So all this purse/no purse got me thinking, as I was transferring the stuff from my “had to go on an airplane traveling purse” to the purse I carry every day (the traveling purse is smaller, fewer credit cards, no pocket knife, and it fits easily into the larger bag that qualifies as a personal item, that also holds my iPad and phone/iPad power cords and headphones and water bottle and book for the flight).

Anyway, I started to look at the stuff I carry - it’s all handy and when I don’t have it I usually end up needing it. Minimalist is obviously NOT my middle name.

Wallet, checkbook, Keys

Medicinal stuff - sanitizer wipes, chapstick, migraine meds (cannot be without those), ibuprofen, antacids, cough drops, and a bandaid , the ointment is for the horse and the cat.

Swiss Army knife, Flashlight, Toothpick holder, jewelers loop and case (for when I used to hunt thrift stores for hallmarked jewelry)
Tape measure (that white thing - I started carrying a tape measure when we were remodeling years ago, and I find I need it for all sorts of other things now)

thingie to wipe cell phone screen

A piece of ginger candy (that I forgot about).

Packet of seeds (picked those up at the store, tossed them in my purse and forgot about them)

Pen, prescription sunglasses (I don’t leave those in the car, they are too $$$)


Usually there are crumpled up receipts in there too, but I just tossed those.

Am I the only one who carries around extra stuff like a flashlight and pocket knife? Thinking this picture needs to be illustrated like a Richard Scarry book…

I'm trying hard to cut back on what I carry around. So . . .

Wallet (which is way too big and heavy)
Reading glasses
Small pouch containing chapstick, nail file, eye drops
Key fob for car
Work phone (keep my personal phone in a pocket)

Lots of other things creep in over time, but those are the essentials.

I wear cargo shorts.
1. They don't have to match my shoes
2. I won't leave them somewhere inadvertently. At least hopefully not.
3. Because they get washed they don't accumulate things for months.
4. ??? suggestions??

People often tease me for the tiny purse (and my tiny luggage).

This is mine, along with the beat up cross body I love. It is amazing how much I can lose at the bottom of that small thing.

Disadvantages is does not hold my phone or a checkbook. But that is ok..I often unhook my car key and lock this in the car.

I love the little wallet, just big enough for cards and cash..I bought it on my last day in Spain from a leatherman who made all his wares by hand..You can see a little flag of Spain sewn in.

I carry Benadryl for allergies and a tube each of Advil and my blood pressure meds (in case I get to work and remember I forgot to take them. )

And my COVID vaccine card.

I do carry a backpack for work and I just pop this in as well.

Note, I did have a very small Leatherman that fell to the bottom and I forgot about till...I had to go to the court house to pick up some papers...They took it, but returned it to me when I left..I have left it out for now..May add it to my work backpack as that doesn't go on planes.

Shorty made the monkey's knot lanyard for me when he was in HS. While it takes up lots of space, well..I love it..and it helps me find my keys!

Checkbook?

I can’t remember the last time I wrote out a check at a store. There are a couple of bills I pay by check but that’s it.

Same here..If I think I might need one I just put a single check in my wallet.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:
Checkbook?

I can’t remember the last time I wrote out a check at a store. There are a couple of bills I pay by check but that’s it.

The need to write a check triggers a full-on panic attack at our house. We can never find a checkbook.

Cindy -- whose kids opened checking accounts but had no idea what a check was

I carry the checkbook, but only write checks for a few things. To pay the horse vet. To pay the farrier. To pay board at the barn. To pay dues at the art gallery. None of those places want the extra credit card fee. Also, the water and sewer fee for the city, they won’t do an auto deduction like the electric and internet folks do. The checkbook is always in my purse, unless I’m traveling.

What time is it in Montana?

1964.

This is the way it is in a lot of rural areas in the west. Probably all over, actually. At least with the older generation (which I am a part of!)

We do take credit card payments at the gallery, but the fee comes out of my take, so the gallery takes 10% of the sale, I get the rest, minus the credit card fees.

Venmo. Zelle. Direct deduction from a bank account or a credit/debit card.

Everything’s up to date in NE Ohio ( ) and that’s how we do it.

Seriously though, paying employees to sort through paper checks at the water department has to be close to criminal misuse of taxpayer funds.

Doesn't Venmo charge a fee?

We are very not up to date, lol.

I take paypal and square for the art stuff I sell online. And I use PayPal to buy all sorts of stuff. And credit cards. I almost never carry cash. But I still carry the checkbook just in case.