These two mesh bags have a very important job in my life.

They help to keep my handbag organised. One has my makeup and the other has the medication I’m taking at the moment and my sweetener.

The pink one came in a set of three (for only R12,99 [$1,30] at Sheet Street – I know, crazy!) and I use the biggest of those to keep all my smaller bits and pieces organised when the handbag I’m using is just one big open cavern.

I can’t STAND scratching around looking for things. So all I have to do is haul the mesh bag out, get my wallet or car keys, and I’m good to go.

Why do I like these mesh bags to organise?

• I can categorise
• When I’m transferring items between handbags, I can quickly decide if I need it with me or not
• It’s see-through and I have a sincere love for any clear storage tools

Do you use smaller bags to organise your handbag? What other uses can you think of for mesh bags?

Check out the other favourite organising tools posts here

The great thing about loving handbags is that once people know that (which really doesn’t take too long with me), they bring you all these cool things to have a look at.

And of course, I’m always ready to take a photo

Like this…

This little gadget is a corporate gift we gave to some of our female brokers. The silver bits fold up and the whole thing looks like a coin when not in use.

The bottom of the circular disc has a rubber base so it doesn’t slide off the smooth surface of the table and then you hang your handbag off the edge.

I always think, “I hope my bag doesn’t get dirty on this floor” when I’m in a restaurant so I really think this is a great idea!

Now I just have to get one.

Isn’t it cute?

P.S. that isn’t my bag in the photo – it is waaaayyyyy too small for me!

P.P.S. Get your home organised in 2009.

Is it normal to want to switch purses about as much as you change your underwear because you can’t find one that is “just right”?

Part of my problem is I can find a planner that I want to stick with. I feel comfy with a 3 ring binder planner, but I guess can’t make up my mind what size. I don’t really want to carry around a lot and I guess I try to be like the other moms around me but my situation is different; I sometimes would like to just have a pocket planner, but I like to see details, ya know?

I am a mom, wife, have a part-time Avon business, work overnights, and am the only driver, I keep track of all administrative aspects of the house and am just confused. Do you think I should just stop and analyse what I like and need and stop trying to adapt to other people…

Charity Wilt

It is absolutely normal to want to keep switching purses (I call them handbags). That’s because either you haven’t found what works for you, or you don’t want to accept what is right for you and your situation. There’s no point having a tiny bag if you have lots of stuff you need to carry around.

You are comfortable with your 3-ring binder and it’s working for you, so EMBRACE that. Don’t try and be like all “the other moms” because your situation and theirs is so different.

About the size, I understand you don’t want to lug around a huge binder because a) it’s unattractive and b) it’s heavy so my suggestion is to experiment going to a slightly smaller size and see if that compromises much on how much detail you can see on the pages. You should be able to tell after about a week if it’s working for you or if it’s cramping your style, in which case, switch back

I think with the handbags there are two things that happen to me:

1. I get bored with using the same handbag day after day after day, which is why I have about 20 (tell your husband – he’ll think you’re great for only having 6!)
2. I do find that I can use one for a long time if it’s really functional.

I bought this beauty a few weeks ago. I love this colour because I feel sassy whenever I wear red. Also, there are so many pockets which means everything has a place and I never have to hunt for anything in this bag. Which also means it stays neat and tidy, another bonus!

I’ve used this one for the last 3 weeks non-stop without getting irritated (which is big, for me).

So, Charity, getting back to your question… I think you’ll keep changing bags until you find a really functional one that also looks good. Definitely make a list of what you’re looking for so you can keep your eyes open, and also when you’re in the store, repack your things and “fit on” the bag so you can see if it works for you.

Related posts
Organising my handbag
Organising my green handbag
Tackling my handbags

This is the last handbag for a while…unless I get obsessed with throwing out some more. The scary thing is there are many others I still have!

If you’ve been reading our travel blog, you might recognise this bag from our Ireland pictures.

I bought it at Primark at The Thistles in Stirling, Scotland because Dion said, “we have to wait for Suzanne to do anything touristy”. That was all I needed to hear to hit the shops

It is HUGE and everything gets lost once it gets inside – good for travelling so that my baggage allowance wasn’t compromised but not so good once we were home.

So, what are you decluttering today?

Yet another handbag…I know Beth thinks I’m crazy because she has a total of 4 handbags. I’m thinking, “how, exactly, do you match just 4 handbags to your personality?”

Clearly I have a screw loose!

An old, brown, casual handbag I got from Mr Price for R60 a gazillion years ago.

Out, out!!!

What are you decluttering today?

And now for my menu plan…
Monday
Stirfried chicken and rice with veggies

Tuesday
Spaghetti bolognaise prepared by Dion

Wednesday
Potato and sweetcorn bake, apricot chicken

Thursday
Pasta with spicy lentil and tomato sauce

Friday
Burgers and chips

Visit Laura for more menu ideas

• a good friend gave it to me
• it has my initials on it
• it’s the perfect size to carry exactly what you need

Have you been enjoying the stories behind my handbags?

I must say, I’ve been enjoying the process of giving them a voice before releasing them…sounds very woo-woo, doesn’t it?

But it’s working because I don’t feel like I have to hang onto them for the memories anymore!

Is it working for you too?

Right, back to today…

In Johannesburg, it gets really, really hot in summer. I can’t stand sandals with the strips of material over the feet and I practically live in these kinds of sandals (as you can see).

These ones have been with me to Thailand and Malaysia, and I have a picture of us on an elephant in a Thai jungle, with my feet in these

What did you declutter today?

I’ve been known to go up to complete strangers and ask them, “WHERE did you get that GORGEOUS bag?”

Some people will look at me like I’m weird but the true handbag lover will smile because they know what it’s like

That’s what I did to a girl at work and she told me, so I went out and got one.

I loved it for a while until my cell phone kept falling out of the little pockets because they were too wide.

When things don’t function properly, I go off them quite quickly. And that’s what happened to this brown bag.

I still love the look of this one…but after you have to scratch around in it for your cell phone for the THIRD time in the day and it’s only 10:00 in the morning… you get SO ready to switch to a more functional bag.

And that’s why this one is going.

Originally bought at Edgars for R129 about a year ago.

I bought this bag in Sydney, Australia

If memory serves me correctly, it was on Pitt Street. It’s in the financial district, right opposite a Gloria Jean’s coffee shop and near a Burger King. Trust me to remember all the food places

(I’ve just checked Google and I got the name correct – yay)

This is the hotel we stayed at.

While I’m strolling down memory lane, that was also the same street where I first saw a gay couple kiss. Oh, I do live a sheltered life!

I think I paid Aus $10 (R50) at the time, which was in April 2004.