What's in Your Bag? How Do You Carry Less?

anastasiastarz on 01/10/2017 - 06:05

Hi Guys,

My bag is getting to the point where it's hurting my shoulder and neck, we've considered putting it on wheels, but I feel as though that will just encourage me to carry more. Currently weighs about 5kg, I'm an events planner and travel to the city on the trains most days. I carry my day with me pretty much, and I do clean out my bag weekly. I can't keep things at my desk (desk share/constantly moving) or in a locker. Checking out others' list the only thing I don't have is a spare pair of pantyhose. The oddest thing I have in my bag is a shoehorn.

What's in your bag? How do the guys carry next to nothing? Or for the ladies, how do you carry a smaller bag?

Education & Work

Comments

  • garetz on 01/10/2017 - 06:22
    +4

    If you are having problems with a mere 5kg, ive got news for you, its not the weight that is the issue, its your health. You should go see someone to help you get your core strength up.

    Also you might want to consider the bag itself and that the weight is distributed evenly over both shoulders, and your posture when walking. If you slouch 5kgs will feel like 20kgs.

    • CheapskateQueen on 01/10/2017 - 10:38
      +7

      5kg is a huge amount if it's a shoulder handbag.

    • outlander on 01/10/2017 - 12:17
      +1

      When walking, loose weight is subject to the forces of gravity. Lets say your step makes you fall 20cm. With gravity accelerating mass at 9m/s, that 5kg weight momentarily becomes 15kg with each step. Only for a second, but it still quite a strain and tires muscles quickly.

      • brokeunistudent on 01/10/2017 - 14:41
        +1

        Thanks Einstein

        • outlander on 01/10/2017 - 19:34
          +2

          Oh stop it! My ego's going to get out of control at this rate :)

    • anastasiastarz on 01/10/2017 - 19:56

      I got a friend (a guy) to pick up my bag today, he confirms I'm just weak.

  • coin saver on 01/10/2017 - 07:56
    -1

    "What's in Your Bag?" I have 2 balls in mine."How Do You Carry Less?" I carry nothing other than what is in my pockets i give everything else to my bag and she follows me.

    • oscargamer on 01/10/2017 - 10:34
      -2

      Lol. Why the negs? Sense of humour failure?

  • JIMB0 on 01/10/2017 - 08:16

    There's hundreds of videos on YouTube of what's in my bag.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wgQ_HvaSORY

  • pegaxs on 01/10/2017 - 09:12

    Phone, wallet, keys, ID. That’s it for me. Occasionally I carry a back up battery, cables and a pen. If I’m in the truck, my logbook.

    I think they need a show like Hoarders but for bags. I’ve seen some people carry the most amazing amount of crap that they just don’t need. One lady had a bicycle pump. Why? Just get rid of all your “just in case” stuff.

    And I’ll tell you this for free, if you get a bigger bag on wheels, you will just carry more stuff until you move into another bigger bag and the cycle starts again, next thing you know you’ve moved up to the shopping jeep…

  • idonotknowwhy on 01/10/2017 - 09:52
    +1

    Pretty much just Phone, earbuds, and sometimes wallet for me. Android pay handles payment most of the time, can't wait for the train system to switch to a phone app.

  • retiredfeline on 01/10/2017 - 10:04

    Have you got a laptop in there? That probably accounts for half the weight. A reading book? That's probably ½ kg.

    • anastasiastarz on 01/10/2017 - 11:41

      I'm currently reading Hp3. But I love my real books and can't seem to handle ebooks…

  • Kail on 01/10/2017 - 12:08

    Have you considered a small backpack?
    I find them much easier to carry around than over-the-shoulder bags, so always take one on holidays instead of my work bag.
    The ones that open at the top like this are great if you can fit everything into it - https://www.strandbags.com.au/handbags/cabrelli-pocket-backp…

    Otherwise maybe look at everything in your bag and ask yourself, do I use this daily? Do I need to use this or is it just optional? How will it affect my day if I did not bring this to work with me? Can I bring something smaller instead of this?

  • outlander on 01/10/2017 - 12:26

    Pretty simple. Work out what you need, when you might use it, and what the next alternative would be.

    Lets say you carry a bottle of shampoo, in case you end up at a hotel. First off, do you need to carry so much? Can you cut the bottle down to size, or switch to a plastic satchet? Second, how often do you have to leave without any warning? Most of the time you have to go back to the house anyway, so may as well leave it out of the bag. Third, let say you buy your shampoo from the supermarket. Most places have a supermarket within 15min, so the consequences of not having shampoo in your bag all the time is that you have to take a 15min trip to the supermarket, and spend $10 on shampoo. Not exactly life threatening.

    By doing this I slimmed myself down. I carry tissues, but only one or two instead of a pack. I carry a wallet, but leave out store cards unless I plan to visit them. I carry money, but I tip it out at the end of the day and refill it with a preallocated amount. I carry keys, but hopefully not for much longer. That and my phone is about it.

  • the-mal on 01/10/2017 - 12:41

    Phone, wallet, glasses, keys, pen, Surface. All I ever take to and from work.

    Phone, wallet, keys, pen and glasses all go in pockets or on my clothes and I carry the Surface.

    For the wallet, I use a Bellroy Slim Sleeve so it fits in any pocket without looking bad. I have 2 key chains, one with the essentials only (front door and single car key) that comes with me daily, the other is locked in my car. The Surface lets me go as paperless as possible. All set with minimal fuss and minimal weight.

  • ectogammat on 01/10/2017 - 15:00

    My bag is pretty small and slim. In it are: my wallet, small umbrella, keys, sunglasses, hand sanitiser, phone, earphones, lip balms and a couple of makeup items, tissues,

  • [Deactivated] on 02/10/2017 - 02:10
    +1

    Why don't YOU list what you have in your bag?

    Then maybe people could suggest what you could do without carrying.

    • anastasiastarz on 02/10/2017 - 09:32

      Brace yourself, it's long. Everything doesn't weigh that much, but it's the sum.

      Gloves - if not wearing
      Umbrella - once I forgot it, it was a nightmare
      Water/Snacks
      Book (varies in sz)
      Money/Keys/Cards
      Tote - empty
      Notebook (sm, not my diary)
      Tiny make-up bag (lipstick, mirror)
      Glasses
      Camera (sm)
      Wetwipes/knife/fork/spoon
      Tissues
      Clear bag of assorted thing - cards, lip balm, hand/cuticle cream, nail clippers, bandaids

      • retiredfeline on 02/10/2017 - 09:50

        Drop the umbrella unless it's raining or going to and carry a thin plastic raincoat, about 60g. Take a thinner reading book and save the thick one for reading before bed. Carry a smaller water bottle and refill more often. Plastic cutlery, the ones airlines hand out can be reused many times. Smaller portions of personal care products.

      • Kail on 02/10/2017 - 12:11

        Do you have a really compact little umbrella? If not go out and get the tiniest one you can find. If yes, good job.

        Agree with greenpossum, read smaller books when out and about.

        For your lipstick + mirror, do you mean the little lipstick case that comes with a mirror, like this? http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mhEz4Id_TvmxhPGscJurV… If not and you are using a fullsize mirror, maybe try switching to one of those cases instead.

        Can you use your phone as a camera?

        I agree that wetwipes are useful. Have you considered buying a spork which does the job of knife, spoon and fork all at once?

        For tissues if you are using those little packets of them, maybe try folding your own tissues instead. Not only are they thinner but I find they are nicer on the nose.

        Cards? As in cards that won't fit in your wallet? Do you really need all of those cards? Also does your phone case have a pocket for cards? Mine has slots for 2, though I don't use them for that.

        You already carry lipstick, do you need lip balm too? Hand cream and nail clippers can also stay at home, just use them night and morning when needed? Bandaids are good to carry, I assume you are just carrying 1-3 loose and not an entire packet. Maybe stuff them in the same pocket of your bag as the folded tissues.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/10/2017 - 13:19

    2 big balls

  • Quantumcat on 10/10/2017 - 11:50

    Surface pro
    Charger
    Hdmi cord/adapter
    Wallet
    Keys
    Phone
    3DS
    Building pass
    Backup battery
    Charge cords
    Kindle
    Notepad
    Pen

    All fits in here: https://i.pinimg.com/236x/3d/90/0d/3d900d09a5710e8f125498ef4…

  • Sassenach on 25/10/2017 - 21:45

    Hi OP have you considered the weight of your handbag? Maybe a lighter handbag will help.
    I carry all my stuff to my office job in a fairly light backpack -
    Lunch
    A small clutch that I use as a wallet (has room for lipstick and lip balm)
    Phone
    Headphones
    Library book
    A small craft project (I like to crochet or cross stitch on the train)
    Cardigan or scarf

    I check the weather forecast each morning and will take a raincoat if required.

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