Can You Name 10 Things in Your Wallet?

Pop quiz: Can you name 10 things that are in your wallet or purse?

Now, if you lost your wallet or purse, would you be able to replace what was in there?

Most people would have a real bad day.

In fact, I almost had one the other day.  I was on vacation and had lost my wallet.

What’s in Your Wallet?

Back in April, I wrote this post: “Which is Worse: Losing Your Phone or Your Wallet?”

There were strong, but differing opinions, on whether it would be worse to lose your cell phone or your wallet.

This past weekend, I was at the beach on vacation and I almost got to find out.  One of the first mornings, I woke to find that I could not find my wallet.

Strangely, my cell phone was on the dresser, but my wallet was missing in action. After a quick search of the hotel room, and my clothes from the previous day… my mind started racing towards panic.  After all, the hotel room was only so big and my wallet was no where to be found.

It took a few minutes to sink in.  I had not lost my wallet…since… since I could ever remember.  My wife and I searched the room for about 10 minutes before we started to think about the consequences.  I was not too panicked about what I had lost, as much as the impact that it would have on the rest of our trip.

Bottom line: we could get by on her credit cards.  But, losing my ID was going to hurt. There were several nightclubs and restaurants that would require ID to get in or to be served.

While I mentally prepared to call and start cancelling cards, my wife called the restaurant we had eaten at the night before.  (No answer.)

Just as we were about to head out to “look” for my wallet…. it turned up.  (It’s always in the last place you look.)

It was in a random top dresser drawer.  I have no idea how it got there.  Maybe it fell in there while we were getting clothes out.  Who knows.

But, the crisis was called off.  And after laughing it off for a minute, we headed back to our vacation.

Would You Be Ready?

I was not overly worried about what I had lost, I had an inventory at home of the cards in my wallet.  I knew which credit cards to cancel immediately.  However, the timing and the one off items were going to cause the most trouble.  Not having an ID while traveling, in this case vacation, would be a nuisance.

It is ironic how we take things like IDs and credit cards for granted.  Until we don’t have them, that is.

Here are some takeaways:

• Separate Your Cards and IDs – When I travel for business, I bring a separate travel wallet that has all my travel cards, and a 2nd ID.  I had failed to bring this on our vacation.  (Lesson learned.)
• Have a Current Inventory – One reason I was able to be calm in the situation was that I knew what cards were in my wallet.  I was prepared to cancel them if necessary.  When was the last time you inventoried your wallet?  The dead simple way to do this is to dump the contents on a photocopier and copy both sides of all cards.  I then scan the copies into PDF so that I have them available online.
• Don’t Use Your Wallet For Storage – This is especially true of 1 of a kind items. Receipts, notes, small items.  Don’t use your wallet for storage of things.  File business receipts and other items so that they are not in your wallet.
• Expect the Unexpected – Are you ready if you lost your wallet?  One of the best ways to be prepared is to test yourself.  Have a little drill.  If you lost your wallet right now…are you ready?

How about you?  Would you be ready if you lost your wallet or purse today?

Related Posts:

Which Is Worse: Losing Your Phone or Your Wallet?