The purse essentials for paring down your bag (you know, without freaking out).

Are you like me? Every year, it seems I choose a bigger and bigger handbag. At this point, I am carrying around an overnight bag as a purse, and that’s clearly just too big.

The problem: I take the motto “always be prepared” to heart and my bag contains items for every possible scenario from getting a headache to surviving the zombie apocalypse. Clearly I have some wiggle room for downsizing my purse essentials (and a smaller bag is easier to tote on the run from zombies, no?) After suffering through a year of neck issues, visiting both the chiropractor and going to physical therapy to solve the problem, I think I might have finally caught on–I’m carrying around too much stuff in my giant bag.

With the trend on decluttering, downsizing, and choosing to live a more streamlined and less consumerist existence, why are so many of us still carrying around such big purses and bags?The purse may be the last great frontier for downsizing, but it’s possible to get down to just the essentials in your purse. If I can do it, you can do it. Here’s a list of what I consider to be the purse essentials necessary for everyday life. My bag might not function as a “go bag” for the zombie apocalypse anymore, but I think that’s okay.

What Are the Purse Essentials?

1. Wallet

A wallet is a necessity to hold your cash, cards, checks, receipts, and more. Ideally, choose one with multiple sections and compartments to keep you organized and more portable. I use a wallet that doubles a clutch and has a compartment for my phone that allows me the flexibility of not schlepping around my whole bag.

2. Makeup Bag

Those who wear makeup often find that they are carrying around too much makeup. Trim down to one make-up bag to just the bare necessities, like a powder compact, lip gloss, and mascara. I use the bags from Blue Q as makeup bags. They are fun and functional.

3. Self-Care, Toiletries, and Mending Bag

Keep another small bag for hair-ties, travel bottles of hand lotion, bobby pins, a nail file, band-aids, your pain reliever of choice, mints, a contact case, packet of tissues, a mending kit, and tampons, pads, or menstrual cup case if needed.

4. Glasses/Sunglasses

You must have sunnies. And a case to protect them is a must too. If you wear contacts or glasses, keep a backup case and travel-sized contact solutions in your bag too. You must be able to see. That is essential!

5. Phone/Case/Earbuds

Keep your phone in handy in a side pocket in your bag in a protective case. Also, keep earbuds handy for when you want to tune people out while at the grocery store or at the gym.

6. Keys

Of course, you must carry your keys in your bag, but do you really need all those keys? Pare them down to the absolute essential keys. Get rid of all those keys you have no idea what they belong to–if you haven’t needed them in 4 years, then it’s safe to say you never will.

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Summer is the time for mischief and getting crazy. Make certain you’re prepared for whatever (and whoever’s bed you may fall into) by carrying these must haves in your purse.

1. Condoms, dental dams

If you forget everything we list to pack in your purse here, make sure you include these guys. Never leave it up to your new partner to grab protection and always make sure the ones you carry aren’t expired. I’m seriously trying to not sound like your health teacher here, but it can’t be said enough: Condoms protect you from infections (as do dental dams), and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

2. Face wipes

While, yes, washing your face before you go to sleep is totally preferable, the second best thing is using face wipes. You can use these to freshen your mug (and other places if you’re in a pinch) in the morning.

3. Minimal makeup

We’re betting you didn’t get a ton of sleep last night. And that’s OK! You don’t need a lot of makeup to look awake, so just keep the essentials on hand: a BB cream with SPF, mascara, and a bright lip color, or lip gloss. All of this stuff will help you look more awake (even if you start to nod off at your desk around 3 p.m.).

4. Something minty

While I’m a fan of keeping a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste in my purse, I realize that I’m kind of a dental health freak. So, if your main goal is to keep your breath fresh smelling OK rather than keeping your mouth clean, keep some organic mints handy.

5. A contact case with solution

If you wear contacts, this is a must. Simply keep a contact case in your purse that already has solution in it so you can pop those babies out whenever you need to. To keep your lenses really clean, it may be wise to keep a travel-sized lens solution in your bag at all times, too.

Now, we realize not every sleepover is unexpected. So, for the ones that are more planned, we suggest packing the following items, as well:

1. A clean shirt, pair of underwear (and a plastic bag to put the funky stuff in).

2. A reusable water bottle (for if you have one too many).

3. Body oil (if you’ve been up all night, you may want to dab a little something behind your ears).

What do you pack in your purse before you head out? Do you have any favorite essentials we forgot to list here?

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Woman lying in bed image from Shutterstock

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