Lost my purse

Citygirl1

Vikki_74 wrote: »

I personally don't think shoulder bags are as safe...mainly because I either dropped or had my purse lifted out of one (never found out which) a couple of years ago so have stuck to cross-body bags ever since. As well as being right there where I can see / feel it, I find I actually close it properly (zip, clasp, whatever) unlike when I had a shoulder bag - really bad I know but I was always leaving the fastenings open as it was more of a faff to do them up and undo them all the time.

If you're finding a cross body bag is pulling on your shoulder, daft question but could you just carry less stuff?! Really not being sarcastic here - I am terrible for carting my whole life around with me but am trying to get better as I was sick of carrying a huge bag all the time! Do you actually need everything you're carrying in there?

Or use your handbag for just purse, keys, phone, makeup & whatever and carry a tote bag for anything bulky / heavy? This is my current solution - I use it for work to carry my lunch, book, umbrella etc (currently scarf, two pairs of gloves, earmuffs...!). Also useful if you're out shopping for odd bits instead of using plastic bags all the time.

This post rings so true with me, I am the same with my shoulder bag, it is more of a faff to zip up and I often leave it open with the thought that it will be safe as its under my arm, evitably not. I could have easily put it down on my knee on the bus and my purse tipped out of it, just assuming there.

Now I am back to using my smaller cross body bag which cost £5 from the market and I actually like it better than the proper leather one, this is one of those patchwork leather ones but it seems lighter somehow whereas the other one is heavy before I put anything in it. I can cram quite a bit in there, my small purse, mobile phone, earphones, credit card wallet, small hairbrush, lipstick and tablet box, the one thing I can't get in is my diary which I do like to carry in my handbag. Its not a big diary, its slimline but still takes up room as its quite long.

I do carry a tote bag with my lunch in for work and have currently put my diary in there, I also put my Kindle or small laptop in there when I am using those on the go. The stuff I can fit into this small cross body bag is the same amount of stuff I put in the other leather one but it all felt so much heavier in there.

The purse is working well because I am now putting my cards, stamps etc in a separate wallet so all I need the purse for is a few notes and loose change (I am leaving the bulk of my money at home now). My purse has come that I ordered online but its nowhere near like the Tula one that I lost, even though it looked identical on the website, its not genuine leather and the inside is flimsy, they have just put a Tula card inside it to make it look like the real thing. I am hoping to return it for a refund. The little cheaper purse is working for now.

I have a friend who has a small cross body bag to keep her essentials in and always carries a rucksack with everything else in, thats her solution. I am trying to carry the minimum now as I have always carted my life around in my handbag but I realise someday I might need things like reading glasses to carry out to add to the bulk or more tablets as I get older so how does a smaller bag work then? I see many women though, young and old, with small cross body bags so it must be working.

jenniewb

I'd recommend thinking about a rucksack. I am supposed to (and do) use one now because I have so much lower back pain and as it never goes away I am trying everything to make sure it doesn't get worse! But what is important with a rucksack is that you get one that has supportive straps, as wide and as strong as possible and with padding is even better- sports styles tend to make these best.

Its also vital you make sure it closes securely and that your able to bury items in it as pick pockets will go for rucksacks and if you leave important items easy to get to then it puts you at risk. If your rucksack has secret and inner zip-up pockets this is great, some even have a separate pouch which sits flat against your back and means you don't need to open your entire bag each time to get hold of stuff.

And another bag style which is a variation on the first idea above is the Healthy Back Bag, through not having seen any of these in person I am unable to comment on how secure they are when worn,

cyclingyorkie

i had my purse stolen years ago - I was helping with school swimming at the time and the bag containing my clothes and purse was in the parents viewing area which was a truely sickening feeling.....

i now carry my bag across my body - and you do need to have the handle longer to prevent it dragging.

You do get over the horrible feeling..... eventually...

Citygirl1

I'm gonna have to eat my words over the Tula purse I've received over the Net. I sent them an email to say I think the purse isn't genuine as its not leather fully inside like the one I lost, they wrote back to say they deal directly with Tula and their products are 100% genuine but have offered me a refund anyway.

Well I've been in John Lewis today and looked at the Tula purses in there, they don't have the one like I have but all the other Tula purses do have the material lining in them so they must have changed since I bought the one I lost from there about five years ago. I now have to reply to the email and eat humble pie

elfen

I use a slightly bigger bag cos of all the stuff I need to carry around....this is mine...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canvas-Across-body-Shoulder-Strap-Messenger-Courier-Bag-/280704665786?pt=UK_Women_s_Handbags&var=&hash=item870cd87848

I use the inside zip pocket for my purse but tip all the coins into the pocket ,and it is zipped at all times. It also hangs on your hip so it isn't in the way as much. Really sturdy and deceptively big....

I DO need a new wallet as I broke the zip on my Marvel one...

lilibet1

tula bags and purses are not the same quality of 20 years ago at all. Its such a shame.

I try not to carry too much personal stuff in my bag as im paranoid of loosing precious things, i used to keep my favourite photos in my purse but not anymore.x

fashionlover10

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Interesting how everybody that divides up their money is from or visiting London.


I wonder if we're naturally more suspicious, or whether we just have security drilled into us earlier?

I'm from London originally but now live in Essex and I actually feel safer about my bag when I'm in the city!