Every year as school begins I read about heavy backpacks for children. Perhaps that will change as schools give out laptops and iPads for textbooks.  For now it’s rolling backpacks.

On a day to day basis I don’t need a backpack…at least I hope not.  Some days I wonder.  My purse is loaded to the gills.

The average woman’s purse weighs 7 to 10 pounds.  The ideal weight is 3 to 5 pounds.  For me it should be even less as a former back surgery patient.

Uh, oh.  I’m in trouble if my back surgeon sees this.  My favorite purse weighed in at…

That’s 10 pounds!!! What the heck do I have in there. Well let’s see.

That includes…

• cell phone
• iPod shuffle & charger
• mini calendar
• house keys and work keys
• inhaler/Epi-pen/Benadryl
• Chap stick
• Lip Gloss (I haven’t used since 2009)
• Camera Tripod (and the camera I’m taking pictures with)
• Wallet – stuffed to the gills
• Business cards – for work and blogging
• Appointment cards and business cards collected
• Honest Tea Bottle Caps
• Batteries
• Change and Cash – found in the bottom
• Apple & Gluten Free Bar
• 3 Notebooks
• Weight Watchers Book
• 2 Work Wallets
• 2 Post-it Note Pads
• Hair tie and Bobby Pins
• Earrings
• Water Bottle
• Nook
• Cookie – To use in a recipe soon

Oh my it shocks me to just look at that list. What was I thinking?

Most doctors suggest using a smaller purse but some of us love our large bags. Instead we need to downsize.

I eliminated the crap and duplicates and the completely ridiculous.  What remained was…

• My Phone – Grimace
• Camera and Tripod
• Keys – for work and home
• 2 pens – in case one breaks
• Business cards – half the amount
• Personal wallet – downsized
• Work Wallet – Lightened
• Epi-Pen/Inhaler/Benadryl
• Earrings, hair tie and bobby pins
• Mini calendar
• Notebook and one set post-its
• replacement batteries
• Chap stick
• Change for tolls
• Gluten Free Snack
• Occasionally: Water Bottle and Nook

The moment of truth would be the weight…

Ugh! If I take out my water bottle and only carry it when needed I’m down to…

Tada! I did it.  I’ve kept it up, too.  I also leave my Nook in the car when possible.

Now if only I could work on my blogging bag.

How much does your purse weigh? What can you reduce?