What to keep in wallet?

[imoldernu]

Or maybe what not to keep. In case it's stolen or lost.

Money... (how much?)
Drivers License
Credit card(s)
Medical cards (insurance)
Emergency contacts... names, medications, Doctors, Address(es), Phones #'s
Voter ID
AARP card
Fishing, Hunting licenses
Gated Community Access cards
Passes
Personal Check for emergency money
Important phone numbers

Of course you realize that with all of that information in the hands of a "bad" person, your life will become a living hell.

So... what to do/change to get around this potential problem? And what can you add to the list?

 

[Midpack]

It might be more dangerous to lose a smartphone these days...but as to the wallet:

Money... (how much?) I don't carry much, easily replaceable
Drivers License My only picture ID, probably need to carry one
Credit card(s) We only have two CC's due to fraud concerns, both with automatic text & email alerts, so at least we could cut them off very quickly
Medical cards (insurance) I guess I could leave them at home, but if we're in an accident?
Costco card - it appears my CC also serves as a membership card, so I may quit carrying the membership card
Library card - no problem, easily replaceable
Various membership and reward cards - no problem, of no use to someone else, easily replaceable
[-] Emergency contacts... names, medications, Doctors, Address(es), Phones #'s
Voter ID
AARP card[/-] will never own one hopefully!
[-]Fishing, Hunting licenses
Gated Community Access cards
Passes
Personal Check for emergency money
Important phone numbers[/-]

I fully understand the concern, but I'm not sure how I can carry any less?

 

[FIREmenow]

Or maybe what not to keep. In case it's stolen or lost.

Money... (how much?)
Drivers License
Credit card(s)
Medical cards (insurance)
Emergency contacts... names, medications, Doctors, Address(es), Phones #'s
Voter ID
AARP card
Fishing, Hunting licenses
Gated Community Access cards
Passes
Personal Check for emergency money
Important phone numbers

Of course you realize that with all of that information in the hands of a "bad" person, your life will become a living hell.

So... what to do/change to get around this potential problem? And what can you add to the list?

A lot of that stuff is scanned and in (available on) my phone. It's encrypted, and in the cloud. 2nd password on the phone. If I lose the phone, I can get it from computer/tablet, or on DW phone.

My wallet has:

1. Drivers License
2. 1 credit card
3. 1 ATM card
4. ~$40.

That's it.

 

[FIREd]

I only carry:

Driver's license
Credit card
Health insurance card

On the other hand, my wife carries sooo many things in her wallet, including all of her loyalty/rewards/membership cards.

 

[scrabbler1]

I carry a wallet and a separate card pouch which holds my noncash items. My wallet at times has contained some important noncash items, though. I have lost or had my "cash" wallet stolen twice in my life, but my noncash items such as drivers license and credit cards always remained in my possession.


The cards pouch has those see-through windows which came in handy for placing my monthly train pass back in my working days. It made it quick and easy to show the train crewman on request.

 

[exnavynuke]

I carry:
Drivers license - because I drive (is also my "voter ID").
VA ID - because I need it when I go to the VA, though I could leave this in my car or at home unless I plan on going to the VA.
Weapons Permit - because I carry.
Credit cards - multiple because I use them for specific things.
Work badge - because otherwise I forget it too often.
Cash - Varies.

Loyalty/Store cards - on my phone via Key Ring app.
Insurance cards - on my phone via insurance apps.
Emergency contact - shown on my phone's lock screen.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

I run pretty lean with my "Allett" (about 3/4" thick):

Money... (how much?) About $100-200
Drivers License Yep.
Credit card(s) Two..an Amex and Chase Visa
Medical cards (insurance) Sorta...military retiree ID card
Emergency contacts... names, medications, Doctors, Address(es), Phones #'s Nope. On the phone under "ICE"
Voter ID Not required, and I vote by mail
AARP card Yeah, not old enough
Fishing, Hunting licenses Weapons Carry Permit
Gated Community Access cards Nope
Passes Nope
Personal Check for emergency money Nope
Important phone numbers Nope, on phone.
Other: FAA Pilot's Certificate and medical, ATM card, Costco card, MARTA (public train for Atlanta) card and about 5 business cards w/ my contact information on them.

Sorry about the color..that's terrible! But too much of a pain to change, so you have to suffer.

 

[Huston55]

Money: ~$50 small bills (+ 2x$100 bills tucked away just in case)
Drivers License
3 Credit cards
Medical cards (insurance)
2 affinity cards
2 transit cards
[-]Emergency contacts... names, medications, Doctors, Address(es), Phones #'s[/-]
I have "ICE" in my phone
[-]Voter ID[/-]
[-]AARP card[/-]
[-]Fishing, Hunting licenses
Gated Community Access cards
Passes
Personal Check for emergency money
Important phone numbers[/-]

Although I don't currently carry it, I used to carry a copy of my last EKG, which I'd read EMTs look for in emergencies to know what's "normal" for you.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

I needed to get my wallet to do this post, a miniature copy of my police shield, my retired work ID card, gun permit, union prescription card, 9/11 prescription card, car registration, gym membership, picture of my best friend(my dog), eye glass benefit card , drivers license, atm card, discover credit card,Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance ,GHI card, business card from the owner of the caviar place i go to.(paramount Caviar), an old list of my presciptions (10 of them on the list), a postage stamp, and 40 bucks. I carry a separate money clip with the real cabbage.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

These posts reminds me of a "classic" Seinfeld episode when George's wallet just couldn't take anymore...makes me laugh every time I see it!

 

[FIREd]

Insurance cards - on my phone via insurance apps.

I did not think about that. Thanks for the tip!

 

[LOL!]

I don't use a wallet most of the time. Around the neighborhood, I just plop 3 cards in my pocket:
driver license
fav credit card
health insurance card

I've sometimes forgotten to take anything when I went grocery shopping. After having my groceries bagged, I reached in my pocket to pay and came up empty.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

I don't use a wallet most of the time. Around the neighborhood, I just plop 3 cards in my pocket:
driver license
fav credit card
health insurance card

I've sometimes forgotten to take anything when I went grocery shopping. After having my groceries bagged, I reached in my pocket to pay and came up empty.

Did they let you slide? My mother bought about $11 dollars worth of stuff at the local grocery store when we first moved here. When she went for her money, she had lost it. The bookkeeper/lead cashier swiped her personal credit card. When mom came home she told me she lost her money. Turns out it was stuck in a crease in her pocket. I went to the store gave the good Samaritan $20, and said mom had money(I think they thought she was just a broke old lady). To this day I still go out of my way to say hello to her, she renewed my faith in my fellow man.

 

[MRG]

I bought a minimalist wallet and love it. Driver's license, ATM card, CC, insurance card and room for 3-4 bills. What else do you need.

 

[Huston55]

Did they let you slide? My mother bought about $11 dollars worth of stuff at the local grocery store when we first moved here. When she went for her money, she had lost it. The bookkeeper/lead cashier swiped her personal credit card. When mom came home she told me she lost her money. Turns out it was stuck in a crease in her pocket. I went to the store gave the good Samaritan $20, and said mom had money(I think they thought she was just a broke old lady). To this day I still go out of my way to say hello to her, she renewed my faith in my fellow man.

Similar thing happened to me a while back. We'd just moved to our current house and I walked to the local neighborhood grocery for a few things, then realized at checkout that I'd forgotten my wallet. The cashier ran a receipt 'off book' on a spare register, I gave her my phone #, then I called her 15 mins later with a CC number, after I got home.

+1 on renewing faith in my fellow (wo)man!

 

[exnavynuke]

I did not think about that. Thanks for the tip!

Happy someone got something out of my post

I'm a big fan of putting things on the phone, which is one of the reasons that I don't have "ICE" in my contacts - my phone is going to be locked unless I unlock it so emergency responders won't be accessing my contract list. Thus I have my ICE info ("ICE - Name - Phone Number) as text on my lock screen. My phone can access shopping, banking, insurance, etc (granted most need passwords) so I like the extra security of locking the phone just in case it's stolen.

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Thus I have my ICE info ("ICE - Name - Phone Number) as text on my lock screen.

I have also done this along with an email address in case it gets lost and some nice soul wants to let me know. I don't think it's a highly prized cell phone anyway..it can be had brand new for less than $100.

 

[euro]

40 bucks. I carry a separate money clip with the real cabbage.

Man, now THAT's old school!

 

[LOL!]

Did they let you slide?

It was a big cart of groceries. I live a couple minutes away, so they put my bags in a cart by the customer service desk and I went home and came back with my credit card to retrieve my groceries. There wasn't even time for the ice cream to melt.

When I was in my 20s, I used to just run a tab at the local grocery store. They'd send a bill once a month in the mail.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

My dad had a recipe box behind the counter of his delicatessen. It contained index cards with the running tabs of many households. It was mostly for the wives that were receiving allotment checks from their young husbands that were serving overseas (1960's, early 70's). He would cash their allotment checks and they would settle their tab. It turned out to be a good business move, most of them that didnt move out of the neighborhood, stayed loyal customers despite his prices being higher than the supermarket that was only 5 blocks away.

 

[Just_Steve]

Cash usually $200
CC, emergency use only.
Concealed Carry Permit, because I do.
Debt card.
Medical benefits card.
Retiree work ID because I can ride the commuter rail, NYC subways and buses for free with it.

Hate thick wallets.

 

[W2R]

Or maybe what not to keep. In case it's stolen or lost.

Money... (how much?)$50-$300, in my case. If I lost it I'd be fine.
Drivers License Yes
Credit card(s) Yes
Medical cards (insurance) Yes
Emergency contacts... names, medications, Doctors, Address(es), Phones #'s No
Voter ID No, I can vote with my driver's license.
AARP card No, not a member
Fishing, Hunting licenses No, don't have either
Gated Community Access cards No, no gated community
Passes None
Personal Check for emergency money Nope
Important phone numbers Yes, phone numbers of my plumber, electrician, handyman, painter, concrete guy, roofer, and other tradesmen

Of course you realize that with all of that information in the hands of a "bad" person, your life will become a living hell. Nobody guaranteed that my life would be risk free. 69 years and no problems with this.

So... what to do/change to get around this potential problem? And what can you add to the list? Most recent appointment card for doctors and dentist. Also my car remote entry, which is attached to my wallet. My wallet is attached to my shoulder bag with a lanyard.

My answers are added above in blue. I don't put anything on my phone, and I don't have apps on it at all. OK, I do have a half dozen contacts stored. I also have my weight lifting routine in a text file on it. So, if it got lost or stolen the thief might have some interesting conversations and also might get a good fitness routine. But as for me, I'd just go to Cricket and buy a new phone, no problem.

 

[Meadbh]

My answers are in purple. This is the everyday contents. When travelling, there is more. As you can see, I have gone electronic for the most part.

Or maybe what not to keep. In case it's stolen or lost.

Money... (how much?) Approximately $5 in change for parking meters (but these now often accept credit cards), usually one or two $5 bills
Drivers License Yes, and this also has my PHIN (personal health insurance number)
Credit card(s) Usually one when local. I bring a backup when travelling (but in a secure location)
Medical cards (insurance) See Drivers License
Emergency contacts... names, medications, Doctors, Address(es), Phones #'s No, that's why I have an iPhone
Voter ID No, see Drivers License
AARP card Not a member of AARP or CARP and wouldn't carry such a card on a regular basis if I were
Fishing, Hunting licenses I have neither
Gated Community Access cards Electronic fobs are on my key ring
Passes My Golf discount card in golf season, one loyalty card.
Personal Check for emergency money No, I have one ATM card instead
Important phone numbers No, they are on my iPhone, as are all my appointments

Of course you realize that with all of that information in the hands of a "bad" person, your life will become a living hell.

Q: So... what to do/change to get around this potential problem? And what can you add to the list?

A: I document key information (in code) in the Notes program in my iPad. This is available to my iPhone through the cloud. A hacker would not be able to get very far using this information.

 

[RobbieB]

I still keep all the stuff mentioned in the original post. I'm not afraid.

 

[Sarah S]

Am I the only one who carries an AAA card? On the occasions I have had to call them ( fortunately few) the responding person wanted to see the physical card and my ID ( not just the number and not just an image)
Other than that license, credit card, bank card, library card and health insurance card and 15-25 dollars in cash everything else is in my phone