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

[WeeOrcadian]

DH thinks I'm being overly cautious with this, I don't. So I thought I'd get the opinion of the hive mind.

I'm very forgetful and often get stressed if I haven't got something I need - even basics, like lip balm. It makes me feel even more unorganised than I already am.

It's a pencil case, so isn't huge, but it contains lots of essentials and some not essential items.

I have suspected ND (currently undergoing investigation) and I saw someone online had made one. Boom. Brilliant idea.

I tend to take it with me to work, just in case, hence the name of it!

Thoughts?

I have one. Sanitary pad, lip balm, hair band, hand sanitiser, plasters, a mirror, spare contact lenses.

I too have a hospital bag packed for the same reason.

I've worked somewhere that we were advised to have an emergency bag ready in case we had to drop everything and go into work. Meds, clean underwear, toothbrush and so on. It's not mad at all.

Sounds pretty normal to me.

I have a clear primark washbag thing (smallish).

2 x Spare contact lenses
Nivea lip balm
£10 note
£1 coin (for supermarket trolley)
Bit of paper with DD and DS phone numbers written on them (I know DH but just can't seem to learn DC)
1 x Hair bobble
1 x sheet Paracetamol
1 x Plaster

Takes up no space at all and makes me feel reassured and organised even though I am neither

For those who have bug out bags - is there any point if you don’t have a secret cabin in the woods and plenty of buried staches along the way?

I have something similar, I have 3 little pouches I put in my bags, one has san pro in, another has hand sanitizer, hand cream and lip balm, the third one has plasters, painkillers and allergy meds. I started using them when I switched from using a handbag with pockets/sections I could easily have everything organised in, to using a rucksack and it all just being a jumble at the bottom.

using pencil cases /small pouches like this is pretty common with women who change bags regularly so always have the stuff they need in their bag.

OP calling it your emergency bag is rather dramatic- it’s just a handbag insert.

i would presume an emergency packed bag is more like the bags with 2 changes of clothes, toiletries and cash that some on here are saying they have ready to go.

@Createausername1970 - I am so intrigued by your random list of emergency items . . can you please tell me what scenario you think you may need all these items

a box of lemon teabags, a pack of tissues, a £2 coin (emergency bus fare) and a black pen

You tube, every day carry. You go from the excellent to the ridiculous..the guy with the mini phone bank to the bloke with the 20 lb bag with 6 ways to start a fire. I always have essentials on me, basic meds, a knife, duck tape, safety pins

I’ve enjoyed reading this thread - makes me think I should be more prepared!

I rarely use a handbag so mostly don’t carry this stuff around BUT I have stocked my desk drawer at work with a lot of it - essential make up (concealer, eye liner, lipstick), hairbrush and few bobbles, perfume and deodorant, toothbrush and paste, spare knickers, tights and pop socks and some pain killers. I’ve used pretty much all of it in the office at some stage.

We have a family rucksack that we use for days out with the kids and it always has mini first aid kit, hand san, wipes, tissues, mini cutlery set, colouring pencils and notebook, emergency snacks.

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.

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

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!

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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 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 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 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 😂

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

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.