What kind of Identification do you carry, and how do you carry it? Sometimes we give a lot of thought to protecting our identity, and we buy shredders, and use other types of actions but don’t take a lot of time considering other issues. Issues like, your wallet or purse.
Many Servicemembers carry the same old wallet that they have for years. This might not seem like a big issue, but sometimes its time to retire the old workhorse and buy a new one. Male Servicemembers especially can sometimes carry the most beaten up, worn, tri fold affairs imaginable. It doesn’t matter if they still fold, or if they will even fit in your pocket anymore, some of our brethren would no more consider buying a new wallet than they would change their best friends.
Why the attachment to a relatively inanimate object? It is not known. But partly because that old wallet has seen better times, and been there through the best and the worst is why people cling on to theirs long past their useful life span. Old wallets stuffed with every single piece of paper of a financial nature, finding anything would be a true challenge for the hardy.
And, worst of all, as our faithful overworked wallets get old, they fail. Seams rip, and edges become frayed, and sometimes important documents, picture ID, medical cards, even credit cards can fall out and become lost.
Take Stock: If your wallet or purse is older than your children, or if you cant recognize it as a wallet when you set it down and step back, its time for a wallet intervention. Take everything out of your wallet, and put it in a pile on one side, and then the wallet itself in another pile. If it looks dejected and forlorn, then its likely time to spring for a new wallet.
Get Organized: If you have every doctor reminder card for the last two years, you can likely reduce the paper work here. Sort out the outdated, the unnecessary, and the garbage, and then put everything else back in a nice pile. Sort them by type, ID and Credit Cards in one pile, other information in another.
Carry Elsewhere: Maybe you have a zillion little business cards from different people. Sort them into a pile, and purchase a business card holder, available at your local Office supply store. Sort out receipts, and other information that you want to keep but you don’t really need to be carrying around with you.
Cut it Out: Try to carry only one debit or credit card. If you lose your wallet or it fails, then you only have one that you need to cancel or deal with. Carry everything else that you don’t absolutely need in a folder, or keep it stored in a fire-safe place. Reduce, re-use, and recycle.
And purchase a new wallet already.
