# What's in your wallet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223 "2005-05-17T12:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/1 "2005-05-17T12:29:25Z")
I’ve had my wallet a long time. It was a gift from my grandfather and I’ve carried it with me everywhere for at least 15 years. It’s been with me through high school, college, graduate school and years of working in the real world. Occasionally I clean it out, but mostly it accumulates junk, packed down, eventually, in deep layers like sedimentary rock at the bottom of a canyon. My most recent cleaning spree was yesterday. I noticed some pockets in it that I’ve overlooked for some time. Evidently, I’m more of a packrat than I thought. In addition the stuff I actually use from day to day, some of the things I found: a) National Honor’s Society card from high school. b) 3 separate voters registration cards. c) Alumni card I haven’t used in 8 years. d) 3 separate college student ID’s, including one I got back in ‘92. e) 4 phone cards I’ve never used. f) Ticket stubs for concerts I went to more than twelve years ago (one for Black Sabbath and one for Sepultura). g) A slip of paper I’d put in when I first got my wallet with my parents’ name, address and occupation, presumably for emergencies h) Spare key for a car I no longer own. i) Two cards for video stores I don’t really go to. One of them is a sticker applied to the temporary residence hall meal pass for freshman orientation in '92. j) 3 business cards I got from my sensei back in '91 or so to give out to interested people. Mission: failed. 🙂 It blows my mind that I’ve been carrying these things around with me every day for so long. The National Honor’s Society card, in particular, deserves some kind of veteran’s status. According to my math, I’ve carried that thing with me almost 5,500 days. So, what’s in your wallets? ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/2 "2005-05-17T12:33:39Z")
I think i’m pretty reserved with my wallet, here’s my list: Debit Card Credit Card Student Card for University Provisional Driving License Yellow Card - used to get cheap drinks at participating pubs/clubs (need to be a student to get one) NHS Medical Exemption Card - so I don’t have to pay for any prescriptions. About £15 Not much of any worth or interest but it gets me by day to day. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/3 "2005-05-17T12:54:52Z")
[ul] li ID-card[/li][li]Border’s classroom discount card[/li][li]Barnes & Nobles Edu. discount card[/li][li]Medicaid card[/li][li]ancient electronic hotel room key[/li][li]Sound Garden (Local music store) five percent discount card[/li][li]Why the hell do I have two Medicaid cards?[/li][li]Expired phone booth calling card[/li][li]Blood donor card[/li][li]Unintelligable business card from who know where[/li][li]Waldenbooks edu. discount card[/li][li]Johns Hopkins Student discount card ( I am not a student there, they were just giving them away and I figured there is no reason not to save 10% of food.[/li][li]Educators I.D. (No, I am not currently a teacher, I just taught summer school one year. I still get free admission to the Visionary Arts museum and the Science Center with this, however[/li][li]The Loading Dock (recycled building material reselling) membership card[/li][li]two bits[/li][li]Library card[/li][li]Bus pass[/li][li]JHU staff card (It was a temp job.[/li][li]JHU staff card (It was a temp job.[/li]Subdimensional compartment of wallet: [li]the Sword of Pixelius. [/li]Pockets: [li]Three pieces of paper telling me the names of people I need to call[/li][li]receit for a one dollars purchase[/li][li]Tropical Skittles bag[/li][li]Keys[/li]{8} Keyring Id card to YMCA of Mertropolitian Washington. I live nowhere near it. Inherited from a relative. [/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/4 "2005-05-17T12:56:09Z")
Forgot my sig. line: ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/5 "2005-05-17T12:57:32Z")
Damn! :smack: This is a bad hair, I mean Sig day. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/6 "2005-05-17T13:56:26Z")
Well, lets see here, I got: [ul]My highschool baseball team schedule. season ended a week or so ago. District Champs!!! Woohoo!!![/ul] [ul]My drivers license[/ul] [ul]My Eagle Scout card[/ul] [ul]My Debit card[/ul] [ul]6 Dollars[/ul] [ul]One blank check[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/7 "2005-05-17T14:22:06Z")
- Some old lottery tickets - The last week of business expense receipts - My business expense credit card - My Visa card - My ATM card - My Ontario driver’s license - My Aeroplan card - A picture of Mrs. RickJay - The elevator pass card for my office - An AMC Moviewatcher card - My health card - My benefits card - $5 in American money - An old Best Buy receipt from Christmas ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/8 "2005-05-17T14:58:07Z")
_Opens Wallet, swats at the flies escaping from the money section_: [ul] [li]National City Bankcard[/li][li]American Motorcyclist Association Membership Card[/li][li]A photographer’s Business Card[/li][li]My “Entertainment” membership Card[/li][li]Dental Insurance Card[/li][li]Driver’s License[/li][li]NWA FCU Bankcard[/li][li]State8 Motorcycles Business Card[/li][li]Health Insurance Card[/li][li]Social Security Card[/li][li]Library Card[/li][li]A week’s worth of receipts[/li][li]Car and Bike registrations[/li][li]Insurance Info[/li][li]Red Cross First Aid/CPR Certification Cards[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/9 "2005-05-17T16:19:35Z")
Driver’s license Health insurance card car insurance card (keep meaning to put that in the glovebox) Debit card (all the credit cards get left at home) 5 parking garage receipts for the hospital (I can take 'em off on taxes, I’m told) half a stick of gum (I only chew half a stick at a time.) Some new-fangled Liquid Ice mints I already forgot about A card certifying me a Pope of the Church of Discordia (Hail Eris!) I got it ten years ago in a Denny’s for laughing so hard I shot half-masticated cheesburger out my nose. It was proclaimed a miracle. Old school ID. Still gets me student admission. My “clergy” hospital badge, so I can see friends in the hospital beyond visiting hours. (Not related to my Pope-dom, I’m a minister besides.) ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/10 "2005-05-17T16:50:17Z")
I have: Cash ATM Card Driver’s License College ID Card Health Insurance Card Gift Certificates Several Recipts ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/11 "2005-05-17T17:18:33Z")
[ul][li]2 credit cards[/li][li]1 debit card[/li][li]2 store credit cards[/li][li]driver’s license and proof of insurance[/li][li]current student ID[/li][li]old student ID (expired in '93)[/li][li]health insurance card[/li][li]dental insurance card[/li][li]a few business cards (my own)[/li][li]an ATM receipt[/li][li]a rain check for a carwash at my Jiffy Lube[/li][li]cash[/li][li]2 grocery store bonus cards[/li][li]library card[/li][li]voter registration card[/li][li]American Red Cross first aid & CPR cards (the latter expired a couple of years ago; first aid expires in 5 months)[/li][li]American Red Cross certification that I completed “Introduction to Disaster Services” (from 2002, when I was an ARC volunteer)[/li][li]organ donor card (provided by Reader’s Digest and signed in 1988)[/li][li]FCC radio operator license (granted in 1989, right before they began issuing special student licenses with expiration dates; mine is valid for as long as I live 🆒 )[/li][li]Discovery Channel Passport card[/li][li]tip table[/li][li]User Friendly charter member card[/li][li]Social Security card[/li][li]University of Maryland certification that I completed 4 hours of hazmat awareness coursework (in 1995 … long story)[/li][\*]Hepatitis B vaccine record (from 1994, when I volunteered at a hospital for the first time)[/ul]I don’t know how anyone walks around with just a few things in his/her wallet… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/12 "2005-05-17T18:06:40Z")
Good lord. Some of us should be carrying around purses. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/13 "2005-05-17T18:12:56Z")
-2 pix of my wife -Driver’s license w/hole punched in it. -Health insurance card w/hole punched. When I go to the gym, I wear the ID & Blue Cross card on a strap around my neck. If I have a heart attack or stroke (both run in my family) while working out, I don’t want a minute’s hesitation at the emergency room while they figure out if I’m insured. -Fishing license -2 credit cards -Debit card -Folded list of phone numbers -List of prescription drugs I take. This saves time when I donate blood. -Business cards from my barber, massage therapist, and a stripper (furniture stripper, that is.) -Permit to carry a handgun -Membership cards for Nat’l Knife Collectors Assn., Muncie Sailing Club, Day Sailer Assn., and UAW (retired) -Cash -AAA card ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/14 "2005-05-17T18:15:39Z")
> [@slortar](#): > > Good lord. Some of us should be carrying around purses. 😃 What’s sad is that I _do_ have a purse: I use it to carry my wallet. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/15 "2005-05-17T18:44:23Z")
> [@Dorjän](#): > > _Opens Wallet, swats at the flies escaping from the money section_ Dammit, give me back my flies! 😉 [ul] [li]NYS Driver’s Liscense, current[/li][li]VA ID card[/li][li]Expired B&N Giftcard\*\*[/li][li]3 Ranma 1/2 trading cards[/li][li]Martin’s Loyalty card[/li][li]Wegmans Shoppers Club card[/li][li]PFCU ATM card (In sleeve)[/li][li]BJ’s membership card\*\*[/li][li]Valvoline customer card\*\*[/li][li]Tops Bonus Card\*\*[/li][li]Navy FCU membership card[/li][li]phone number’s card\*\*[/li][li]TGIFriday’s card \*\*[/li][li]family photo[/li][li]photograph of a friend not seen for a few years[/li][li]VGLI ID card[/li][li]Grub club card for Buffalo Wild Wings **[/li][li]VA Dr’s Appt. card[/li][li]receipt for payed traffic fine[/li][li]SSN card[/li][li]expired temporary liscense[/li][li]Aldi’s receipt from 4/22/05[/li][li]old Lotto ticket[/li][li]Expired and out of date conviction stub for NYS driver’s license**[/li][li]Certificates of mailing for income taxes[/li][li]BJ’s receipt from 4/22/05[/li][/ul] \*\* Not used for more than a year Everything expired, more than a year old, or useless is being thrown out, and not returned. Thanks for the impetus to cleaning out the wallet. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/16 "2005-05-17T18:55:27Z")
Debit card Credit card Best Buy card Shell gas card Exxon gas card Sam’s Club card Health insurance card Canadian Social Insurance Number card US Social Security card US Permanent Resident (“green”) card (no, it’s not green) Nine dollars …and that’s all! ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/17 "2005-05-17T19:33:48Z")
Lemme see… Debit card Credit card AMC Moviewatcher card Petco Pals card (Ardred’s) Best Buy card (cancelled) Benchmark card (cancelled) (why do I carry these?) Old Chicago beer card Cheese Shop frequent buyer card (one punch) Price Chopper shopper card (no stores in 20 miles!) LensCrafters “Save $80!” card Petco Pals card (mine) Mazda Emergency assistance keytag Driver’s License Two College IDs (for student movie prices) Picture of Ardred and our dog, Hockey. Insurance card (expired… whoops) SS card (I know, I know) Expired MO driver’s license Picture of Rick Baker ([IMDB listing](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000711/)) $20!!! A $2. Work history listing. Key Card for gated parking lot at work. (gates are broken) Voter ID card Various business cards “No Expiration” pass to Universal Studios Hollywood Bar Code “designated server” card The piece of paper Ardred first wrote his phone number on. (awwww) ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/18 "2005-05-17T19:43:01Z")
My chequebook $140 A deposit slip AAA card AMC movie watcher card Student loan phone number card Health Card Social Insurance Number Card Gym membership card Costco Card Visa ON drivers licence ATM card Check Card ID card for Stats Can. Wedding photo photo of hubby when he was young A religious sayings card photo of me and my parents when I was 1 years old my aeroplan card 13 business cards A piece of paper with impt. info that I need from time to time. And some change I just emptied my wallet and took out my two passports and citizenship card and social security card otherwise they would be in there also ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/19 "2005-05-17T23:34:36Z")
I used to carry a huge purse as a teen, books, hairspray and all sorts of crazy never know when you might want it stuff landed in there. A few years later I progressed to the Mom purse, had to be big enough for snacks and wipes and all sorts of stuff once we outgrew the diaper-bag stage. At 30 I resolved to stop schlepping tons of crud around, got so excited paring down I found it hard to stop. I carry my wallet in my hip pocket at work daily, so it’s a small cute type that can’t be bulked up. As such, I’m sorta surprised at what all I had in there, now that I looked. •Driver’s License •Insurance certificate •two auto registrations •voter’s registration •voter’s reg for school elections only •3 month old reciept for a shower present •punch card for a salon I didn’t like •2 business cards •4 store credit cards I never use •1 credit card •1 ATM card •1 bank card ID for an account without an ATM •Work ID with horrific photo •Health insurance cards for my son and I •Dental cards for each •appointment cards for our next dental cleanings •15 photos •cash ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223/20 "2005-05-18T01:00:35Z")
Credit Card Store Card ISEC Card MUN Card WIT Card 2 Bank Cards Social Services Card European Health Insurance Card Donor Card Library Card Video Shop Card Lodgement Slip Priority stickers & stamps Wage Slip Cash And that be it… I thought I had too much stuff in my wallet… compared to some of you, I have nothing! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/304223.md?page=2)