A very important question about purse/handbag size

[FlowersandFunk]

How do I get away from my MAHOOooooooosive purse? I want to reduce my handbag size (partly for boring reasons like a bad back) but also because I've fallen for a small purse and bag I bought in the sales.

So new year, new purse. I've been through my purse. I have seven essential cards (credit/debit/Tesco/Waitrose/work ID/driving licence)
I also have 13 non-essential cards (supermarket I don't go to often, other store cards etc) So HOW do I go down to a minalimist handbag lifestyle (smaller purse, phone, keys, lipstick, tissues only)with all that CRAP to carry around with me?!!

How do you manage it?!

I just decided to go as essential as possible. I still don't need half the crap I carry around. As long as I have purse, tissues, phone, headphones, pen and small notebook and some mints/gum, I'm sorted. If I feel a bit fancier, there's enough space for a small, clear makeup bag (Superdrug/Boots) for lipstick, hand cream and any other little bits. Though I somehow still have endless stray bobby pins at the bottom of mine

I don't have any reward cards at all.

Get a slim card case or two, and stop carrying coins. Or get a tiny coin purse. Together they'll be less bulky than a traditional purse

Kleenex do small ladies tissue packs

I know all this because I had to fit my essentials into a tiny wallet on a chain bag - I can just about manage with these two tips

I keep all my non-essential cards all thrown together in an oyster card holder. It takes no space at all. Also I gave up on massive purses with coin compartments, a small wallett with plenty of card space is much more practical.

I bought a men's wallet for all the non essentials which I leave at home. I only have two reward cards and use the tiny key ring sized ones in my purse.

My tiny bag is 7 x 5 x 2.5 inches and I carry a purse, phone, ventolin, tissues, lipstick, keys, pocket Filofax and/or a fold up shopping bag.

I also have a rucksack that I use and a big bag, different times, when I am driving. I only have the same personal stuff though, the other things I carry are notebooks, work stuff.

It is a mindset adjustment and once you have done it you will not fill even a big bag as you learn not to need nonessential things.

Bit like reward cards really, a lot of them are not worth carrying around.

I also empty any coins less than 10p in a jar so I am not carrying a full purse with no value.

Watching with interest. I keep meaning to get a card holder, but I still don't know what to do with coins. I empty out my purse constantly but it's a brick full of coins again within days. I do use cash a lot though.

Get an app like Stocard for all your rewards cards.

Happenstance thank you for the stocard app, have just downloaded!

Wow, just downloaded Stocard as well and my purse is much slimmer already! And I refuse most loyalty cards, so I didn't think I had that many, but it turns out there are 6 I use all the time.

Stocard is great! Be aware that not everywhere will be able to scan the barcode or know what to do with it. just guide them to use a hand scanner OR they need to type out the card number. They'll all catch up with the technology eventually and it makes a big difference to the amount you need to carry round 👍

Oooooh! Stocard is awesome, thanks so much - is there nothing mumsnet can't help with?!

That app is brill - thanks happenstance! I have been thinking about this lately as my purse is the size of a bloody brick.

I also have the problem of the A5 diary/planner, but if the purse is smaller I can still use a smaller bag.

I have all of my reward cards on a key ring. I punched holes in them so they do not take up room in my purse and I can leave them in the car if I am not shopping.

This is an interesting thread. I don't have a big handbag anymore, its just medium sized containing the essentials. However, I do carry a tote bag also with my lunch for work and my light laptop as I have to carry that around for lunchtimes when I am on my own and times when I am in cafes and waiting for people etc. I used to carry a Filofax but now carry a mini diary, I did start using my phone diary for everything but have now gone back to the paper one aswell and find it better and a mini size fits into a handbag easier.