What do Women Keep in their Purse?
By 2patricias
I say either...
If you are American, you probably say purse. If you are English, the word is handbag.
The old saying is that England and America are divided by a common languague.
Now, on the the real topic of this Hub:
What do women keep in their purse (handbag)?
A few days ago, someone picked up my handbag and said (in a scandalised tone) 'Whatever is in your handbag?"
I replied, "Essentials".
Later, I wondered what I might have accumulated to make my bag so heavy. So, I tipped out the contents onto my bed to catalogue the contents.
Oh dear - this was dire. The train ticket that is visible in the photo was about 2 weeks old. Buried under some of the old receipts, tissues and redundant notes was an airplane boarding pass that was 2 months old.
When I worked in an office, I used to clear out my handbag every few days, because I would change bags to match my outfit. Now that I am at home all the time, my standards appear to have slipped!
The only useful things that I can see in this photograph are my glasses, a diary, a hair brush, lipstick, nail file and some pens. Okay, the tape measure might have been useful, but surely I don't need it on a daily basis.
Oh, and I guess the house keys are a necessity - but I also appear to have the key to somebody else's house.
I don't know why I needed 2 packets of tissues and a hankie, as I didn't have a cold, nor do I have small children.
handbag clutter
Ideal handbag contents
I think that it should be possible to get by with the following in my handbag:
1. purse (with money inside)
2. house keys
3. mobile phone
4. car keys if I am going out in my car
5. hair brush OR comb
6. lipstick
7. tissues or handkerchief
8. reading glasses (if you are lucky, these will not be on your list!)
English to American translation
Purse = change purse
Mobile phone = cell phone
Tissues = Kleenex
Reading glasses = sign of middle age (just testing to see if you are still reading)
More translation
Torch = flashlight
Emergency rations = snacks = why I weigh more than I did when I got married
biro= ball point pen
Another question about women
- Why do Women Wear Makeup?
Why do women wear makeup? Are we the victims of a massive confidence trick? Or are we playing a trick on the other half of the world?
Items that I am tempted to throw in
The trouble is, to feel secure, I like to carry around a few more items. My list includes:
1. appointments diary
2. small torch
3. tiny scissors (must be removed for air travel)
4. nail file
5. powder compact
6. folding umbrella
7. wet wipes (useful if you eat sticky chocolate, bag of chips, etc)
8. emergency rations, eg chocolate, hence need for wet wipes
9. at least two biros and a pencil
10. asprin
Make sure your purse is up to the job
- Buying a New Purse or Handbag
Advice on what to look for when choosing a new handbag or purse.
Comments
It's good to know I am not alone! Thanks for your comment.
You certainly aren't alone - clutter expands to fit the size of the handbag!
I think that clutch bags are going to be fashionable this summer. That might cause a few of us to downsize the contents of our bags!
It's funny, I just changed handbags and had to go through the same process. It amazed what I found in there! New bag right now, clean for a few weeks I expect. Maybe working and changing handbags to match the outfits has some advantages, however small!
Enjoyed the hub because I think this is so true of most women.
Since writing this Hub I have bought a handbag liner, a sort of cloth pouch with pockets.
The idea is that you put your essential 'stuff' in the liner, and it is easier to change bags.
trouble is, I still accumulate rubbish that I certainly don't need to cart around.
Thanks for your comment.
This is such an entertaining hub! Love it! I store so much unnecessary clutter in my bag, but you can guarantee it will always come in useful! I always have with me my phone, tissues, keys, make-up top-ups, strepsils (I'm prone to a sore throat), other lady things (!), hair brush, nail files and, like you, random cinema or bus or train tickets that are long since expired!
...I don't understand how men don't need to have a bag with them too, though...I'm lost without a handbag...
Great hub, Daniella
Hello Daniella,
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
I know how Wonderful Husband manaages without a bag - he gives things (like his wallet) to me to carry!
A Great Mystery has at last been solved for us poor chumps men! Bless you child and may fortune shine upon you :-)
Hello Mr Greek, Nice to see you again! Now you know why handbags are so heavy.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
I have often wondered what all my wife keeps in her purse. It is rather large--at least larger than my daughters. It is heavy. I keep telling her that she might have less back problems if she lightened her purse.
Hi Dahoglund,
You are correct that carrying a heavy purse can cause back problems. The other Patricia is a fitness instructor and knows a lot about muscles and bones, and always tells me not to carry so much. Then when we go somewhere and she has a teeny tiny purse, she borrows all the stuff that's in mine!
Thanks for leaving a comment.
I am prone to leavng useless itoms in my bag but usialy i start off with:
-purse
-iphone
-blackberry
then i move on to:
-mp3 player/i pod
-student ID
-bus pass
-lunch card
-science, mathes, french and tech a level books
-maycup(mascara,lip gloss)
-earings-i like to impress!
-student planner and diary
-plasters
-bottle of water
-lip balm
-camara
-DS
-gosip mag
-emergency tampons
and finally a umbarela.
If im out with my baby girl then i carry:
-all of the above
-milk(for baby)
-nappies
-babies teddy
-bottle
-wipes
-changing mat
-pram(odviously not in handbag)
-blanket
-change of clothes(for the baby)
-baby food and 'snak a jacks'
I know what you are thinking-i carry alot! i do but all is needed. I have a huge handbag and manage to fit everything in it. most of the stuff i carry tripples when i go on holiday-wich i do alot with my baby. lets hope you are not overly prepared like me and keep all your itoms to a small dainty bag. lol Violet
Once in a blue moon Pat manages to leave the house with a small dainty bag, but usually it's everything but the kitchen sink.
Thanks for your comment.
Some funny realizations here. Since I'm a man and have therefore never carried a handbag or purse, I can still imagine the experience . . . What? No can of pepper spray or Mace? Later!
Hi Kosmo,
There are a few areas where we do carry an alarm - but not pepper spray.
Thanks for the comment!
the older i get, the more forgetful i get. so i don't carry a purse. i always have pockets, hee hee. thankyou, this was a very cute hub, and i really needed to smile. thankyou for following me...meow48
Hello Meow 48,
Sometimes we simply run out of pockets! And sometimes we do put things into pockets and forget they are there, then spend ages looking for the lost things. Sigh.
Thanks for your comment.
What a sweet hub! It caught my attention because I always have a bevy of silly items in my purse as well, but I got a kick out of the English to American translations. I am looking forward to visiting more of your hubs.
When I first started using a handbag I would leave it every where. Now I am lost with out it
Wow! A lot in that handbag. But I think you hit it when you said it's your security. I would feel naked without some of my "essentials." I liked your translations, too. Enjoyed this article.
Hi Cyndi,
I doubt that I really need to carry so many things, but I feel that they give me confidence.
Please that you enjoyed this article - thanks for leaving a comment.
anjalichugh 3 years ago
I did the same thing recently...getting rid of the clutter. My husband used to remark that I would have to spend a whole lifetime searching for a particular thing in my handbag, when the need arises, considering the redundant stuff in there. I could at once relate to your article when I read it. A good one.