What's in your wallet?

I'm sure this question has been asked literally hundreds of times, but it's always a good topic in the ever-changing world of personal finance, especially among those within similar industries. I'll drop mine below:


Wallet: Bellroy Apex Note Sleeve, can't recommend this thing enough. I've dabbled with the thought of going walletless and just getting a card sleeve or the thing attached to the back of my phone. My wallet has imprinted a crater into my right ass cheek for 15+ years now though, so I still get uncomfortable when I don't feel it. Gonna keep rockin it, even though I use Apple Pay for 85% of my purchases at PoS. 

Cash: I keep like $60 max on me. No reason to keep more than that, but comes in damn handy if I'm trying to order tacos from a street cart w/o CC or need to pick up a hooker, for example. 

Credit Card(s): Pretty sure everyone here uses a variation of like the same 3-5. I have Amex's Plat & Gold, mostly used for travel and day-to-day, respectively. I have a CSR that's company-issued, and while I CAN play the numbers and points-crunching game for CSR/Plat travel respectively, half the time it just seems like I'm putting in dozens of man-hours to save like $20. I think both Chase & Amex are the cream of the crop when it comes to credit cards, and I used a CSP as my daily prior to getting the gold. Still have the Preferred, but rarely, if ever use it - unless there's an online deal or something similar. I have a Capital One Plat as well, but I don't think I've even touched that thing in years.

Debit Card: The blue Chase one, damn classic! Cannot remember the last time I've used that. 

Misc: I've tried to cut down on cards building up in my wallet, so as far as I'm aware the only things I have besides those mentioned above is my ID, health insurance card, my lawyer's business card, and my MetroPass. Gotta keep it simple. 


That's it. What are you all rocking for daily wear within the wallet?

 

My wallet is leather and says "Bad Ass Motherf**er" on it. I keep some cash in it, 3 cards, my ID, and a 90s picture of Pamela Anderson in Barb Wire. 

Barb Wire (1996) - IMDb

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Stonks1990

MetroPass

You got a special edition one, or just the regular one? The Capitals one from when they won was sick. The retro 70s one is cool too:

card

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

Stonks1990

Cash: I keep like $60 max on me. No reason to keep more than that, but comes in damn handy if I'm trying to order tacos from a street cart w/o CC or need to pick up a hooker, for example. 

Knowing how much cash to carry is always an art. Sometimes helps to have more for bar tabs when you want to gtfo, pay a cover (fuck that though), or other misc. things but those are usually in the <$10 range.

I'll edit this to properly respond with what I have, also been thinking of reducing it to not have a Costanza wallet.

Wallet: Some piece of shit one I need to update. Been thinking about one of those money clip/wallet combos that's sleeker overall

Cash: $20 or less usually

Credit Cards: CSR/CFU combo 

Debit Cards: BOFA card that used to have a photo of me from high school, but then I lost it and they don't do that anymore on new ones

Misc.: Drivers license, car insurance card, health insurance card, metro pass card, 2 business cards I'll never give to anyone, and 2 Chinese fortune cookie fortunes that say "Things in life should be simple rather than complex" and "The balding man asked his barber: "why you charge me full price?"". I'll change out the stuff on travel, like add Global Entry card (never actually used it and FYI TSA doesn't care if you show that, they only require "precheck" on your boarding pass).. 

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

Wallet: I used a leather card holder for a long time. But I made the switch to a traditional wallet after I bought a nice Shelby Mustang wallet at the museum about 4 years ago. Might be time to switch to a Porsche one. 

Cash: Very little. Used to carry a whole lot more than I do now. Right now you'd probably find less than $40 in there. Just small bills to tip people around town. 

CC: Amex Platinum. Love collecting the MR and then traveling on them. I know it's not as good as other programs out there, but I like it and it suits my lifestyle. I also carry my company's card because it gives 10% off at the (subsidized) employee dining hall when you pay with it - makes my lunch & snacks budget stupid cheap. 

Debit: I carry it but I rarely use it. 

 

Wallet: Louis Vuitton pocket organizer. I would never spend $350 on a wallet but I got this as a gift. It's slim and has held up well.

Cash: I rarely have cash but if I do I keep it in my front pocket instead of my wallet since it doesn't have a real spot for cash.

Credit Cards: Amex Gold for dining and groceries. Amex Green for transit and misc. travel. Bilt for rent but I need to use it five times a month to get the points. 

Debit Cards: Discover Cash Back debit card and a Venmo debit card which idk why i really have lol.

Misc.: Just my Rhode Island license. thinking about if I should get a California license but I move so often it's probably not worth it. I also have an Ekster wallet where I keep other cards like my health insurance. I keep that in my bag but don't usually bring it around in my pocket. 

 

I have a black Yves saint laurent card holder. Credit cards are AmEx Gold and Wells Fargo autograph. I have my ID and a JPM, WF, BoA, and Citi ATM (not debit) cards stuffed into one slot. I carry roughly 300-500 cash on me at all times as I primarily use cash for 80% of purchases

 

What kind of lawyer do you have? The lawyer I used to use became a judge so I’ll be starting over in that sense should I get yanked for a Paul Walker drift or something.

Only unique thing in my wallet is a card that says “I am Catholic. In case of an emergency, please call a priest.”

Got news today that a dear friend of mine is about to die of pancreatic cancer at age 40. It really put life back into perspective for me.

 
WolfofWSO

Only unique thing in my wallet is a card that says "I am Catholic. In case of an emergency, please call a priest."

Amazing.

Got news today that a dear friend of mine is about to die of pancreatic cancer at age 40. It really put life back into perspective for me.

Sorry to hear about that, hope you are doing alright. My mom was in the hospital recently in critical condition and a priest was called over, but luckily her condition improved after. Modern medicine is obviously fantastic, but faith can be powerful in other inexplicable ways.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

Got the call this morning that they passed. I can’t even process it. We were hanging out having a blast earlier this year. They got a strange illness and went to the doctor around June. They never got better and suffered until last night. Cancer is a cruel way to go.

I held out that their would be a miracle of sorts. I did get told to be in their kids lives should this be the end. Rest assured I’ll do what I can.

Sorry for the ramble, my day just went sideways.

 

This is sharp, I'm liking it. My only issue would be the 'exposed' style of it. While I'm not as much of a klutz as I once was, I used to lose EVERYTHING and feel like $20 bills would just fall off me like you see in a cartoon. The exposed cash also isn't my style - would be an easy target. However, I'm sure that these are first-world problems and I also know that just because someone saw me pulling out a $20 at Blue Bottle isn't gonna make me a mugging target. Bookmarked the link in case I ever decide to switch, thanks.

 
Most Helpful

Wallet: Dockers wallet I got in 2011. It's kinda falling apart but has a nice patina to it, so I'm keeping it going until it's really useless. Plus it has an A24 sticker on it from 2016 so I don't want to toss it anytime soon.

Cash: Typically between $20-40

Credit Cards: In my wallet, CSR and CFU, but I have like 7 other cards at home (mostly from when I used to churn bonuses, and it doesn't make sense to close them)

Debit Cards: Schwab debit card.

Misc.: License, insurance card, AAA card, Charlie Card, some business cards, some stamps and my local movie theater membership card. People make a lot of fun of me for the stamps, but I really like sending post-cards. I think it's so much fun to get them, so I figure I should send some, too, and having a few stamps on you makes it super easy whenever you travel. You just need to write a few words and any hotel will let you drop off outgoing mail at the front desk. 

 
jarstar1

People make a lot of fun of me for the stamps, but I really like sending post-cards. I think it's so much fun to get them, so I figure I should send some, too, and having a few stamps on you makes it super easy whenever you travel. You just need to write a few words and any hotel will let you drop off outgoing mail at the front desk. 

So wholesome

 

This thread just reminded me that I have a 20 year old Nautica leather trifold wallet that has held up incredibly.

I keep a few no free credit cards on hand (chase, Amex, citi, boa) and try to play the reward/point game.

Rarely have cash.

I tend to carry coupons for gas as a station near my home takes any competitor gas coupon.

I’ll start carrying stamps. I also am a sucker for mailing post cards.

 
WolfofWSO

I'll start carrying stamps. I also am a sucker for mailing post cards.

I do that a lot too, although idk if I'd carry them around in my wallet, rather just with me if I know I'm traveling somewhere where I know I'll get postcards, but usually I just mail them once I get home.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

Meant to reply to this earlier - forgot to add the Tile in my OP. I have the same issue you have - the AirTag is great on my keys and I have one in my car as well. But for the wallet, it's just a no-go. I have the Tile Slim that's tucked into a small pouch behind the ID slot, and can barely feel it. Apple really needs a slimmer version - a CC one would be great. 

 

Wallet: Guess RFID passcase wallet. I've always been a sucker for the brand.

Cash: At best, 20 bucks. If for some reason I wind up with too much I'll go to a few cash only food trucks or something to spend it down. Just don't like having too much on me.

 Cards: I have 4 right now. I don't use them consistently, 2 of them are basically just open because I didn't want to close them and lose the average credit history length:

  1. Chase Sapphire Preferred: One of the best bang for your buck rewards cards out there. The one I use for most purchases.
  2. KLM Mastercard: Got this because they had a big promo but none of the Skyteam fly from my local airport so I'm just kinda stuck with it until I can spend most of the miles and close it out. It has like no annual perks either, what a waste.
  3. Chase Freedom Flex: Nice to have the rotating categories. Right now I'm earning 5% cash back on paypal so I'm just buying everything through them this quarter.
  4. Bank of America Cash Rewards: I average 14-15mpg in my v8 so this one is always set to 3% back on gas rewards lol. Edit: I just realized, this one actually lives in my car so technically not usually in my wallet lol.

I might close the KLM card and open another card that helps me diversify my high% cash-back. Thinking either Citi Custom Cash, Amex Blue, WF Active, or Costco Anywhere. Chase is my bank so I have their debit card but I try not to keep it in my wallet.

Misc: License/health insurance/costco membership/AAA. Some punch cards from local cafes/restaurants.

 

Wallet: Tried many wallets in my day from holders to metal clips to traditional bi and tri-folds. I've settled on iClip which I love. Owned a couple of them now and don't think I'll ever switch.

Cash: $50 in change, really only ever enough to cover a quick haircut + tip with some left over for emergencies.

Cards: A couple, though as another poster said, I try not to over-optimize my spend as it tends to feel like a chore just to save $50

  1. CSP - had it forever, candidly wouldn't recommend the CSR over this unless you REALLY like to use all the card benefits
  2. Capital One Venture X - Opened because acquisition offer was generous and I had recently moved so expected to easily spend the money on furniture / etc.
  3. Amazon Prime Card - Duh, if you spend more than $2k / year on Amazon the membership pays for itself in 5% cash back
  4. Chase Freedom Unlimited - If I can't optimize for Travel / Dining / Amazon my spend goes on this. With CSP I'm allowed to combine points and then use the FU earn as points transfer through Ultimate Rewards (never use the 1.25x or 1.5x redemption for travel)
  5. Haven't needed to travel a ton for work but as I release my pent-up travel demand from covid I may open an airline card for points / miles / status.
 

This is old, but I remembered your previous comment so I was going to reply. I actually just opened the Prime Card, got a split one with my wife. Already seeing the benefits - we spent a fuck ton on Amazon for a lot of miscellaneous things, and I've surprisingly found some good stuff at an Amazon Fresh store that's close to me. 

Enjoying it so far! Figured you'd want to know. 

 
Stonks1990

Amazon Fresh store

how do you like it, I went to the new one in Crystal City a little after it opened and most of the shelves were pretty bare, but the whole walk in/out concept is cool. Kind of reminded me of their bookstore in Georgetown before that closed down.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

Glad I could help and appreciate the kind words!

Honestly most people underestimate how much they spend on Amazon. I live in NYC and grocery shopping can be super annoying. I make the walk in the summer but can't be bothered to in the winter. I buy all of my staples off Amazon Fresh and then go to a store for veggies (I've ordered berries / bananas / etc. and they've always been in good shape. The fees are very moderate and the items are pretty cheap relative to local prices. I probably hit the $2k threshold just on household items + groceries. 

 

FinancelsWacc

With CSP I'm allowed to combine points and then use the FU earn as points transfer through Ultimate Rewards (never use the 1.25x or 1.5x redemption for travel)

granted I haven't done an exhaustive search, but every time I've looked at rewards travel on Chase vs transfer, I haven't been able to find a good enough deal via transfer other than 1-2 times. For business+ travel I'm sure this changes, but for cheap ass flights I've haven't found that many situations where it made sense to transfer (could just be because of the airlines I generally fly on due to my local hubs). What's been your experience?

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 
FinancelsWacc

With CSP I'm allowed to combine points and then use the FU earn as points transfer through Ultimate Rewards (never use the 1.25x or 1.5x redemption for travel)

comment got auto-deleted because I used a 3 letter "swear" word that can be used in PG/TV-14 but not on here, ridiculous

anyway, I haven't found a situation in which transferring Chase points would have been better value than using the portal. It could have have been my non-exhaustive experience, but I was curious about your experience with transferring to partners. I'm sure it's probably different with business+ flights.

Quant (ˈkwänt) n: An expert, someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing.
 

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