What's in Your Wallet?
There is a meme going around the personal finance blog scene about posting the contents of one's wallet. I do not usually go in for these meme things (except on Fark.com), but this one sounded like fun, so here it goes. Let's see what I have in my wallet and what I can learn about my finance habits from those contents.
Contents of My Wallet:
Driver's License
University Graduate Student ID
Social Security Card
A business card from Caffe Dolce, the coffee shop I used to work for
ATM Card
Proof of Auto Insurance
Ham Radio License
Safeway Club Card
U-Haul Storage Accesss Card
Sprint Prepaid Phone Card
Sears Credit Card
Health Insurance Card
USAA Membership Card
Gamestop Membership Card
Costco Membership Card
Dental Insurance Card
Community College Faculty ID
Expired Bath & Body Works Coupon Card (just chucked it)
University Copy Center Card
Carlos Torano Cigar Label
Assorted Business Cards
Recipts for Photo Processing (from a two years past camping trip)
Shooting Range Gift Certificate
Wow! My first thought after looking at the above list is to wonder how on Earth I am able to fit all of this stuff inside of one wallet (don't even get me started on my key ring). The good news is that most of the above stuff is completely harmless financially.
The Gamestop membership was probably a complete waste of money, and I must admit that I seldom use the Costco account.
I have not followed my own advice to freeze the credit cards, but I seem to have overcome the urge to use credit cards on a day-to-day basis like I used to when I was in college.
Other thoughts I have are that I need to spend more time with the activities I love (e.g., the Ham Radio license, and the shooting range gift certificate). The dental insurance card reminds me that I need to get my teeth cleaned (oh, chore of chores!).
Overall, I'd say that there is not too much to sabotage myself financially within the inner sanctum of my wallet. I probably need to pare this list down to the bare essentials so my wallet doesn't explode. But it could be worse: I could have been born female and have to carry a purse. Now that would be a lot of stuff to cart around!
