Organizing Your Purse And Wallet

By Lisa Sousa

If you're like me, you might find yourself digging through your bag for a length of time to get items such as your cell phone, keys, wallet, or any other personal items. You may also find over time that your purse is also home to many small pieces of paper, receipts, candy wrappers, change and other things that accumulated over time. If you find yourself carrying around a messy purse that is heavy and cumbersome, you may want to clean and organize it.

Here Are The Easy Steps To A Cleaner, More Organized Purse:

1. Completely empty out your purse

2. Sort out the contents of the purse in 4 categories; one pile for garbage, one for items to be relocated, such as pens, one for items to be kept in purse such as wallet, small personal items and cell phone, and another pile for items to be filed such as business cards and documents.

3. It is easiest to start with cleaning out the garbage such as papers, old business cards, candy wrappers and tissues. When you are done cleaning out the garbage, take the garbage straight to the trash can and move on to the things you want and need to keep.

4. Work on the items to be filed such as receipts, documents, appointment cards and file them right away to avoid losing them altogether.

5. Work on items that you need to relocate such as extra hair clips, brushes, combs and extra pens.

6. Organize the stuff you have chosen to keep in your purse. A good suggestion is to use Ziploc bags for some of your personal items and to keep them in smaller groups. These items can be personal care such as make up, a small tissue packet and a lip balm/gloss or lipstick and one hair clip or tie. You can store other health and beauty aids such as medicine and feminine hygiene in the smaller side pocket of the purse. Don't forget your wallet, cell phone and working pens.

What Do You Really Need In Your Purse?

After the chore of organizing is done you might be wondering what is really needed in your purse. Until now, you may have been carrying everything including the kitchen sink and it may have resulted in broken purse handles or your purse wearing out before it's time. You may also be tired of it still being full and heavy even after cleaning it out. If that is the case, maybe it is time for you to de clutter your purse even further. A good rule in purses is to pare down to the basics of what you need; these items may include:

• Wallet
• Keys
• Checkbook
• Organizer or Date book
• Only The Cosmetics You Regularly Touch Up With During The Day
• Medical Supplies If Needed In Small Amounts or Medication
• Comb and mirror
• A Working Pen Or Pencil
• Glasses/Sunglasses If Needed

Other Tips:

You might want to consider carrying a smaller purse if you have the tendency to fill every space in it. You might want to avoid the temptation of trying to put more items in your purse than you need to if you do need a bigger one. If you normally read while waiting for a bus or appointments, a purse with a reader's pocket might be a good choice. this pocket allows you to grab your book without digging through other things. You might also want to collect any large amounts of change that you may have accumulated and trade them in for bills for your wallet. This will also help lighten your load.

How About Your Wallet?

• Once your purse is cleaned and de cluttered, it would also be a good idea to clean and organize your wallet. Like your purse, your wallet can also accumulate a lot of garbage and change that make it difficult to find what you need.
• Empty your wallet onto a table or other safe spot
• Throw out any old papers, coupons and receipts
• If you have any foreign coins and bills that you are no longer using, put them elsewhere
• File away any appointment cards business cards that need to be filed
• Keep a small amount of currency as well as relevant credit cards, other cards and stamps. A good tip is to make photocopies of all important credit cards and documentation in case you lose something.