How many of you have a "Frugal Handbag" and what do you carry in it????

**MRAHoffman** · 01-01-2009, 04:17 PM

I decided the other day I was going to find a HUGE purse in which to carry when my 7 year old son and I go to the movies, events (Walking w/ Dinosaurs) etc. The price of movies isn't TOO bad, but the popcorn, candy and drinks are HORRIBLE. I LITERALLY found the SAME candy at the dollar store...size and all...at the movies it was $5.00 per box and at the dollar store...well, a dollar. When going to sporting events, there TOO the snacks are horrible. The mother of a friend of his said she just bought a HUGE handbag and put juice packs, snacks AND went to the dollar store and bought 2 "souvenir" dinosaurs (they went to the Walking w/Dinosaurs too) in it and it worked just fine. I was just wondering how many of you do this AND what do you put in it? Take care and God bless.

**mommy4ever** · 01-01-2009, 04:26 PM

I do the same. Usually it's pockets though.

We go to the dollarama and get out own snacks, pop or juice boxes. I'm in the middle of sewing anew bag that should be able to handle some of that stuff too..lol. Not hte reason I'm making it, but it'll do double duty.

**onencgirl** · 01-01-2009, 04:31 PM

I always did this when my kids were small. It really saves alot of $.

**inneedofhope** · 01-01-2009, 04:41 PM

We sneak our own candy into the movies since we always have some at home anyway (little boys accumulate candy easily) but I do spring for the pop and popcorn since our local theatre is non profit and their prices are reasonable. I often pack lunches to go the the park and such. I've been doing better at filling up a water bottle or two for us if we will be out long since I have a bad habit of springing for drinks.

**Jayne** · 01-01-2009, 04:46 PM

I've never really done this..thanks for the idea!!

**McD** · 01-01-2009, 05:03 PM

Most of the places that have events here (like Walking with Dinosaurs) check bags as you walk in. We don't go out to events often enough to have a designated 'frugal handbag'.

**UUMomof3** · 01-01-2009, 05:32 PM

We don't do events very often, for any number of reasons. However, for nature walks and other stuff I usually have each child carry their own water bottle and bandana (they have water bottle holders with straps), then I have a backpack with snacks, first aid, bug and sun stuff, epi-pen, cell phone, and camera.

**stinkbug** · 01-01-2009, 05:35 PM

We are going to Walking With Dinosaurs on the 7th (free sponsor tickets!) and I know for a fact the venue here checks bags when you enter...no food or drinks allowed from outside.

**Marie78** · 01-01-2009, 06:07 PM

I know a mom who will buy gifts for vacations ahead of time. They went to Disney recently and before she left she hit yard sales and dollar stores and was able to buy Disney: sunglasses, autograph books, shirts,water bottles,notepads, pencils, etc... before they got to the theme parks. Then she doled out these gifts on the trip. They all got one item each from Disney World, but she saved quite a bit of money by shopping ahead. She also packed her own snacks and lunches each day to take into the theme parks, they saved quite a bit on food.

**joyofsix** · 01-01-2009, 06:18 PM

My purse is a running joke among my friends. It always contains wet wipes, a small bottle of water, a pack of 4 crayons and small note pad, raisins&marshmallows in a small round container, a calculatore, flashlight and bunches of other stuff. It helps to always have distraction and snacks. I've done the candy at the theater, pre-bought trinkets for trips (garage sale stuff) and even usually have a change of clothes for 1yr old and shirt for 5yr old with me. Better safe than sorry, lol. Oh, and don't forget the aluminum emergency blanket all rolled up in there. Great for spur of the moment picnics or when it suddenly gets cold at a ball game.

**MoonMommy** · 01-01-2009, 06:58 PM

For the movies, I have always taken in my own snacks.

In the summer we have a drive in nearby. It is GREAT. The price for admission is SO much cheaper than the theaters, and they don't care how much food you bring in. We took the kids to Wall-E last summer and stopped for subs along the way. Even with buying snacks, it was cheaper than 4 of us going to a traditional theater.
When I was little, my parents would take us to the drive-in (at that time it was one price/car) and they would pop a huge bag of popcorn ahead of time.