I have a huge purse. My entire life is in my purse/luggage bag. I think that women, and some men, tend to expand their collection of things that they carry based on the size of their purse. I already mentioned that I tend to stick to one purse, especially if I spend a bit more on it.
There is not a bigger, more tedious chore to me than having to switch my purse, and I really can’t understand how people do that everyday. Being the collector of random objects that I am, I find going through the things sitting at the bottom of my bag rather bittersweet. Why am I telling you this? Well, because I recently had to switch bags, and going through ticket stubs of events pasts, or souvenirs from experiences shared makes me long to have those moments back. Sometimes its the little things like a picture from a photo-booth with a friend you no longer see, or a pin from a place that you can’t easily access. Yes, I collect things, and most of those things walk around with me everyday. They stay with me until I have to change purses.
Things are a bit different this sunday night. I went through my purse with a different mission. A mission to see how much monetary value can be placed on my belongings… and to clean it out a bit because its getting rather heavy to lug around.
I want to preface this exercise by saying that I work from different locations everyday, and I need to have things easily accessible. I don’t think for one second that this is what the typical purse looks like.
For the purpose of this exercise I only took stock of things that cost more than $50 OR things that I have a multiple of. There are tons of other stuff in my purse, but they were more sentimental objects rather than anything of value.
- Ipad 2. $599
- Michael Kors bag $150
- Rayban Aviators $110
- Canon Digital Camera $120
- DKNY woman perfume $67
- Mac/assorted lipsticks (5) $70
- Clinique moisturizer $50
- Silk printed scarf $73
- USB adapter/ various backup charges/ batteries $100
- Blackberry 9900 $500 (paid for outright)
- Michael Kors glasses $350
- Burberry wallet $100? (gift)
Yeah, that’s what I carry around with me everyday.
What about you? When was the last time you went through your stuff and took stock?
I don’t have a man purse but I have a few dollars and old pictures in my wallet.
aww. Also, man purses are cool now.
Oh my goodness, well, since I’m still carrying around a diaper bag these days (hopefully I’ll wean myself of that in the next 6-12 months as little man doesn’t require so much STUFF!), most of what’s in my “purse” is baby junk: diapers, wipes, butt cream, sippy cups, random board books. It’s no wonder I look like a hobo wherever I go!
I don’t even want to think about all the stuff moms carry around. You have the ability to be so prepared all the time.
Can I say ditto? I do have mascara and lip gloss in case I need to look decent on the fly, but other than that–a bunch of baby stuff!
I carry around pretty much the same type of things as you, except I’m WAY obsessed with lip stuff so I have about 10 of them in a separate makeup bag just for them. I carry my iPad and iPhone around too, and a travel size body lotion. I can’t live without my lip gloss or lotion! I also don’t understand how women can change purses all the time. I spent $350 for my Betsey Johnson purse, and have no desire to carry anything else.
Exactly! Why have 8 purses when a nice one would suffice. Although it seems that it would cut down the clutter.
I carry SO much around in my purse! I try to do a weekly cull of all the stuff I don’t need so that it’s not too cluttered, but that doesn’t always happen. Part of the reason why I have so much is because I carry my daily makeup/beauty routine back and forth to Mr. Dollars’ house so when we move in together, I think my load will lighten somewhat. I end up bringing extra shoes with me to work sometimes, and I always make sure to have my chargers, just in case. All that makes for quite the purse!
Oh wow. How is your purse? Thank god that makeup and I don’t get along well, or my purse would be twice the size.
My wallet’s full of receipts, store discount cards, some change, and my license. Just emptied out my purse, but there was definitely mascara and chapstick!
I have an issue with receipts, too.
Mine is boring – Nothing but some cash, credit cards, insurance cards, and photos. And even still, it drives me crazy to sit on it. So I end up putting it in my computer bag while I’m at work.
You have the most expensive collection of stuff in your purse that I’ve ever heard of.
You’d be surprised at what most people/women carry around in their purse.
I’m not going to lie, I am so jealous of the cultural norm that I am a slave to (women getting to have purses and men being looked at suspiciously). I know that I should be better than this, but I just can’t bring myself to take the leap. The utility in being able to take so many things with you would definitely be useful! I’ll have to make do with my gym bag for now…
Its 2012. Things are changing.
Sounds like you are getting a good workout carrying that purse around Marissa! I just have a wallet and unfortunately doesn’t have much in it!
Oh yes. You should see my right arm 🙂
When I leave the apartment I always take my driver’s license, some cash, keys, and my cell phone. Everything else I leave at home, unless I know I’ll be using it that day, like my digital camera for example. So no purse for me. But maybe I would carry a small purse around, if I were a girl. Who knows.
I work at various locations and do all sorts of odd projects so I need to be prepared. I envy you.
I actually pride myself in not carrying around a big purse. I like to be minimalist. I have a wallet, phone, makeup bag, and keys. That’s it.
I’m in awe of you. I try so hard to just be ok with that, but it doesn’t seem to work.
WOW! I thought that was a lot, then I started adding up what’s in mine… No iPad, but 1 pair prescription glasses, 1 pair sunglasses, iPhone, Blackberry (work), lipsticks, perfume, spare contact lenses, wallet, clif bar or two, oh my, I know there’s more…
OMG! How can you carry all of that around with you!? Not only would I hate the extra weight of so many memories (ticket stubs, bulky wallet with receipts) but I would hate to worry about having so many valuable things in my purse. You have almost 2300$ of things with you! Ack!
Then again, I carry almost nothing and end up with chapped lips 50% of the time because I forgot my lip balm but different strokes for different folks right?
(This comment sounds judgy and rude but you know that I am, in no way, intending for it to be. I can’t find a “nice” way to write it so just read it in a cheery voice of disbelief :P)
Now I know what are the things women keep in purse. 🙂
Hmm. Business cards (mine, and other people’s whom I haven’t filed yet). Notebook. Voice recorder. Pens. Small digital camera (no use since I only have one memory card and that lives in my SLR at home). Keys. Wallet. Sometimes tissues. Sometimes coupons. My supposed wedding inspiration notebook. Tampons. Lip gloss. And other crap that accumulates magically!
Its weird how quickly things pile up.
First – had to go an find my bag – seriously though, when you work from home that can be an issue.
Nothing really to report – but now I think maybe I should find a suitable casual bag for wallet, keys and phone instead of slipping them into my pocket as I head out of the door!!
I think you should. I lose things when they dont have a defined place.