My grandma always told me to carry a cotton handkerchief, enough coins to make a phone call at a pay phone and lip balm in my purse. She kept each of these things in every single purse she owned, just to make sure she always had them on hand. Even though we live in the world of cell phones and quick fixes, there are so many uses for these odd items. Lip balm can double on rashes, scrapes, and burns. Your cell phone could always run out of juice of be out of service, and in that case a pay phone is always a lifesaver. Beyond getting teary-eyed at weddings, handkerchiefs can wrap sprains or bandage cuts in case of an emergency. I would also recommend adding elastic hair bands to this list; they come in very handy for holding non-hair items together (like a broken tank top strap).
