It shouldn’t be where receipts go to die. Where half-melted lip balms hide for months. Where coins breed, multiply, and then vanish when you actually need them.
If your bag feels like a chaotic jungle where old gum wrappers and mystery crumbs roam free—yeah, you need help. Like, now. But don’t worry, I got you.
Let’s dive deep. Not just clean-it-and-forget-it deep. I mean life-changing, never-look-back deep. Here’s how to organize your purse in a way that’ll make you question how you ever lived any other way.
1. Start with The Purse Dump—Yes, All of It
First things first. You gotta face the beast.
Unzip it. Dump everything. Not some of it. Everything.
Don’t just peek in there and think “it’s not that bad.” You’re lying to yourself. Spread it all out on the table. Brace yourself for old mints, tangled headphones, sticky pens, forgotten hair ties, and receipts from 3 Christmases ago. I once found a rock. A literal rock. No memory of how it got there.
This part ain’t glamorous, but it’s cleansing. Weirdly therapeutic too. Like your purse went to therapy and finally opened up.
2. Make a “Nope” Pile, Ruthlessly
Now you look at that pile and start judging.
Like, hard.
If it doesn’t serve a purpose or spark joy (yes, we’re going full Marie Kondo), it’s a nope. That lipstick you haven’t worn since your ex ghosted you in 2022? Trash. The broken hair clip you swore you’d fix? Trash. The mystery key you think might open something somewhere someday? Girl, it’s trash.
Be ruthless. If it hasn’t been useful in the last month, it’s not allowed back in.
This is purse rehab. Only the worthy survive.
3. Group by Vibe, Not Just Use
Now that your emotional purge is done, it’s time to group what’s left.
But don’t just do the boring thing and group by category like “beauty” or “tech.” Nah. Group by vibe. Things that make you feel calm. Things that make you feel in control. Things you grab when you’re running late and kinda sweating.
For example: emergency touch-up kit (tiny perfume, compact, hair tie, gum). That’s one vibe.
Or your “I’m responsible” vibe: planner, pens, painkillers, phone charger.
It makes your stuff easier to find when your brain is in chaos mode. Trust me, it works.
4. Use Pouches (But Not the Ugly Ones)
You need pouches. Plural. But like…cute ones.
No shade, but that free makeup bag from 2014? She’s tired. Retire her.
Get a couple small pouches that make you want to use them. I’ve got one that says “emergency glam” and another one that looks like a tiny avocado. No reason. Just vibes.
Label ’em mentally or physically if that’s your thing. The trick here is to never let anything float freely in your bag unless it’s a wallet or phone. If it doesn’t have a home, it gets lost. Fast.
Also, clear pouches = 10/10. You see it, you grab it, no drama.
5. The One-In-One-Out Rule is Pure Magic
This rule? Life-saving.
Every time you add something new into your purse, you gotta take something out.
You just got a new lip gloss? Cool. Pick one to stay home. Don’t let your purse turn into a beauty store dumpster.
This simple rule keeps your bag from bloating like it’s been through 3 Thanksgiving dinners. Plus, it makes you think before you shove random stuff in there. Self-awareness is sexy.
6. The Snack Situation Needs Structure
You know you got snacks in there. Don’t deny it.
And that’s okay. But let’s be real—it can’t be a snack graveyard.
Old granola bars with the wrappers half open? Crumbs from crackers you swear you don’t remember eating? Nope.
Designate a snack pouch. Or even better—a small ziplock you refresh weekly. Put in 2 max. That’s it. You’re not catering a road trip. You’re surviving daily life.
Oh and PSA: anything chocolate-based is a ticking time bomb. Don’t be the girl with a melted Kit-Kat horror scene in her lining.
7. The “Tiny Essentials” Kit Will Save Your Day
Okay. This one’s a game-changer.
Make a mini kit of those tiny, clutch, lifesaving items that don’t seem important until your day falls apart.
A safety pin. Bandaids. Mini deodorant. That weird straw cleaner brush thing. A single hair tie (that isn’t already covered in lint). Nail file. A tampon or two.
Put ’em all in one tiny zip pouch. I call mine “the fix-it kit.”
You’ll feel like a goddess of preparedness. Your friend gets a paper cut? You’re ready. Shirt button pop off? Boom. Tampon needed during brunch? You are the chosen one.
8. Track What You Actually Use for a Week
Weird idea, but hear me out.
For one week, every time you reach into your purse—write it down or note it in your phone. Just the stuff you actually use.
You’d be shocked. Half of the junk in there? Useless. It’s just chilling for no reason like unpaid rent.
After a week, check your notes. Only keep the stuff you used at least twice. Or stuff you’d cry over if it went missing.
This mini audit is weirdly fun. Like spying on yourself. You’ll get savage real quick about what earns its spot.
9. Do a Weekly “Purse Reset” (Takes 4 Minutes, Tops)
Last but definitely not least: the purse reset.
Pick a day. Any day. Mine’s Sunday night, just before bed. Empty your bag. Toss trash. Restock your kits. Remove anything that wandered in that doesn’t belong.
It takes 3–4 minutes. Tops.
But it feels like you just cleaned your whole life. It’s like a little ritual. A weirdly satisfying one.
You get to start the week with a purse that’s not trying to sabotage you. And that? That’s powerful.
Bonus Tip: Get a Bag That Works With You, Not Against You
I know, this one hurts. But if your purse is making your life harder—it might be time to break up.
If it has a dark lining and no compartments? Bye.
If it only closes halfway so things keep falling out? Bye.
If it’s cute but makes your shoulder feel like it’s carrying a toddler? Byeeeeee.
You deserve a bag that loves you back. One that fits your essentials without becoming a black hole of doom.
Invest in the one. Or rotate between two that serve different vibes. Either way, the bag itself matters. Don’t underestimate it.
Final Thoughts
This ain’t just about cleaning.
It’s about control. About having your life in order when the rest of the world is on fire.
It’s about knowing where your keys are when your brain’s doing 10 tabs open with music playing somewhere.
Organizing your purse won’t fix everything, sure. But it’ll fix a lot more than you’d expect.
You’ll move smoother. Feel lighter. Panic less.
And every time you reach in and pull out exactly what you need, you’ll feel a little smug. A little powerful.
Like, “yeah, I do have a phone charger, chapstick, painkiller, and stain remover pen in here. What about it?”
So go on.
Dump that purse.
