Streamline Your Stuff With This Money Saving Duo
I used to carry a large wallet. It held every card I could need, some cash, a checkbook (for a time I needed to have a checkbook handy, it was not ideal), and in a pinch I could put my phone in it and still zip it up. It was a behemoth, but it was useful. Then I decided to get a different bag, once that was more compact and weighed less, to spare my aching shoulders. But there was absolutely no way my wallet would fit in this bag, so I needed to come up with a new plan. Now, I have two different wallets, but together they are smaller than my old setup AND are so handy that I’m an eternal convert to the Small Wallet Life.
Firstly, my wallet. I shopped around and settled on this ultra slim one from Buffway. This wallet comes in a wide variety of colors and leather styles (I have Sand Green), all of which are between $10 and $13. This is my true wallet, for my everyday essentials. Credit and debit cards, Costco card, driver’s license, insurance cards, and any cash I might have are all held here. Even with every card slot filled, this wallet stays slender. When I take the dog on a walk, or go to barre class, or anywhere where I don’t want to carry a bulky bag, I tend to just bring my wallet. With this tiny one, I can easily throw it in my pocket without any added bulk or weight. The leather is ever so slightly warped because it went through the wash once, but I mean, look how good this $10 wallet looks even after going through the washing machine.
There were still a bunch of cards that I still wanted around, but didn’t need to be able to access immediately, all the time. Things like my Nordstrom card, Orca Card, various gift cards, those all go in this handy card case. Again, it comes in multiple colors and costs just $9. This case is sturdy and can hold a LOT of cards. I don’t carry this one around solo like I do with the wallet, but it takes up very little space in a bag and won’t weigh down my aching shoulder.
These two cases are about the same size, and together aren’t as big as the wallet they replaced. In the struggle to find a real-world, relatable measurement, I rely on my trusty iPhone, so here’s how they compare next to an iPhone 8.
Very small, right? When I go to barre I only carry my green wallet, phone, and car keys, and I can easily fit all three in a jacket pocket.
If you’re looking to lighten your load, at least in where you keep your cards and cash, this combo has worked for me. More than worked - it has changed my life! And for like, $20. It doesn’t get much better than that.
