My Super-Minimalist Kung-Fu Wallet
 |
There’s a great article at Lifehack about having a super slim wallet. I figured it was a good time to post the details of my minimalist wallet solution.
Background
My dad carried a fat wallet. He bought it one vacation in Colorado Springs when I was a wee tot, and he carried it the rest of his life. It was filled with every card known to mankind. Did I mention that it was fat?
A couple years ago, I decided I wanted to slim down my wallet. I was headed on the fat track, and I wanted to curb that.
Card case
I considered several different wallet options, most of which are actually mentioned in the Lifehack article on this subject. The one I settled on is using a card case.
This little guy (pictured above), has all the essential features a person really needs:
- Exterior window pocket
- One deep interior pocket
- Two small interior pockets
- One slim interior pocket
Let me explain how all these little pockets function, and you’ll be dying to have one of these yourself. 🙂
IDs reside in the exterior window pocket. I have a student ID and my driver’s license in there. This makes it easy to flash an ID, whenever needed.
Post-it notes (the super-sticky kind) are stuck to the inside, flat surface of the card case. I can flip open my wallet, jot a note, and flip it closed again. I use the standard-size, super-sticky post-it note pad, cut about 10 notes in half, and stick them inside. When they’re used up, I stick a few more in.
Credit card (only one) goes in one of the small interior pockets. The leather is cut-away a bit here, so it’s quick & easy to slide the card in and out.
Insurance cards (health and vehicle) go in the slim interior pocket. It’s difficult to get things in and out of this tiny pocket, but the cards fit without folding them. Besides, how often do you really need to access these cards?
Bus tickets and receipts are tucked in the other small interior pocket. I clean this pocket out regularly, since it can quickly fill up with stuff and make the wallet too fat.
Cash, pictures, and business cards fit together in the deep interior pocket. I don’t carry much cash (a couple bills at most, folded in thirds), so I can fit a couple pictures and a couple business cards in there as well.
What else?
What more does a guy need in his wallet? You could easily add another card or two in this case, and have room to spare. If you want to carry loads of cash, that would be problematic.
I have one “shopper’s loyalty card” on my keychain, and I don’t carry any in my wallet. If you need these, stick them in your car’s console. You can grab them on your way into the store. I find that most stores will accept your phone number just as easily.
Honestly, having a super-minimalist kung-fu wallet helps me be productive. Less junk to carry around means that I can access the important stuff quicker. That’s an important productivity key.
I’ve told my wallet story. So, now I ask you…
What’s in your wallet?
Tell us in the comments!
Get more legal tips
|
See also... |
Comments
4 Responses to “My Super-Minimalist Kung-Fu Wallet”
-
Legal tips by email
Sign-up below to get email tips and exclusive discounts on videos, webinars, and future items.
All fields are required.
-
Receive updates
By email
By rss (full feed)
-
About Andrew Flusche
Lawyer, bicyclist, husband.
More about me...
Tumble Log
-
Popular Posts
April 11th, 2007
This is exactly what I do! A few years ago, I got sick of my big fat wallet. It hurt my butt and back sitting on it. So, I just took out the card case that was in it and threw out the wallet. I now keep my card case in my front pocket sans back pain. The card case holds everything that I’d ever need. The ID window makes showing my student ID to get into the library much easier.
April 11th, 2007
Brett,
It sounds like I’m in good company then. 🙂
The ID window is definitely a great time saver. Students ride our city buses for free, so my rides to/from school are a piece of cake – just flash the “wallet.”
Take care,
Andrew
April 11th, 2007
My stroke of brilliance with my wallet came a few years ago and is deceptively simple: a hairtie (obviously, being a girl, these are a lot easier to find that for boys). In here goes the few cards I really need (eftpos/credit card, student card, licence, public transport stuff, reciepts when I get them) and money folded up and tucked between two cards.
For the rest of the cards, I then have a (mens) wallet that I carry in a bag when I’m going shopping etc. One thing I’ve noticed no the sudden resurgence of ‘clean out your wallet’ posts appearing on the internet recently is that they all assume that you know exactly where you’re going when you go out. For me, a day into the city means that I might go to a shop that I get a discount with my insurance, might get a juice at the place where I have a discount card, might get a haircut and need my discount card there… By having a wallet with everything in it, if I’m going out it’s not big deal to put it in my bag and not worry about it until I need it. If I’m just wandering down to the shops or something, all I need is my little bundle of cards.
April 11th, 2007
Josie,
Thanks for the great comment. It sounds like you have a really good solution for “the wallet problem.” I like the idea of having an everyday wallet versus your “out shopping” wallet. Very nice.
I think this is your first comment here. Welcome! If you like what you see, please consider subscribing to the RSS feed or for email updates.
Thanks again for commenting,
Andrew