to ask what you carry in your handbag and what the most useful things are

[shakeituntilyoumakeit]

Nothing in my life cheers me up as much as when I manage to produce things for the kids to do, a snack, the right change for a car park, a spare hair bobble etc, but I also don’t want to carry too much around.

I was on a busy train recently and couldNt get to my rucksack which had snack, drinks, toys to entertain the kids, and managed to cobble together some plain postcards, rainbow pens, mini chocolate buttons, half a small bottle of water and some raisins.

I felt like I was succeeding at life.

Pen
Small makeup bag with sanpro of all types, painkillers, lipbalm and handcream
Phone
Purse
Usually a random snack or two
Reusable shopping bag

I think handbags are useless. I don’t carry one. I carry my phone,I’d,debit card and 10 dollars. That’s all that’s needed

Work days; laptop, paperwork / notepad, water bottle, phones, chargers, purse, powder compact & lipstick

Non work days; purse, powder compact & lipstick

3yo DS has his own wee backpack with change of clothes, water bottle & snack.

I think this should be part of every job interview. ‘What is in your handbag, Mrs Cherrysoup?’

-‘Well, I don’t normally carry one, so phone, keys, purse (which has a safety pin attached) and mefenamic acid. And a pen (cos I’m a teacher). Possibly a tangerine for the horse’.

I am the Queen of sweatshirts, so purse is normally in the car, hidden phone and keys in my pocket.

Someone not long ago on here said everything in their handbag is in another smaller bag so the contents are easily transferred to a different handbag as required. Sheer genius.

Trolley key, pen and notepad, tissues and wipes, medical alert info all
kept in a see through pencil case.

Tissues
Lip balm
Hand gel
Hand cream
Keys
Purse
Extra stoma bags
Inhaler
Paracetamol
Plasters
Little cosmetics bag - lipliner, eyebrow pencil, slim perfume spray, lipstick of the day
Headphones
Pen
Small notebook

I love these threads, one of the first things I bought as a 16 year old was a handbag, cheap from a shoe shop after reading an article in Cosmo type magazines about what people carried in a handbag. I don't carry a handbag anymore but actually really miss it!

FairnotFair thanks for the empty evian bottle tip. never thought of that.

in my bag i have:

keys (very useful for getting in an dout my house, so kinda important)
pen (never leave home without one)
spare pen in case pen doesn't work
diazepam for pain or anxiety
purse with cards and money in
phone (in its own pouch in the bag)
my disabled bus pass (very important as take bus everywhere)
priority seat card (see above)
Bible or a novel

Credit cards/Identification
Cash
Spare contact lenses
Eye drops
Chapstick
Small moisturizer
Small container of hand soap
Ponytail holder
Allergy pills
Epipens
Sunglasses

I try to be very minimalist at this point.

Book, diary, pen x 2, small jiffy bag with paracetamol, ibrufen, plasters, a few spare contraceptive pills, a few safety pins, a few antihistamines, make up bag (containing lipstick, foundation, small roll on perfume, lip balm), small packet of wet wipes, tissues, hand San, phone, small packet of pencil crayons with sharpener, purse, a few sanitary towels, cotton shopping bag. I never carry water or anything like that as I hate heavy bags, in my early 20s I never carried a hand bag, all I ever took out was cash, lipstick (a mini Elizabeth Arden one) and cigarettes, then phones came in and I think I just stuck it in my coat or jeans pocket. Now I love my hand bag.

I’ve got a Gerber key ring and all sorts of useful things but over the last year, I’ve accidentally been caught up in three truly horrendous situations.
The best things each time were the ancient packets of the DC’s sweets I’d forgotten about at the bottom.

Oh I forgot keys and lift card.

When we go out as a family a carry a cloth bag with my sons stuff in, toys etc and a drink and snacks. Obviously a gaming device! You never know if you'll end up having a pub lunch or not! Best to be prepared.

A balaclava and rawlplugs, definitely.

Most important things - allergy pills, epipens, migraine tablets.

Most used thing - chapstick.

Wallet with change, notes and credit/debit card.

Pencil case with 3-4 pens inc fountain and ink cartridges.

Hair brush - ties on handle in case want to tie hair back or up

Pack of tissues and pack of loccitane verbena wet wipes

Small make up case inc face powder with mirror , lip balm , mini lipstick, spare contact lenses , paracetamol , nail file .

Small notebook

At the moment pair of wollen gloves - in summer small bottle of suntan lotion

Most useful- contact lenses or cash

It is actually a criminal offence to carry a bladed article in public. I mention this in case anyone thinks it is OK for their teen to carry a penknife - it could lead to a criminal charge if they were seen with it or if police searched and found it.

Purse
Phone
Epipens/antihistamine/inhaler
Makeup
Reading glasses
Tissues
Pencil case with drawing stuff
Sketchbook
Diary
Little zip up bag with sanitary towel/paracetamol/couple of plasters/immodium/tweezers/ antiseptic wipe
Metal straw
Carton of Apple juice
Couple of biscuits in a box.

Keys, purse, cigarettes, lighter, ibuprofen, pen, foldable cotton tote bag, notepaper, phone. My keyring has a bottle-opener attached which has 'saved the day' more than once.

Since finding out there is no limit on the amount you can pay on Apple Pay (thought I was going to have to split a food shop into £30 lots but was informed by check out person that I didn’t need to) I barely carry a handbag anymore! Life changing!

I thought I carried a load of rubbish round in my handbag, but the crucifix and miniature of whisky one has made me feel slightly better!

Day to day - wallet, keys, notebook and pen, phone and charger, small compact mirror, lipstick, concealer, mini hairbrush, tissues, hand cream, tape measure.

On a night out, smaller bag with wallet, keys, phone, mini hairbrush, lipstick and tissues.

Antibac hand gel, tissues, sanitary pad, pencil, lip balm, emergency antihistamines, paracetamol, teaspoon, pencil, phone, keys, bank card, fidget toy. Lots of bits of rubbish too.

Pen knife with a blade under 3 inches is not illegal
www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives

Reminds me of that great bit in 'One Fine Day' where Michelle Pfeiffer produces entire dressing up outfits from the contents of her bag....