Spring Cleaning Your Wallet

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Folks go crazy when they lose wallets because life stands still. It’s not only the six credit cards we carry, but numbers that identify who we are as well. 

 What is your health card number? Let me Google it. Very funny. There are things even Google and hackers don’t know.

Wallets have tenants that have not paid rent for two years, and should be evicted. I’ve been meaning to, but I don’t have time. Why? Late for a meeting? Ha! Ha! Brew some coffee and fetch the kitchen or home office garbage can.

1. 2018 bank balance slips from the ATM. You stopped printing them because greedy banks charged you 80 cents per print-out. Besides, you are 100% internet banking now.
2. Receipts from the bakery, grocery store, drugstore etc. Why are you keeping them? Are you going to return the hamburger or dinner rolls?
3. A list of things you need from the supermarket. Last year’s handwritten lists.
4. Business cards. All the contacts are in your phone and computer now.
5. Bankruptcy. Why are you still keeping cards from stores that have closed down, online shopping victims?
6. In-store payments. Some people like mama believe in going to town, to pay accounts over the counter. Cashiers provide receipts and those can clog the wallet. Thrash them.
7. Of course, you cannot throw credit cards in the garbage, but leave most of them at home. Which one must remain in the wallet? You choose. Some folks have business credit cards to entertain clients and rent cars. We are in COVID mode so take them out of the wallet.
8. We use credit cards a lot at kids’ amusement parks and when we are out on the town with friends and lovers. Credit cards are not born equal. That is why we carry color-coded cards, status cards. Maybe those should be removed from the wallet to avoid temptation.
9. We collect points, so it’s possible to have the Air Miles card and six more. Leave them at home to help the wallet breathe easier. It will also curb your spending.
10. Cards have important numbers so, write down student card numbers, credit card, government, health and other numbers on a piece of paper at home. Type them in the computer for back-up.

Conclusion: Wallets will be lighter if we carry only three cards: student or provincial I.D. card, debit card (it has real cash) and one credit card (imagined cash) for ‘I must have those shoes’ emergencies.  

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.


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