7 Items You Should Never Carry in Your Wallet (2024)

FAQs

What shouldn't you carry in your wallet? ›

The number one thing you should not carry in your wallet is your social security card. If it gets into the wrong hands, it can be used for everything from buying a car to opening a credit card. You should also never carry your passport in your wallet.

Sullivan says your Social Security card and any identification or documents that include your Social Security number are perfect examples of what not to keep in your wallet. Those nine digits could make it easier for a fraudster to open loans or credit card accounts in your name.

“We would recommend between $100 to $300 of cash in your wallet, but also having a reserve of $1,000 or so in a safe at home,” Anderson says. Depending on your spending habits, a couple hundred dollars may be more than enough for your daily expenses or not enough.

The presence of crayons suggests that the owner may have intentionally placed them there as a decoy, leading the thief to question what other surprises or countermeasures might await them.

Picture of goddess Lakshmi : Astrologers recommend keeping a picture of goddess Lakshmi sitting on a lotus in your wallet. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, abundance, and propensity. Shree Yantra : Keeping a sacred Shree Yantra in your bag will make your life more positive and increase financial prospects.

Even though it might be tempting to buy an eye-catching blue, red, or yellow card holder, these colors are all seen as unlucky and tradition states that it's best to stick with the more neutral colors of black, green, and brown.

It's why we rank the Social Security card among the worst things to keep in your wallet in case it's ever lost or stolen. Stow your Social Security card in your safe deposit box. On the rare occasions when you actually might need to produce it, say, for a real estate closing, you can plan to retrieve the card.

You should only keep items you need in your wallet, like your driver's license, credit and debit cards, and your health insurance card. On the other hand, you should avoid carrying items like your Social Security card and your birth certificate with you unless you need other forms of ID.

Never carry blank checks in your wallet. If stolen, blank checks can make you a victim of check fraud.

While it is legal to keep as much as money as you want at home, the standard limit for cash that is covered under a standard home insurance policy is $200, according to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

How much cash is too much to keep at home? ›

Jesse Cramer, associate relationship manager at Cobblestone Capital Advisors, believes less than $1,000 is ideal. “It [varies from] person to person, but an amount less than $1,000 is almost always preferred,” he said. “There simply isn't enough good reason to keep large amounts of liquid cash lying around the house.

Where to safely keep cash at home. Just like any other piece of paper, cash can get lost, wet or burned. Consider buying a fireproof and waterproof safe for your home. It's also useful for storing other valuables in your home such as jewelry and important personal documents.

You want someplace easy to access but where your wallet won't fall out and hopefully hidden enough to deter pickpockets. Most people carry wallets in their back pocket, coat pocket or bag, but the best place to store your wallet is actually the front pocket, and there are a couple reasons why.

For two reasons. One is that no matter where you go on your travels, you're probably bringing your wallet along. So keeping anything that might come in handy inside means you'll always have whatever you need at hand. The second reason is that a crayon is said to make sure your cards remain intact.

Carry your Medicare card with you when you're away from home. Show your Medicare card to your doctor, hospital, or other health care provider when you get services. If you have a Medicare drug plan or supplemental coverage, carry that plan card with you too.

If you only have a few coins, stick them in the wallet. While these wallets are “minimalist,” they are designed to maximize the use of space, and they still have pockets for cash where you can place your coins. If you have change after paying in cash, put the change in your wallet and it will be perfectly fine.

You should always keep your health insurance card in a safe, but accessible place. Most people carry their health insurance card in their wallet or purse. Your insurance ID card is like a passport or driver's license, it gives you access to care and coverage.