Inspired by Well-Heeled Blog’s contest (of which I cannot enter, as I am Canadian and those gift cards to T.J. Maxx or Marshall’s would be meaningless for me), here is what’s in MY bag!
I just found it to be a fun exercise.
I’ve updated my bag since I last posted about it, and I feel like even though I’ve added more, it’s way more organized and quite light.
Click on the image for a larger view!
So you may be wondering why I carry the things I do, so here are my reasons:
(I’ve highlighted the potentially weird things in blue)
Useful stuff pouch contains:
- Earplugs: You will not believe the number of times I have said: Damn, I wish I had some!!!
- Pills: I have major allergies & the occasional headache. Must have, but I don’t carry a whole bottle.
- Band Aids: I have them in all sizes. People have no idea how much they need one until they get hurt.
- Calculator: Quick and easy. Cost me $1 to buy. I use it to calculate cost per unit/grams/etc.
- Mini Swiss Knife: Have you ever tried to get the wrapping of a DVD, CD or cut a tag off?!
- Contact Stuff: Spare contacts for each eye, and eye solution
- Mints: Sometimes you need ’em after some Pho.
- Lip Balm: Can’t go without lip balm in this dry winter.
- Tide-To-Go Pen: I rarely use it, but it’s saved my clothes a couple of times. Well worth it!
Eating stuff pouch contains:
- Re-Usable Plastic utensils (set of 2): You would be surprised at the # of times I pull these out!! I bought them for $0.79 each utensil (fork, knife, spoon), and they are made of a VERY sturdy plastic. It also won’t set off any alarms.
- Emergency Jelly Snacks: I should’ve snagged more from my parents’ before I left.
Wallet:
- Pad of Paper & Pen: This way, I always have one with me!
- Hair Ties: I have one or two stashed just in case.
- Hidden Cash: Love me some cash! I carry only about $20 on me most of the time.
- Credit Card: I only have one.
- Bank Cards: I have two.
- Points Cards: I have a bajillion.
- Library Card: Very, very handy.
- Bus Tickets/Tokens: I have them for Montreal & Toronto all in one spot so I never forget them at home.
- Safety Pins: For when your dress flies open unexpectedly.
- Stamps: Unexpected, but handy nonetheless when you get to mail it & realize you forgot one.
- Business Card: Just so they know who I am.
- Driver’s License: Very, very, handy.
- Health Card: Just in case.
The Rest
- Gloves: It’s getting cold, y’all.
- Sunglasses: And sometimes sunny.
- Handkerchiefs: Eco-friendly thing. You might find handkerchiefs gross, but they’re sturdier than tissues when you use them, and they can be washed & re-used over and over again. I only use tissues when I have a REAL cold or flu & I don’t want to keep the germs from multiplying in my purse.
- Camera: To snap pictures of fashion transgressions.
- Hand lotion: Dry winter. I am finishing off my old, old bottle of Olay Quench, and now I am on J.R. Watkins’ Lemon Creme.
- Keys: Kinda useful. I also bought something called “Monkeys”, or little rubber monkey heads for my keys. What’s cool about them, is that it makes the key head softer & easier to twist in tough doors like at my apartment. Plus, they’re cute & I can now distinguish between the major keys I need.
OH SHOOT! I forgot….
I forgot to photograph that I always have one or two re-usable plastic bags tucked away as well.
Sorry. Pretend it’s in the shot, because I do carry them.
And my iPod Shuffle with headphones. It’s a must have.
What I don’t carry in my bag
- Makeup: I don’t wear much of it, and I don’t really touch up during the day.
- Other Toiletries: Like nail files, clippers… All that stuff is extra that I don’t end up using anyway.
- Organizer: I used to, but if I am going out for the day and not meeting anyone, I don’t bother.
- Journal: I have a pad & pen instead.
- USB Key/Harddrive: It’s in my Work Pouch. 🙂
- Book to Read: I have my iPod with headphones. A book is too heavy, and I can’t read on the bus.
- Extra Sweater/Scarf: I just dress the way I should dress for the day.
- Umbrella: Ditto. If it’s going to rain, I bring one.
I keep organized with my pouches
I got all my pouches at the dollar store, and they’re awesome.
They’re easy to grab when I need something, and everything fits in there loosely so it’s easy to find what I need.
It also helps to not be fumbling around in your bag with all these things all over the place, only to break open your lip gloss or something and have it smear all over your bag. (True story, happened to THIS bag.)
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
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Until about a month ago, I had a small purse that held my filofax, pens, keys, a hairband, a small brush/mirror set, lipbalm, and my cell phone. The filofax holds all of my credit/bank cards and some notecards, and my keys have my points/library cards. With that purse, I generally carried a canvas bag with notebook(s), book(s), and whatever paperwork I needed for my destination.
SO what do you carry now? You said a month ago.. 🙂
I originally had this after the first paragraph, but apparently it didn't take when I posted.
For Christmas my grandmother gave me a laptop bag that I really love and use as a purse. In it I always carry my filofax (including planner, credit/bank cards, addresses, and note cards), pens, my phone, writing practice notebook, writing prompt book, idea notebook, lip balm, brush/mirror set, keys, and hairbands. For classes I add another notebook, sometimes my laptop, school books, and assignments. When not for class, I add the book(s) I'm currently reading, needlework if it's not enormous, and any architectural doodles I've been working on. I also have room for a scarf, gloves, and earmuffs in the winter if I'm not sure whether I'll need them.
Thanks for writing back and letting us know!
I like the idea of a writing prompt book and a idea notebook. Does it get bulky to carry so many around? I tend to put all my ideas in point form on my ipod touch.
It's not really that bulky, because the notebooks are just the regular spiral-bound, the prompt book is about 3"x5"x1/2", and the idea notebook is a mini spiral-bound. I like having a little bit of weight and bulk to it just because it hangs better with a decent amount of stuff (try carrying a bag with nothing in it–it slides right off your shoulder if you're wearing something at all smooth), and I've found that I'd much rather carry it all around and not use some of it than leave something I'm sure I won't use that day at home and find out that I need it.
It\’s a good idea. What I do hate are the straps on some handbags. I need to go buy some tape and do a DIY then post the tutorial on how to stop straps from slipping.
Awesome stuff! Utensils are an awesome idea 🙂
Why thank you 🙂 It helps when you are trying to attack a tub of ice cream
Posted your submission 🙂
Thanks!
Usually I don't carry a purse…just my wallet and keys. But those times when I do I have: wallet, keys, tissues, lip balm, and hand sanitizer. Then somehow I always end up holding things for the boys!
I love how organized you are and the use of different pouches is a wonderful idea. You can add or remove a pouch depending on where you are going very quickly.
I read somewhere (an Optometrists site – eschewing the dangers of eye makeup to contact users) that you shouldn't keep things like mascara, etc in your bag or in your car or wherever. I guess there's some heat reaction that happens with the preservatives that causes bacteria to grow – which, in the case of eye makeup – can cause things like eye infections and other nasty stuff.
It's the only way I could organize everything, because I had so many LITTLE things it was driving me mad.
You put so much thought into the stuff you carry with you! My bags are always full of year-old receipts and candy wrappers.
The utensils are actually a really good idea. I never have a fork when I need one!
it drives me batty if I don't clean out my bags… I hate being frustrated and not finding anything 😛
Whoa, that is a lot of stuff! You will find in my bag my wallet, cell phone, keys, and some random papers. That's it. Its very easy to stay organized when you only for 3 or 4 things.
Oh, wow! You've given me quite a few good ideas for my own purse! In my purse, I have my glasses case, glasses cleaner with rag; sunglasses; checkbook; notebook used as a to-do list; packs of multi-vitamins that I eat at lunch; Tide pen (It's so true that I couldn't live without it. It gets stains out like no other, and you never know when you'll need it); keys; cell phone; lotion (Tis the season for dry, cracked skin.); hand sanitizer (Tis also the season for swine flu and nasty colds.); chap stick; pens; gum; a flash drive; and a handheld mirror. Phew! I carry a lot of stuff! I really like you're miniature bag idea. That would be perfect for things like my lotion, chap stick and hand sanitizer, which I usually spend minutes digging for before finding it. Thanks for the idea!
Darn! I should have entered! I go to Grand Forks, ND all the the time and they have a TJ Maxx. I've been meaning to go there. Shoot.
I will not leave the house without my Tide pen 🙂
I'm the nosy type, so this post was fun!
I'm definitely a nosy type too. I love seeing what people have in their bags.
I LOVE that you have something for "emergency hunger" 🙂
I ought to stock up with more gummies. I ate through my last 2 packs 😛
Oh my….you are soooooo organized!!!
I know, I'm crazy right? 😛
Geez girl you keep your life in your bag! I'm very impressed. 🙂 In fact, I should probably get a few of these things myself, such as the Tide pen and the bandaids…my purse is a mess. I have wallet, camera, phone, and like ten dollars worth of change mixed around in there. Sigh.
It drives me crazy if I can't find anything 🙂
It drives me insane to dig around a bag!
wow! It wouldn't have occurred to me to carry my own utensils in a million years. I guess that may come in handy…
You're really organized. Kudos!
I'm a bit of a weirdo about it, but ultimately, I love that I can eat anything anywhere
You're not the only one who carries them; a friend of mine does too!
Wow, that’s a lot of STUFF! You might need to buy a bag to hold that bag?? 🙂
What do you think about people who have bags that are worth way more than all the stuff it carries?
BTW, as today is Veterans Day, I wanted to highlight that there are 131,000 homeless vets in the US. We need to raise awareness!
.-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..Why Are There Homeless Veterans In America? =-.
You're kidding right? That's the bare minimum!!!
Er.. as for people who carry stuff in $1000 bags… hey if they wanna pass one over to me to use I wouldn't say no
Very organized!
We have the same cell phone 😉
.-= Frugal Dreamer´s last blog ..Your Perfect Day… =-.
I like it, but I find it a bit flat. Hard to hold :
You have so much stuff in there! I’m amazed. I love having big bags. GINORMOUS BAGS actually. But I don’t really have much inside of them. I just like having big bags. LOL.
.-= Investing Newbie´s last blog ..Thinking About It =-.
They actually aren't that heavy. I just have a lot of stuff, but it's light things that make sense
Wow! Doesn’t your bag get heavy? That’s really a lot of “just in case” stuff.
And doesn’t your phone have a calculator? Makes carrying an extra one a little unnecessary.
.-= me in millions´s last blog ..NYC and other updates =-.
Not at all. My phone has a calculator but I hate using it. The buttons are small, I don't like having to press 2 buttons to get to + or multiply..
The emergency snack is touted as “why French women don’t get fat.”
Nice bag.
.-= frugalscholar´s last blog ..Who will speak for me? Banking and Finance Regulation. =-.
Oh really? 🙂 I just get hungry all the time.