of keys, an old purse and cards, old glasses and whatever else people normally have in their bags. Then keep the real stuff in your room.

I shocked to the core that people take handbags to bed!! I have never heard of this craziness ever before!

I find it almost intriguing that it’s totally normal for so many of you!

What do you need it at night for? Don’t you take medication before you go up to bed?

I have a heavy lamp beside my bed and if an intruder came into my room, they would fall foul of the lamp...

@Gogreen it’s much easier to have everything you need beside you at all times, don’t you think?

I thought it was recommended to leave your bag downstairs so if you got burgled they won't come upstairs looking for it. Same with car keys.

I always take my mobile upstairs but everything else left downstairs. Mind my handbag is so full of crap any thief wouldn't be impressed by its contents!

My mum does that, OP. I'm very organised so whilst I don't take my bag to bed with me (I do when I'm not sleeping at home, e.g. next to the bed when I'm in a hotel) it does always contain all of my essentials like keys, bank card, passport, cash and is kept in the same place at home.

I had my handbag stolen from my house through an open window a few years ago. The police advised me to take my handbag with me and that included to bed. Have done this ever since.

My handbag contains:
Wallet and credit cards/DL/EHIC etc
Stamps
Oyster
Mobile
Work Mobile
House keys
Car keys
Pens
Lipstick
Occasionally passport

About 26 years ago my handbag was stolen when we were burgled. I left it in the hall. Never. Ever. Again. It took literally months to resolve. You have no idea how much it all adds up to until it happens. In those days I lost an address book too - irreplaceable.

What do you have in your bag that you need at night, other than glasses and phone?

I'm a big fan of pockets but the only things I take up to bed are my phone and the baby monitor to be fair.

I never take my handbag to bed. There's no point anyway as it only contains three things, my phone, my purse and my keys. I don't even take my phone upstairs.

I have a heavy lamp beside my bed and if an intruder came into my room, they would fall foul of the lamp...

That’s if you don’t fall foul of whatever they have with them first.

But like what OP? What would I need constant access too even if I’m in bed at night?

Do you take it to bed for a just in case? (Just incase of what?)

Or is it habit now?

I’m totally amazed by this thread, I can’t believe people do this.

My mum has slept with her handbag on the table next to her, ever since she’s had a handbag.

She literally has nightmares about losing her handbag. Mine got nicked in a pub once and it nearly gave her a panic attack!

The police advised me to take my handbag with me and that included to bed

Really dangerous advice form the police. Appalling really. Cards, keys, money, cars- replaceable. You- not replaceable. Intruders do hurt householders. Why increase the risk of them being anywhere near you? At least leave a decoy downstairs.

Elizabeth, is that you?

@hellcarryingahandbag I'm physically disabled, and I do the exact same thing! Everything is in my bag, including a medicine bag and it moves from room to room with me! I also keep a copy of my repeat prescription medication on both my medicine bag and my purse, so that if I have any short notice "visits" to A&E (they usually result in admission) I have everything I need to hand, and nothing gets missed.
(I also keep a bag with pygamas, clean underwear, toiletries etc packed for "just incase" trips to hospital too)