How to Organize the ONE THING You Use the Most

Let's face it: we can have the entire rest of our world fully streamlined and running smoothly, but if we don't know how to organize our purse, life will still seem out of control. Am I right?? We use our purses ALL THE TIME.  And it can seem as though every time we need something from them we are like Mary Poppins going into her magic bag — you never know what will come out.

Well, I got tired of the purse rat race awhile back. Today I will show you how to go from a big bag to a little wristlet — and never miss anything that you used to carry.

This post is part of a new collaborative series called How to Organize Your Life in 30 Days.  I'm honored to be joining other amazing bloggers to bring ideas and info for organizing all aspects of our lives!  Plus there will be a giveaway!! All of the details are at the end of this post, so read on until you get there! :-)

When it came to my purse, my mindset used to be that I wanted to carry everything in there that I might possibly need.  You know what I mean.  I wanted a brush and makeup for quick touch-ups.  I might need wipes for my hands or tissues for a kid's nose.  I had to carry my sunglasses for driving.  Then there were the meds for headaches, a pen and small notebook for jotting down ideas or a shopping list, an extra diaper or two…

And the result was I had to carry a LARGE bag that was more like a suitcase, hello.  It was heavy, and it was bulging; and I had to take a bunch of stuff out and pile it on the counter just to fit my wallet back into it after paying at the register — and then take time to cram all the other stuff back in.  While the next customer was waiting behind me and the kids were dragging at my coat to go to the car…

What is needed is a new organizing strategy, and it means we have to give up the idea that our purse should be the repository of all solutions to all possible problems that may arise while we are away from home.  The fact is that there is another place to store most of these items and still have them available if you need them.

KEEP THEM IN YOUR CAR.  It was a revelation to me when I realized that most of the things I kept in my purse would be just as handy if I found places for them in my car.  Cars these days are built with the on-the-go mom in mind — lotsa storage.  So let's use it!

For example:  Sunglasses.  Really truly, do you need them IN YOUR PURSE?  Where do you put them on most frequently?  In the car!  You don't usually need to wear them between leaving the house and getting into the car, and while you're in the store you can shove them on your head.  Most vehicles have a special spot for them, so they won't get scratched — like they do in your purse.  When you get home, take them off and store them before going inside.

Let's talk about makeup.  I know for years I kept extra makeup in my purse so I could look my best at all times.  But guess what?  I NEVER used it.  I was always too busy and thinking of other things.  The only type of makeup I ever use while I am out is lip balm.  So I keep some in the car door pocket, within easy reach when I'm driving.  If you are in the habit of giving yourself a quick touchup, put a spare compact and mascara in a small makeup bag and find a place in your vehicle for it.

Diapers?  Keep an extra diaper bag in the car.  Kleenex?  Don't we all stash paper napkins in our console?  Meds?  First, buy a sample bottle of your favorite, cuz those bottles are nice and small.  Then add in a few tablets of all the others you might need and put it in the glove compartment.

Gum?  Hand sanitizer?  Multiple pens and paper?  Feminine supplies?  OK, I'll give you that last one.  :-) But you truly rarely ever need the rest of those things when you are away from your car.  Or the need can wait until you get back to the car.  You can take notes on your phone now, you know? :-)

The trick is to limit what you keep in your purse to only what you really need to have in the store.  And that is mostly just your form(s) of payment, your ID, and your phone.  And maybe some coupons, gift cards, or store reward cards.  THAT IS IT.  Find a place in your car or home (or both) for everything else.

If you use more than one car regularly, then get doubles of everything and put some in each car.  It's all about convenience and efficiency.  It is NOT convenient or efficient to carry around a heavy bag that is so stuffed you can't find anything when you need it, and you're giving yourself back problems from having to lug it around.

My streamlined wristlet fits in the drawer of my home management center.  In. the. drawer, y'all.  Before, I had to find a spot on the counter or in a corner somewhere for the piece of luggage I called my purse.

When I leave the house it is easy to grab.  And in my car it fits into the door.  It doesn't take up the valuable passenger seat or foot room anymore!

Occasionally I may want to carry a larger bag (although this is now rare).  It is easy enough to slip my wristlet into the larger purse and add whatever else I think I might need.  But when I get back home I unpack it all right away.

My purse contains: debit card and ID.  Cash envelopes for Food, Fuel, and Fun.  One more envelope for other forms of payment, reward cards, and current store coupons (not grocery coupons; I don't do those, and if I did I'd have a separate organizer for them).  There is a zipper pocket for change, and an outside pocket for my phone.

I did carry a “medium-sized” purse for awhile.  But it quickly became just as difficult to use as the larger one.  When you eliminate all the extra, there is no need to carry anything bigger than a slim wristlet, clutch or cross-body.  And the freedom is amazing — but you won't experience that until you give it a try. :-)

To give you a visual example of how to organize your purse, I made a video about my own.  Take a look!

P.S.  You may be interested in the how-to for the cash envelopes you see in the video — you can read it here: How to Make and Use Cash Envelopes for Budgeting

And here's the article about the home management center that I talk about on the video: Start Getting Organized with a Home Management Center

Now you know how to organize your purse, how to give up the large “suitcase” and live lighter.  Are you going to give it a try?

How to Organize your Life in 30 Days

I am so excited to be partnering together with some amazing bloggers to bring you a 30-day challenge that will change your life! There are some great posts in this series with lots of helpful information about organizing every area of life.

This is my third post in the series.  My first one, which incidentally kicked off the entire challenge, was Start Getting Organized with a Home Management Center.  The second was about Organizing Your Finances for Tax Season.

And you can head on over to the Hip Homeschooling blog to see the entire list of everyone's posts.  Click HERE!

All you need to do to join the challenge is check out the main page (click here: Hip Homeschooling Blog 30-Day Organizing Challenge) and start working through the challenges. You can join in at any point; there are no rules! Share your before/after pictures on Instagram and use the hashtag ‪#‎30dayorganize‬ for a chance to win a $10 gift card to Hobby Lobby (3 winners)! The more you engage on social media, share the image at the left, etc., the more entries you'll have!

This is a great series, so don't miss a single day! :-)

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It's Not That Hard to Homeschool

Ann, former owner of It's Not That Hard to Homeschool:homeschooled for 22 years and has graduated all five of her children. She believes that EVERY mom can CONFIDENTLY, COMPETENTLY -- and even CONTENTEDLY -- provide the COMPLETE high school education that her teen needs. Ann's website, NotThatHardtoHomeschool.com, offers information, resources, and virtual hugs to help homeschool moms do just that.

Ann has written Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Manual for Research and Planning, Save Your Sanity While Homeschooling High School: Practical Principles for a Firm Foundation, and recently Taming the Transcript: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Teen's Homeschool Transcript from Scratch (without overwhelm). She also founded the popular Facebook groups It's Not that Hard to Homeschool High School and It's Not Hard to Homeschool K-8, and in addition she voices the It's Not That Hard to Homeschool High School Podcast.

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