Bulging handbag

As much as I try, I can't seem to "pair down" and reduce heaviness of the contents of my handbag!
It contains so many items I "might need" on a day out.
They include; a money purse (notes and coins), a purse of loyalty cards, ID and Medicare, bus pass, etc), bottle of water (hot here in Australia), pack of tissues, mobile phone, comb, folded nylon carry bags, small pot of moisturiser, elastic bands, a small snack, tin of mints, notebook, pen, small umbrella (mainly for sun here in Australia!), Keys,etc, etc,
Anyone else?

My DH gets mad with me for all the "crap" in my bag. Much the same as yours Rosemarie. Purse, small wallet with cards, a couple of packets of tissues, pens, phone and when we get out of the car the keys get dropped in there too. There's always a big search to find them when we get back. I can never find a decent bag that doesn't have separators so I end up digging about to find stuff. I also find it hard to find a bag with just a shoulder strap.

G'day rosemarigold, do you do everything in double? Like having a pair of handbags?
It's pare down.
Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!

Are your folded carrier bags just inside another bag, or do you have something like an elastic band around them to keep them as small and together as possible?
Are there no pockets in or on the bag you could slip your keys into, or couldn't your OH hold onto them? - I'm just assuming you have an OH with you most times.
I have a cover for my mobile phone that has slots for cards and such and a zip compartment for coins etc, couldn't you get one of those?
I use an old contact lens pot to put handcream in, it's very handy. It's the type with a screw top and see through plastic that had the 'butterfly' bit to hold my lenses, & it's easy for me to see when I need to refill it!
I've often wondered why it's mainly we women who carry the bags with all the paraphernalia, but I guess we just got used to it because men wouldn't! 🤣

BTW, have you checked the date on your small snack? It may have been in there too long!

I don’t carry a handbag anymore, my debit/credit/loyalty cards are all in the ‘wallet’ in my phone so phone in one pocket with a clean tissue and keys in the other. That’s all I need most of the time. My theory is if I’m not carrying a bag I won’t get mugged 😂
The only time I use my purse size cross body bag is in Summer and I’m wearing a dress with no pockets or if I’m out for the whole day and that rarely happens anymore.

I wonder why this is posted under Food ?!

If you need it, you need it.

How about a piece of paper instead of a notebook?
Less coins?

I have mine down to a fine art nowadays.
Got fed up of lugging things around.

I too avoid carrying a hand bag . So restricting! Small purse with appropriate card in and my phone in my pockets. If a bag is essential, I use a small lightweight rucksack.

StacyAnna

I wonder why this is posted under Food ?!

Perhaps the poster is new and a bit nervous.

I'm even worse than the OP is. In addition, I have antiseptic hand wipes, (I'm immunocompromised, so must be careful) my Blue Badge in a wallet, inhaler, heart spray and a small pouch with umpteen pills. Oh and my Rosary beads, can't forget them! 😚

My bag does have compartments, but I can still never find anything! 🤣

StacyAnna

I wonder why this is posted under Food ?!

I immediately thought of my late Mum who would carefully pack buttered croissants or rolls with butter, cheese and ham from the breakfast buffet into her capacious handbag 👜 when she and Dad were on city breaks especially in the likes of France, Holland or Germany!
So yes- food related!

These last few months I’ve used the same fairly small red leather cross body bag. I always slip it on before putting on my denim jacket/coatigan/raincoat. Zipped up coat in bad weather you wouldn’t know I had a bag. Which I like if I’m getting the bus.

The front small area contains my keys, phone and lip balm.
Then the bag itself (no compartments they drive me nuts as one ends up rifling through them all at times ha!) has tissues, a tartan fabric purse that I call my ‘Scottish account’. It only has a clip so 2 areas - one for my cards and one for sterling. I’ve even put a dab of Tippex on one side of the metal clasp so I know that’s my money (which I tend to use less often) and so have that side of the purse facing my body. I do this not because I’m fussy, it just means when standing waiting to pay at a till I can unzip my bag and know the cards - bank debit/Nectar/coffee loyalty/whatever are immediately to hand as they face outwards. I don’t even need to pull the purse out of the bag. I’m speedy when paying to the delight no doubt of those behind me in a queue! My philosophy is - the bigger the handbag the more stuff one will fill it with. Less is definitely more now I’m older!

Rather naughty packing breakfast rolls, croissants etc to eat later.

No wonder some hotels have signs up saying the (generous) breakfast buffet is just that, breakfast.

Not an excuse to get a cheapo lunch later.

Maybe this

In all seriousness, I'm with Urmstongran on a neat body bag.

So sorry, Cross Body bag. I'm not a forensic detective on a murder case, honestly!

My bag - usually a neat cross body one - contains a purse with cash and cards, inhaler, phone, small pack of tissues, lip balm, comb, pen and very small notebook. I don’t have to rummage. I can’t bear a bulging bag containing everything but the kitchen sink.

Around this time of year, if I’ve been with Gdcs, mine is liable to hold an interesting collection of conkers. At other times of the year, interesting looking stones, twigs, etc.

A phone for me also, tissue and keys in my pocket.

My bag. I love it. I’ve culled a few others as I’ve not swapped this one in months. Wouldn’t do for a posh night out though!

Nice bag that - except my dog would chew the tassles!

Reminds me of my late mother, when she asked me to find something in her handbag, and then sighed "don't say anything about what I have in there" me " what you mean I presume, is less of a handbag more of a filing cabinet"

Many years ago, I was told by a much older woman to keep my handbag tidy, no rubbish or anything ‘unladylike’ to be found within. (Maybe she meant condoms but she’d never have soiled her lips with the word.)

The reason was, she knew someone who’d been asked at an interview for one of her first jobs, to empty her handbag on to the table.
By its contents (tidy and ‘ladylike’ or not) that was one of the criteria for her suitability!
I’m still 😱!

Joseann

In all seriousness, I'm with Urmstongran on a neat body bag.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣