This change is weighing me down.
Grab your wallet and examine the contents. Are you carrying around things that make you vulnerable to identity theft? Are you needlessly carrying around receipts and cards that weigh you down? Are you missing important documents should you get into an accident? In my case, the answers are yes, yes, and yes.
Here is what’s in my wallet:
Vitals – license and current insurance card
Money – $41 in cash plus $4.91 in change
Plastic – main credit card, debit card, and AAA card
Plastic money – gift cards to Starbucks, TJ Maxx, Jo-Anns,
Plastic that is occasionally useful – loyalty cards for FedEx Kinkos, The Body Shop, Club Bev, Anthropologie, and the Ocean State Library system
Paper – 18 receipts, 8 coupons, two business cards, and a sticky note with two ID numbers I use for work
Lists – contents of boxes that I put in storage and carried in my cheap cross country move
Personal – two pictures of me and friends, two bobbi pins, half of a picture frame mount
My excavation was promoted by an email I received from a women’s personal finance site called LearnVest.com. According to the site, there are only 10 things you should carry.
1. Your main credit card—only.
2. $25 to $50 in cash.
3. A.T.M./debit card.
4. Driver’s license.
5. Insurance card for both health and auto insurance.
6. Transportation card, such as an unlimited rail pass.
7. Reward cards for stores you visit frequently (grocery, drug store, etc.).
8. Gift cards.
9. Membership cards (such as to your gym).
10. Airline cards.
Now for what not to carry in your wallet.
1. Personal information like your PIN (although a first name and phone number is OK in a note to someone who find’s your wallet)
2. Account numbers
3. Social Security card
4. Back up credit cards (they belong in a safe place at home)
Opps! I made three mistakes. Carrying around two ID numbers for work could make me vulnerable if someone know how to also log into that account. My receipt load is way too high; it’s time to sort out what I need to file and shred the rest. And I took my health insurance card out a few days ago and forgot to put it back in, which is a no no.
How did you do?
July 29, 2010 12:16 pm
I don’t even have to look to know what’s there: DL, insurance cards/list of meds (and related health info), ATM card, AAA card, cash (bills and coins), and too many credit cards. As for market cards, coupons, etc., those all go in a separate snap pouch in my purse. Looks like I need to weed out my credit cards. I try to keep only necessities in my wallet, as I sometimes take only that and my keys when I need to run a quick errand, such as to the PO.
July 29, 2010 4:53 pm
I carry a laminated card that has emergency contact people w/ their phone #s and addresses. Probably should only have the phone #s, will have to update this card.
July 29, 2010 8:08 pm
I carry too many credit cards, but this is why; many stores give higher points or some kind of other incentive to use their credit card. If I want to get the most bang for my buck that way, I have to have multiple cards. I have tried leaving them at home and taking them when I go to a particular store, but then I either forget or end up at the store not planning to be there. I do keep a list of what cards I am carrying and the customer service numbers to call should I loose them (at home). Also, I don’t take them all if I go away. I wish I had a better solution.
July 30, 2010 1:25 pm
in my wallet: 2 credit cards, 1 ATM card, drivers license, health insurance card, public transportation card, picture of the kids, and a spare $20 bill = 1/4 inch.
August 1, 2010 1:39 am
I’m with LauraT regarding the credit cards due to higher percent rebates on various categories, e.g., market, gasoline, restaurants, etc. I think that’s my only “no-no.” Regarding cash, I generally carry less than what was mentioned.
August 2, 2010 1:54 pm
I carry a recent picture of my son – just in case – heaven forbid – he got lost and I had to show a picture to a store employee. police, etc.
All of my store loyalty cards (even my library card) are available in small sizes to put on my keychain – so I don’t need to carry them in my wallet. Except for restaurant cards (like buy 9 sandwiches, get 1 free etc)
and a few bandaids.