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What Type of Wallet Do You Prefer?

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woman opens brown wallet with a long shape but no zipper

Low stakes question for today: what type of wallet do you prefer? Do you like a coin purse or checkbook? How many card slots? Do you keep other things in your wallet (like an Apple Tag)?

My previous preference here was a longer wallet (apparently called a “continental,” with a coin purse and checkbook and enough slots so I could see at least 5-10 of my credit cards and store cards. But over the years that has whittled down — I almost never use coins now (does anyone?), and I need my checkbook so rarely that I only carry one or two checks with me, folded up. (I note the number in the check register by putting parentheses around it so I know it's the one that went in my wallet and I'll fill it in later on.)

blue continental wallet with zippered coin pocket and zippered exterior pocket
A continental wallet, like I used to have — this one is available at Nordstrom for $108

A few years ago I switched to just a card case — and not even one of the longer ones. I have 5 slots, in which I keep my driver's license and insurance card, and on the back side I keep three credit cards. I keep one or two store cards in the very center of the wallet, with the few bills I carry and the one-two checks. I occasionally have thought I should add a debit card, but it honestly comes up so rarely that I don't worry about it. One huge bonus: it's very easy to switch purses because this guy fits in everything. I actually keep a tiny black makeup pouch in my purse that holds this wallet, 2 lipsticks and a pill case, and that's pretty much the only thing I swap in and out of purses (although I still like to have room in the purse for things like keys, sunglasses, and phone, depending on where I am, what I'm wearing, and what I need.)

I think this is the literal card case I bought that's still holding strong 3 years later…

light blue card holder wallet with 4 spaces for cards
RFID Blocking Card Holder, under $15 at Amazon

How about you, readers – what type of wallet do you prefer? Do you like a coin purse or checkbook? How many card slots?

Stock photo via Stencil.

18 Comments

  1. Accessories adjacent! Do you have a favorite clutch or “going out” purse to recommend? I have a big gap in my closet for dressier bags for going out to dinner, date nights, weddings, etc., and I want something that will be a pop of color or texture. In college I used to have a fun Coach wristlet that was my ride-or-die, but it is long since gone. I feel like I usually do these more fun outings while traveling so I’m looking for something that packs well too. TIA!

    2. This is what those ‘fun stores’ are for – I have a cool sequin one from Accessorize (UK), one from Stella and Dot (overpriced bc it is an MLM), and another fun one my college roommate gave me for Xmas one year. Mine are all pouch/clutches and I just hold them under the arm.

    3. Mansur Gavriel Cloud. Fits so much stuff and dresses up or down nicely. I can bring on a trip and love it just as much for a casual dinner or a fancy event. Total workhorse.

    4. Cult Gaia. You can find good deals on The Real Real. I prefer a true clutch instead of an evening bag with a chain – it is more elegant.

    5. Honestly, I haven’t really been thrilled with most of the new purse options the past few seasons. Frankly, I like the stuff from my college days a lot better so I often go on Poshmark and eBay then put in my favorite brands and check the search results. Lately I have been loving my YSL clutch bags and I have a few from Tory Burch, previous seasons I have been rocking and they make them in bright colors so hit up your favorite consignment shop or online thrift and get those filters going!

  2. I have a tiny one. Carry two credit cards, my ID, my insurance card, and my tr@nsport pass, and around $20-$40 in cash (seldom used). My bank debit card lives at home after my MIL lost several thousand dollars when hers was pickpocketed and used like a credit card – in theory you are supposed to need the PIN to be able to do that, but in practice not always. Now I only carry it when I need to take out cash!

    I don’t really take out store-specific cards in general, but have found that stores will allow you to use them even if you don’t physically have them by looking up your account with ID.

  3. I live in London and I’m almost the odd one out for carrying a card case for my cards and an emergency £20 note. Most folks except those working in the trades/cash-only jobs use their phones for everything and stick their ID in their case. Of course, with phone theft so rampant here, they’re SOL if their phone gets stolen and they have no way of getting home…

    1. +1 with the addition of a separate Oyster card case. Sure I could use contactless or my phone, but I prefer a separate case that I don’t need to watch that closely.

    2. Why is phone theft so rampant in London? I hear about this often, but it doesn’t seem to be a thing in the US (obviously we have lots of petty crime and you could get your phone stolen, but I don’t think of phone theft specifically as a systemic issue).

      1. Two reasons: very high foot traffic and reliance on public transport that makes pedestrians and passengers easy pickings. Very limited policing budget and prosecution appetite due to decades of austerity.

      2. There is quite a bit of phone theft in my city. Commonly happens on the train. You can tell who has an iPhone by the white airpods. It is common for people to be staring at their phones, not paying attention to the world around them. It is easy to grab someone’s phone out of their hands and run off the train. You time it for when the doors open.

        I never keep my cards on my phone anymore because of this risk. I don’t wear white airpods either, especially when walking down the street alone. You are just signaling that you have things worth stealing.

      3. pre smartphones, but the only time I’ve ever been pick-pocketed was in London. In my case it was at an Underground station, and I definitely was marked as a tourist, even though I was actually living in England at the time. Ever since, I’ve exclusively carried zip-top purses.

  5. I prefer the continental style with the zipper and also like the smaller fold up wallets that have a zipper around and a zipper compartment for coins. I used to like the credit card holders, but then I found out they are not good feng shui. Wallets that only hold credit cards represent not having money! If you want to attract wealth, you need a large Roomi wallet to represent making room for wealth in your life and you always need to have the wallet filled with some cash and coins! I’m not saying to walk around with a stock of Benjamin‘s Because it’s not wise, especially if you live in a city like New York. I never walk around with a debit card because you can get robbed so just enough cash for what I’ll need to buy that day one or two credit cards and store, loyalty or coffee shop punchcards

    1. I can’t tell if this is real or an Ellen-style troll, but I dig it. Cash attracts cash… this surprises no one in the capitalist system

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