My purse

[pegkerr]

On impulse, I weighed it at the doctor's office.

7.4 pounds

Oy.

How much does your purse weigh?

(And yes, I really do need everything that's in there).

Edited to add: At least I have the sense to use an Ameribag, which because of the way it is positioned, puts less strain on the neck and back and makes the load seem lighter. Layout here.

Comments

[folk.livejournal.com]

...I have no idea. I am a boy and have pockets for this sort of thing.

[rabican.livejournal.com]

That's because your pants actually HAVE pockets to speak of. I had to get boy's cargo pants which never quite fit right to get useful pockets.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

I am afraid to find out how much my purse weighs. I would guess at *least* 8lbs.

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

Exactly seven pounds. Likewise, everything in there is necessary (and I don't even have kids yet...eek)

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Define "need."

K. [not a boy, but prefers pockets for this sort of thing]

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

85% I use every day. 15% I use once a week.

[cornfields.livejournal.com]

8.5. But mine is all leather, and there's a heck of a lot of loose change involved.

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

No purse here, but my mother's once weighed in at a whopping 13 lbs. That was back when I was in the age range of your daughters, methinks. She slimmed it down steadily over the ensuing years, and now carries something fairly svelte.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

I've no idea, but it's pretty hefty. That's why I switched to one of those purse-backpack things. (Well, that and the fact that my purse was bonking Meg in the head every time I bent over to pick her up.)

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

6 pounds 1.1. ounces, possibly because I've culled things (some of which I'm regretting culling today) over the past week.

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I doubt mine even weighs two pounds, but that's because about a month ago, I realized that it was actually hurting me, went out and bought the lightest purse I could find and pared down what I carry in it. Now it's all just various ID cards, practically no money, my WW points-slider-doffer and my work ID. But there's still room for a paperback if I need to carry a book -- so far, I haven't gone anywhere that required bookage.

[snippy]

I dunno, but when I walked out for lunch today, I had 10 dollars in one pocket, and in the other pocket my driver's license, a credit card, and a handkerchief. And that's how I prefer it.

[redbird]

My list of essentials also includes my house keys--just in case the office burns down while I'm out of it. (Yes, that's unlikely, but not unheard of.)

[snippy]

There is a key to my house on my property, which is both hidden and protected by a combination lock. My kids were forever losing their keys and being locked out of the house after school, but they can remember the combination to the hidden vault where the key is--or, worst case, I was able to remind them of the combination over the phone, and then change it when I got home.

[redbird]

That sounds entirely sensible.

Everyone's list of essentials differs somewhat, and one of the differences is "do I have a workaround if I don't have this?"

From another angle, the reason I carry a PDA is that it weighs and bulks significantly less than the paper it replaced (including address book, appointment book, and miscellaneous paper lists--I'm not counting the calculator, the transit direction finder, or the games, because those were unexpected extras, not part of my original motivation).

[snippy]

Also, because I like going without a purse, I have a kit of essentials stashed at work, and another one in the car. That way I don't have to carry things back and forth, they are with me in the places where I spend most of my time.

And in addition to that kit, because I work in a high rise I have a bug-out bag at work, with various supplies meant to last 3 days.

[gamps-garret.livejournal.com]

I have to ask, what exactly is a bug-out bag?

[snippy]

It's a bag for in case you have to bug out. For example, if there were an earthquake and the building became unsafe, and we were evacuated; or if there were a flood, and I couldn't get home (I work on the opposite side of the river from my office). If for any reason there is a survivable emergency, I have supplies (food, water, bandages, paper/pens/pencils, extra money both folding and coins, dusk mask, folding emergency blanket, flashlight and batteries, pocket knife, etc.) in a backpack under my desk, easily grabbed on the run.

[gamps-garret.livejournal.com]

My purse probably only weighs three -- because it's small. But my briefcase is probably a little over 20. I think it's more a question of what's in the bag of choice, rather than the bag itself. Perhaps there's a "what's in your purse" meme, there?

I'll put it together and link you after making dinner. :-)

[gamps-garret.livejournal.com]

As promised, if a few days later than anticipated. (http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamps_garret/46522.html)

[til-midnight.livejournal.com]

My purse weights about four pounds. However, it's a small purse and it's stuffed.

[aome.livejournal.com]

We don't have a scale here, but maybe I'll give the baby-scale a try when I take the girls in for their checkups next month. My purse is relatively small, and I always carry it diagonally cross my body (theft-deterrent, too), so even though it's full, I'd like to hope it's not TOO bad.

[guipago.livejournal.com]

I don't carry a purse (i have a strange tendency to leave them places) so whenever I need to carry more than my inhalor, my wallet, my cell, and my keys I carry my backpack which varies from 2lbs to 48lbs depending on the time of year, where I'm going, and what I've doing...

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Three pounds. I resisted carrying a purse for a long, long time after I /w/a/s /f/r/e/e/d became a happy freelancer. Alas, the things that I must have with me when I leave the house has outgrown my pockets.

[hotarunokokoro.livejournal.com]

i don't carry a purse. i feel like it does these things:
a)makes you a target.
b)ties up your hands.
c)causes you to forget/lose it when going to parties and such.

although , annie did convince me to buy a small black one for special occasions when she worked at fashion square.... i hardly ever use the thing!

so what do i use???
my jeans pockets!
=^.^=

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

All of my purses have extra long straps which I use diagonally across the chest: free hands and much more theft deterring. I don't usually forget it because I put my car keys in it and I can't go anywhere without them.

MKK

[hotarunokokoro.livejournal.com]

excellent ideas! i will confess though, that when i did carry a purse, i used to think i 'needed' so much stuff, that i do over load it...but i love my kicking jeans pockets... they can hold my cell, car keys, and wallet! besides, century was having a sale on them and they were only 7$ a pair!!! sweet comfort!

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I try to carry most of my stuff in pockets...I find a purse only necessary on long trips and sometimes when I have to stuff my book in it, in which case it's usually an Army messenger bag.

[patchfire.livejournal.com]

I've been carrying my wallet in the diaper bag (3 month old), along with my sunglasses. When I go out w/o the baby (not v. frequent), I stick the wallet in my right back pocket, cell in my left back pocket, keys in my right front pocket, and leave the house keys in the car. I used to carry a heavy purse and ouch! I always end up going back to the wallet-in-pocket.

[vass]

I don't own a scales, but I'll guess between 2 and 4.

Mobile phone, PDA, drawing pad, various papers, ID, pen, paper, change, receipts, thumb drive. The mobile phone's on a lanyard clipped to the bag. Sometimes I stick my Game Boy in there as well.

There's room in the back pocket for a smallish paperback novel (mass market fits, TPBs don't) in case I want something I can't get on my PDA.

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

Mine's probably more, since I have my iPod in there, but it used to be more when I had my Palm IIIc *and* foldable keyboard in there. Now it's just the Tungsten T5.

I'll try to remember to weigh it when I get home tonight.

I don't think I could fit all my stuff in an Ameribag. :(

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Not even the Widebody model? The one on the upper right.

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

Likely not. I'm considering trying to find a place that sells them, so I can look and see.

I carry a LOT in my purse. *grin*

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

4 lbs., 2 oz. And that's Small Child's diaper bag, too. Plus knitting.

[(Anonymous)]

No purse. I am not allowed to carry one. If I ever break down & carry one, I inevitably leave it somewhere or it is stolen. Without exception. Every time it happens, I say to myself, "What made you think you had the ability to carry a purse?" Absolutely incapable. Pockets only. Heather