Tote bags are a must-have and must-use for any and every woman on-the-go, but keeping your tote bags organized is always a challenge. Inevitably, important items such as your debit card, keys, or your reading glasses end up lost at the bottom of your handbag at the exact moment you need them.
Nonetheless, we still love and rely on tote bags. Whether you’re on-the-go because you’re a boss, a social butterfly, or a mother doing everything for everyone, a tote bag is a useful tool that helps you carry all the things you need to accomplish every single task on your daily to-do list.
I have a ton of handbags, but I mainly rely on two: a black Kate Spade tote bag and a brown Marc Jacobs tote bag. Both are rich-looking, but my black one is used mostly during the week, while the brown is saved for casual weekends.
Usually, switching from bag to bag can be a pain in the neck. But I find that so long as I depend on certain organizational accessories to hold my many things, I can easily switch around. I don’t always want to carry the same bag all the time. I need flexibility. So, here’s what you need to know about keeping your tote bags organized.
Track Your Keys
Do you multitask? Of course you do.
Being a busy bee makes you are a ripe candidate for misplacing your keys. Don’t beat yourself up about it. It happens to the best of us. But, with a KeySmart Pro with built-in Tile smart technology, you can actually call your keys from you phone. How cool is that?
The KeySmart Pro holds up to 14 keys and even includes a bottle opener (because now that school is back in session, what mom doesn’t want to open a cold one after a hectic morning readying the kiddos for class?). You can even clip on your car’s key fob, in case you’re guilty of losing that, too. No more running late!
Go to GetKeySmart.com for more info and to purchase.
Collect Cosmetic Pouches
All women have a collection of cosmetic pouches. We either stock up on them because they’re cute, or we’re often given them as gifts. However you acquired yours, will you please stop keeping them in a drawer and start using them?
Cosmetic pouches are great for holding more than your lipsticks. Use them to hold everything: pens, bobby pins, hand sanitizer, panty liners, your earbuds, etc. I normally have two to three in my tote bags.
Cosmetic pouches are what make it so easy to jump from bag to bag in a snap. The trick is that each time you use an item kept in your pouch, when you’re done with it, place it back within. Don’t just throw your item back in the tote bag because when you want to use it again, you won’t find it.
When it comes time to switch bags, instead of scooping loose items with your hands, you can simply grab your pouches and make a quick tote bag switch. Take a look at some cute cosmetic pouches below.
Depend on Wallets and Card Holders
Like cosmetic pouches, wallets and card holders help to keep you organized. I like to carry a wallet or a card holder (depending on my mood) for my ID and credit cards and an extra card holder for holding my business cards and any other business cards I pick up from other people.
You don’t necessarily need to use multiple wallets and card holders like I do, and, yes, a pouch can also work to carry your ID, credit cards, and business cards. But, if you desire a little extra boost to your organization strategy, then take a look at these wallets and card holders below.
Use Your Tote Bag’s Own Pockets
Commonly, tote bags and purses come with at least one interior zip pocket and very often with one or two interior slip pockets. Use them. If your tote bags have open tops (meaning they don’t zip or snap shut), be sure to store your valuables in the interior zip pocket to keep them safe. Slip pockets are great for keeping a pen, glasses, or anything you need quick access to.
Bonus Tip: Keep a Purse Hanger Handy
I hate when I sit down at a bar and there is no hook to hold my handbag; or worse, when I go to a bathroom stall and there is no hook on the door. Ugh!
While keeping a purse hanger handy isn’t necessarily going to aid you in keeping your tote bag organized, it will keep you prepared. I always carry a Bagnet and a purse hook to use on the ledge of a table or a bar in a cosmetic pouch; so, I always have a place to put my tote bag whenever I’m out and about.
Gifts received for this blog post but did not affect my opinion on how to keep your tote bags organized.