How to KonMari your Handbag
Introduction – How to KonMarie your Handbag
See above my new handbag. I am not joking. This really is my new handbag. It’s a fashion from Germany to walk around with a plastic box. Everyone in Berlin and Munich does it.
If you look below, there’s a picture of me taking my handbag out for a walk.
Do you think I’m mad? Maybe! Do you think I am joking? Well maybe. It would be a bit cumbersome to carry a box around, and I am in my forties, so unlikely to follow the latest trends even if this were one.
There is, however, a connection between the plastic box and my handbag. Read on to find out how I KonMarie my handbag.
How to KonMarie your Handbag
My current handbag setup has problems, and the plastic box provides a solution.
Until five years ago, I was the queen of handbags. I had many in different shapes and sizes, but none was entirely right. Then, I removed most of my bags, bar two or three, in one of my decluttering sprees.
I currently use a handbag that I really like, and it ticks most of the boxes. It’s comfortable, stylish, not too big, made of recycled fabric, and just the right size for everyday carry.
But there are occasions when I might need a bigger bag, such as when I see clients or need to carry my laptop.
I have a couple of bags that are leftovers from my corporate life. These bags are lovely but look too office-like if you know what I mean. So I won’t take them out at the weekends.
The problem with switching bags is that I would frequently forget stuff when switching over from one bag to another. For example, I recently travelled to the front door of the British Library to realise that I had forgotten my library pass, so I turned straight back.
I was looking for a solution to the above problems when suddenly I remembered a passage from one of Marie Kondo’s books where she was talking about her handbag.
When I read her book for the first time, and she explained what she does to keep her handbag tidy, I poo-pooed it for being over the top, but on second thought, I decided to try her method.
Marie Kondo empties her bag every time she comes home, rather than just mindlessly dumping it in the hallway or sofa like the rest of us. So I’ve decided to try this and keep everything from my handbag in the above plastic box. This way, I can regularly clean and tidy my bag and eliminate unwanted receipts, tissues, etc. I also ensure that everything I need when going out comes with me regardless of what bag I have, as it’s all in the box.
Conclusion – How to KonMarie your Handbag
How do you declutter your handbag? Let me know in the comments below.
To get more useful tips and tricks about keeping your house neat and tidy, visit my blog.
trabantbettina
Bettina Anna Trabant, Founder of Life Organised, your professional organising and decluttering service in East London. Eco-conscious minimalist and avid tea drinker,