# Right you lot--what in your PURSE? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 2, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038 "2008-01-02T21:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/21 "2008-01-02T23:03:22Z")
I have a small black purse, with pretty stripey lining. A pen, a slim boar’s hair brush, my inhaler, a snack size ziplock baggie with a lipstick, liplliner and Q-tips. Chapstick. A travel sized bottle of Extra Strength Tyelnol, that also has some Sudafed blisters in it, various reciepts, scrap paper for taking down notes, old shopping lists, some spearmint Tic Tacs, some Wint-O-Green Lifesavers, and my wallet. ---
**Author:** ![AngryIrishLass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bbce88/32.png) [@AngryIrishLass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngryIrishLass)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/22 "2008-01-02T23:08:51Z")
Tis a big bag with one small zipper pocket. The zipper pocket: $5 bill A single package of Smarties (the tart candy not the chocolate one) 4 pens bluetooth 6 checks that I wrote that are given back when they do the electronic withdrawal (b/c I couldn’t find my check card at the time) 4 receipts (Toys R Us, Best Buy, Barnes & Nobles, Wal-Mart) The main part: Wallet with: checkbook, Visa, Mastercard, gas card, Sears card, 2 atm cards, 1 debit/check card, 4 health insurance cards (mine & kids), college id card, gift card to Victoria’s Secret, gift card to JC Penney, 2 gift cards to Wal-Mart, driver’s licence, old driver’s license with hole punched in it, business cards in a holder, a free iTunes download picked up at Starbucks, $8 in bills, and a mass of change 2 packs of Dentyne Ice gum (one almost empty, the other new) Coin purse with no coins in it, but instead my paycheck Sunglass case with sunglasses in it A second pair of sunglasses Reading glasses case without the reading glasses (who knows where they are) Sony Reader Sony Cybershot Camera (pink and in pink case) Palm (yeah, a Blackberry would be very nice) Make up bag with compact, 4 lipsticks, 3 lip tints, 3 all day lasting lip colors/gloss thingies, 2 juicytube/gloss, one lip liner (the desert is tough on the lips. Evidently.) Calendar for Michael’s classes on various topics such as cake decorating and flower arrangement A key hook for my keys, which are in my coat pocket Gloves Missing: (both charging) iPod Cell ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/23 "2008-01-02T23:11:30Z")
It’s ironic that just before I came online and saw this thread, I decided to clean out some the purses I don’t want anymore so I can donate them to a local thrift store. Inside a couple of them were bus schedules and receipts from the year 2000 and one of the purses I didn’t even recognize. So, yup, I guess I can let go of those. I likes my pocketsesss better than purses. They don’t get so cluttered. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/24 "2008-01-02T23:11:53Z")
Adding, my purse is too small for many books, so I end up carrying them seperately most of the time. Also, if I do put a book in my purse, I take it right out when I get home, to continue reading. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/25 "2008-01-02T23:18:07Z")
Wallet Keys Cell phone Small 3-ring notepad with pen and address book in the back A “business card” wallet with fabric samples of my family tartans A change-purse-cum-cosmetics-bag with compact, go-with-everyting lip liner and go-with-everything lipstick, lipstick and liner of today, lip balm, sample size hand lotion, contact lens drops A bigger cosmetics bag with mini manicure kit, nail files, nail glue, kleenex, cough drops, sample size of sunscreen, Dramamine, aspirin, allergy and sinus meds, tampons, contact case Glasses case for sunglasses and/or prescriptions Day planner, if the purse is big enough (I switch a lot depending on what I’m wearing) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/26 "2008-01-02T23:25:17Z")
I don’t carry a purse; I carry one of [these](http://www.goldmarkpromotions.com/item_information.cfm?SupplierItemGUID=1C613A52-EDC0-4865-BCEB-B0F49043218B). Lessee… 4 keys: car, office, home, childhood house Inspirational verse in outside window License, car insurance card, registration Emergency contact info Grocery store card Dunkin Donuts cars JiffyLube card Health Ins card Garage card Work ID AAA card Phone card I don’t wear makeup or retouch my hair. Cell phone goes in a coat pocket. Gum sits on desk and in car. Ditto tissues. When needed, tampons go in pocket. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/27 "2008-01-02T23:33:52Z")
Wallet Cell Phone 3 sets of keys 6 payroll direct deposit stubs Hairbrush Assorted Change Outline of 2008 Job Goals (how did that end up in here?) Pen Hollywood Video receipt (“Hairspray” and “The House on Haunted Hill”) Feminine supplies ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/28 "2008-01-02T23:34:57Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] I don’t wear makeup or retouch my hair. Cell phone goes in a coat pocket. Gum sits on desk and in car. Ditto tissues. When needed, tampons go in pocket. [/QUOTE] I rarely wear make-up, what is in my purse is from the family Holiday get together I attended. My hair REQUIRES that I carry a brush to smooth it sometimes, like on a windy day, or on a “Fraggle hair” day when it is frizzy. It is very, very long. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/29 "2008-01-03T00:05:42Z")
I’ve got a cheapie little black purse from WalMart - cost me $10. It holds: my wallet (which holds my checkbook) my calculator 3 pens red comb 1 lip gloss nail clippers small mirror small cloth for cleaning my glasses 1 small tin of dental floss 3 or 4 Hall’s cough drops a few stray receipts 5 or 6 notes to myself It has a pouch that’s perfect for my cell phone, but I’m not allowed to take the phone into work, so my phone lives in the car, and the pouch stays empty. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/30 "2008-01-03T00:20:57Z")
My purse is a small black one; it has in it: - my wallet - a comb - some ibuprofen in a baggy - roll of tums - my changepurse - my extra cards - nail clippers - lip gloss I don’t use (I think I’ll take it out) - tube of vaseline I DO use on my dry, dry, dry lips - gum - tiny little rubber chicken (what can I say - it makes me happy to be searching my purse for my cheques or whatever, and see my tiny little rubber chicken) I don’t know what women with handbags the size of duffel bags are carrying in there - I have everything I need in my little purse. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/31 "2008-01-03T00:44:42Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I don’t know what women with handbags the size of duffel bags are carrying in there - I have everything I need in my little purse. [/QUOTE] I’ll tell you what I have in _my_ huge purse: two vintage handkerchiefs change purse (with drivers license, credit cards, frequent purchaser card from the yarn shop, various business cards, and assorted coins) keys Sigg cup with water datebook (old-fashioned paper one) two small notebooks…one a moleskine with goals and Important Stuff, other just a spiral bound notebook for notes and lists one diaper & wipes & diaper wipe spray 6 matchbox cars empty wrapper from a cereal bar Kiss My Face lip balm pen tiny jar of Burts Bees almond hand cream gloves ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/32 "2008-01-03T01:21:20Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] - tiny little rubber chicken (what can I say - it makes me happy to be searching my purse for my cheques or whatever, and see my tiny little rubber chicken) [/QUOTE] I have a rubber duckie for the same purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/33 "2008-01-03T01:44:48Z")
[QUOTE=Telperien] I have a rubber duckie for the same purpose. [/QUOTE] I have a beanie lizard on my backpack. Sometimes I carry a backpack if I want to take a craft project, a book for me, a book for my husband, photo flip books, as well as maybe some drinks. It isn’t a huge backpack, but big enough to carefully fit that much in it. (Not big enough for school though, it isn’t even as big as some of those big purse things I’ve seen some celebritys carrying.) It is sort of my “going out of town visiting” pack. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/34 "2008-01-03T01:52:22Z")
I’ve got a small black purse with 2 front pockets and an inside change pocket. Front pocket 1: 1 1/2 books of stamp my 2008 car registration 2 expired 20% off Borders coupons 2 napkins my driver’s license my health insurance card my expired car insurance card my current car insurance card my AAA membership card my doctor’s business card my sister’s Barnes & Noble membership discount card my other doctor’s business card and appointment card with my next appointment on the back (2 separate cards) my Jewel-Osco preferred card the SuperAmerica/Speedway gift card I got for Christmas my Mastercard my sister’s Dominick’s Fresh Values card my sister’s Speedway Speedy Rewards membership card a bunch of receipts Front pocket 2: my car keys my house keys my work photo ID Niece#2’s school picture Nephew#2’s school picture a 1 dollar bill generic Sudafed pills a Target receipt a play ticket to Romeo and Juliet Inside purse: a 20 dollar bill a paycheck stub a bank envelope several bank deposit slips my cat’s rabies certificate and vet bill three 1 dollar bills Weight Watcher’s coupon booklet another bank envelope two $3.00 coupons for the cafeteria at work an empty envelope with the Weight Watcher’s points value for several Noodles & Company pasta dishes handwritten on the back two more 1 dollar bills a Gamer’s Paradise receipt A 5 dollar bill and a 1 dollar bill folded together Weight Watcher’s “Eat Wisely” book Weight Watcher’s PointsFinder checkbook another 5 dollar bill In the change pocket: Too much change to count ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/35 "2008-01-03T02:29:26Z")
In my purse (which my sister-in-law-to-be insists on calling a “murse”): -wallet, containing bank card, credit card, medicare card, library card, photocopy place discount card, bookstore gift card, bus pass, various other cards, money, business cards, receipts, etc; -change purse, containing coins and batteries; -handkerchief; -comb; -Tylenol (usually); -one or more pens; -breath mints/gum/breath strips; -a book (today it was _How to Become a Virgin_ by Quentin Crisp); -my cell phone; -a foldable shopping bag; -pens; -other detritus; -a tuque and/or gloves (in winter). It is decorated with a large number of buttons bearing a variety of seditious and unsavoury slogans. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/36 "2008-01-03T02:37:49Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I don’t know what women with handbags the size of duffel bags are carrying in there - I have everything I need in my little purse. [/QUOTE] Absolutely everything I could need for the day (or is it a week? 😛 ). The denim purse I mentioned is one of my smaller bags, I have a couple of messengers that can potentially carry lots more, and an absolutely HUGE knitting bag/purse that I [just bought](http://www.namasteneedles.com/products/pop_everyday_photos.php) because it looks more professional than nearly everything else I have. I took it with me on my short vacation over the holidays and was able to carry everything I needed, as well as everything my son might need for visits in it. I do downsize at times, but I find that I like having a big purse to store whatever I need to. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/37 "2008-01-03T04:14:43Z")
Black and metal hobo bag: wallet prescription sunglasses house and car keys spare keys classroom key Altoids mints and gum face blotting paper mini lipsticks eyedrops lip balm kleenex a pen hand cleaner cell phone compact mirror Tylenol fem. stuff ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/38 "2008-01-03T04:31:11Z")
keys book: _Nam-a-Rama_, by Phillip Jennings scrunchi barrette 2 pens buncha cards (license, credit, library, insurance, etc) brush case with 3 Maxalt tablets pill box (Excedrin, Dramamine) cell phone receipts licorice altoids 2 Cape May diamonds glasses sunglasses ---
**Author:** ![Penchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Penchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penchan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/39 "2008-01-03T04:43:04Z")
keys chapstick cell phone small sudoku notepad game pen credit/debit/ID/health insurance cards cough drops DayQuil Bob, the iPod shuffle travel kleenex travel Clinique lotion birth control I want more fun stuff in my bag. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/40 "2008-01-03T06:05:35Z")
I usually carry a black Kenneth Cole tote- a birthday gift from my sis. It has 3 large compartments and 3 small ones, one of which has a zipper. Contents: Front compartment: Starbucks napkins, bills, work ID badge and keycard hanging on Anime Expo '07 lanyard, 2 packets of sugar, 1 packet of Splenda, purse-size deodorant, beige scrunchy in case of a bad hair day, pay stub, tin of mango Altoids, blue ballpoint pen, and key chain with martini-glass-shaped hanging hook, house key, Suncoast loyalty card, and 3 charms: Tinkerbell, Rukia from Bleach, and a Naruto cellphone charm with Gaara on one side and Rock Lee on the other. Middle zippered compartment: at least 10 receipts and a coupon for $1.00 off a package of Lactaid. Large rear compartment: Ralphs store coupon, store event flyer from Michaels, check book, tube of Blistex, black gel pen, credit card bill to mail, Marie Callenders gift card from my boss, skull-and-crossbones whistle left over from nephew’s birthday party in October, Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy eucalyptus/spearmint hand cream, hand wipes, 1 Always pad, 1 Lactaid pill, half-finished packet of Starburst candy, 1 purple plastic bead, and make-up bag containing Burt’s Bees tinted lip shimmer in Raisin, Estee Lauder Pure Color Long-Lasting Lipstick in Sunstone, lip brush, and magnifying mirror. Small rear compartment: empty. Other small rear compartment: cell phone, when not charging or in use. Small zippered rear compartment: $5 bill, ATM card, California ID, health insurance cards for myself and the Princess, store credit cards for Target, Macys and Victoria’s Secret, Sanrio Surprises bonus card, Costco membership card, Starbucks gift card with $2 on it (bought myself a nonfat mocha earlier), stamps, Borders gift card from my sis with $15 on it. When I go to work I also carry a black fabric tote with my walking shoes, water bottle, and a magazine to read on the bus. So what have we learned from this? That I’m a lactose-intolerant otaku who wears little makeup, likes to carry many of her possessions with her, and really, really needs to clean out her purse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038.md?page=3)