# What's in YOUR wallet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653 "2005-09-08T14:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/1 "2005-09-08T14:01:35Z")
Okay boys (and girls I suppose, don’t want to be sexist here…), what’s in your wallet? I’ve seen guys carry wallets as thick as a triple decker club sandwich. I don’t know what they keep in them but I suppose they save every scrap of paper and business card they’ve ever been handed in their life. The wallets are those triple fold types and they bulge their jean pockets like they are happy to see everyone they come across. Stored in their back pocket, they risk a chronic curviture of the spine when they sit down. As for me, mine is a quarter inch thick and even that annoys me when I have to carry it in my back pocket. I prefer the inside of my jacket or the side pocket of my cargos. At work, I store it in my brief case and lock it in my office drawer. I keep a couple of credit cards, driver’s licese and a photo of my kids in my wallet. I keep a money clip for my cash and that’s always slim enough to be inconspicuous in my back pocket. But even that gets moved into my jacket when ever possible. If I do pick up a business card or three through my day, it gets emptied out of my wallet that evening into my business card holder. which reminds me, I keep my own business cards in my brief case in their own little case. Basically I hate things in my pants pockets. Particularly keys and change and anything that jingles while I walk. Besided, bulges ruin the drape of my clothes. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/2 "2005-09-08T14:35:23Z")
I carry my license and essential cards in a 3/8" [binder clip](http://www.keysan.com/ksu1712.htm). Money stays in my pocket, and I always know when it is time to clean out my “wallet”. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/3 "2005-09-08T14:39:01Z")
I have a slim card case with an attached money clip, keeps me from getting the “Giant Wallet Syndrome” I had as a youth, since only so much fits in there. So today I have: Library card, Driver’s license, debit card, credit card, a business card from a gun shop, $37, my WI hunting license, and a Green Bay Packers schedule. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/4 "2005-09-08T14:43:48Z")
Let’s see… Check/ATM card 3 general credit cards Driver’s License AAA card Delta SkyMiles card Blue Cross card picture of wife Marriott Rewards card old college ID card with a great photo of me on it work ID 2 department store cards Basic Firearms Safety Certificate 4 business cards Bevmo card $2 bill card with alarm numbers on it 4 Rewards cards for various places I shop $103 cash No wonder my spine is crooked! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/5 "2005-09-08T14:49:28Z")
I usually carry a backpack rather than a purse. It’s a small backpack, and it’s convenient since I like to always have a book on me, plus paper/pencils for catching up on correspondence. But if I just carry my wallet, it’s got: driver’s licence. this is on the outside window, and it’s covered by a “parrots of the world” business card so a) people can’t see my name easily and b) i’ve found the picture of the brightly-colored parrot does wonders for entertaining crying children ahhead of me in the stores. atm card price chopper advantage card hollywood video card any receipts from the day only money stamps for aforementioned correspondence the card i use to get into the office if it’s locked and my best buy rewards zone card ---
**Author:** ![sishoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@sishoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sishoch)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/6 "2005-09-08T15:01:44Z")
ATM receipt restaurant receipt gas receipt $56 in cash 2 Mastercards Discover card American Express AAA card Airport parking card Public TV membership card Blood donor card Smith’s grocery card ATM card Costco card Ace hardware card copy machine card work id driver’s license 3 coupons bank card REI card ASME card 2 frequent flyer cards Subway club card medical insurance card auto insurance card ISEE card list of phone numbers blood donation notice (next possible donation 8/12/05, don’t need it anymore) Blockbuster card running/biking club membership card USAT membership card list of frequent flyer/driver numbers Just the essentials… ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/7 "2005-09-08T15:04:59Z")
Lessee… Driver’s license. Credit cards. Several store-specific Consumer Club cards. Medical Insurance card. More various and sundry “plastic”… Then there’s: Checkbook. Meal Vouchers (for lunch – work has agreements with several places. Each place has it’s own voucher…) Receipts I need to keep. Sometimes for a while. This is where I know I won’t forget them. “Todo” notes. Ditto the receipts. Oh, and some cash… ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/8 "2005-09-08T15:12:23Z")
You really want to know? OK, I’ll have a look. Fifteen quid in cash. Tesco loyalty/shopping-spy card. Library card AA membership (car breakdown service, nothing to do with booze) Emergency ‘flat’ car key, it’s just the blade of the key but it opens the door. Organ Donor card 🙂 Debit/ATM card. That’s all, and it’s still too fat to be comfortable in a back pocket. On preview, jeez **sishoch** how do you manage that? Do you have a little Hindu boy carry it around for you? Team of Sherpas? ---
**Author:** ![BadBadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BadBadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBadger)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/9 "2005-09-08T15:22:01Z")
CashCard/ATM Corporate Charge Card Game Reward Card Drivers Licence Library Card Pool hall membership card Dentists business card \* Credit Card Old Corporate Card \* O2 top up card (cant do subscript) Mechanics business card \* Health care card Eye prescription Surveyors business card \* Online banking account number card \* (big no no even tho it doesn’t show passwords etc. I know the number anyway) Restaurant business card \* AT & T Corporate calling card 3 more business cards for same bleeding dentist \* National Insurance Card Kennels business card \* £15 cash $1 bill (for luck) - now thrown away Cool. Thanks for bringing this up, just dumped half my wallet. Made me realise I need a new wallet too ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/10 "2005-09-08T15:34:38Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Okay boys (and girls I suppose, don’t want to be sexist here…), what’s in your wallet? > > I’ve seen guys carry wallets as thick as a triple decker club sandwich. : I’m one of those. Let’s see, it’ll be a chance to remove the stuff I don’t need : - My passport - A number of ATM tickets - My debit card - A department store card - Half a dozen stamps - My swimming pool card - A dozen subway tickets - My social security card - A “joker” card from a deck (used when someone ask me a question I don’t want to answer to) - A Youth Hostel card that isn’t valid anymore - A phone card - A theater pass that isn’t valid anymore - The business cards of 4 restaurants and a hotel - A piece of paper with the adress of a comic book seller in a faraway town. - Three condoms - Three 20 € bills - Six pills - A broken arrow’s nock ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/11 "2005-09-08T15:35:00Z")
Let’s see … I recently switched to a little cigarette case instead of a wallet, and I can’t fit much in there … Driver’s License (with a passably good picture, for once) Car Registration Insurance Card Visa card Debit Card Health Insurance Card Dental Insurance Card $189 cash (I went to the ATM this morning) 1 Quarter And today I have the _small_ purse, so my wallet’s the heaviest thing in there. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/12 "2005-09-08T15:35:55Z")
Drivers license 2 ATM cards 1 normal credit card 1 special credit card for medical expenses 1 health insurance card BART ticket 6 pieces of US currency in various denominations 1 ATM receipt Those of you that have all of the store cards - most stores seem to let you use your phone number, rather than carry the card. Otherwise, I’d also be carrying a Safeway card, Albertsons card, BevMo card and a Camping World card. I only take the Costco or video shop cards when I’m actively going to those places. \*\*sishoch \*\* - Throw out that Subway card! They discontinued the Sub Club program last month, so it’s worthless. Your car insurance ID ought to be in the glove box. Do you really need to carry the public TV card? Are you living in fear of being stopped at a PBS checkpoint at night? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/13 "2005-09-08T15:39:08Z")
> [@Small Clanger](#): > > Organ Donor card 🙂 is that a…_liver_ donor card? ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/14 "2005-09-08T15:46:15Z")
Driver licence ATM card Credit card Work credit card “buy 10 get 1 free” card from local sandwitch shop Work ID ID from 2 jobs ago scap of paper with phone number of woman I wanted to have sex with COSTCO membership card Insurance card Union card 4 ea METRO farecard Library card Discount drug card Several receipts $8.00 in cash ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/15 "2005-09-08T16:12:22Z")
Let’s see… $471 in cash and checks (not all mine…I’ve been collecting for our football pool) A slip tracking who has paid up for said football pool ATM card Old lottery ticket (hmm…one sec, I need to check and see if I’m going to own the _Reader_ next week…nope, never mind) Capital One card Easy Video membership card Best Buy Reward Zone card Ceasers Pocono Resorts Forever Lovers card Costco card Business card for my wife’s OB/GYN (for some unknown reason) A Lowes Cineplex gift card Movie ticket stub from _The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy_ An appointment card from my endocrinologist reminding me I have an appointment next April (I’m down to annual visits with him) Another Lowes Cineplex gift card My health insurance card The complete NFL schedule A cheat-sheet on how to use my cell phone’s voice mail My driver’s licence Two PBA cards (cops in the family = good thing) ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/16 "2005-09-08T16:19:12Z")
Well… ::Takes out wallet and empties it’s contents onto desk:: $38 in cash An ATM Card 4 credit cards A Blockbuster card Discount cards for Staples, Waldbaums, Costco and Stop & Shop My medical insurance card My Blood donor card My Drivers license, car registration & social security card A business card for the Chiropractic office I visit. The Carnival fun pass card for a cruise I took 2 months ago A punch per meal type of card for a Belgian restaurant called Waterzooi A card from a hairdresser I used to visit that has various phone numbers written on it A note indicating that I needed to pick up 15 rolls of Porta 160NC 220 professional film. ::Puts wallet back together, junk and all:: ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/17 "2005-09-08T16:21:06Z")
Driver’s License Old college ID (I just can’t let go) Insurance card AAA card Check card Couple of gas cards Nashville Public Library card (probably been there since high school) $20 bill business card for a buddy of mine Punch-out card from Moe’s (buy nine entrees and get the tenth on FREE!!) Spare car key (saved my ass many a time) And I just found an old fortune cookie paper: “Sometimes the best choice is to choose all options.” Right. Not a thick wallet, but it hurts my bony ass on long car trips. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/18 "2005-09-08T16:22:37Z")
Drivers license Half a book of stamps three business cards for contractors (want to get some work done on my house) Ten of my business cards Two ATM cards Health insurance card Calling card American Express Visa card 350 Swedish kronors (keep meaning to take this to the currency exchange down the street) $40 or so I used to carry all kinds of crap. Then I realized that I literally never used it. For the life of me, I can’t figure out what some people do with ATM receipts, much less why so many of them need to be carried around, day in and day out. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/19 "2005-09-08T16:26:32Z")
Yesterday I had to go into the courthouse, which meant I had to get my purse/wallet scanned. I asked the scanner, “So is there anything neat in my purse?” He then proceeded to go through my purse contents: “Cell phone, house keeps, one smaller seperate key, lip stick tube, and a dog tag for US Marine (insert ex bf’s name) in the pocket of your wallet).” Me: :eek: On top of that, I have: Kaiser Card ATM Card Credit Card Credit Card Gas Card AAA Card Driver’s License Picture of my friend Ryan Most recent bank receipt $70 ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653/20 "2005-09-08T16:29:25Z")
BofA Credit Card CapitolOne Credit Card Monterey Peninsula College Library Copy Card BlueCross insurance card PacifiCare insurance card\* Cingular Roadside assistance card\* Tantara dental benefit card\* Another cingular roadside card\* Monterey Institute Student ID card CA Driver’s License old UC Davis Student ID card old UC Davis adviser’s business card\* ATT OneRate calling card\* Donor card really old WalMart receipt - tucked away really old WalMart receipt - tucked away really old WalMart receipt - tucked away really old receipt I forgot to get reimbursed for ($40!!) ATT OneRate calling card (another one!) AAA card Valero/Beacon gas card Safeway club card Nugget Market customer loyalty card Eagle Scout card United MileagePlus card old picture of my sister Old ATM card\* Old WalMart gift card ($3 left on it) personal banker’s business card personal banker’s business card\* (hmm. one of these should be enough) Chipotle receipt\* Chipotle receipt\* Chipotle receipt\* Fuel receipt\* ATM receipt\* Safeway receipt\* Office Depot receipt\* $1 cash [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-in-your-wallet/320653.md?page=2)