9 purse essentials Boomer women never leave home without that younger women find absolutely bizarre

Remember that feeling when you peek into your mom's purse as a kid and wonder why she carries half the house with her? Well, last week I was helping my mother organize her handbag before a doctor's appointment, and I couldn't help but laugh at some of the items she insisted were "absolute necessities."

As someone who prides herself on traveling light with just phone, wallet, and keys, I was fascinated by the generational divide in what we consider essential.

After chatting with friends and observing the women in my volunteer group at the farmers' market, I've noticed some clear patterns. Boomer women carry certain items that younger generations find completely unnecessary, even bizarre.

But here's the thing: each of these items tells a story about a different era, different priorities, and honestly, a different relationship with preparedness.

So let's dive into these nine purse essentials that Boomer women swear by, while the rest of us scratch our heads in confusion.

1. A checkbook with a fabric cover

When was the last time you wrote a check? If you're under 40, you might not even own a checkbook. But open any Boomer woman's purse, and there it is: a checkbook, often housed in a decorative fabric cover with flowers or cats on it.

My mother insists on paying her hairdresser with a check every single time. "It's more official," she says. Meanwhile, I'm over here Venmoing my share of brunch before we've even left the restaurant.

The generational gap becomes even more apparent when she pulls out that checkbook at the grocery store, and I watch the cashier's eyes glaze over as they try to remember the check-processing procedure.

What younger women see as a relic from a bygone era, Boomer women view as a reliable backup payment method. "What if the card reader breaks?" they ask. Fair point, but we'll just use our phones instead.

2. Safety pins in every size imaginable

Open the side pocket of a Boomer woman's purse, and you'll likely find an arsenal of safety pins. Not just one or two for emergencies, but an entire collection sorted by size, sometimes even stored in a vintage Altoids tin.

These aren't just for wardrobe malfunctions. Boomer women use safety pins as temporary zipper fixes, makeshift jewelry clasps, and even improvised toothpicks in desperate times. Growing up in an era where "make do and mend" was more than just a Pinterest trend, they see safety pins as the ultimate multi-tool.

Younger women? We might throw our torn shirt in the donation pile or rush to buy fashion tape. The idea of carrying around sharp metal objects "just in case" seems more likely to result in pricked fingers than saved outfits.

3. Hard candy wrapped in cellophane

Butterscotch discs, peppermints, those strawberry candies that materialized in every grandmother's house but nobody knows where to buy them. These aren't just snacks; they're social currency for Boomer women.

At the farmers' market where I volunteer, I watch the older women distribute candy like they're diplomatic ambassadors. Fussy child? Candy. Long wait at the doctor's office? Candy. Making friends with the person next to you at the DMV? You guessed it, candy.

Millennials and Gen Z might carry protein bars or worry about sugar content, but Boomer women understand the power of a well-timed butterscotch. Though I have to admit, finding one of these candies that's been living at the bottom of a purse for months, now fuzzy with lint, doesn't exactly scream "appetizing."

4. A printed phone and address book

Despite having smartphones, many Boomer women still carry a small address book filled with phone numbers written in increasingly cramped handwriting. Pages yellowed with age, held together with rubber bands, these books are like archaeological artifacts of their social networks.

"But what if my phone dies?" they argue. And while the rest of us would just shrug and wait to charge it, they're genuinely prepared to find a payphone (good luck with that) and call someone from memory. Or rather, from their trusty address book.

The dedication to maintaining these analog backups is actually kind of admirable, even if younger generations can barely remember their own phone numbers, let alone anyone else's.

5. Tissues (both new and gently used)

Not just a pack of tissues, mind you. We're talking about a complex tissue ecosystem: fresh packs, individual tissues carefully folded and tucked into pockets, and yes, the controversial "gently used" tissues saved for emergencies.

This isn't just about having a runny nose. Boomer women use tissues as napkins, makeup blotters, impromptu bandages, and seat cleaners. They've elevated tissue management to an art form that younger generations, with our single pack of tissues (if we remember at all), simply cannot comprehend.

The "gently used" tissue phenomenon particularly baffles younger women. We're the generation that won't even share drinks with our best friends, yet Boomer women are out here recycling their own tissues like it's an environmental initiative.

6. Coupons organized in a dedicated wallet

While younger generations might screenshot a digital coupon or forget about them entirely, Boomer women maintain elaborate coupon organization systems. We're talking about dedicated wallets with labeled sections, coupons arranged by expiration date, store, or product category.

Watching my mother at the checkout counter is like witnessing a strategic military operation. She knows exactly which coupons to combine, which ones can be doubled, and she's not afraid to hold up the line to save thirty cents on dish soap.

To younger women racing through self-checkout with Apple Pay, this level of coupon dedication seems excessive. But when you grew up in an era where every penny counted and coupon-clipping was a legitimate hobby, these habits die hard.

7. Multiple pill containers

Not just medications, but vitamins, supplements, aspirin, antacids, and mysterious homeopathic remedies that may or may not have expired in 2015. Boomer women's purses often contain enough pharmaceutical supplies to stock a small pharmacy.

Each container has its purpose: the daily pill organizer, the "just in case" pain relievers, the digestive aids for restaurant meals, and supplements for energy, joints, and memory. Sometimes I wonder if they need a supplement just to remember which supplement does what.

Younger women might pop an ibuprofen when needed, buying it from whatever convenience store is nearby. But Boomer women come prepared for every possible ailment, turning their purses into mobile medicine cabinets.

8. Rain bonnets in plastic pouches

Those clear, fold-up rain bonnets that come in pouches the size of a quarter? Boomer women consider these essential, despite the fact that nobody under 60 has ever been seen wearing one in public.

These aren't just about staying dry. They're about protecting a hairstyle that took an hour to set, possibly with rollers, definitely with hairspray. When you've invested that much time in your hair, a little plastic bonnet doesn't seem so ridiculous.

Younger women would rather get soaked than be caught dead in one of these. We'll ruin our blowouts, frizz our straightened hair, and destroy our curls before we'd unfold that plastic accordion of shame.

9. Plastic bags folded into tiny triangles

Perhaps the most puzzling item of all: plastic grocery bags meticulously folded into tiny triangles or rolled into compact cylinders, tucked into every available corner of the purse.

These bags serve infinite purposes: impromptu trash bags, wet clothing storage, produce bags, seat covers, and even emergency rain gear. Boomer women who lived through times when you had to pay for bags or bring your own see these as valuable resources, not trash.

Meanwhile, younger generations are trying to remember to bring reusable bags and definitely aren't hoarding plastic ones like they're preparing for the apocalypse. Though honestly, given their preparedness level, Boomer women would probably fare better in an emergency than the rest of us with our minimalist purses.

Final thoughts

Looking at these generational differences in purse essentials, I'm struck by how they reflect broader changes in our society. Boomer women grew up in an era that valued preparedness, thrift, and self-sufficiency. Their purses are survival kits, ready for any situation life might throw at them.

Younger generations rely on technology, convenience, and just-in-time solutions. We Google instead of remember, order instead of prepare, and replace instead of repair. Neither approach is wrong; they're just products of different times and different challenges.

Maybe there's something to learn from both sides. Perhaps we could all benefit from being a little more prepared, and maybe Boomer women could embrace traveling a bit lighter. Either way, these purse essentials tell the story of how we've changed as a society, one butterscotch candy and rain bonnet at a time.