# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![LadyMack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@LadyMack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyMack)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/41 "2008-01-03T07:06:47Z")
The dreaded fanny/belly pack. Yeah, tough. Works on motorcycles. Assorted denominations folding money. No idea of total. About a cup of change. Folding brush. Lip gloss. Lipstick. Credit, store and ID cards. DL and CCL. One pill bottle, assorted (legal) meds. 11 receipts. Now taken out. 6 cough drops. 3 sticks gum. Splenda packets, for Hubs, not me. Blech. 1 pen 1 permanent marker. Small notebook. Cell phone. Pistol. Yes, that’s what I said. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/42 "2008-01-03T08:16:04Z")
Let’s see. My usual purse is a large purple “silk” (actually polyester) bag with an Asian floral design. There is a button advertising Lindy Bout II, a dance competition coming up in April, on the outside. The main compartment contains: wallet cell phone iPod Starbucks gift card a piece of paper with my grocery list on one side, and the address of a party I went to a few days ago on the other gum bus tickets 2 used bus tickets from Dec. 27 and Dec. 30 2 receipts 2 safety pins The smaller compartment contains: pen lip balm 2 tampons, which I really don’t need to carry any more since I switched to the Diva Cup 1 illegible receipt 1 hair clip Remarkably enough, it seems that all of my hair elastics have migrated out of my purse. I actually expected to find 3 or 4 in there. Oh well, time to move some back. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/43 "2008-01-03T08:36:07Z")
Bought myself a brand-new purse for Christmas. It’s currently very, very clean. It’s a [Born Pachuca](http://www.bornshoes.com/item.asp?ItemID=HB224) in black and it is the best purse I have ever owned, as it is the perfect size and is wide and shallow, so stuff doesn’t fall to the bottom and get lost. Really, it is my Holy Grail of purses. The contents: credit cards membership cards (on a keyring) driver’s license car and health insurance cards $200 cell phone iPod mini digital camera one pen checkbook 2 prescriptions orders for blood work & urinalysis 5"x7" day planner Splenda tablet dispenser eye drops 1 tampon Tylenol gelcaps in travel container albuterol inhaler for asthma little brush for cleaning between teeth 5 Laura Mercier stickglosses 1 tube Laura Mercier lip silk sunglasses 1 pair of gloves travel mirror Swiss army knife (when I figure out where I misplaced it) Usually, there is also about 10 pounds of change in my purse also. No joke, I weighed it on a scale at work. But keeping the purse clean and change-free is one of my resolutions. So far, so good. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/44 "2008-01-03T09:34:53Z")
Makeup, a perfume bottle, a brush, some loose change, a couple of pens, a crumpled-up wrapper, and some scraps of paper. I keep my wallet and cellphone and stuff in my pockets, and anything bigger goes in my tote bag. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/45 "2008-01-03T12:49:40Z")
No handbag today. Just home from work (nights) so I have a JanSport backpack. This is not what I carry everyday. It contains: house keys car keys key to on-call room wallet (cards, driver’s licence, cash) phone white coat stethoscope a pair of Crocs 1 spare set of scrubs toothbrush, floss and toothpaste gum mints travel-sized shower gel alcohol hand cleanser wet-wipes deoderant diary and work rota contact details for various labs, staff members and ambulance control, as well as passwords and codes for labs, various restricted areas and computer system (this is a new job, I haven’t memorised them all yet). pens (at least 4) ID card for work Painkillers Instant miso soup sachets (so I can have something to eat at 4am, as the canteen is shut) Mooncup and pantyliners (just in case) Elizabeth Arden 12 hour lipbalm (because I like one little luxury if I have to work that goadawful shift) Nivea Hand cream (because of all the alcohol hand cleanser) Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine (pocket edition) comb and hair elastics A book, currently Homicide: A year on the Killing Streets by David Simon, to read if it is quiet my work bleep (pager) postage stamps ---
**Author:** ![foxymoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@foxymoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxymoron)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/46 "2008-01-03T15:25:38Z")
From top to bottom: keys sunglasses wallet ($22.95 in cash & change, check to kung fu academy for $45, spare curved barbell for my eyebrow, small pic of friend’s daughter, various plastic cards, driver’s license, old appt. card, children’s museum membership, glasses & contacts prescriptions, Gamer’s credit voucher for $59.93) clean burp rag (cloth diaper) cylindrical pencil case used as makeup pouch (assorted cosmetics and personal care items) ziploc baggie with two pacifiers Arby’s receipt Target receipt travel size tissue pack three size 2 diapers another travel size tissue pack baby wipes size 1 diaper, wadded up and lost in corner of purse black wallet with skulls on it, containing one Visa gift card worth $4.49. belongs to my son silver & onyx ring “C” gift tie-on Albuterol inhaler MAC tinted lip conditioner extra button for coat pom-pom that fell off my scarf in the pockets: cell phone gum (sweet peppermint) ballpoint pen stolen from women’s clinic mechanical pencil ---
**Author:** ![Aangelica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Aangelica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aangelica)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/47 "2008-01-03T15:42:46Z")
Pikers, the lot of you. The current census of my purse: In the top pocket: One travel size bottle of Tylenol Cell phone Car and house keys 1 $1 dollar bill 1 $10 dollar bill 1 $20 dollar bill ATM Card Drivers license Car insurance card Borders reward card Credit card Two different health insurance cards (for the same health insurance plan) Different credit card Two assorted business cards One bit of paper containing an email address I’m not quite sure who owns Frequent patron card for a salad place near my office Same for a massage place in Newark International Airport Library card Expired Costco card Receipt for a major purchase my husband made last month (held at his request) County Park patron leisure pass One paperclip (clamp style) Building pass for my office Current LIRR/MTA month pass Another paperclip (clamp style) attaching building pass to transit pass $10.00 worth of quarters $4.10 worth of dimes $1.35 worth of nickles $1.54 worth of pennies In the inner small pocket: Checkbook Empty glasses holder (softsided) Pen (in checkbook) One red elemental blast Magic the Gathering card in Portugese (with protective sleeve) MP3 player and headphones Three AAA batteries Bee Balm hand lotion Tylenol Cold & Flu daytime formulation (five doses - 10 pills, packaged in pairs) Another pen Compact with mirror and powder One receipt that does not indicate store of purchase April 2007 LIRR/MTA month pass (former bookmark) Two tampons One rubber fish One nametag indicating my husband’s first name and the name of a resort we stayed at last January Another penny Inner main pocket: One frozen TV dinner (lunch today!) Two one-pint sized bottles of pure vanilla extract Spare headphones for MP3 player 500-count bottle of Tylenol Ziploc baggie containing tissues Digital camera Roll of duct tape Three paperback novels One boarding pass (dated Monday) One Barnes and Noble coupon One pair grey gloves One black glove Some lint Another purse Contents of the other purse: One alligator hair clip One fob-style watch One tube chapstick Four business cards Five random receipts One card certifying my employment at my current place of employment Three movie ticket stubs One piece of paper containing my employee number One yellow sticky paper containing several phone numbers (two I don’t know who they belong to, one no longer accurage) and a no-longer-accurate credit card number beloning to my parents A no-longer-valid social security card for me (neither the name nor the number actually still apply to me - both have changed since that card was valid. One to marriage and one to SSN reissure as a result of an identity theft scare) More lint In the other zippered pocket: Three dead pens (now disposed of) One dead sharpie (now disposed of) three dead tampons (now disposed of) Map of the NYC subway system as of 2004 LIRR schedule for my hometown Receipt for my wedding cake Programs for various events upcoming in my area Two blank Dial-car vouchers for travel by dial car Quite a lot of lint (the tampons came apart - spreading little cottony bits around) What do I win? 😛 ETA: Great googly moogly, there’s some random crap in my purse. ---
**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, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/48 "2008-01-03T16:09:46Z")
Right now I carry a brown corduroy bag from Avon. Today it contains: wallet checkbook calculator receipts for things that haven’t appeared on the latest bank statement tampons pads (both in case I get my period and don’t have my Divacup with me) rubber duckie pens lip balm lotion powder compact eyedrops oil-absorbing sheets glasses case with extra pair of glasses in it sunglasses (for when I wear contacts) clip-on sunglasses (for when I wear glasses) gum antacids pill case with one ibuprofen in it (need to refill) _The Truth_ by Terry Pratchett keys Swiss Army knife-like knife which is not that brand bills hairbrush ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/49 "2008-01-03T16:16:03Z")
Mine’s a 9x3x6 “Kate Spade” in navy suede with red piping. It containes: a flat Kenneth Cole wallet my Axis x5 PDA my Kodak Easy Share camera cell phone keys gum a sticky-note pad a small blue multi-tool 3 lipsticks checkbook a few small paper items some change in the bottom Usually, there’s a pen in there, but it seems to have disappeared again. :mad: If I have a lot to carry for some reason (paying bills at work, or whatever) I have a slightly larger blue tote that will also carry my mp3 player, my bill folder, and even my laptop. But I’ve been limiting myself to the teeniest purses I can manage lately. They get too heavy and hurt my shoulder otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/50 "2008-01-03T16:58:32Z")
As of today I have removed the eyeglasses and added a pack of Tarot cards. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/51 "2008-01-03T17:11:19Z")
[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 wouldn’t call it a duffle bag, but I do carry a large-ish tote. I pack my lunch and bring it in a soft-sided lunch box thingie, and I’m frequently carrying files or papers to and from the office. I also almost always have a water bottle, though apparently I didn’t when cataloging purse contents yesterday. Anyway, I like to be able to put all that stuff in one larger bag rather than carrying, say, a smaller purse plus a lunch box plus a portfolio plus a bottle of water. I think it looks more polished to carry one bag instead of several. For _me_, I mean; I’m not dissing anyone else’s choices. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/52 "2008-01-03T17:18:22Z")
Wow I thought this was going to be super boring, but I enjoy it in a voyeuristic way. LM’s big black sack of crap: cell phone 1 pack of parliament lights 1 orange lighter 1 plain white matchbook Penny Press Variety Puzzle Book December 2007 Blueprint Magazine (design) January February 2008 Do it Yourself Magazine (a Better Homes and Gardens Publication) Spring 2008 Metropolitan Home Magazine Jan/Feb 2008 _Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche_ by Haruki Murakami one green mechanical pencil One pink pen that says “Ciloxan: The Pink Eye Drug” A paper stub telling me to send in 50 dollars to the Department of Education this month Lipgloss (2) Keys a Bottle of Provigil tablets a bus transfer a beat up wallet from Chinatown that has 19 dollars in cash, a drivers license, health insurance card, dental insurance card, and a gift card to the container store (thanks dad) a VA Medical Center photo ID in plastic case and VA lanyard that I NEVER wear (if the veterans know you work there you stopped and asked directions every two minutes) A security card to get into the Animal Research Facility a wadded up surgical mask ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/53 "2008-01-03T17:31:22Z")
Good gravy, I warned ya. Farthest outside pocket: Work keychain - six drawer/flipper keys, one master key that opens all the offices in the building. It’s one of those cool ones with the holes drilled in it - Sargent Keso High Security. An open roll of Wild Cherry Life Savers Home keychain - 3 housekeys, one bedroom key, one car key, a garage door opener/remote deadbolt remote control, a van lock/unlock/alarm thingy, and a van key. A purple bic lighter. A half pack of Marlboro Box smokes. Six ballpoint pens. One red marker. Next pocket: Work and University badges. Cell phone. [Big green comb](http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/Missy2U_/Jan03_0001.jpg) like the ones you used to put in your back pocket and would stick out when you were in high school and wanted to be cool. Little green spiral notebook that is filled with misc. stuff. A list of songs. Christmas card lists and addresses Misc. note paper that I have no idea what I was trying to make a list of on. Another song list. An address book that is empty because I’ve never gotten around to transferring my old one over. My old address book - see above. Notes from a conversation with my stepson about some legal stuff he wants me to look into. A feminine hygiene product. Next pocket: Another ball point pen (which I have now transferred to the front pocket.) Last check stub. ComEd bill Son’s report card from High School Son’s grades from his college class (he took a dual course credit in law enforcement at the Jr. College nearby) Info on my life insurance plan from work. Next pocket (the one that zips): Wallet Change purse Next pocket: Checkbook copies (the carbon ones) from August of last year. Now in garbage. Picture I drew of my dog. Marriage certificate with a bunch of papers stuffed inside of it including birth certificate, son’s SS#, and a [picture of the Christmas Tree Light Display](http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/Missy2U_/DundeeRdFlagpole.jpg) done on our flagpole that my husband did several years ago at the house we were renting at the time. 3,000 + lights! That’s the house we were renting next to it - the lights were taller than the top of the roof on the second floor. A makeup case that has misc. info including business cards, various notes, etc. in it just so I won’t lose them all. An anniversary card from my husband. Last pocket (the little small zipper one that is in the one above): Sewing kit. Why, I do not know as I already used the safety pin out of it so it’s worthless. Chapstick Matches Picture of my brother nad his family Emory board A baggie with a bounce dryer sheet in it. Trust me - when you have static at work from your coat and it’s making your sweater stick to you - rub the bounce sheet on it. Works like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/54 "2008-01-03T21:23:00Z")
I’m a boy, but my bike messenger bag, which functions as my purse, contains: A flashlight another flashlight Leatherman pocket tool work gloves GPS reciever Palm Pilot Sunglasses Digital camera Flash card reader Camera battery charger IPOD headphones Phillips screwdriver Antipersperant Bottle of Old Spice Nail file Nail clippers Bicycle headlight charger for bike headlight Mini-DV cassette, contenets unknown pack of matches 3 bills I need to pay checkbook A few pencils A happy new years card with a picture of my kids A chuck key for a 5/8" drill chuck ---
**Author:** ![Aangelica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Aangelica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aangelica)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/55 "2008-01-03T22:09:19Z")
[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] It’s more that I have a hard enough time keeping track of a single purse, therefore I need one that’s of a sufficient size I can keep all my objects in it. In my personal world, that means a purse that is large enough to comfortably hold one frozen microwave dinner (my lunch of choice - since I can generally get those for 2 bucks per on sale) and at least two paperback novels (because I take the train and my commute is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes each way - two in case I finish one) and have a zippered pocket large enough to hold (at minimum) my transit pass, cell phone, keys and a credit card/drivers license as well as a few bucks. That dictates a fairly sizeable purse 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/56 "2008-01-03T23:25:03Z")
[QUOTE=Telperien] I have a rubber duckie for the same purpose. [/QUOTE] I’ve got you all topped. In my purse I have a little rubber puppy and when you squeeze it the eyes bulge out and a bubble of poop comes out the butt. ---
**Author:** ![Fearless\_Leader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Fearless\_Leader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fearless_Leader)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/57 "2008-01-04T00:57:25Z")
Interesting. Front zippered pocket: Black pen Silver necklace w/ red beads pennies cell phone Main compartment: wallet blue pen mirror lip gloss spearment gum nail file eye drops small Tylenol bottle keys sunglasses 2-year pocket calender gummy candy thing bobbi pins Purell hand sanitizer fortune from fortune cookie - “The bank of friendship can not last long without deposits” ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/58 "2008-01-04T01:28:21Z")
My shoulder bag which goes with me on the road. Cervical collar pillow for airplanes ( clipped outside with small caribiner ) Hairbrush Macintosh G4 Titanium PowerBook Podium Pad cooling holder for same Current book- John Irving’s " Until I Find You " Theraflu packet from 2005 :eek: iKlear polish for laptop screen Cords for: digital camera, iPod, laptop power, mini mouse, cell phone, Ethernet cord, USB cord, power for airplane jacks. Alleve Immodium AD Benadryl Singulair Credentials for upcoming trade show in Vegas Lanyard for I.D. from the C.I.A. 10 photos of the kids at various ages 2 DVDs with video clips used in workshops Company I.D. Keys to Mom’s house Noise cancellation headsets Business cards and holder iPod Reading glasses Pens, pencils, Sharpies It weighs about 25 pounds. ETA: I kneel down before **Missy2U**. :eek: Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/59 "2008-01-04T03:00:14Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] I’ve got you all topped. In my purse I have a little rubber puppy and when you squeeze it the eyes bulge out and a bubble of poop comes out the butt. [/QUOTE] I have to see this. ---
**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 4, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038/60 "2008-01-04T03:55:04Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] I’ve got you all topped. In my purse I have a little rubber puppy and when you squeeze it the eyes bulge out and a bubble of poop comes out the butt. [/QUOTE] I dunno - my tiny rubber chicken is just like the regular sized rubber chickens, except it’s about 2 inches long. It’s just about the cutest thing in the world. [Hey, I found a picture of a similar one.](http://flickr.com/photos/jasonstoff/2137303078/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-you-lot-what-in-your-purse/432038.md?page=4)