What's in your handbag?

[Karen2005]

I sometimes see women commuting to work with really small bags and it makes me wonder how on earth they can survive with taking so little out with them!

I carry my purse, keys, lipsalve, handbag mirror, tissues, comb, mobile phone, train ticket, swipe card for work, glasses case, small umbrella and my diary. All that completely fills my bag, so there is no room for my book or my lunch, so I invariable end up taking them in a Next bag or something!

What do you carry around with you and how big a bag do you need?

[BetsyLou]

To all those men who witter on about not needing a bag: you're delusional. Just because you don't carry bags, doesn't necessarily mean you carry the bare minumum with you! My boyfriend's jacket weighs about a ton and and a half with all the junk he carts around in its many pockets... The same goes for lots of the blokes i know, and most of the ones it doesn't apply to take a rucksack wherever they go! :)

[GMH]

If one is able to cross out the word "handbag" and write in its place "holdall", here is my list:

Batteries (Some of them are dead ones)

Pens (most of them don't seem to work)

Adaptor (to charge my mobile phone if I am in a hotel or something)

Walkman (which is what I need the batteries for)

Letters (if I am about the post them if I am out)

[beejaybee]

I have my purse,mobile, glasses, cigs& lighter & spare colostomy bag.

[treacle84]

I love going in my bag as you never know what you are going to find!

Currently I have my purse, mobile, lip gloss, keys, 2 fluffy pens, a toy dog, plasters, a scooby, tip-ex, a new potatoe (?), a bank statement, lemon sherbets, a packet of chewing gum, polo's, vaseline, a permanant marker, tissue, a small pair of scissors and a lucky elf charm. gosh i'm exhausted now!

[miso]

I don't see the point of putting the umbrella in; it's just going to get wet and get other things wet. I'd keep it outside, hanging on my arm by the strap.

I'm so lazy about carrying a purse, sometimes all i take with me is my wallet and cell phone in my pockets, like a man.
If i do carry a purse, the most i carry is my
wallet, cell phone, lip balm, brush, small notebook, pen, compact, lipstick, tissues, a few candies/mints (already planted in all my purses)
...and all these can fit into a reasonably-sized cloth purse, about the size of a regular sheet of paper folded width-wise. (I know inches don't mean a thing here, but that's about 8 x 5 in.)

I'm not clean of the habit of accumulating things in my purse, though - i do that in my schoolbag instead. Papers, pens, food, mostly. But even when i graduate to being a 'mild-mannered working stiff', i'd still keep my purses small and clean, since it'd be a pain to transfer all that stuff to another purse when i want to coordinate with another outfit. Or i'd just carry a briefcase.

But seriously. You really don't need all that crap. Unless you're Mary Poppins and can fit a coat rack in your bag.

[eileenb]

never had a handbag,but as all my jackets will verify,pockets are essential! unfortunately,my present jackets pockets have all got holes in,so i can now get MORE junk in 'em. :o(

[Karen2005]

I only put my brolly in my bag if it hasn't been used. If it rains, I'll hold it and let it drip over everyone on public transport :) Don't you just hate those wet days when everyone drips water over everyone else on the bus/train, your hair goes frizzy and your glasses steam up!

[youngrusscle]

I am 18 and have increased my handbag size quite rapidly in the space of 6 months...i love over the shoulder bags have got about 4 of these, quite big too! but at the moment am currently using a metallic shoulder bag...it is huge! my mam calls it a suitcase! and she is 41! thing is out of everything in my bag the only things i really NEED are my phone, purse and keys! i am trying to sort out the amount of receipts i have built up....but currently that isn't happening...i have decided to keep them in a plastic wallet underneath my bed! i have got sooooooo much junk...but can't bring myself to throw things away stupid things that are NEVER going to be used agen...like a pair of flashing bunny rabbit ears i got at a holiday camp about 5 years ago! and completely random things such as scented tissues (which are awful!) but are in pretty flowery packets...so i kept them! also i have about 4 vanity cases bulging with moisturisers false tans face masks body exfoliaters shower gels....etc etc any way....coming back to the topic mentioned....my handbag contains :
-purse-wallet(for cards)-phone-keys-tissues-pens-diary-plasters-nail file-lipgloss-lipbalm-eyeliner-brush-deodrant-perfume-hairbobbles-headphones(for phone)-sunglasses(at present...cos the sun is here!!)-gloves...haha form the cold weather-umbrella(for quick weather change)-chewing gum and numerous receipts that i don't actually need...but keep 'just in case!'

[evenstar]

Since my children are now past the 'baby' stage I have downsized my handbag. All I have in my bag today is purse, keys, mobile phone, ipod shuffle, tissues, mints, biro and a few band aids and antiseptic wipes! also a mini light sabre and some random bits of lego!