Does anyone feel that they carry too much?!

[HesitantShopper]

I kinda rearranged things .. cut out the large wallet and opted for a smaller one that held my phone & main go-too cards(w/a wristlet option, to truly 'downsize') and a pouch to store the extra overflow of cards, id stuff that must come along.

My main go too is probably in the smaller medium.. to large small range.. it holds enough without quite going crazy, to many duplicates is something to reduce if your looking to carry less.

Sometimes going for a medium range bag is a better choice, large can lead to over carrying and small isn't always enough. That's how i have landed at this size.

 

[bakeacookie]

I do carry a lot, so to give my shoulder a rest, I alternate between small bags and carrying bare essentials and large bags where I can carry everything.

 

[KCeboKing]

Nope. I hate big bags. I don't like the look or the "black hole" effect. Mini bags don't let me carry my essentials. So I carry medium bags.

I carry only what I need and everything is organized.
• sunglasses in case
• small wallet
• small makeup bag including lotion & small comb
• small accessories case with earbuds, phone charger, gum, tissues, meds

The only other thing I ever add is a book, my iPad or my kindle

When I carry a bigger bag it's because I'm traveling. Business travel has its own laptop case.
For leisure travel I keep these in my carry on bag:
• water bottle
• food
• travel pillow
• Sweater or wrap
• Pouch with all my chargers and cords
• IPad
• a physical book
• 1 or two changes of outfits

I hate junk and clutter. If I don't use x I don't even want to own x. So carrying extra "stuff" around feels like hauling clutter. 😖😵😫

All my things are organized as well! I don't travel enough, so I would just need to keep them in my rotation. I would guess I have more medium than HUGE though. Maybe? I like the way you think!

Am facing dilemma, as consider packing for month long trip.
However, never when facing handbag contents.

I do not carry a caving helmet daily.
So that's less stuff, right there.

However, I do need 2 adhesive bandages.
Always 2.
Without 2, I will cut open a hand on rapid airflow or smooth wood.
And bleed onto some stranger's pretty shoes.

I also need a notebook & pens.
Which become lonely, shuffling around in big handbags I favor.
So, I toss in wallet, keys, etc.
Because they make nice company & talk quietly together.
Not drawing unwanted attention on buses or in office buildings.

When man in my life holds bag for me, sometimes says, "You carry a lot of stuff."
But I know he's only confused & disoriented.
By shiny hardware reflections off light fixtures.
Poor thing.

Ha! Love this!

I'm a schlepper too. My kids are not that small anymore, my youngest is 4, so diapers and wipes are no longer necessary, but I still carry stuff like a notebook and pen, water bottle, small first aid kit with some bandages and stuff like that, makeup pouch, wallet, hair brush, sunglasses case, change purse, cough drops, phone, hand sanitizer, keys, some crystals, and a rosary (odd combo, I know lol).

My bag itself is heavy too. Right now I'm carrying my Coach Christie Carry-all in cross grain leather, and I feel like the bag itself is heavy to begin with. I've had it for about two weeks now, and I'm still not sure whether I like it or not. :weird:

I hate that! When the bag is heavy to begin with, then you add your stuff and holy crap it is now 20lbs (or so it feels) I've been there...carrying around a bag, still trying to decide how you feel. Do you still have the option to return if you decide you don't? My stuff isn't even super important..... earbuds, mascara, tweezers, lotions, lip stuffs, random other things that I think I might on the daily. I just fear if I downsize too much, when I go back to a bigger bag it will be so empty! and I like the room if I need to add stuff during the day....If that makes sense.

I did and I downsized drastically. I don't miss the things that I used to schlep around but never used and don't miss aching shoulders and people bumping into my bag.

True. That is the one thing I hate! When I am bumping into everyone at the mall. It won't stop me though from using the bags I already own that are bigger. lol

I kinda rearranged things .. cut out the large wallet and opted for a smaller one that held my phone & main go-too cards(w/a wristlet option, to truly 'downsize') and a pouch to store the extra overflow of cards, id stuff that must come along.

My main go too is probably in the smaller medium.. to large small range.. it holds enough without quite going crazy, to many duplicates is something to reduce if your looking to carry less.

Sometimes going for a medium range bag is a better choice, large can lead to over carrying and small isn't always enough. That's how i have landed at this size.

I like it. I think most of my mine are medium to large. Because i know how much I carry and want to have room. I have downsized to smaller wallet, by chance really, and I found I love it so much I have not went back to my giant Coach one that I loved before! yea, I have different pouches (not quite SLG status yet? ) to carry cards/coupons/etc in.

I do carry a lot, so to give my shoulder a rest, I alternate between small bags and carrying bare essentials and large bags where I can carry everything.

That's a good plan. I always have to downsize if I know I have a shopping day coming up... I hate carrying around EVERYTHING when I will be walking around a mall for hours. My shoulders can't handle that!

 

[ame]

Sometimes I feel that I carry too much crap with me on a daily basis, yet can't seem to part with any of it. Am I the only one? How does one decide what they need and what they don't everyday?! What if that one thing you rarely use is needed randomly one day??



Maybe I am just crazy?



[emoji1]

You are not alone, I am having a hell of a time with downsizing. I carried a big bag til last year. I tried downsizing and could not get my necessary stuff into a smaller bag, and ended up returning the smaller bag thinking it was time to just look for smaller stuff first. After a trip to a walking city, where we did obviously a ton of walking and shopping, I was in agony from all the lugging of that bag, and all the stuff in it. Not two days after I got back home, and back to work, two of my coworkers got mugged and robbed at gunpoint on the way from our building to their cars, which are not 50 yards from the front door of the building. That was all I needed to start downsizing. A few months later, another coworker was robbed at gunpoint on the way to his.



I have been carrying a medium bag with smaller stuff (wallet, etc) since the Summer, but it's still a million pounds bec it holds so much in so many sections. I rebought the bag I returned last year, and I am now determined to make it work. I really like my current bag, but I am going to make sure that whatever I carry fits in that other smaller bag, and that this current bag only holds something extra when I travel, like an iPad or an umbrella or water bottle or something.



I love my wallet that I got last year, but I have noticed since buying it, that I don't pull it out much, and I should probably sell it and go much smaller. I've gotten a wallet case for my phone, since I noticed I was holding my ID and one commonly used card out (my costco Amex) vs fishing them out. I also really don't need my "emergency" pouch, I can probably just keep the pillbox, and maybe the nailfile, but I do use my backup battery for my phone and iPad more than I want to admit, so that's a must. I can also scale down to ONE pack of wipes, and ditch the mints.



I actually have photos of all the crap I carry, and I have been testing myself using a makeup pouch to keep trying to pare down. I have a goal of a slightly smaller makeup pouch but so far I am doing better.


The stuff that would be left out of the new purse including my great wallet if I use the phone wallet which is the same size as my normal wallet...


What fits in that pouch


All the stuff I currently carry

 

[thel]

I carry very little. If it turns out I need something I'm not carrying, I buy it. This happens rarely.

 

[ccbaggirl89]

I carry very little. If it turns out I need something I'm not carrying, I buy it. This happens rarely.

+1

i carry maybe 5 items total. if i need something that desperately i can usually find it in/around the office anyway.

i have never understood women who carry so much stuff in their bags. no one needs that stuff every day. i sometimes will watch 'what's in my bag' videos on youtube and just smh over the contents in these bags.

 

[FunBagz]

This is what I carry on a daily basis, which fits in all but my smallest bags (Chanel Mini and WOC):

1) Key Cles with car key fob and 1 house key. In smaller bags, I will skip the cles all together carry the keys in the Mini-Pochette (or a smaller fabric pouch if necessary).
2) Card Case of some sort. I rarely carry cash and empty any coins out of my purse daily. I switch this piece out regularly depending on the bag. I only carry 2-3 credit/debit cards, driver's license, insurance card and a couple business cards...and on the rare occasion a few cash bills. I never carry rewards cards or store credit cards...they can look me up.
3) Mini Pochette containing a small tube of concealer, blush, bronzer, 1 lip color (2 max), a tin of mints, travel bottle of Advil, a couple band-aids and any coupons I might have.
4) Sunglasses in a soft pouch.

I used to carry a wad of keys (do I really need a decorative key chain and keys to my back door, garage door, family member's houses, etc. with me every day?!?!), a bulky, hard sunglass case, a large wallet with nearly all my credit/debit cards, store cards, rewards card, coupons, cash, change and receipts that would all just accumulate. I also used to carry a bunch more make-up (hello...lip color, I'm talking to you! lol) and "emergency" stuff. Now I keep duplicates of items in my office and car and I clean out any change, receipts, expired coupons and miscellaneous items daily and transfer the above into tomorrow's bag. Takes less than a minute! I will admit, there was some separation anxiety at first, but after a week or two, I was over it.

 

[babysunshine]

Sometimes I feel that I carry too much crap with me on a daily basis, yet can't seem to part with any of it. Am I the only one? How does one decide what they need and what they don't everyday?! What if that one thing you rarely use is needed randomly one day??

Maybe I am just crazy?

[emoji1]

I carry really a lot too, on a daily basis, that's why I own at least 3 to 4 large totes. On weekends I prefer to carry less for a change, and just bring essentials. I also downsize the pouches so they fit better in medium size bags and I won't feel compelled to fill it up. The larger pouches I wear as clutches.

 

[KCeboKing]

You are not alone, I am having a hell of a time with downsizing. I carried a big bag til last year. I tried downsizing and could not get my necessary stuff into a smaller bag, and ended up returning the smaller bag thinking it was time to just look for smaller stuff first. After a trip to a walking city, where we did obviously a ton of walking and shopping, I was in agony from all the lugging of that bag, and all the stuff in it. Not two days after I got back home, and back to work, two of my coworkers got mugged and robbed at gunpoint on the way from our building to their cars, which are not 50 yards from the front door of the building. That was all I needed to start downsizing. A few months later, another coworker was robbed at gunpoint on the way to his.



I have been carrying a medium bag with smaller stuff (wallet, etc) since the Summer, but it's still a million pounds bec it holds so much in so many sections. I rebought the bag I returned last year, and I am now determined to make it work. I really like my current bag, but I am going to make sure that whatever I carry fits in that other smaller bag, and that this current bag only holds something extra when I travel, like an iPad or an umbrella or water bottle or something.



I love my wallet that I got last year, but I have noticed since buying it, that I don't pull it out much, and I should probably sell it and go much smaller. I've gotten a wallet case for my phone, since I noticed I was holding my ID and one commonly used card out (my costco Amex) vs fishing them out. I also really don't need my "emergency" pouch, I can probably just keep the pillbox, and maybe the nailfile, but I do use my backup battery for my phone and iPad more than I want to admit, so that's a must. I can also scale down to ONE pack of wipes, and ditch the mints.



I actually have photos of all the crap I carry, and I have been testing myself using a makeup pouch to keep trying to pare down. I have a goal of a slightly smaller makeup pouch but so far I am doing better.

View attachment 3347825
The stuff that would be left out of the new purse including my great wallet if I use the phone wallet which is the same size as my normal wallet...

View attachment 3347827
What fits in that pouch

View attachment 3347829
All the stuff I currently carry

I love these pictures!! Makes me want to do one of what I carry! I think I will have to do that and share to show what I'm talking about!

I did switch out this morning though and had to part with some stuff (that is currently on my bedroom floor because I was in a hurry lol) and we will see how long it takes me to notice it's gone!

And threw out so many expired coupons! What in the world?!

 

[KCeboKing]

I carry very little. If it turns out I need something I'm not carrying, I buy it. This happens rarely.

True. I also go with that thought quite frequently. Especially if I go out of town.

 

[loves]

I used to then I downsized since I don't carry my water bottle but buy them when outside, I do not touch up so only a lipstick and lip balm, A wallet and tissues. I also have the habit of cleaning out my purses after every use so no clutter at all. This worked for me for years. I do not drive. Fast forward a few years and Nowadays I need to bring more, besides the usual I added a very small brolly AND reading glasses and the latter two need a lot more space. My excuse to start buying bigger bags again.

 

[geraldine.rmg]

I carry a big tote to work on weekdays so to give my shoulder a rest I try to carry a small sling bag over the weekends. I've done this repeatedly but I still tend to forget some essentials while downsizing

 

[papertiger]

For work, I know I do.
I have an old Mac and it weighs a ton (and a half). Add the power supply, files, books etc. Not even a make-up bag or hair brush and it's still too heavy. I'm surprised I can walk.


On other days I can take the min. a few card in a case, keys round my neck and the phone in my pocket.

 

[catsinthebag]

Every time I see an elegant woman with a small bag effortlessly hanging off of her, I sigh with envy, wishing that was me! In reality, I don't think I carry that much -- a small wallet, a small LV pouch (with lip gloss, Purell, gum, etc.), sunglasses, hand lotion, Kleenex, cell phone, keys. Depending on the day, I may also have a notebook, a pouch with some snacks, an umbrella. But what really kills me is the water bottle, which is the one big, heavy item I can't seem to do without. I get migraines and have found that staying hydrated really helps stave them off. I am usually on foot or on public transportation, so storing the heavy/bulky stuff in the car doesn't work for me. I know I could buy bottles of water wherever I go, but that seems wasteful. But if I could just ditch the water bottle, I would be a lot closer to my fantasy woman who can go through an entire day carrying a Chanel flap or Gucci Disco!

 

[Sparkletastic]

Every time I see an elegant woman with a small bag effortlessly hanging off of her, I sigh with envy, wishing that was me! In reality, I don't think I carry that much -- a small wallet, a small LV pouch (with lip gloss, Purell, gum, etc.), sunglasses, hand lotion, Kleenex, cell phone, keys. Depending on the day, I may also have a notebook, a pouch with some snacks, an umbrella. But what really kills me is the water bottle, which is the one big, heavy item I can't seem to do without. I get migraines and have found that staying hydrated really helps stave them off. I am usually on foot or on public transportation, so storing the heavy/bulky stuff in the car doesn't work for me. I know I could buy bottles of water wherever I go, but that seems wasteful. But if I could just ditch the water bottle, I would be a lot closer to my fantasy woman who can go through an entire day carrying a Chanel flap or Gucci Disco!

I think that it's muuuuch easier to downsize when you commute by car v foot / public transpo. I carry water with me everywhere it's just usually in my car (when I'm running errands) or my in work tote.