PROJECT ORGANIZE: Think fast! Can you list what is in your wallet? How long would it take you to freeze your debit and credit cards if your wallet is lost or stolen? Most people who discover their wallet missing have to madly try to remember what they were carrying , and then search for past bills or surf for the right phone numbers. We have listed some tips and tricks to keep your personal belongings safe while out and about, domestically, or abroad. Then, choose one of our Wallet Inventory lists, at the end of this post, to help you organize what is in your wallet.
Unfortunately, I Know all too Well
I have had my wallet stolen three times. The first time, I was a 17-year old student living in Europe, when I discovered that gypsy children like to swarm the unsuspecting student or tourist, and next thing you know your pockets are empty. While replacing the student ID was a pain, it was the pre-paid student meal card I mourned the most. It was irreplaceable until the following month. Hunger makes people do desperate things, I got the wise idea of making a crepe on my clothes iron – eeeeyeah, don’t try it – it doesn’t work. Lost my iron too!
The second time, I was distracted at an outlet mall when one of my children was having a rough time holding a beverage, and opening a straw. I flipped my purse to my back so that it wasn’t in my way. Seconds later, I discovered that my purse had been cut off my shoulder – gone were my car keys, airline ID, drivers license, diaper coupons, and money. I remember vividly the that horrible moment when I reached for my purse and it wasn’t there.
The third time was pure stupidity. I hung my purse in the bathroom stall at a highway rest stop and left without it. Three hours up the road, we had to turn around and go back only to find – you guessed it – no purse. Not a very nice way to start a vacation.
How to Prevent your Wallet from Being Lost or Stolen
When I buy a purse, I make sure the straps are thick and sturdy and long enough to wear over my head, so that I can wear it on the front of my body. I keep my hands on it at all times. The moment I need both hands, I have taught myself to tuck my purse under my arm, or make sure it is inbetween both arms.
Wallets should be worn in the front pocket or under your clothes, but never in the back pocket!
A money belt, travel fanny pack, or pocket scarf are invaluable when traveling abroad. I wear my passport and other documentation hidden under my clothes in a fanny pack. I prefer the no-frills fanny pack. It is lightweight, and has minimal lumps or bumps to show through thin, hiking pants.
I have two favorite travel scarves. Both have zippered pockets and customizing snaps. They are soft, light weight and the colors goes with most outfits. Travel Scarf 1 and Travel Scarf 2
Beware of Crowds
The bustle and jostle of crowds are a field day for pick-pocketers. Your wallet and personal effects become prime targets. Valuables not kept ‘on-the-body’ should be stored in a back compartment of a backpack and the zipper locked with a travel lock. I love this anti-theft day backpack that I found on Amazon. The Loctote is a drawstring pack that can be worn or secured to an unmovable object in your room to guard valuables. Such a novel idea! I wish I had one of these when I was a student abroad.
I had a student-friend in Paris who hoarded bread ties. Every zipper and every compartment, on every bag, that she ever owned, was secured with a colored wire tie. We use to tease her unmercifully, yet she finished our school year abroad without any street incidences – unlike the rest of us! Don’t knock the simple bread tie!
Safety pins are the cheap equivalent to bread ties – or locks. A large safety pin (or two) can pin pants and skirt pockets closed making it impossible for the slight of hand.
RFID Protection
If you know you are going to be in a crowd, I suggest RFID protection. Inform yourself about RFID and what it is then you can decide if you need the home made RFID or the purchased kind. Check out our post about RFID – what it is, if it is necessary, and the one simple thing you can do to be RFID protected without spending a ton of money. I don’t feel like RFID is a necessity, however, sometimes peace of mind comes from erring on the side of safety.
What is RFID and Do We Need It?
Here’s how we learned to make our own simple (very) RFID protector!
Science Lab: Homemade RFID Security
Separate Valuables
Instead of carrying all my valuables (keys, ID, money) in one spot, I now separate them. I carry my car keys inside my coat in a zipped pocket. Even on a quick grocery spree my keys are always separate from my purse.
If I happen to be traveling with cash, it is separated into 2-3 different locations. The largest bills that aren’t needed, or were just exchanged for foreign currency, are kept under the insert of my shoe.
Look around You
Traveling taught me to be street wise. Look around you. Know who is in your vicinity or following you. Be alert in a parking lot and have your keys in hand and ready to open your car door. When you stop at a café, exit a metro, or leave security at the airport, double check the area where you were, look back and make sure you have everything. Take a mental count of what you are carrying and don’t allow yourself to become distracted!
Travel Light and be Wise
Eliminate all unnecessary cards and identification. Travel with only the necessities – odds are you do not need to take your BP gas card to Paris. But, even domestically, do you need your zoo pass with you constantly? It might be wise to create a separate wallet for passes that is strictly left hidden in your car.
Leave flashy bling home.
Consider leaving expensive jewelry home. I was once part of a café robbery just outside of Rome. I was a student backpacker and had just washed my hair in the café bathroom. Looking like a bedraggled cat, I returned to my table, just as my meal arrived, and at that exact moment several gunmen entered the café. They ordered each person to empty their pockets and drop their jewelry onto their drawstring bag.
I had a few coins and a Snow White watch. When I deposited my watch into the burlap sack, the robber, glanced into the bag, took out my bright yellow banded watch and laid it back on the table. He didn’t mind taking my money. However, my real stash was safely pinned in a hidden pocket inside my travel pants. In hindsight, the robber would have been wise to have kept my 1968 Snow White watch. It is worth quite a bit on today’s market!
Crap Happens
No matter how smart we try to be, crap still happens. ID theft is on the rise and the average pickpocket is even more tech savvy than ever. There are many different types of identity theft: financial, criminal, medical, social security…. Know your travel destination, read about the alerts, and warnings. The US state department lists travel advisories for every country. Read about your destination here: www.travel.state.gov.
COVID-19 Issues
While we are talking about being wise travelers, COVID-19 creates a whole new scenario when it comes to travel finances. If you test positive for COVID abroad you will be unable to fly home as expected. Before travel, make sure you have medical travel insurance that covers you overseas and a financial plan, as well. You will be protected if you have to extend your trip abroad. My son and his wife live in Nepal. Last spring they came home for 10 days, and stayed 10 months due to COVID-19 closures. Prepare for the unexpected! The families, in this instance, were not complaining!
Before you Leave Home
- Make sure you have copies of your travel itinerary, passport, visa, vaccination documents, credit cards, debit cards and bank information. Keep one copy with you on your trip – hidden. Upload another copy to a platform like drop box, and then give a printed copy to a friend or family member at home.
- Create an inventory list of all important documents you carry in your wallet. (We made this easy for you! Check out the different lists at the end of this post.)
- Have travel insurance against theft and another policy for medical purposes.
- Take a photo of all suitcases and carry-ons, as well as any expensive items you are traveling with. This small act helps with lost claims and descriptions.
- Have you ever noticed all those ‘black roller bags’ in the overhead bins or circling on the baggage claim carrousel? I have had my bag takenbefore in someone else’s haste. Mark your checked luggage with a large colored silk flower, ribbon, tag, tape or some sort of method that separates it, and makes it visible from all other luggage.
- All handbags, backpacks, suitcases should contain a copy of your home address and destination address where you can receive a message.
- If you are traveling alone, make a note of where you plan on visiting that day and leave a printed note in your room.
Project Organize: Clean out
Take a few moments and clean out your purse and wallet, then make a list of the contents using our inventory list. If your wallet or purse contents is stolen, the goal is to be able to report and freeze credit cards immediately without any guessing game.
**Don’t make a list of specific credit card numbers. Having a printed list or photocopies of credit card numbers offers a burglar access to all your information in one easy column. Instead, list the company, your name as it appears, and the phone number to report lost or stolen cards. Having a printed list or photocopies of credit card numbers offers a burglar access to all your information in one easy column.
However, do attach or file photocopies of your driver license, student ID, work ID, and passport. Again, always travel abroad with extra copies of your passport and license.
Wallet Inventory
To help our subscribers with information ‘Project Organize’, I created free digital “Wallet Inventory” sheet in several patterns and colors. Print the one you prefer, but don’t wait! Take control and organize the information in your wallet. I hope you don’t need it, but if you do, it will be organized and could save you time and hassle in the long run.
Perhaps you prefer the bamboo look?
I had fun making different versions of the Wallet Inventory List. Here is a pretty bluebird theme.
Jennifer Dunn says
Thanks, Danielle! Great information – I’m going to inventory my wallet ASAP.
About two years ago Russell had his credit card info “read” here in Fairfield at the gas station. We were notified that it was being used in different states pretty quickly and was able to cancel it but now we use credit card blocking sleeves.
Miss you and Andrew!
Danielle Warmuth says
Miss you too! It is a horrible feeling when you aren’t exactly sure what you were carrying to begin with. Glad you are taking this step! RFID is becoming more necessary daily. Take care!