It’s easy to treat your wallet like a catch-all for all of your day’s small necessities, such as your cards, a receipt from last month’s lunch, or maybe even a spare key. Harmless, right? Well, yes, but only to a point.
Stuffing the wrong things in there could easily set you up for some trouble, some of which could be worse than you could ever imagine. We wouldn’t want that happening to you, so here are some things that you should never keep in your wallet.
Social Security Card
Hopefully, you’re already aware that carrying your Social Security card is risky and unnecessary. The number on that card opens the door to your entire identity, and losing it could lead to a nightmare of fraudulent accounts and credit damage, not to mention heaps of paperwork. Anyway, you never need it when you’re out and about, so leave it somewhere safe at home.
Spare House Key
We mentioned this in the introduction, but as common as it is, don’t bring your house key in your wallet. If your wallet contains your address, such as on an ID card, a burglar could find it and figure out exactly where to steal your belongings. It’s literally an open invitation for trouble, so just leave the key under the plant pot like our parents used to.
Password Cheat Sheets
You might think that it seems smart to write down your passwords on a piece of paper and keep it safe in your wallet, but that couldn’t be more stupid. If it falls into the wrong hands, you’ve literally handed someone full access to your online banking and private accounts. Trust us, the police will only respond by laughing at such a lapse in judgment.
Too Many Credit Cards
Obviously, most wallets contain a credit card, but come on – you don’t need to haul around every credit card you own. One or two should be more than enough for daily use, and carrying more than necessary only means that, if you lose your wallet, you’ll have no backup payment method.
Birth Certificate
We really shouldn’t have to tell you this, but keeping your birth certificate in your wallet couldn’t be less necessary. You’ll hardly ever need it out of the house, and this is a key piece of your personal identity that we’re talking about, which could easily be used for fraudulent purposes.
Blank Checks
Thankfully, it’s pretty rare for people to use blank checks anymore, but if you’re still using them, pay attention. You might be saying, “It’s just a piece of paper, right?” which is correct, until someone gets their hands on it.
Assuming they know how to write a check (which is unlikely these days), that small piece of paper is more than enough for someone to withdraw money or create fake checks. They’ll have all your banking information, too!
Receipts with Full Card Numbers
Speaking of bank details, be very careful not to keep any receipts in your wallet that print your entire card number. Fortunately, this is rare these days, but some more old-fashioned stores might still print them in this way. We don’t need to explain why that is risky!
Passport or Passport Card
Unless you’re traveling abroad, there’s rarely a reason to keep your passport on your person, let alone in your wallet. Upon losing their ID card, some people do this every day, but that’s really foolish, as it’s one of the most valuable pieces of ID you can own. Losing it can cause all sorts of messes, including ruined travel plans and exposure to identity theft, so just don’t.
Work ID or Security Badge
Another thing you should never keep in your wallet is your work ID or security badge. The reason for this is that if someone finds it alongside your driver’s license, they now know your full name, where you work, and potentially your address. The scary possibilities in this situation are endless; it could lead to impersonation, tailgating into secure areas, burglary, or something much worse.
Medical Information Cards
Unless you have a condition that requires immediate disclosure in an emergency, most detailed medical cards don’t belong in your wallet. Yes, insurance cards are fine, but lab results, prescription lists, or any form of diagnostic reports are better off in a secure digital file.
Gift Cards You Rarely Use
It’s surprisingly common for people to keep a collection of unused gift cards in their wallet, and that’s just begging for them to become lost. They’re basically cash with fewer protections, so if your wallet goes missing, you can wave goodbye to your store credit. Simply keep them somewhere safe at home, and only bring them out when you plan on using them.
Large Amounts of Cash
Credit cards and contactless payments are the new norm, but most of us still keep a few bills in our wallets, just in case. More than that, though, like walking around with a thick wad of cash, is asking for trouble. There’s no way to cancel or track cash, and it makes you a more attractive target if you’re spotted, so you’re better off limiting your cash and relying on a card for most purchases.
USB Drives
Even if your USB drive doesn’t contain sensitive information, it’s still a bad idea to carry it in your wallet. They’re easy to lose and hard to secure, and the worst part is that they’re full of moving pieces. So, accidentally sit on your wallet with your USB drive inside, and it could become corrupted, never working again.
Business Cards of Others
Collecting business cards is normal, but we wouldn’t recommend stuffing them all into your wallet. Thankfully, the reason for this isn’t as malicious as others on this list. All it does is clutter your wallet, which is unnecessary these days, as we have smartphones.
Sure, keep it at home if you like collecting them, but if you need the information, just take a photo or add the details to your contact list!
Old Hotel Room Key Cards
It might seem like an amusing prank to steal a hotel key card from a hotel you previously stayed at, but that’s not such a smart idea. You might not realize it, but some hotel key cards retain guest data, such as their name and room number. Therefore, keeping one in your wallet post-checkout could give a smart criminal more information than you’d ever expect.
Expired IDs and Membership Cards
Last but not least, ask yourself: why on Earth are you still storing expired IDs and membership cards in your wallet? Not only do they bulk up your wallet for no reason, but they can also potentially give away extra information about your personal details. At the end of the day, if they’re no longer valid, there’s no reason to carry them around.
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Parts of this article were developed using AI assistance.