Women should carry bobby pins in their purse–and not just for their hair. Bobby pins are one of those handy little items with more uses than they’re intended for. You might be surprised with what you can do with a bobby pin on the go!

4 Reasons Women Should Carry Bobby Pins in Their Purse

When you’re out and about and suddenly find yourself in a bind {or in the middle of a wardrobe malfunction!} a bobby pin is a handy thing to have in your purse. Here are just some of the reasons why you should always keep bobby pins close. In fact, buy them in bulk and always have a stash!

1. Bind your belt

Have you ever had the loose end of your belt flapping around when you walk? Yep, it’s pretty annoying! The next time you’re out and that happens, grab a bobby pin out of your purse and use it to secure the end of the belt to itself. The bobby pin will hold it tight and be pretty unnoticeable by anyone else.

2. Fix a hem

When you’re out on the town, or headed to an important meeting, the last thing you need is a fallen hem to deal with. Whether that hem is on your pants or your favorite skirt, a bobby pin will save your day. Just use one or two to hold the hem up where it should be. That will take care of it until you can sew it up permanently.

3. Keep your place

Whether it’s a book or your favorite monthly magazine, a bobby pin keeps your place if you lose your bookmark. Even if I’ve been reading at home, a bobby pin has been my choice for a quick bookmark when I need one. Since it slides easily onto the top of any page and stays without falling out, a bobby pin is actually a fantastic bookmark anytime!

4. Hold your bills

The next time you need a money clip to secure your bills, just use a bobby pin. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and it works just as well as an actual money clip!

Need a few more tips?

A bobby pin also saves a broken zipper in a pinch, resets electronics, and secures your open bag of chips so they won’t spill in the car. See, there are plenty of reasons why women should carry bobby pins in their purse–and not just for their hair! Before you go, check out what you can do with that Chapstick in your purse.