Everyday carry : do you go light or are you a pack rat?

[partyetiquette]

Lighthearted but out with a friend today. She arrives with a tiny crossbody phone case type bag. I arrive with my giant tote the size of a beach bag. I've always wanted to be a small handbag type but I like stuff.
Going round Tescos and I suddenly need to brush my teeth? No probs! Got my travel toothpaste and foldable toothbrush with me! My book (in case I get somewhere early and want to read) book boring? No worries, I've got a magazine as well. And my diary, and my notebook, oh and a scarf in case I get cold. And a mini stapler (never know when you need to staple something small while out and about)
Are you a pack rat or do you have a tiny handbag?
If you are a reformed pack rat- how did you do it? I'm sure my shoulders would thank me!

My DM's handbag, aspired to be a skip.

It carried all kinds of items, and rubbish, that not even Mary Poppins would want.

I learned from the knacked shoulder she subsequently suffered with and vowed to travel light.

My own cross body bag is large enough for my purse, phone, packet of travel tissues and my keyring containing 3 keys.

If I go shopping as in browsing with slight intent to buy, I wear a small PE type back pack that contains any bags I may need.

Any other serious shopping will involve taking the car.

I have two handbags, a backpack for work that carries a lot and a smaller one (a few of these which I alternate) that I can just fit my phone, purse, keys and sunglasses in for weekends.

no handbag.... just my phone!

I’m team Go Light. To the point where, unless I’m out for the whole day away from the car, I won’t even take a bag and just rely on pockets.

Me and DS have done extreme day trips to European cities and I only ever take a crossbody there too 😂

This. Hate bags everyday. Phone, keys, done.

even back in the day it was wallet and keys. If I needed to go light I’d just take credit card, bit of cash and keys

do love a good rucksack though. That does me a long weekend easily.

went long haul with carry on last year 😂

Not quite as bad as you but I am someone who likes to ‘be prepared’. Really though I think you just need to logic yourself out of some of these things: instead of toothbrush and paste, carry gum. Instead of a book and magazine, carry a kindle app on your phone. Instead of a stapler… no sorry, you lost me at stapler 😅 but you don’t need a diary and a notebook if you have a smartphone. So that’s already more than half your stuff gone.

I do always* have: phone and battery pack, meds including painkillers, plasters, antihistamines, migraine tabs, antacids, hairbands, pen, credit card pen knife, wallet. Usually a bottle of water, often a breakfast bar.

*I say always but actually if I’m somewhere local, the supermarket or town then I often just have my phone and a trolley pound.

Phone and keys. That’s it.

I take what I need depending on where I am going, so don’t have a standard ‘everyday carry’ - often I just take a phone and keys in my pockets, but I might also want sunglasses, sun cream, umbrella, battery pack, wallet, headphones, lip balm, mints… I wouldn’t carry any of it if I wasn’t expecting to need it though. So I take as little as possible for my requirements.

I leave everything in my car. Sunglasses, magsafe phone charger, deodorant and scarf!! I only carry my phone, keys and airpods if I want to listen music whilst walking. Anything else is such a faff. I pay using my iPhone or Apple Watch. I also have water/crisp in my boot, if I get stranded lol and I'm hungry. I keep umbrella in boot, rarely feel the need to use it.

I'd probably carry deodorant if I was going for some time without my car during the day to freshen up, apart from that I wouldn't carry anything.

As much as possible I go bag free. Hate having to cart around an abundance of ‘stuff’.
Pockets are my friend for phone and keys when needed. Most of the time I could get away without using my phone as I have Apple pay on my watch but I do usually have it with me.

Somewhere in between as I need to carry medication and I like having a deodorant to.

In my small back pack I have.... sunglasses. large old fashioned purse, carrier bags, eye drops, two sets of keys. One is for my original home 150 miles away 🤣🤣 packets of polo mints, and tissues 🤣🤣

DH often seems to take the piss because I always carry a bag, although I ought to point out to him he often asks me to put his book or magazine in it if he has one while we're out.

I'm not a massive pack rat, so no toothbrush, but I do always want a bag that will fit phone, wallet, book, small umbrella and ideally a small water bottle and/or snack.

I used to carry everything. Spare tights. Mini sewing kit. Mini stationery kit incl stapler. As well as Paracetamol. Tissues. Make up. Snacks.

That was for public transport / commute by train.

Now I tend to use pockets only. Key card and phone.
But I think that’s because I have the rest of my stuff in the car.

I think it's a hangover from city living/ commuting. Out all day and not home til late at night

Don't you find it bulky to carry all that? You can read books on your phone. Play games on your phone. I just can't be bothered to have all that weight with me to carry all day!

Oh, why do you need to brush your teeth during the day? I take notes all on my phone using the notes app.

It is bulky definitely and I think I'd like to go lighter. But I hate reading on phone and note taking too. I may need to brush teeth if going to a meeting or out after work (and deodrant, perfume, mini make up kit)

I've never taken toothpaste or deodorant out with me unless I was having an actual overnight stay somewhere. Why would you suddenly need to brush your teeth during the day?

I only ever have a small crossbody bag. Book, phone, keys, purse, headphones. Sorted.

Its so freeing when you just go out with phone and keys. I di keep a bank card with me in my phone case. It also means my dh can't load me up like a pack horse with his stuff....

If going somewhere by train would have:
Phone
Keys
Water bottle
Snack
Headphones (in case of noisy twats)
Recharger battery & charging cables
Kindle
Deodorant
Mints
Tissues
Pen
Suncream or umbrella or jumper (weather dependent)
Foldaway reusable carrier bag - in case I buy stuff or need to take any warm layers off and can't fit them in my bag.

If just locally: phone and keys, maybe headphones and a tissue in pocket.

If I have children with me, more snacks, water bottles and a change of clothes (for them)

I hate the idea of the day being really affected by a lack of planning/right stuff, but try to keep my prepper tendencies under control...

I have a few things I can't be without so I can rarely get awat with a teeny bag, but I hate the weight of a big one too. My most frequently used bag is a mini backpack. Big enough for:
Purse
Phone
Keys
Medication
Travel pass
Small bottle of water
Neck fan
Sometimes a book
Dog poo bags and dog treats if she's with me

A stapler? I do keep trying to migrate to smaller bags, but I feel positively virtuous now.
Keys, work keys, lanyard, sunglasses, umbrella, reading glasses, reading sunglasses, tissues, phone, small wallet with cards, water bottle, emergency sun protector, hand cream, sting relief cream, emergency antihistamine tablet. Pen, travelcard. Fold up bag in case I do any shopping.
If I'm on my way to work, my lunch & often breakfast.

Some of this is summer only, but if winter replaced by gloves.

I'm on holiday. My favourite sundresses are short and require modesty shorts under.

So I wear navy cycling/gym shorts with phone pockets.

Card holder and phone in one, inhaler in the other. Walk out the door.

If im out in London for the day, I take a small leather COS cross body (like a leather version of the uniqlo bag). This fits my kindle, phone, cards, inhaler and tissues.

Used to have totes in the early 2000s for work. Will never go back!

Pack rat!