3 Things you should always keep in your wallet/purse/clip.
I've blogged before about the contents of my money clip (which i LOVE - so much easier to carry around than a wallet!) but every now and then i get on a rant about what I believe people should always keep on them.Your wallet contents aren't that high on the "oh crap" meter, but it definitely matters. Especially if you're one who always says you have cash on hand, when in fact you're a big phat lier and you ask to split a cab ;)
I also make it a point to check out/clean up my clip every now and then to make sure i'm not carrying around any nonsense like my social security card, or bank statements. Luckily it's a lot easier than cleaning out a hamburger looking wallet, or even a purse I'd imagine.
But other than social security cards and banking info, I don't really care what people carry on them as long as they have the following three things - listed in no particular order:
1. Always have cash on hand.
The last person i wanna be like is that cab-sharer i mentioned above. Or even worse, "That Guy". The one who always borrows a few bucks and never pays it back, or the guy says he'll catch ya next time yet never does. Plus, it's always important for an emergency snack, or even an emergency period. (2 periods in a row, i love it) Not everyplace accepts plastic, and especially those handy vending machines carrying ice cold water in the middle of heat wave.
2. Always carry at least one credit card.
I know this contradicts my "emergency" situation i just discussed, but these are more along the lines of your car breaking down and you need to get it fixed ASAP kinda thing...and you're in the middle of la la land all by your self. Credit cards are life at times like these.
3. Always have your driver's license/ID.
I once missed a night out w/ the boys celebrating a 21st bday because i left my license at home and couldn't prove i was 21 :( And I was over 200 miles away, so I couldn't run back to get it.
While that really blew, carrying your license w/ you is more for security reasons than anything else. You'll never know when you'll actually need it, and if you get in the habit of carrying it with you every single day, you wont' ever have to worry about forgetting it. Airports, hospitals, police headquarters, clubs - they all require it ;)
I thought it would be cool to share the contents of my clip again, and compare it with what I had in there 5 months ago. Here's what used to be in there:
- USAA Rewards MasterCard.....for personal spending
- USAA Platinum Rewards MasterCard.....for all house related items
- USAA Debit MasterCard.....only used to take out $ from atms (FREE by the way through USAA! any one, anywhere.)
- Work swipe card thingie.....allows me to get into work...unfortunately.
- Driver's License.....ALWAYS on me 100% of time cuz ya never know.
- $28 buckaroos....
- USAA Platinum Rewards Mastercard
- USAA Debit Mastercard
- Work swipe card thingie
- Driver's license
- $23 in cash (two 10's and three 1's)
- ... and a stray receipt from breakfast on Sunday...they sometimes get stuck in the money clip ;)
Labels: advice, randomness 3000
posted by J. Money at
9:47 AM
14 Comments:
I think I have my whole life in my wallet - which is probably not too smart.....I think I am going to clean my wallet out today :)
Good post!
I cleared out my purse last month - you can check it out on my blog. I agree with you with regards to having some cash on you at all times. I am trying and keep just £5 in my purse for emergencies, got to learn that a skinny latte doesn't really count as an emergency spend.
But I don't have a credit card in my purse now as I don't need it. Instead I have a debit card with no overdraft facilities. As I am trying to clear my debt I don't want to add to it.
Debtcards are sometimes refused if the purchese is under £5, hence the £5 cash.
As for the driving licence, that is not really a need here in the UK.
I have a ton of things in my purse that I should clean out, including my SS card. When I go out to exercise, I always just carry my debit card and my license. I'm bad with cash and never have any on hand. Right now, I have $2 in my purse. I also don't have a credit card, which is something I'm working towards later this year.
mare - you're not the only one! haha... glad you enjoyed the post, and hope it gives you a bit incentive :) maybe you can blog about all the things you've found in there?!
lisaclark - good work on always having cash on hand! that's prob. my favorite of the 3 :)
congrats on doing something about your debt! I'll have to check out your blog and see what's up. question though, if you don't carry a credit card, what do you do if you have an emergency? that's the only reason for me having it, in case i get stuck somewhere or need fast cash.
budget mama - at least you're honest :) why is it that you carry your ss card around anyways? did you need it for something and then just forgot it in there? i know some people that use it for a 2nd i.d., so just curious.
Oh, and I love your blog name by the way! i've been meaning to tell you that :) budgets = awesomeness.
Hey J. Money-Thanks re-name. I'm trying to live up to it-lol. Anyway, I honestly am not sure why I carry my SS card with me. I don't need it for anything. I have always kept it in my purse for as long as I can remember. My whole life is in my wallet, which I need to change.
Do NOT carry your SS Card. The sister in law just got her purse stolen, guess what was in there?
Her license and SS card, now the thief has her address, date of birth and social! Everything needed to open a credit card.
In today's world there is zero reason to carry it around - get it into a safe!
My debit card is for emergencies as well as for spending. I would never get cash using my credit cards, which would charge a handing fee of 2.5% and interest rate of 23%(or more) if I did.
Funds can be transfered over to my debit card very quickly by phone so it is all I need in an emergency.
By the way, love your blog!:)
You got all the money things covered, but what about your health insurance card?? If you are taken to a hospital and they are not sure if you are insured, they can choose different methods of treatment because they can't be sure you will be able to pay the bills. You could even be taken to a hospital/medical center other than the one you prefer. In an emergency, I'd rather be safe than sorry. When I go out for the night and just take a clutch, I always grab my debit card, license, lipstick, and health insurance card :)
I am also bad about carrying cash. I think that would definitely help with the frivolous spending if I did though! Great post!
Damnit #1HB4BD! you're always one stop ahead of me ;) Yes, i must admit i've never thought of that one...it just sounds so silly! haha...
I guess i could make room for it though, but i doubt i will. there's only so much that will fit in the little guy. Good looking out though, and i bet many of you women out there could do it super easily :)
And thanks Lisaclark and Laila! And you too there MyJourney, I agree 100%
I barely ever carry cash on me, always my debt card, credit card, and drivers licence. But barely ever any cash, I guess it is my attempt at trying to be frugal.
I clean my wallet once a week because I track all my purchases.
But how do you forget ID?
Cleaning out once a week? good for you! I use my Driver's license as my ID :) But i suppose listing #3 as ID instead of DLicense might be better wording, as that's really what I mean anyways.
And for those of you who are civilians: don't forget to add your health insurance card! If you need to go to the emergency room you may not have the presence of mind (or be conscious) to know/remember all the insurance information they require to check you in. Plus I think they need proof of insurance so the card is a must.
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