Add that to the recent stretching of my much beloved current wallet, so that credit cards are loose and about to fall out, and I need to replace the old wallet with something more practical. I wanted something useful. I wanted a small planner.
But I know better.
You see, I can't keep two planners. It's just not practical for me. Also, I needed a place to put receipts, coupons for things other than grocery shopping one (that go in my grocery shopping coupon Fold 'N Go), and cash. I knew, in the great debate between using a planner as a wallet or a wallet as a wallet, I wanted the wallet. But I wanted to cheat. I wanted that elusive extra something that planner/wallet combo people seem to have.
So I pulled out all the loose receipts...and put everything in a pile (with a sneak peek of the new wallet).
My new wallet has fabulous features. It's purple. (Come on, you know that is FAB. U. LOUS.)
It's got two main parts - one for money-related matters (also known as shopping) and one for all those pesky cards.
And...drum roll please....
IT'S GOT LABELS.
I knew you would like that part!
The sections are labeled Cash, Receipts, and Coupons. Guess what the main things that stump me happen to be? Cash (my old wallet folded and I couldn't keep the case neat), receipts (until I get them home, I need a dedicated place for them), and coupons (like 15% off at Kohl's or a free appetizer at Outback).
You might not be able to find the same wallet (that I bought at the Bass Outlet), but have you considered labeling parts of your wallet like you do your files? It's not my idea, as I totally stole it from my new wallet, but I think it's going to work.
My wallet set-up is in two parts.
First, I set-up the money section.
My ID and primary credit card go in the see through slots at the top. Notice that my ID is upside down, so that I can show it to a cashier.
In the three divided pockets, I have cash (with change in the perfectly placed zipper pocket between cash and receipts), receipts (folded so I can see the store, date, and total on the outside, instead of folded with the printing on the inside), and coupons.
Second, I have the non-shopping stuff that I carry in the other part of the wallet.
One final trick is that the external zipper compartment is left empty, so that if I need to take off jewelry (like my wedding ring before going swimming), I can zip it securely in that pocket.
So I pulled out all the loose receipts...and put everything in a pile (with a sneak peek of the new wallet).
My new wallet has fabulous features. It's purple. (Come on, you know that is FAB. U. LOUS.)
It's got two main parts - one for money-related matters (also known as shopping) and one for all those pesky cards.
And...drum roll please....
IT'S GOT LABELS.
I knew you would like that part!
The sections are labeled Cash, Receipts, and Coupons. Guess what the main things that stump me happen to be? Cash (my old wallet folded and I couldn't keep the case neat), receipts (until I get them home, I need a dedicated place for them), and coupons (like 15% off at Kohl's or a free appetizer at Outback).
You might not be able to find the same wallet (that I bought at the Bass Outlet), but have you considered labeling parts of your wallet like you do your files? It's not my idea, as I totally stole it from my new wallet, but I think it's going to work.
My wallet set-up is in two parts.
First, I set-up the money section.
My ID and primary credit card go in the see through slots at the top. Notice that my ID is upside down, so that I can show it to a cashier.
In the three divided pockets, I have cash (with change in the perfectly placed zipper pocket between cash and receipts), receipts (folded so I can see the store, date, and total on the outside, instead of folded with the printing on the inside), and coupons.
Second, I have the non-shopping stuff that I carry in the other part of the wallet.
I have some tricks for knowing where things belong. The most often used stuff goes on the outside, while less used stuff gets tucked behind the most used stuff. For example, my medical cards are in the upper left quadrant, while my social security card is tucked behind them. My gift cards are in the upper right quadrant, with the punch cards (like buy 4, get one free) behind it. The library cards are the lower left quadrant, with my bar card (needed at court and the law library) behind it. And the spare credit cards are in the lower right quadrant, with rewards cards behind that.
One final trick is that the external zipper compartment is left empty, so that if I need to take off jewelry (like my wedding ring before going swimming), I can zip it securely in that pocket.
I love having all the essentials that I was looking for in a planner/wallet combo in my wallet instead.
The verdict? If a planner/wallet combo works for you, great. If not, list your actual problems and find a wallet that solves those issues.
Happy shopping!
The verdict? If a planner/wallet combo works for you, great. If not, list your actual problems and find a wallet that solves those issues.
Happy shopping!
Etcetera.
4 comments:
I like this wallet, it's got brains. A friend gifted me a nice long zip up wallet with compartments. It would've been great but for the fact that the zipper made it so the compartments that made the wallet cool couldn't be fully utilized as the zipper wouldn't zip with them filled. Then I got an adorable Jonathan Adler little coin purse at Barnes & Noble which forced me to carry only the essentials. But that meant I lost out on a few discounts/punches/etc AND had a mess of receipts in my purse, pockets, car. Then in an effort to downsize the number of little notes and notebooks I used, I got a pocket sized Filo so I couple combine wallet and notes and possibly phone holder in one. It allows me to store receipts in categories, such as gas receipts for my mpg log (I drive a hybrid so I'm even more diligent about logging this info than I was with my gas guzzlers), post office receipts and customs forms for swaps and sales I do, receipts for taxes, and receipts for possible returns. LOVE it so far but still working on getting the phone to fit in there. I am determined to succeed.
Hi, Giftie. I've been reading your blog for a few months and love it. You've helped me so much with making my planner work for me! So I just had to return the favor and share a little wisdom about carrying your SS card in your wallet. I have always heard that you never want to do that because that information makes identity theft very easy. If your wallet were lost or stolen, you would not want that info getting in the wrong hands. Hope this is helpful, and thanks for being a wealth of plannerd ideas!
The lawyer in me screams YEEEESSSS, One Shabby Chick. You are absolutely right. :)
I love your wallet! I love the sections and I LOVE that it's purple!!!
I have tried a few times to use my Filofax as my wallet and it always fails the first day. Too flippy-flappy with the pages in the way, and too hard to get coins out of the zip pocket. I need a wallet where I get my money (or card) out, tuck the receipt in and I'm done. I'm currently using a Filofax folding Finsbury wallet and I like it. It has two currency slots (I use one for receipts) and lots of card pockets, and it folds down small. And, it's ONLY a wallet. As nice as it would be to grab just one thing and have it contain my wallet, planner, notes, contacts etc I know that just doesn't work for me.
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