What are the basics you always have in your handbag?

I do not have a lot in my bag however I always have a shopping bag, and tissues, as well as dry eye drops, chewing gum, and an individual pack of real coffee.
As well I obviously have a purse and I think I have forgotten a few things - oh, a comb

by Finy

Ah, the passport . . . . well, I don't have a safe in this house. My bag is RFID and theft proof so for the time being it is in my bag. ⊙﹏⊙ Not ideal but I will find a spot for it . . . . then hope I remember where I put it. LOL

As little as possible as the weight of any bag bothers me. Anyway . . . Lip balm, hand cleanser, pen, handkerchief, ATM cards, passport, garage door clicker, two fold out shopping bags and my purse.

by Rice

Passport?

Oh, I forgot the mobile phone. . . . that thing that ruins your outings by making it possible for people to "need" you at any juncture.

passport?

I deliberately bought a small bag at the Boxing day sales last year. I am sick of carrying around so much unnecessary rubbish. I really only need my purse and my phone, but I also have a pen and a pad and some mints. I used to carry a comb, but I left the one from the bathroom at the pool the other day, so I am using the small one out of my bag. That's it !! Just the basics. I am not missing all the other rubbish that I used to tote around, and my back is thanking me for it.

by Lluxi

Ah, the passport . . . . well, I don't have a safe in this house. My bag is RFID and theft proof so for the time being it is in my bag. ⊙﹏⊙ Not ideal but I will find a spot for it . . . . then hope I remember where I put it. LOL

Lipstick, tissues and a purse. I could also say a phone, but if worse came to worst I could live without it in my bag - I'm not one of those people who can't function without it (& who annoy the daylights out of everyone by walking down the street with their face buried in it, not looking where they're going!).

by poppy

Bless you Poppy, you are in the minority, like me. It's not just the face buried in the phone, it's the volume . . . as if they want the whole world to know about their terminally boring existence. *eye roll* :-)))

agreed whole heartedly, Poppy!

I use a smaller handbag now as I've found my usual larger ones get too heavy but still manage to get too much in it. Large money purse, small purse with coins in it, tissues, comb, hand sanitiser, security wallet with debit and credit cards, store cards, opal and pension cards, pen, shopping pad, reading glasses, salt (as I can't eat some foods without salt and also helps if I get cramps whilst out), lipstick, mobile phone, piece of citrine, oral mouth gel for dry mouth and a cardboard drink coaster because I don't like having a cold drink and the condensation running down the glass, onto the table then dripping all over me as I drink.

by helga

My little wallet with all cards (10).
A bit of paper info(very small amount).
A pen
Meds. (just 1-2 days works) in blister pack.
Tissues( just qrt pack )
Lipstick.

by jonaja

Jumped out of my skin . . . until I realised you meant med-i-cation . . . . LOL
Ooooh aaaah.

and I should have put 'worths' not works....you can see my mind has gone?

Wallet, keys, phone

by AJ

I try not to carry too much but the "essentials" soon add up
wallet, tissues, sunglasses, ventolin, hair brush, mobile, mobile phone charger, car key, lipstick, pen,

by Shelley Murphy

I have, a diary, pen, sun glasses, notepad, tissues,
phone, purse, tiny purse for my 1/2 dozen cards, 2 front door keys, & a couple of 'silk' shopping bags, & I think that's it.

by Miro

Wallet, mobile phone, cosmetic pouch, tissues, hankies, shopping list note book, keys, hand cleansers both liquid & wet-ones, ITablet, water bottle.

Always use either a tote bag, or shoulder bag, as my 'load' is heavy!

by donjo