1. Start by Dumping Everything out of Your Bag

This step allows you to get rid of what you don’t need. It’s much easier to organize what’s left if you don’t have a bunch of extra junk cluttering up your space. Go through everything you dumped out of your purse and toss used Kleenex, empty mint containers, receipts and other stuff you’re finished with. Remove extra keys and anything else you never use. Now you can start from scratch.

2. Group What You Have Left by Category

Now organize what you have left into categories. Pile your makeup in one place, your pens and writing tablets in another and your keys in yet other. Get it all into separate categories so that you have some semblance of organization inside your bag. You might realize that there are additional things you don’t need.

3. Get Little Containers for Your Stuff

I’m not talking baskets or bins like when you organize your closet, but you do need somewhere to keep your stuff. A small cosmetics bag will contain your mascara and lipstick. An adorable wallet keeps your credit cards and cash handy and a cute clip will keep all of your keys contained. Getting the picture?

4. Try a Purse Organizing Product

Purse manufacturers are catering to the whims of women who want an organized purse by making handy inserts that keep everything separated and where it belongs. There’s a place for your cell phone, your lip balm and your wallet so that you can reach in and grab what you want when you want it without having to search for it. Perfect!

5. Don’t Put Anything in Your Purse Unless You Need It

Just got the receipt from your morning mocha? Don’t stuff it in your purse. If you don’t need it, throw it in the trash. Each time you’re tempted to stick something in your purse, take a second to decide if you actually need it or not. If not, get rid of it. If you might need it, place it neatly where it belongs in your purse. That way you don’t load your bag down with a ton of stuff that makes it hard to find what you really do need.

6. It Might Be Time to Buy a New Purse

Just the words a girl wants to hear, right? I got this really fabulous purse for Christmas a couple of years ago, but it had no pockets on the inside. I carried it for a while, but finally gave up because it was just a bigger pain than it needed to be. If you can’t get your purse organized, consider buying yourself a new one that has all the bells and whistles that let you get the job done.

7. Reorganize Once a Week or so to Keep Things from Getting out of Hand

This could become your new Sunday evening ritual. Once a week, go through your purse again and get rid of stuff you’re done with and make sure everything has made it back to its proper place. Doing this regularly only takes a few minutes and keeps you from having to start from scratch, which takes much longer.

How often do you have to reorganize your bag? Will these tips make it easier?