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 put an old handbag back into circulation and inside there was a just-in-case bag containing San-pro (5+ years since I needed that) and a packet of Fisherman’s Friends…

I don’t know if this the same, but we once stayed in an airport hotel the night before our holiday.
There was an arson attack in the night, and we were all turfed out. Ever since then, I have always made sure that when I am staying in an hotel that I have a “grab bag” with the passports, (if relevant) money, etc., plus something to wear to cover me!

@Sgtmajormummy thank you for making me smile. I loved and adored my Grandad and when he passed away and we cleared out his belongings every single pocket was full of fishermans friends. He was very much have a cold have a fishermans friend, feel a bit out of sorts, have a fishermans friend. Pockets, drawers, car pockets and glove compartments were all full of the things 😀I miss him and his fishermans friends so much, but hated the things!

When the children were babies/toddlers I also had the nappy bag packed to go, it was enough getting all 5 out the house at once without have to check if you had nappies or wipes.

No I have one of these! All sorts of useful things I might need in the day. I think a lot of women do. I like keeping mine in a small bag so I can swap it between my handbags

I thought this was going to be about a bag of supplies in case you get abducted or have to hide out in a bunker during a nuclear attack or something. With a Swiss Army knife and an astronaut food in a pouch and some cyanide tablets if all hope is lost.

It's a tiny thing that's not bothering anyone else and for whatever reason makes you more comfortable and relaxed, and therefore better able to get on with your life, job, etc. So sane and smart, at least for you.

Using a pencil case may be a little unusual, but many people switch handbags to match occasion and outfit and so keep their stuff in pouches so they can easily transfer them over without missing anything. Your solution sounds similar. Why does your husband care if you do it?

I have one too, with sanitary pads, a pair of knickers (lol), paracetamol... I don't think it's that unusual. Its a small bag with "get out of jail" items as I see it.

Thanks - I am taking notes ! I have a "grab bag" with spare clothes, foil blanket, wind up torch and radio...live in an earthquake zone, and when my son lived in Japan he had one also and showed me the government approved items. I keep a couple of spare asthma inhalers in it. I haven't updated the water or anything perishable for ages tho. My main concern is what I would do with the cats if the building starts to wobble (have only felt very gentle shakes in over 6 years thank goodness) No way would they be going in a bag !

I don't understand how it's different from your normal handbag. If you take something out to use it and forget to put it back then its the same issue as with any bag surely

Perfectly sensible and good practice to be organised.

I have my handbag, work bag and office locker set up like that. It gives me peace of mind and has proven to be of use to many colleagues and friends over the years.

I have 2 of these. Just small zip up bags - one very small to fit in smaller handbags and a larger one for my work bag. They contain things like paracetamol, germolene, volterol gel, sanpro, spare pants, hang gel or wipes, a lemsip sachet (smaller amounts in the smaller zip bag). I’ve done this since I had kids and used to put these things in the nappy bag. Now they are teens I still do it so I’m prepared if either I or anyone I’m with needs anything. I also have a bag in the car with spare underwear, leggings and a hoodie in case they are needed for whatever reason.

I never thought it was strange. A friend used to do it years ago when we were in our 20s. She had a spare bag of clothes and make-up in her car in case she went out late and stopped at a friends. That way she would always be prepared.

Edited to add: I’ve just realised that everyone I work with knows I have this little bag, so if they need anything they come and grab it. So that probably means it’s less common to have one than not have one!

Had one for years, it is quite fun stocking it. Less in it now that my girls are grown up, but recently have still managed to produce nail scissors, a small tape measure, a plaster and a sanitary towel on separate occasions when they were needed.

yup. I don't own a sleeping bag but I do keep a winter kit in the car for the same reason. I have had a breakdown with no warm stuff in the car and its not pleasant.

I started doing it when I was at sea on cargo boats and oil tankers with my husband. Pretty much everybody did it in case we needed to abandon the ship and take to the lifeboats. In case anyone is laughing/rolling their eyes, Its part of health and safety law (or used to be) that lifeboat drill is run once a week on all british registered ships. I never did have to abandon ship in the 20 years we travelled together but twice there were fires on ships and I had to wait ready to abandon the ship while I knew my husband was fighting the fire and the third time the cause was bad weather. It gets ingrained in you. In drydock once where the work goes on 24/7 I was in bed asleep and my husband was on watch. The fire alarm went off by accident, and I woke up in the alleyway (corridor on the ship) fully dressed clutching my go bag.

I have a bag in my car with enough of my medication for four days. If I am going away anywhere I bring enough for that number of days but delays might happen. Car might break down and take a couple of days to repair. I might be away from home and get a call to say one of my parents has had a fall and have to drive 3 hours to go help out for a couple of days. I also have a small first aid kit and a couple of space blankets. A small pouch with a couple of pairs of knickers and a couple of pads. My key ring has a resuscitation mask on it. I am as prepared as I can be without carrying a full suitcase around.

I have a hospital bag packed and ready too, I too have chronic illnesses. When I was admitted throuhh a&e with pneumonia I had to get DH to bring my stuff for me, mostly ok except for the lack of a towel🙄 Since then my bag has been ready, including big fluffy towel😅

Isn't this just a handbag? Mine always has lipstick, tissues, paracetamol and ibuprofen (I've got an arthritic knee) reading glasses, pen, note book (I'm a compulsive list maker!) some spare change, umbrella and if I'm going to be out all day and using trains - a phone charger. I've got one of those bags specially made for swapping between bags too to make it easy.

Men go out with just keys and a wallet so take no notice of what your OH says - it's a normal female thing!!

I agree. It’s not clear what do you have in that bag and when and where you take it with you. Only knowing these details we can comment.
its one thing if you have Nurofen and pad with you in your everyday bag and another if you try to fit spare top and socks in your bag when going to the theatre.

I go out with just keys and a wallet because my grab bag will be in my car. If I am not travelling in my car then the bag goes in my bag.

3 packets of hankies, wet wipes, alcohol gel, body spray, scented plastic bags, spare hand soap (because public toilets round here are NAAAAAASTY), paracetamol, paracetamol and codeine, Gaviscon tablets, glasses kit (repair screwdriver, cleaning spray and cloth), nail kit (clippers, file, tweezers and a strange gouge-like thing), spare file, spare carrier bag for life, sunglasses, glasses, dental floss, breath spray, multitool screwdriver thingy, pen, notepad, marker pen and chalk pen - All in two pencil cases

Is that just not what you have in your handbag anyway? My bag always contains lipbalm, multiple lipsticks, paracetamol, pen… I guess if I changed bags a lot I would keep the essentials in their own bag to make it easier to move to a new bag.

I have this. I take a lot of stuff round with me everywhere.

I'm now wondering if this conforns my neurodiversity. 😬

I have 2. One has pain killers of various strengths, Imodium, plasters, antiseptic wipes, mints, smelling salts, rescue remedy. My other one (I have IBD) has a spare pair of knix, a pad, some water wipes, an adhesive heat pad, a small bin liner. Yes, I have large handbags

I carry this kind of thing in my bag anyway. Not lip balm.