Clean out your wallet!

[LisaS]

This is probably obvious to everyone on this board but I found out this morning this tip is news to my DH: Before going on any trip, I remove from my wallet anything I will not need to have with me on the trip. I take two credit cards, my driver's license and my health insurance card. I remove things like my car registration, department store credit cards, frequent buyers cards, etc. I take my house key but leave my other keys at home, unless we are driving to the airport in which case I also bring along a car key.

My DH is on a business trip and called me this morning to tell me he lost his wallet. As he began listing what was in the wallet I was surprised at how many important items he had in it at the time, given that at least 50% of them were not needed for his trip!

To make matters worse, we leave for WDW in two weeks and here I am canceling all of our credit cards, ATM cards, etc. and hoping I can get the essential ones replaced in time for the trip!

 

[shatzjsl]

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Tissa]

Hope you get your cards in time
My debit card was cancelled due to fraud(which I didn't find out until I tried to use it) and I had a new one within a week.

 

[LisaS]

Hope you get your cards in time
My debit card was cancelled due to fraud(which I didn't find out until I tried to use it) and I had a new one within a week.

Thanks. Most of the places I called yesterday told me I should receive our new cards within 5-8 business days and I've got 10 business days before we leave so it looks like it's going to work out for us.

Traveling can overwhelm a person -- finding your way around in an unfamiliar city, having to keep track of all your stuff -- it just seemed to me a person is more likely to lose a wallet or handbag while traveling. Because of that, I've always removed as many things as possible from my wallet and handbag before we travel. I figured that way, if I do lose my purse or wallet, I can minimize the damage.

I just assumed my DH did that too. He's on an overseas trip so it never occurred to me he would take the registrations for both of our cars with him, plus our Discover card (which isn't even accepted in the countries he's visiting), and so many other things that he didn't need.

So I'm going to buy him a travel wallet that holds just the essentials and from now on he'll have to get past the "wallet inspector" before leaving on any future trips!

 

[WillCAD]

I clean out my wallet before every trip.

Another tip is to make photocopies of all the cards you do take with you, including your park passes, and keep them separate from the wallet. This way, if you lose your wallet while away, you will have all the account numbers and the 1-800 customer service numbers in one place. Disney will also replace your park pass if you have the serial number, because they can remove the lost pass from the computer before issuing you a replacement.

I keep my wallet backups in my room safe while at WDW. Remember, those photocopies are as important as the originals, because those numbers, names, and addresses on them can be used for identity theft, so keep them as safe as you would your actual credit/debit cards!

It's also a good idea to keep at least one credit card in the room safe, along with some of your cash, just so you won't be destitute if you lose your wallet.

 

[LisaS]

Excellent tips, WillCAD!

 

[disneyaddict121784]

I' m sorry to hear about your husbands lost wallet. Good tip on cleaning out the wallet though. I will take that adivice when i go on trips from now on.

 

[Snow Shoe]

Not only do I also clean out my wallet, but when I'm out anywhere, the wallet goes in my front pocket.

 

[LisaS]

I' m sorry to hear about your husbands lost wallet. Good tip on cleaning out the wallet though. I will take that adivice when i go on trips from now on.

Thanks. With a trip coming up soon, I certainly had enough last-minute things to do already. And with all the identity theft stories on the news lately, I am worried about something like that happening to us now.

But you know what really ticks me off about this whole thing? He had his Disney Dining Experience card in that wallet! ARRRRGGGGHHHH! We waited 8 weeks to get our DDE cards in the mail and now we're down to one card. Why he felt he should take that with him to the UK, I don't know. Maybe he thought he'd find another Rose & Crown over there that would accept it!

 

[mareed]

I actually have a travel wallet that's smaller than my usual one. I just transfer the items that I'll need for a specific trip.

 

[ncbyrne]

To make matters worse, we leave for WDW in two weeks and here I am canceling all of our credit cards, ATM cards, etc. and hoping I can get the essential ones replaced in time for the trip!

Several years ago, I had my purse stolen at a day care center on THE VERY MORNING we were leaving on vacation! It had about 5 credit cards and since I had just come from the bank, I had $400 in cash in there too! I am just thankful that it wasn't a WDW trip or it would have had my park passes in there too!

 

[LisaS]

Several years ago, I had my purse stolen at a day care center on THE VERY MORNING we were leaving on vacation! It had about 5 credit cards and since I had just come from the bank, I had $400 in cash in there too! I am just thankful that it wasn't a WDW trip or it would have had my park passes in there too!

Yikes! I guess any time you're somewhere where you are preoccupied with other things you are likely to be a target. And talk about worst possible time!

Speaking of park passes, in preparation for this trip I have followed another tip I read on this board and photocopied the backs of my DH's AP and my MYW ticket. I read that having the info off the back of your ticket/pass makes it much easier to get them replaced if you lose them.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Should I remove my Starbuck's card? I hate to think that Starbuck's has invaded the Magic Kingdom (or any of the resorts or other parks), but I'd also hate to know that it was sitting at home if we did come across a Starbuck's.