Wallets? Something better?

[sterlingice]

So, I've had a bit of fun this weekend. I was in Chicago and got pickpocketed by a practiced guy on the El. It took me about a half minute to realize what had happened and by then the doors were closed and it was too late.

No real short term harm done- cancelled the CCs and debit card as soon as I got out. He got me for about $30 in cash and charged about $200 in more CTA (El) tickets. The credit card companies are going to cancel the errant charges once I sign the sworn affidavit so the monetary loss isn't huge.

However, there was the hassle of going around today and replacing everything in the wallet from license to library card. And there's always the lingering fear that something will turn up 2 months or 2 years later on a credit report so, thanks, buddy, you got me to re-up my subscription to myfico rather than cancelling it. *sigh*

For the record, the most useless piece of advice I keep getting is "Say, you should have had it in your front pocket". Thanks for the 20/20 hindsight. If I had room for it in my front pocket, I would have. But with a phone pretty much taking up one pocket, that only leaves one pocket unless I'm wearing cargo pants. In that one, I have keys- house, car (c'mon, Toyota- I don't need to be hauling around a boat anchor for your cheapest sedan: I only drive a Corolla), and four others on a carabiner that acts as a keychain. And I also have a couple of other small items- a pen and a swiss army knife that I get a lot of use out of. At that point, there's not much room for a full wallet. Honestly- how many guys do you know who carry a front pocket wallet? Despite it being much safer, back pocket is still dominant, I think

But it got me thinking- what level of wallet do I need or is there another way to do this even better?

First off, I've moved some lesser used items to my car over the past year and I think I'll do more of that (Best Buy rewards card, Borders *sic* card- that sort of thing- where I might be there monthly at most and it's not great loss if the car is stolen).

* At the end of the day, I know I need the following: License, a pair of credit cards, a debit card
* I also think I should always have these around: car insurance card, health insurance card, AAA card, some cash
* I'd also really like to have the following as I use these weekly: Kroger card, library card

That's 9 cards and some cash. Even if you just put a rubber band around it- that takes up a decent chunk of pocket real estate. And I've already posted in the random thread about how pants are getting more snug in the legs not more baggy so it's not as if pockets are getting bigger.

So, anyone using a more unconventional approach to carrying stuff around that works nicely for them?

SI

[JediKooter]

I don't even carry a wallet. I only have my atm card, a credit card and my drivers license and I carry them all in my front pocket. I've found that I don't really need to carry anything else with me other than those 3 items.

[Izulde]

I use a thin zipper wallet and keep it in my front pocket. Keys go in the other pocket.

[Scoobz0202]

I use a front pocket wallet that has a money clip and a couple card slots on one side, and a picture id slot on the other. Debit card and credit card with limited cash.

Phone in one pocket, wallet and keys in the other.

EDIT: for the insurance cards, library card, etc, just put them in the glove compartment or something. When you head to the library just grab it before you head in.

[RainMaker]

Sorry to hear about your experience in Chicago. I know that stuff goes down and I guess I've been lucky over the years to never have experienced it.

One other thing to be careful about is grab and runners. They'll see you typing on you iPhone, iPad, Kindle, etc. When you're at a stop and the doors are about to shut, they'll yank it from you and fucking bolt like crazy.

As for alternatives, there is nothing I've found over the years. I do have a friend who has always been a minimalist when he's out. He has a money clip with some cash, his ID, and a single credit card. He has a wallet that he uses for other stuff, but if he's just running to the store or going out for the night, he grabs the clip and that's it. It's not about security to him, more about his hatred of wallets and liking the money clip approach.

[sterlingice]

Well, it's just some bad luck that it happened there as opposed to somewhere else. I've been to a lot worse places for that sort of thing: Rome, Bogota, NYC, DC- and it just happened to be in Chicago.

Guy acted like he got his foot trapped between the platform and train car. He reached an arm back to steady himself but he was stuck there an awful long time, in retrospect- like a good 15 to 30 seconds- and his arms were flailing and there were other people so I was distracted trying to help him catch his balance. I don't know if it was his other flailing arm or if he was working with someone. He decided to not get on the train, which I thought was weird but my mind didn't process that fast enough and I realized about 10 seconds after the door closed that my wallet was gone and there wasn't much I could do.

Usually my wife and I do a good job of keeping an eye on each other but she broke a toe about a week and a half ago so we were more worrying about her than usual. And I was stuck between seasons- in warm weather, I have shorts with a million pockets and velcro on them so no problems. And in the winter or, even fall, the coat covers the back and I would feel someone making a grab for it. But I was wearing jeans and had taken my jacket off because it was warmish down in the El station. D'oh

SI

[Lathum]

I usually just grab my debit card, a credit card, my license, and cash and keep it in my fron pocket. Like you said hindsight is 20/20. Depending on the weather I'll wear a jacket with either a zipper of an inside pocket.

[Chief Rum]

I just wear a "Don't Fuck With Me" look on my face, and stick a wad on non-descript bills in my back pocket, with the ends hanging out.

Seems to work.

[Abe Sargent]

I have a giant wallet that will hold my passport, and it's in the front. I put cell and keys in one pockets and it in another.

[panerd]

Problem:http://www.gulfbayconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/george-wallet.png

Solution:http://blog.shoplet.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/seinfeld-purse.jpg.

[sterlingice]

I usually just grab my debit card, a credit card, my license, and cash and keep it in my fron pocket. Like you said hindsight is 20/20. Depending on the weather I'll wear a jacket with either a zipper of an inside pocket.

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, I still have more than a couple of things so it's not going to be a couple of things in my pocket. However, I don't think we're talking crazy here- again, 9 cards and some cash- this isn't exactly man purse territory.

Besides, don't you live in Seattle? You have to wear jackets year round, right? Thus your problem is solved ;)

SI

[wade moore]

Put me in the Money Clip+ in the front pocket camp. I have had two different versions, but essentially money clip on one side, room for cards on the other. I carry that with money and about the same number of cards you do. I carry my cell phone and ipod touch in one pocket and the money clip, pen(s), and keys in the other. A big thing for me is to be minimalist on keys. I don't understand having big key chains. I have the remote for my door lock on a ring with my car key and house key - that's IT.

I wear this with slacks even and have no issues. When I have to carry my wife's keys with keys she doesn't know what they go to and 8 million swipes for various stores, then I have an issue.

Anyway - there's an additional benefit to the front wallet. I always heard this and didn't believe it until I experienced it.

I used to have nagging lower back problems. I'd often heard that a wallet in the back pocket can cause this, but didn't believe. I finally decided to try the front pocket and the back issues disappeared.

Combine that with the security issue and it's a no-brainer to me.

[stevew]

This definitely belongs in the FOFC "Bad 80s comedy bits turned into a thread" HOF.

Thinking of an infamous Towels thread.

[Matthean]

http://www.google.com/wallet/

[Schmidty]

No wallet for me. DL, Debit, 1 CC, and some cash. Swap from dirty pants to clean pants every day. If I need anything extra, I plan ahead. Wallets are stupid.

[tarcone]

i know you dont want to hear the rubber band idea. But........ what i use if a pony tail holder. I have 2 daughters so I always have them. I carry liscense, id, a couple debit cards, 4 insurance cards. I wrap my money around them and wrap the pony around them a couple times. Works for me.

[EagleFan]

That sucks, sorry to hear it.

I'm trying to create a small explosive device the size of a credit card that can be activated remotely for just such an occasion. Granted there may be collateral damage but you know what they say about having to break a few eggs... ;)

[DaddyTorgo]

I do the wallet+keys in one front pocket and the phone in the other. Yeah it's a lil bulgy, but it is what it is.

[Fidatelo]

I've got about 15 cards that I just wrap a couple bills around and stuff in my front pocket. It's about an inch thick, which isn't too bad.




That's what she said.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Money gets folded & put in the front pocket. Drivers license & credit card go in either that same pocket or the ipod case.

I had a pickpocket try me a few years ago waiting for a train in Times Square. Guy bumped into me & I felt something funny with my back pocket. He kept on moving & I just yelled to him "Yeah, I don't carry a wallet motherfucker! That guy's a pickpocket!"

[JonInMiddleGA]

I've been a front pocket wallet guy for years, would never switch back. Best thing I think I ever did for my back.

Keys & phone left front, wallet right front. Anybody that doesn't like any of the bulges that creates probably shouldn't be looking anyway.

[johnnyshaka]

I use a front pocket wallet that has a money clip and a couple card slots on one side, and a picture id slot on the other. Debit card and credit card with limited cash.

Exactly what I have and love it.

[DanGarion]

You should get a satchel.

http://i.imgur.com/Vl76y.jpg

[Logan]

http://www.productwiki.com/upload/images/coach_water_buffalo_money_clip_card_case.jpg

I got this from my brother in law for being in his wedding party. Ton of people make them. This brand is Coach and I'm not sure if it makes it any better quality but I've had it for over 9 years now and there's only minimal wear on the corners. Once it does go, I'll replace it with the same. Right now I have it holding:

ID, Metrocard (unlimited), Metrocard (with some cash balance), random NJ transit ticket, debit card, hotel key, work ID, five credit cards, and a few business cards in those front two slots. There's also a slot in the top which holds my health insurance card, a likely expired AAA card, my old college ID for posterity's sake, and a couple small pictures. The money clip part holds about 10 bills comfortably and you can stuff in more.

It goes in my front right pocket along with my keys. Cell goes in the left.

[MacroGuru]

I have what Logan is using, but from Nike. Brown leather.

Has a debit card, credit card, DL and a couple other cards I use a lot in there. I went with that because of my frequent travel and my wallet annoying me on plane flights being in my back pocket.

[Logan]

I bought a cheap standard billfold wallet for a trip to Vegas a few months ago so my money wouldn't be visible and I couldn't stand it. Fucking massive.

[spleen1015]

Small wallet with money clip on one side and slots for cards on the other, similar to the pic Logan posted.

I carry 2 debit cards, 3 credit cards, 4 health insurance cards, Y card and some other various cards. I put it in my front pocket.

I am in the small key chain camp as well. 2 keys and 2 remotes. They go in the pocket with my wallet and my cell phone goes in the other.

[sterlingice]

I just don't like the idea of a money clip. Sure, I had a little trifold wallet in my back pocket and I guess maybe I'll go to having something like that in my front pocket but pulling out a money clip every time I need to use a card or show my license for something just seems like an even bigger "steal me" sign, even if I just have $10 or whatever.

That reminds me, I hear everyone about the back thing: basically, I always took it out when I'm at work or driving since I have someplace safe to keep it. I started doing that about 5 years ago and definitely understand what people were talking about.

I guess I'll probably just go looking for a thin wallet to put in my front pocket or something like that. I was just surprised we didn't have a more creative lot like tarcone or EagleFan. :)

SI

[Bobble]

Get an old tube sock and stuff it with all the money, cards, and whatnot you think you might need. Crotch it. Stuff that thing down the front of your tighty whiteys and you're good to go.

A. You got everything you need and it's secure.
B. The ladies will dig you ... until all is revealed of course.
C. You'll get a lot of enjoyment out of paying for things. "$18.50? Ok, let me whip this out."

[wade moore]

I just don't like the idea of a money clip. Sure, I had a little trifold wallet in my back pocket and I guess maybe I'll go to having something like that in my front pocket but pulling out a money clip every time I need to use a card or show my license for something just seems like an even bigger "steal me" sign, even if I just have $10 or whatever.


SI

Actually, the one I have this is not an issue. in fact - it's BETTER and EASIER. Mine is similar to the picture posted above, except that it's vertical instead of horizontal.

Because of how it is setup, I have my CC and my License as the first two cards. I can reach into my pocket and pull out the CC and/or License without pulling out the money clip. I can also slide it back in without ever pulling out the money clip. So, no one ever sees anything except the card and the license. Even to pull out cash (which I use sparingly anyways), I can reach in and pull out a bill or two, knowing how I organize my cash.

So, I think your concern on this specific issue is unwarranted.

Mine looks pretty much like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Zc5LYSEOL._AA300_.jpg

[chesapeake]

I carry about the same things you do, 7 to 9 cards and cash. For my wallet, I use a leather case most folks use for business cards. It folds to about the size of my old, craptastic Razr phone, so it is small and I don't have to flash any cash when I need to get my driver's license or any other card out.

[Marc Vaughan]

I've got a traditional wallet with a ton of rubbish in it - it stays in my front pocket, that way if someone pickpockets me at least I'll potentially enjoy it ;)

[Pumpy Tudors]

I just have a college-aged woman follow me around and carry all my shit. Sometimes she's naked. I don't understand why you guys don't just have that.

[sterlingice]

Why didn't I think of that?!?

SI