Tips for managing with a smaller handbag?

[bananafish81]

If you carry a small handbag, how do you do it?!

My handbag is like a suitcase because of all the stuff I schlepp around on a daily basis...

...But I can't see how I can strip it back because I use pretty much all of it at varying times (problem is I can't predict when I'll need them)

Currently carting around:

• wallet
• keys
• oyster card
• phone
• work security pass
• spare iPhone battery charger case + iPhone cable
• folded up tote bag
• handy pack tissues
• mini deodorant
• chewing gum
• headphones case + headphones
• small makeup bag
• purse with assorted medications (I take a lot of different meds so have to have a load of different blister strips with me) - I also shove in a spare pair of contact lenses, couple of plasters, couple of safety pins
• umbrella
• in winter gloves (+ possibly hat), in summer a bottle of water

Plus very often for work a notebook, and sometimes a laptop as well

Regardless of the last two, I'm carting around a massive load.

And this isn't including the days when I have a gym bag as well!

But I can't see what I can strip back - anytime I decide 'I won't take the makeup bag with me', I end up needing to touch up before a big meeting and I have nothing with me.

Can't risk leaving the umbrella out, our weather is so unpredictable

Can't risk not taking iPhone battery case as it's saved my bacon umpteen times

Have ended up cursing myself if I've not had deodorant or tissues with me (London commuting!)

If you carry a small (or even a medium sized) handbag with you on a daily basis, how do you do it?!

I take a handbag and tote to work. The tote is for my lunch, umbrella and anything ad hoc. The hand thing about the tote is that if I'm out at about during the day, it stays at work.

Instead of an umbrella, how about a fold up poncho/rain Mac. There may be some nice ones.

Cull your make up bag. I only carry basics - pressed powder, lipstick and blusher.

Power bank instead of charger. Should see you through for the day.

I also carry around half my home in a big handbag due to commuting to central London. I took all the loyalty cards out and swapped from my heavy wallet in to a smaller card holder. Also slimmed down my keys/ keyrings to only those I use everyday. Tried to keep make up to minimum, use phone instead of notebook and I found these things made a difference to weight even if still bulky. I do dream of having a nice tiny designer bag but am not there yet. Oh and also have Rucksack for gym kit, lunch, shoes, umbrella, etc!

Interesting topic. I have a handbag and a tote. I couldn't cope with just carrying around my handbag on a day to day basis. I put my lunch for work in the tote, plus umbrella, journal I am writing in and more importantly my very light laptop. I have an hour for lunch every day and when I'm not meeting friends I still go in the café on my own and go on my laptop. Its difficult to use my phone or tablet for this because I do my family history and need a laptop for the documents etc.

In my handbag, I carry a small purse, a separate card wallet (which could be culled but then I do use the store cards), I don't carry full make up, just a lipstick. Although I use the calendar on my phone I like a paper one too so just carry a mini one which doesn't take up much space. My handbag is leather so is quite heavy with nothing in it.

My question would be, how can you not carry as much stuff when you need and use it?

YES @citygirl1961 - that's exactly my question

I genuinely use everything I cart around with me - and when I try to ditch some stuff I end up needing it and wishing I'd left it in my bag!

It seems quite a lot of people manage with smaller bags as they keep stuff in their car - or are just going between work and home so can keep stuff at their desk

That's very true. I don't leave my stuff at work because I need it when I'm not in work. I don't drive either so can't leave things in the car. If I am on my own in a café or whatever I would go mad if I had nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs because there's nothing in my bag.

I also go everywhere on foot, bike or by public transport OP & wouldn't be without a brolly unless cycling! One thing I've put together recently is a small make-up bag with all sorts of emergency supplies, including some things people have mentioned here, like pills, plasters & tights. Inspired by a kit bought given to DD, full of brilliant miniature stuff! I was inordinately pleased when, the 1st day I had it, a colleague's glasses arm fell off & I whipped out a mini screwdriver to fix it! When I swap bags I just transfer it.

Ok I'm always trying to downsize and recently I've done a couple of things which might help;
I've started only carrying my front door keys and my house alarm fob. Much lighter, no keyrings apart from a fob that would help get my keys back to me if I lost them
I use a tiny purse (by Walit) and it's great, about a quarter of the size of the old one I carried. No photos, no bloody loyalty cards, the least plastic I can manage carrying. Oyster card and work ID could go in yours. Cleaned out regularly and I never stack it out with receipts.
My notebook is titchy and has inside it a Bobino Slim notebook pen They're awesome
Re tablets, try Muji for their tablet holders; lots of little compartments. Although the strips don't sound like a lot of room.
I'll ask my husband what earphones he uses as he has done loads of research and might recommend. I'll post if he has a recommendation.
I understand re water in the heat but I would only say get a smaller bottle as you probably don't need as much as you think; Lakeland do a good little one with a cup for a lid. Better to refill than lug a gallon.
Lots of folks recommending designer bags but are the bags heavy when empty? I prefer something strong and light, I buy Caribee travel bags that clip round my waist, which might not be practical for you but I love them. Bear in mind the weight of the bag itself.
Two in one makeup items where possible, eg don't carry a mirror if there's a mirror in the compact, double ended pencils, those face crayons that are lippy and blush in one.
BBC weather app is the best.

Husband uses earphones from etymotic.com, they are theeeeee best he reckons.

I have a very small bag. It contains front door key, car key, mobile (a tiny nokia), little metal case for credit cards, small change purse, lipgloss, an emery board, tissues, tiny notebook, pen, reading glasses and a couple of dog poop bags. It will fit sunglasses too if necessary. Thats all I need for shops/town - I work from home so don't need to schlepp some of the other stuff which may be needed for work. If I need to carry more stuff then a rucksack and/or pockets.

I've got a small hand bag but I don't need all the stuff you do, I cut off tablets and put about 4 of each in my make up bag, a slip about 4 plasters in the card slits of my wallet, I carry about 3 tampons/ pads in the pocket of my handbag, I carry a USB cable if I need to charge my phone, I'm not sure how helpful this is without the plug! I only carry one lipstick, one stick concealer incase of a spot or redness and a lip balm. I have the odd tissue floating around. If I were in your shoes I'd get a pull along mini suitcase bag thingy. All that weight sounds like a nightmare.

I've got a flat memo bottle a6 water bottle. Pricey, but has probably paid for itself after even a few months.

I just downgraded to a small cross body bag.

Now all I keep In there is, keys in front zip pocket.

I'm main compartment, small hair brush, powder compact, lipstick, small hand cream, small child coin purse with my driving license debit card and some money. I used to carry around so much unnecessary junk!

Sorry for all the typos! Oh and a couple of sanitary towels are in there as well and a mini perfume

I did this recently. It has been tough but I'm persevering. I no longer have a wallet/purse and instead use an internal pocket. I no longer vary water, umbrella, book. Instead of a cute little make up bag for basics they are just in one of the two pockets. Instead of acute little bag for nipping off to the loo when I'm on my period I now use another internal pocket in the bag. So I still carry
Lipsticks
Mini foundation
Lip balm
Hand cream
Pens
Keys
Phone
Travel card
Money
Mini pharmacy !
Mini mouthwash and tooth pick!

My bag is so light!

Ooh yeah and
Sunglasses
Emery board
Packb of tissues
Honestly it's a lot of stuff.
My issue has been learning where things are as it was mych easier to find things in my big"open plan" style bag!

I don't think you carry anything that I wouldn't , but you need to miniaturise everything. As above, suggestions about small amounts of medicine, small refillable water bottle and tiny umbrella.
I have a charger plug which folds flat so takes up little space.
I think you also need to be disciplined about clearing out the bag regularly-this is my downfall

@KatyS36 thank you for mentioning the memo bottle, I'll be ordering one andyouve just made my bag a bit better🤓

I decided to pretend to be a man, essentially. I have a very slim wallet, with just bank cards and notes. I try to avoid using coins. I use contactless so don't need an Oyster card. I only take tissues if I have a cold, water only if it's hot, umbrella only if it's forecast to rain. In summer I'm less bothered about getting drenched, especially if it's the way home. It hardly ever rains in London really, we've just had a few intense downpours recently. As London has an abundance of small shops dotted about I'd just buy water, tissues, deodorant, plasters, paracetamol as required. You could even buy a £1 umbrella if needed. I try to ensure my phone is charged to the max before leaving and have done some things in the settings to reduce battery usage (can't remember what exactly). I recently went on a night out with just pockets, it was liberating!

Old thread but wanted to thank you ladies, I've not managed to go proper minimalist like some of you but I have slimmed down to a much smaller handbag

(Rebecca Minkoff Regan satchel FYI ( http://www.rebeccaminkoff.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/e/regansatchellscaleshott0140_3.1492178050.jpg

Wallet is still a chunky mofo, but I adore my Mulberry wallet and still can't seem to get the gazillion cards plus paper money plus coins into a much smaller purse without it ending up a similar size to this one.

Ditched the makeup bag and now have five a lipstick, blotting sheets, powder compact and concealer only in the zippy purse

Umbrella I will probably try and get a smaller one for winter. Any recommendations for the smallest but most robust brolly?

Still have my headphones, can't quite bear to switch to earphones, but they fit OK in there

Ditched the iPhone battery case for one of those Anker lipstick chargers - amazing!!

Plonked deodorant and makeup in my drawer at work

Took tissues out then promptly regretted it when stuck on a boiling tube train between stations and getting sweaty as hell and having nothing to mop my skanky face. Pocket pack went back in

Tote bag lives in there and gets daily usage - if I need to carry my laptop it goes in there

(tote bag = gift from a friend www.fequals.com/products/im-a-woman-what-is-your-superpower-tote-bag

Still a fair whack but it's a nice neat bag and doesn't look or feel like I'm carrying around a suitcase!!

Thanks to all for advice - much appreciated