If your bulging bag has worn a groove in your shoulder, and it’s so overfilled that it takes you forever to find your car keys, it’s time for a handbag makeover.
“The biggest mistake is that people carry everything in their purse,” says Anne McAlpin of
packitup.com. The craziest thing she’s seen inside one? A box of biscuit mix.
McAlpin, a packing expert who has developed her own line of travel products, says that most women (moms especially) should regularly empty out their purse, figure out what they really need and don’t need, and then repack it. Here are her top five tips for keeping purses well-stocked and organized.
Choose the right design.
McAlpin likes purses with long shoulder straps, which can be worn across the body. Zippers are good for keeping things contained when your bag flips upside down as you’re bending over to retrieve a sippy cup or strapping a young one into the car seat. Outside compartments are useful for quick access to cell phones or water bottles, while a large, open interior without too many compartments provides the flexibility to organize your bag to suit your own needs. Look for light-colored linings, which make it easier to see the contents. And a built-in key fob is handy for easily fishing out your keys—helpful in a rush.
Make your own compartments.
McAlpin uses several
Ziploc® Brand Storage Bags to divide and organize the interior of her purse. “You can see what’s in them, and they’re easy to pull out,” she says. Fill one with items for your kids (a change of clothes or a spare diaper) and one with your own necessities.
Keep smaller items handy.
Ziploc® Brand Storage Bags are just the right size for stashing a few dollar bills and quarters so you’re not caught unprepared for parking meters and valets. They’re also great for storing personal-care items like lip gloss, feminine products or travel-size hair spray and for corralling receipts or coupons. Tote along a few empty
Ziploc® Brand Storage Bags of all sizes for everything from packing up a half-eaten granola bar to storing soiled clothes.
Don’t carry what you don’t need.
Are you really going to have time to read that heavy book you’ve been lugging around? Be realistic about what you actually need during your day; leave the rest in your car or substitute lighter, more compact versions. For instance, carry a travel hairbrush or comb instead of your full-size brush.
Leave gift cards and unnecessary credit cards at home too, unless you know you’ll need them. This’ll slim down your wallet and help you avoid the temptation to spend needlessly.
Unless you write checks on a regular basis while shopping, don't carry your checkbook in your purse. Instead, stash one check in your wallet with a sticky note on it. If you need to use the check, jot the amount on the sticky note and then register it in your checkbook when you get home.
Hop on the technology bandwagon.
Today’s latest cell phones have a slim profile and multiple functions and features. A single device can act as your calendar, photo album, memo pad, shopping list, MP3 player and GPS device—not to mention your cell phone. Talk about a space saver!