Discover how to keep your purse organized for good! These simple ideas make it easy to find everything you need.
It’s Day 8 of the 30 Days to Less of a Hot Mess Challenge! We’re clearing clutter, reorganizing and letting in fresh air to build a home we love. New here? You may want to begin at the start.
A woman’s purse is her command center when she’s away from home, so like any other room or drawer, it needs a purpose, a system and practical organization! When you can find things in your purse, everyone’s life gets a little better.
Today I’m sharing how I organize my purse for everyday use. It’s a simple, medium-sized leather bag that has lasted about 8 years. It’s so great that I’ve bought it twice.
I’ve also found that one nice, versatile purse will carry you through most occasions and last longer than cheaper ones. Since I recently bought a new purse, I’ve moved my things over.
To keep everything in order, I’ve created a new system that works so well I thought I’d share it with you, too!
This is the purse I carry, and I’ll buy another one when this one wears out!
So, here’s how I organized my new purse and cleared out the unnecessary stuff:
Keeping Your Purse Organized
1. Empty Everything Out of Your Purse.
All the crumbs and paper scraps need to go. Maybe take out everything valuable, then shake the rest out over the trash can. Or even use a small handheld vacuum to clean it out.
2. Toss the Trash & Remove Unwanted Items.
I always have old shopping lists, kid papers, junk mail and such in my purse. I think it multiplies in there when I’m not looking.
3. Group Like Things Together.
A huge part of purse organization, or any organization really, is grouping similar items together.
Hair ties and bandaids are a natural pair, right? Lip gloss and lipsticks belong together.
And gift cards obviously belong in your wallet. And yes, I keep a mini tape measure in my purse. I always need one when shopping for furniture or home decor.
4. Store Like Things Together in Containers.
The wallet naturally holds cash, debit cards, insurance cards, gift cards and receipts. You can also slip a few business cards in there just in case.
I also carry a separate checkbook holder because I keep two sets of checks with me (business and personal).
My essential oils live in this cute apothecary bag from Lindsay Letters. I tuck my hair ties and bandaids in the front pocket, and my lip glosses go in a clear little pouch. No digging around the bottom of the bag for a rogue lip sheer!
5. Keep Gift Cards and Loose Change in Your Wallet.
That just makes sense.
6. Make Use of the Bag’s Pockets.
I keep my hand sanitizer, gum and pens (not pictured) in the inner pockets of my bag. Sometimes I’ll tuck an essential oil in there if I need it often. My purse has an outside pocket that’s perfect for my phone! I LOVE that!
And that’s all! It’s super simple to keep things organized and neat, right where you can find them.
I’ve seen plenty of posts about purse organization with a bajillion things to keep in your purse. First of all, I don’t want my shoulder to fall off. So I thought I’d share…
Things I Leave Out of My Purse
Part of purse organization is taking out the items you don’t really need!
- Stain remover – I carried a stain remover pen in my purse for years and never once used it. I found it’s easier to treat clothes when I get home. If you want something close by for rare emergencies, try a car kit with on-the-go essentials instead of cluttering your purse.
- My planner – what?! I know you’re probably shocked that I don’t lug my planner around in my purse. But I’m home most of the time, so my planner stays on the desk or kitchen counter. On longer trips, I’ll toss it in my computer bag.
- A separate receipt organizer – I just tuck my receipts in my wallet and pull them out when things get a little crazy. Then they go into my inbox at the office. No need for a separate container.
- A separate budget planner or cash envelope system. I do my budgeting on a digital app and keep my cash system in my new wallet, so it’s all in one place!
Obviously, no two lives are exactly alike, so your purse needs will differ from mine. I just ask that you keep it as simple as possible.
Keep things simple and clutter-free and you’ll do great. Enjoy your newly organized command center on the go!
Shop the post
The Messy Work: Empty your purse out and get to work!
Let’s see your newly organized purse! Tag your social media posts with #lessofahotmess so everyone can be inspired by YOU!
Follow along with the 30 Days to Less of a Hot Mess Challenge! We’re clearing clutter, reorganizing and letting in fresh air to build a home we love. New here? You may want to begin at the start.
Right there in the mess with you, Laura
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