The short answer
Dream interpretation is not prediction and not diagnosis. This article separates what sleep research observes from what popular interpretation associates with the theme.
Dreaming about a purse or wallet does not announce a robbery, unexpected money or a loss. A purse and a wallet hold what is essential in daily life, like documents, money and keys, and dreams tend to use them in times of financial worry, fear of losing control or a sense of carrying too much.
Read also: Dreaming about money and Dreaming about keys.
What research observes
Losing important objects is a frequent theme in anxiety dreams. Under the continuity hypothesis, people who have lost a wallet, had a scare on the street or are short on money are more likely to dream about it.
Threat dreams, like having something stolen, tend to appear in times of insecurity and have been described as a rehearsal of dangerous situations.
Source: Schredl and Hofmann, Consciousness and Cognition, 2003.
The most reported variations
| Scene | What it usually comes with |
|---|---|
| Losing your wallet | Fear of losing control or security |
| An empty purse | Money worries, a sense of lack |
| A full bag | A sense of carrying too much |
| A stolen wallet | Insecurity, a sense of threat |
| Finding a wallet | An opportunity, a moral dilemma |
Money worries also appear in dreaming about money.
When to seek help
Dreaming about a purse or wallet is common and harmless. If it turns into a recurring nightmare and you wake up frightened several times a week, it is worth talking to a health professional: see how to have fewer nightmares.
Source: Morgenthaler et al., Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2018.
What dream books say
Livro do Sonho offers readings for several versions of this dream. Carrying a bag would point to something weighing on your mind and breaking your focus; a full bag, unexpected money; an empty bag, a warning to be careful about theft. For the wallet, the dictionary speaks of worrying debts and the advice to save, while reminding that life is not only about money.
Freud described dream books as a kind of dictionary that translates each image into another with a fixed meaning. Artemidorus of Daldis, author of the oldest dream interpretation book that has survived, advised looking at the dreamer's life before interpreting. If you see the dream as a message, both paths suggest the same thing: ask what this image brings to mind in your life right now. See dream meanings according to science and culture.
Source: Livro do Sonho, Brazilian dream dictionary.
Sources
- Schredl M, Hofmann F. Continuity between waking activities and dream activities. Consciousness and Cognition, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1053-8100(02)00072-7
- Revonsuo A. The reinterpretation of dreams: An evolutionary hypothesis of the function of dreaming. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2000. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X00004015
- Morgenthaler TI et al. Position Paper for the Treatment of Nightmare Disorder in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Paper. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2018. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7178
- Freud S. The Interpretation of Dreams (Die Traumdeutung), 1900. Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66048
- Livro do Sonho. Sonhar com bolsa. https://www.livrodosonho.com/significado-dos-sonhos-sonhar-com-bolsa-1087.htm
Frequently asked questions
Is dreaming about a full purse a sign of money?
That is the dream books' reading. In practice it usually reflects a sense of carrying too much.
Is dreaming I lost my wallet a warning?
The books speak of caution. It usually reflects fear of losing control.
What does dreaming about an empty wallet mean?
It usually comes with money worries.
Is dreaming my bag was stolen bad?
It is not a guaranteed prediction. It usually reflects insecurity.
