10 Unnecessary Things in Your Travel Wallet
Are you using a travel wallet that has too much in it? A Radical Storage survey revealed that 71.7% of travelers have ever overpacked for a trip, and 40% brought home things they didn’t use.
Regarding travel wallets, less is indeed more, and you don’t want to be lugging around many things that will add to the stress.
Trimming your wallet essentials will save you space, keep everything organized, and, more importantly, protect you should you lose your stuff or something gets stolen. Here are ten things you should leave behind on your next trip.
Multiple Credit Cards
Beyond two credit cards, you are carrying extra risk with minimal benefit. Experts suggest you take just one primary and one backup card that charges no foreign transaction fees.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says you shouldn’t carry extra cards, either, because if your wallet is lost or stolen, it will make things more complicated.
Excess Cash
You should always have some money in your pocket but don’t carry too much. According to the Travelers’ Century Club, only bring small local currency denominations for emergencies or minimal purchases when traveling.
For everything else, you’ll need to use cards or mobile payment options recognized almost everywhere: Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
Your Social Security Card
You invite identity theft if your wallet is stolen and your Social Security card is in it. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, Social Security numbers are among the most popularly misused personal particulars in identity theft cases. Memorizing the number will not take long; you can leave the card at home.
Business Cards
Networking is essential, but you don’t have to carry a stack of business cards. Choose a digital card or use an app like HiHello to share your details online. It’s less bulky yet more sustainable.
Unnecessary Receipts
Receipts pile up fast, bulging your travel wallet. Besides clutter, they hold sensitive info, like the last few digits of your credit card.
Toss non‑essential receipts into the shredder or your fireplace, keeping only what’s crucial; alternatively, use the Scanbot app to digitize receipts to keep a record.
Loyalty Cards
Not everyone might help your favorite rewards program. All the physical card loyalty data is now stored in convenient mobile apps like Stocard, so you earn points without the hassle of the cards taking up space in your pocket.
Unneeded Identification Cards
Don’t bother throwing money at gym memberships or library cards when they won’t help with your trip. Have only travel-centric IDs: your driver’s license or a passport. For work, if you need more IDs, use a secure pouch and leave work-related junk out of your wallet.
Checkbooks
Checkbooks were once essential for transactions but are rarely used nowadays, especially abroad. Business Insider’s article “Latest bank data: Here’s how much cash Americans withdraw each year” again confirmed these findings.
Data from McKinsey Global’s Global Payments in 2024 report shows that check transactions continue to decline, constituting a tiny fragment of the $1.8 quadrillion global payments recorded each year. Use digital transactions or a debit card for effortless payments.
Too Many Coins
Coins are bulky and tend to be unnecessary but heavy, such as for modern travel. Vending machines and tolls only need enough. Apps like Coinstar are an option at home if you don’t want to deal with spare changes you acquire abroad.
Printed Travel Itinerary/Boarding Passes
Save space by having the airline app or email confirmations tracking your documents digitally. Amadeus’s research confirms that 68% of travelers now rely on digital boarding passes.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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