[Anonymous]

I don’t know what to carry in terms of size, since I know I’ll have a laptop and I’ll carry my planner with me. Do you all carry a small/medium size purse and take your laptop in a separate laptop bag, or do you just get one larger tote that will fit it all?

[Mamabear]

I carry my laptop in a seperate bag than my purse. My purse is big enough for a planner….and a few pacifiers, a pair of socks, a bunch of hairbows, a couple of random toys and Dora the Explorer jewelry, among other things. Hahaha You don't want to combine them because you aren't going to take your laptop every time you leave the office and need your purse so no sense in carrying that big bag around. Get something small for your purse essentials and you can put everything else in your laptop bag.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I really didn't want to get something obnoxiously huge haha

[Anonymous]

It depends on whether you'll be in private or public. I work in public and I carry my laptop every single day. When I know I will be walking a lot (in NYC) and have some papers + laptop, I use a roller bag plus my regular purse for my personal stuff.

However, if I only carry a laptop, I use this laptop bag + purse and I love it:

https://www.knomobags.com/usa/avignon-slim-brief-black-13-laptop-bag.html

It's very lightweight and is only good for a laptop and a magazine/planner.

Sometimes, I carry all my stuff in my Longchamp bag (no purse). I have a computer sleeve for a laptop to protect it so it's fairly safe. In that case, I use little cosmetic cases for my stuff for easy access because Longchamp bags are pretty big. I also have some purses that are big enough to fit my laptop (it's only 13”) so I sometimes just use those alone. Like this one:

https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374306418110&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446597171&R=887712200481&P_name=Tory+Burch&N=4294912309+306418110&bmUID=kqMS8Um

I also learned that having two laptop chargers helps a lot: one for work and one for home. They do add weight, especially, if it's a daily commute on a packed train agh

[Anonymous]

@and_again I love longchamp bags! I asked my husband to get me one for my birthday next week specifically for work. I love the bags that you posted too 🙂 We have similar taste.

When I was studying for FAR, I carried so much stuff to and from work that it was my only option. Seriously, right before my test it was so heavy that if I put it on my passenger seat in my car, the seatbelt warning would go off because it was over the max weight. However, this what I use now and it works well but I don't like that it doesn't have a zipper, especially because I travel internationally frequently for work and pack a lot of stuff in my bag for the long flights.

https://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/michael-michael-kors-tote-jet-set-travel-small?ID=662467&pla_country=US&cm_mmc=Google-PLA-ADC-_-Handbags+-+Totes+-+PLA+-+PLA-_-49797468151-_-adc_pg_301_11001_5176d454e4b064445f182755_38369885431

[Anonymous]

I REALLY want this bag…I am about to start Big 4 audit soon and I have a feeling I'm going to need this…or maybe I'm just trying to convince myself I'll need it…

https://www.loandsons.com/the-og

[Anonymous]

I really like that bag CPA4birthdaypresent

[Anonymous]

Me too, thats really cute. If you're on a tighter budget, TJ Maxx actually has some pretty cute black leather work bags that will fit a laptop plus a notepad and pens.

[Anonymous]

Amanda_88 – Longchamp bags are extremely durable which is why I like mine so much. I've tested its limits on multiple occasions when I had to carry a ton of workpapers and my laptop home. It was soo heavy but the bag still holds. It's kind of amazing. I also liked the Michael Kors one in navy but no-zipper was a deal breaker for me. I would be so nervous about my stuff, especially, when it rains.

CPA4birthdaypresent – That's a cool bag. I love having a lot of pockets!

[Author]

Replies