5 Steps to Spring Clean Your Wallet

Stay safe

With everyone worried about data hacking, it's easy to forget that you may have a "data leak" in your pocket.

Is your wallet bulging at the seams? Chances are you are carrying around more information than you need and some of it could help would-be thieves steal your identity. Take ten minutes out of your day to spring clean your wallet into something more manageable.

• Clean out all paper clutter – all those old receipts and notes have to go. Toss what you don’t need and organize what you do. Business cards should be stored in a cardholder and left at home. Add important contacts and numbers to your cell phone for easier access. Verify purchases with old receipts and get rid of them.
• Weed out all the cards in your wallet. Discount cards – get a separate holder or only carry ones for stores you frequent often. Store unused credit cards securely at home, keeping one or two major cards in your wallet for emergencies.
• Make a list of all the cards you carry and who to contact if one gets lost or stolen. Keep the list up-to-date and store it someplace secure. Leave any unnecessary items at home – this includes your social security card, your voter identification card, etc. Most of the time you won’t need this information and carrying it all the time makes it easier for a thief to steal your identity.
• Don’t carry around excessive amounts of cash. A good rule of thumb is to not carry more than you would be willing to lose.