Maybe you don’t pay a lot of attention to what to keep in your handbag. Maybe, until today, your purse essentials have been just your keys and a cellphone. But maybe, just maybe, you’ve been inspired to create one of those magical, Mary Poppins-style handbags that somehow contain exactly what’s needed, no matter what happens during the course of the day.
What to Keep in Your Purse
This list can get you headed in the right direction. It’s a roundup of the basics — what to keep in your purse so that you’re ready for anything.
A Portable Battery Charger
Lost? Hungry? Missing your best friend? Half of your on-the-go hassles can be handled with your cell phone, so make sure it’s always ready to go with a purse-sized portable battery charger — some are even designed to snap into your wallet, making them easy to take with you anywhere.
An Anti-Chafing Stick
Consider an anti-chafing product your insurance against ill-fitting shoes and chafing just about anywhere on your body. These easy-to-apply products are about as large as a travel-sized deodorant stick and can be a lifesaver, protecting your skin against blisters and chafing anywhere. They’re perfect when hot summer days are causing your thighs to rub or when your brand-new bra is rubbing your shoulder the wrong way.
A Multi-Tool
These little gadgets are about the size of a credit card, but the list of jobs they can do is massive, making them what-to-keep-in-your-purse essential. These ingenious objects can perform 11 different functions, with a cutting edge, wrench, screwdriver, bottle opener, ruler and more, which make them incredibly useful in all sorts of situations. You can even attach it to your keychain if you’d rather not use the carrying case.
A Wardrobe Emergency Kit
Whether it’s a broken zipper or a dropped button, wardrobe malfunctions happen — usually when you least want them to. Add a fashion emergency kit to your purse must-haves, and you’ll have everything you need to make it through the day with your look intact (it even has sweat pads for under your shirt if the day turns out to be a scorcher).
Face-Blotting Sheets and a Multi-Use Makeup Stick
Keeping a fresh face without carrying a full makeup kit is possible. Simply toss oil-removing face-blotting sheets and a multi-use makeup stick into your bag, and you’ll have the purse essentials you need to put your best face forward, even when you don’t have a full lineup of makeup at hand.
Headphones
Annoying delays, like a long wait at the DMV or doctor’s office, happen whether you’re planning for them or not. If you carry a set of headphones in your bag, you’ll be able to make the most of downtime by listening to a podcast or watching a video while you’re out.
Hand Sanitizer
The world can get messy, and a purse-sized bottle of hand sanitizer can help keep your hands clean.
Essential Medications
File under hope-you-never-need-to-use-it, but be sure to carry any of the medications you need every day in your handbag, even if you expect to be able to take it at home. Add in a few extras for dealing with aches and allergies, and you’re set for most issues that arise in the day.
Have any of these items saved you from a tough spot? Share your story below!
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