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!

A bit of an aside... It's reassuring but also a bit alarming that so many of us are managing everyday pain with otc painkillers.
Mine is a general, daily neck ache/back ache as a result of poorly designed work stations over the years. Don't have periods due to coil so thankfully don't have to deal with that.
But gosh, big, small and medium branded and generic pharma are making a killing!

I did think this too reading through this thread! Is it that women's pain is being dismissed more? Is it to do with being the main childcarer? Cause honestly at work, when people have been asking around for painkillers, it has never been the men who've been able to give one and I don't think any of the men in my family ever carry painkillers as routine.

I can’t remember the last time I took painkillers. Why are people needing them so often they have to carry them around.

one of the main reasons I gave up carrying a bag though is every single time I left the house everyone would hand me their keys/wallets/phone chargers to put in my bag.

I actually like carrying a bag as it's often part of my outfit styling. I have a small zip pouch from Muji that has hand sanitizer, hand cream, tissues, lip balm, couple of tampons etc that I swap between bags, depending on which one I'm using. I wouldn't say I carry loads of stuff I don't use on a regular basis though; even with a phone I still find having a pen and a bit of paper comes in useful more often than you'd think. For things like paracetamol, tampons, plasters, I have one or two on me and if I needed more I'd just buy a pack. I am really appreciating that as my kids get older I need to carry less for a day out with them - no lugging around nappies and complete outfit changes, and they can carry their own water bottles!

I totally get this. I like the idea that if I had to stay out all night i could at a moments notice.
I remember watching Desperately Seeking Susan and Pretty Woman at a young age and they were always getting changed in public toilets, eating what they could find. Now, at my age I realise I took totally the wrong message from those films, that being down on your luck and a bit feral was glamorous 😂

I have never actually taken the tablets I have with me, but if I got a migraine I would need them to get home. Otherwise someone might call me an ambulance thinking I was having a stroke and I mightn't be able to stop them as I get aphasia as an aura.

Ideally, I go handbag free. I am on the tall-ish side so sometimes buy mens clothes for the pockets! Their pockets are great and in everything they wear. I know loving pockets is hardly original, but I really do prefer mens pockets a lot and don't mind looking a bit masculine although I'm a woman.

I do keep painkillers and snacks etc at work though, and if I'm out with my kids, I wear a backpack

Have v v curly hair and don’t own a hairbrush so don’t carry that. No tampons as sadly those days are over. If I have a small bag there is often a packet of extra strong mints or mentos in there. I really carry very little around.

I agree, women need to free themselves from the tyranny of carrying lots of crap around with them

I use a Uniqlo bag for myself and my essentialas when I'm on my own, which is pretty small. But most of the time I have dcs with me and I like to bring loads of stuff out with us. Sand toys, splash clothes, trampoline socks, books, snacks, sun cream, packed lunch x 3, water bottles x 3, plasters, painkillers, tissues, wet wipes, sun hats x3, sunglasses x 3, backpack raincover. No car so it needs to be carried with me.
Other parents cut it down to a small bag but they're the ones paying a fortune for lunches and bottled water, with kids running around in the fountains in their pants and pretending to make friends with my kids in the sandpit just so they can use our spades.

Iv got into the habit of just taking my phone (has card holder on the back) and keys most days.

Before that I was an average bag lady with tissues, tablets, wipes etc

Oow I discovered a ladies decathlon rain mac that has huge pockets and so useful on days out

Phone, wallet, 1 nappy, pack of wipes, and we leave the house. 2 nappies for longer outings.

I have:

Purse (huge; lots of cards for lots of things)
Phone
Personal keys
Work keys
Diary
Water bottle
Book
Kindle
Wet wipes
Umbrella
Sun block
Sun hat
Hayfever spray
Mini tissues (7 packs, 3 full, 4 partially used)
Spare socks
2 sanitary towels
Painkillers (6 partially-used blister packs)
Hayfever tablets
Spectacle wipes
Little mirror (bit odd as never carry makeup)
Painkillers
Strepsils
Little pouch with sachets of sugar for when cafes don't give you enough
Post-its accidentally stolen from work
Sunglasses (never worn) in case
2 hair ties
Mini hairbrush
Tiny hand-sanitizing squeezy bottle
Empty case for normal glasses that never actually leave face
iPod
Pouch with plasters and nail scissors to cut them (am v prone to blisters)
Little plastic bag containing bolts for putting (work) flatpack furniture together

and even I really want to know what you could possibly need / want to staple when not at home or work...

I take my phone and that’s it. I have no need for anything else

I have a little crossbody uniqlo. I get a lot in it though.
Phone
Keys
Cards
Fold up shopping bag
Body spray
Lip balm
Plasters
Multi-charger
Ear pods

I always carry plasters because if one of the kids gets a cut or graze they have an absolute meltdown if I can't instantly plaster it.

Just me - keys, one card, phone, earphones, lipstain/liquid lipstick, charging cord and foldable plug in my coat pockets.

No coat, a foldable carrier bag or kid size small backpack with the above inside.

With kids, add three nappies, a pack of wipes and a change of clothes for the youngest to the above.

If gone out for a long period, I will add a power bank.

I pack light even on holidays. It has gotten me stop before by airport security and I simply say I’m the one that has to carry it so better to pack light than trying to manoeuvre through a busy area with a heavy bags or bags.

I carry almost nothing. Very small bag with keys, card holder, phone, a hair clip and a lipgloss. That’s it.

Depends where I’m going/what I’m doing, but if I’m just popping out I’ll just do pockets if I can help it- phone and keys!

If I’m going out for the day or to a bar or a party in the evening I’ll take stuff with me incase I’m out late/get sweaty/stay over somewhere, but even then I fit it all in a Uniqlo crossbody bag- mini deodorant, mini hairbrush, some mini versions of makeup, pair of pants if needed, bottle of water.