The MS clinic nurse took my purse one day to move it to the desk while I climbed on the table, and said WHOA whatcha got in there, bricks? I guess I had not thought about how heavy it was. it weighed in at 7lbs! that is a lot of weight to carry. I came home spread it all out on the table and got serious about what I NEED to carry, vs what I was used to carrying.

I split my purse into two. I had a tiny purse with a long strap that wraps around me that I carried into stores, and then I would leave the monster in the car locked up. After several months I realized I almost never looked in the monster bag, so why lug it around, and worry about is it safe.

There is an Iphone ap (android too) that you can scan all your loyalty cards into your phone. You just pull it up, and they scan your phone, and I lost that big wad of key tags hanging off my bag. I scanned in medical cards, I updated my address book, and calendar and really made use out of this amazing toy. it cut my load by far.

Now I carry a small wallet, and my phone. im down to 1.4 pounds. not bad! I put all my other credit cards that I have no intention of using away in the safe, along with my SS card, my passport, and other such things. Why do I need to carry my wedding license? My sons birth cert? My ID showing I graduated from college? Is the price is right guy gonna stop me on the street and say "show me your Yale ID and I will give you $20"?

It was an adjustment, but im happy with it.

My little zipper coin/card purse doesn't weigh much at all. And even my little cross body purse doesn't weigh much.

As I posted about my cousin, who incidentally has a bad back, had a purse that weighed 20 lbs. We weighed it. She had everything in there except for the kitchen sink. Awful.

Even though it's something I had to give up......it was something that I didn't "need" and I'm better able to provide food to the feral kitties in my backyard. I'd rather pay for two large bags of Iam's than one purse that I might use once or twice. My priorities have have definitely changed for the better! For everything I've had to let go of there's been twice as much good to come of it. And I thank God for it every day.

I have two purses, neither very big. They hold my Kindle, small credit card holder with all my cards,etc. My handicap card and I can put a small bottle of hand sanitizer in also. It weighs less than 5lbs and has handles long enough I can put on my shoulder and hold under my arm.

I used to never carry one, I always put everything in my pockets, but now I wear pants that may not have pockets. Yep little by little we give up...soon we can give up having to give up. lol

My wallet is a little credit card holder that came out of a larger wallet. All I need is something to carry my credit card and insurance card, and the occasional gift cards that I have. Any cash I have can get folded up and stuck behind one of the credit cards. (I dont have a checking account, so I dont need a big huge checkbook holder.)

the credit card holder usually stays in my jeans/shorts pocket, so normally my cash and cards and cellphone are with me on my person.

That way if I lose my purse, I dont lose anything more than some tampons and an ipod/kindle. (I can always get another ipod/kindle if I lose my purse, credit cards tho, I'd have to call and cancel) My ipod has my name engraved on the back of it. If someone goes to pawn it, I'll probably get it back. If I lose the Kindle, my plan is to call Amazon and have it bricked as soon as I can.

I still carry a purse but did switch from my prefered long handled/hanging by my hip style to a short handled/over shoulder & under armpit style (what most women would loop over a forearm or carry by strap). I have to have a purse to carry my walet, tampons, wee brush (long hair), w/c placard and bathroom supplies (thank you leakage...). I use two forearm crutches and AFOs and just found the short strap style fits well under my armpit & doesn't interfere too much with ambulation. If it is a really bad day my dear husband just carries it (he usually has me carry his keys keys anyway...).

Gotta love a man who is fine with carrying a bright purple Dooney & Bourke bag!

how about a fanny pack? remember those from days gone by?
i used to use them when i took a hike or went to a concert. gosh, how long ago that was.

i'm sure they're still available.

I used them a lot and I still do at times - on the side of my tummy not my backside. You can buy them most anywhere. I have about three of them. One with only one zippered opening, another with a couple zippered openings and another with more. The one with one zippered opening lies pretty flat on your tummy or a bit to the side as I use them.

I still carry a a purse. Well really a mini purse. It holds my money, keys, credit/debit card, change, I.D., phone, compact, lip stick, and hand santizer. I carry it on my shoulder or in my hand.They're cute and I can change to match outfits without breaking bank.

I called the fanny packs, "butt bags". (rolled off the tongue easier, or something?)

I used one up until the very first time I felt numbness. I was at the zoo, it was a really hot day, and my boyfriend had a friend who was running the wood-fired steam train. He got the friend to let me ride up on the engine, right behind the furnace that burns the wood. The heat was fairly intense. I got off the train right after that...ok...fell off, and that was the first time I felt numbness in my leg from MS. (scared the crap out of me!)

I wore my bag cross the front of my stomach. Was always too worried someone would unzip it from behind me and steal my stuff. The numbness was too uncomfortable, and I quit wearing bags like that around that time. I still have it tho. I've had that bag for over 20yrs and it's still in great shape.

maybe I'll try using it again. It doesnt really much much protection for the stuff I carry now tho, e-readers, ipods, headphones...

If I was better at sewing, I'd try to design the perfect purse. Then I could finally get something in a color that I really like, with all the pockets and stuff.