You can tell a lot about a woman by what she carries in her purse. I am the prepared for anything and everything kind of woman. I keep everything I could ever conceivably believe in a steadily rotating lineup of purses. In order for a purse to be effective for me, it needs to be big, sturdy and cute. The cute part is important. The problem with being the prepared for anything kind of woman is that while I do have everything I need in my purse at all time, I can rarely find it when I need it. I am the woman standing at the checkout digging through my purse for money while the line-up grows behind me. I do not need the majority of what I have in my purse. Chances are, ladies, you don’t either.
I have developed a list over time of ten items that every woman should have in their purse at all times. A tube of lipstick or lip gloss, eyeliner, eye shadow or any such item is not on this list because, ladies, you do not needto carry makeup with you. If you put on makeup before you leave the house (I rarely do unless I’m going somewhere fancy) you might want to consider taking the shade of lipstick you wore in case you need emergency touch ups, but eyeliner is not a necessity. Just pointing that out. Do what is a necessity? Glad you asked. Let’s take a look.
10: Wet-Naps, baby wipes or a Tide stick
Whether you are going somewhere that involves food or not, it is always a good idea to have something in your purse that can treat any dirty mishaps that may mar your clothes. You can come into contact with all sorts of things that can leave nasty little reminders on your clothing that may not be able to wait until you get home. Wet-Naps, baby wipes or Tide sticks (or Shout Wipes) will help you prevent permanent stains on your clothes.
09: Advil, Tylenol or another form of headache remedy.
I never leave the house without a little bottle of Advil in my purse because you never know where a headache will strike. Carrying your headache remedy of choice in your purse will not only ensure that you’re prepared for a headache should you get one but will also ensure you’re ready should someone you’re spending time with get a headache. Why suffer or allow someone else to suffer for want of a little extra space in your purse.
08: Band-Aids or some reasonable facsimile.
You do not need a whole first aid kid in your purse but it is a great idea to at least have Band-Aids in there. You can cut yourself on pretty much anything. Trust me, I’m about the clumsiest person I know. Everything is dangerous – even money. I’ve cut myself on bills paying for coffee. Having a Band-Aid in your purse prevents you from bleeding on everything or having to make a bandage out of napkins and tape (which I’ve done).
07: Tampons or feminine napkins.
So what if it’s not ‘that time’. I don’t care how on schedule you normally are. Mother Nature can have a cruel sense of humor sometimes. Put it in perspective. It is much better to have these important supplies taking up room in your purse and not need them than it is to find yourself in need and not have anything available. While some bathrooms have vending machines that offer them, don’t count on that to be the case. If you find yourself in need of a tampon, the law of screw you states you will either not be able to find one of these vending machines or the one you find will be out of stock.
06: Spare house and car keys.
Just about every purse has a ton of secret compartments. Use one of these compartments to stow away spare keys. Women very rarely lock their purses in cars because we usually sling them over our shoulders before we even get out. Not many of us leave our purses lying on counters in stores either. If we do, it doesn’t take long to notice our error. That is not always the case with keys. If you forget your keys at home, lock your keys in the car or drop them somewhere never to see them again, you will appreciate having a spare key tucked away in your purse.
05: Pen and paper.
Having a pen and paper in your purse doesn’t mean you need a lot of extra room. Visit your local discount store and pick up a little purse sized notebook. There are tons of them out there, and as a rule they’re pretty cheep. Having a notebook in your purse will come in handy if you’re out and remember something you need to pick up on your way home but won’t have the chance to stop for right away. There is nothing worse than getting to a store and forgetting what you went there for. Jot it down when you think of it and you won’t have to worry.
04: A small sewing kit.
A sewing kit could save your life. Well, okay, maybe not, but it will definitely save you a lot of embarrassment should a button pop off of your jeans or shirt. Duck into the bathroom, sew it back on and keep on going with your day. A sewing kit will also come in handy for small rips or tears in clothing or, if you’re on the Lostplane, you could also use a sewing kit to put stitches in Dr. Jack Shepherd’s back. You never know.
03: Cash.
Always make sure you have at least a small amount of cash in your purse when you head out for the day. While most places will take credit or debit cards, that just isn’t always the case. If you want to grab a coffee en route to your destination, you’re probably going to need cash and there may not always be an ATM close by. Cash in your purse will also come in handy if you find yourself in need of a cab ride.
02: Important cards and personal information.
Many things could happen that will require you to have access to your identification or your hospital (or insurance) cards. You could get in an accident. You could slip on a grape in the grocery store and knock yourself silly. You could be accused of some terrible crime and need to prove you are who you say you are. Having all the personal information you need in your purse is a great way to ensure you get the help you need when you need it.
01: Change for a payphone and a list of important phone numbers.
I know what you’re thinking. “But Wanda, who needs payphones? Everyone has cell phones now.” Yes, it is true that pretty much everyone, their mother and the family dog has a cell phone these days but cell phones aren’t magic devices that are always ready to go when you need them. Cell phone batteries die or you may find yourself in a place with poor signal. If you get a flat, your cell phone battery is dead or you are in a place with poor signal, you’ll be glad you have change in your purse and a list of phone numbers for people you can call. Finding a payphone will be the bigger challenge here, but at least you’ll have change and the numbers you need when you do. Make sure the number for a cab company or two is on that list.
