SavvySugar

Carry a Smaller Wallet to Spend Less

Emily Co — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:04:45 PDT

We hear about smaller plates causing you to eat less, but did you realize that smaller wallets are good for your personal finances? Wallets are getting fatter and fatter these days, what with the numerous loyalty programs around and large numbers of credit and debit cards that consumers hold. SmartMoney says:

Hauling around all that junk not only encourages consumers to spend more (and more thoughtlessly); it also makes it harder to keep track of that spending. "The more cards you have, the more likely it is that you'll forget to pay one of them," says Peter J. D'Arruda, founder of Capital Financial Advisory Group, in Cary, N.C., who teaches clients to streamline their finances. Another concern: the possibility of ID theft. It's a point reinforced by a recent study of claims data by Travelers, the big insurer, which found that 76 percent of all cases of identity fraud reported in 2009 resulted from the theft of something physical - say, a wallet or credit card. By contrast, just nine percent were due to an "online or data breach."

Here are a couple of tips for slimming down your wallet.

Make a list of what's necessary. Make sure you stuff your wallet with the essentials, such as driver's license, credit or debit card, and a small amount of cash. SmartMoney also recommends carrying a bail-bond card (for which there is no "convenient substitute"), which can cover the bail and set you free in case you are ever apprehended for a traffic violation. Also, an experiment in Scotland once showed that wallets with baby photos have the highest return rates - 88 percent - so you might want to think about inserting a cute picture of an infant in your wallet, says the personal finance website.
Set aside some time to sort through your wallet. Take an hour or two to go through your wallet and take out items that you don't need to carry around. Remove old receipts to trash or store elsewhere.
Use a smaller wallet. I used to carry a big, bulky wallet and crammed way too many things in there. After I started using a smaller wallet, it just did not have enough space for unnecessary items. Further, there has never been a time when I needed something that was not in the wallet.

What do you keep in your wallet? What are the essential and nonessential items in your money pouch?

The Bra Wallet: Brilliant or Baffling?

SavvySugar — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:00:17 PDT

There is no better place to put your money than in your bra, of course. Think about it, you'll have less chance of misplacing your wallet if it's hanging heavily on your bra. And if you ever get mugged, you can tell the attacker with a straight face that you're not carrying your wallet in your bag or in your pockets. All jokes aside, would you add this bra wallet ($8) to your accessory collection?

Source

Cell Phone Wallet: Totally Geeky or Geek Chic?

GeekSugar — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:45:53 PST

This geeky Retro Cell Phone Wallet ($25) is made to resemble an early cell phone. It's a simple bifold wallet with lots of pockets and a clear plastic ID holder. It also comes with a 20 percent tip guide card. But the best part?

An actual retractable antenna attached to the side, which to me, pushes it over the "totally geeky" line. What do you think?

Do You Have an Overstuffed Wallet?

SavvySugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:15:31 PDT

Any Seinfeld fan surely remembers George Costanza's ridiculously overstuffed wallet that was bursting with receipts going back to who knows what year. I hope your wallet isn't as full as George's, but could yours use a healthy session of cleaning out receipts and buy-nine-get-the-tenth-sandwich-free cards?

Would You Rather Lose Your Wallet or Cell Phone?

SavvySugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:30:55 PDT

Back when Zack Morris had his huge antenna bearing celly, I'd never have guessed that cell phones would become an accessory so many people couldn't live without. Our addiction to keeping our mobiles close goes beyond a predictable level of obsession; according to a recent poll spanning 11 countries from market research firm Synovate, more people would rather lose their wallets than their cell phones, and one in four respondents foresaw a greater challenge in replacing the mobile than their purses. What's the lesser evil in your opinion: losing your wallet or cell phone?

Source: Flickr User jenniferlstoddart

Take a Peek Into Other People's Purses

SavvySugar — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:01:24 PDT

Who's down with OPP? Tons of people are documenting what they lug around in their bags on a daily basis and sharing the contents online. If you've ever wished for X-ray vision to see what other people are carrying, now's your chance to peek inside.

Source: Flickr User colourise

Three Things to Do Before You Leave For Vacation

SavvySugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:06:01 PDT

Packing for a long vacation takes a surprising amount of energy and having to account for several wardrobe changes can be admittedly overwhelming. Remembering the bikini that makes you feel best is a must-do but there are a few other tasks that should be on your prevacation checklist. . . . and guess what? They don't take nearly as long as thoughtfully stuffing your suitcase.

Set up automatic payment for your bills. You don't want to be greeted with late-payment fees or increased rates due to missed payments when you arrive home from your vacation. Schedule auto payments online to avoid any harmful mistakes.
Sort through your wallet. Remove any items that you won't need for your trip like your social security card or extra credit cards. Carrying everything with you means keeping track of them, and if you're a victim of tourist theft those are more cards you'll have to cancel. For happier traveling, simply place them in a secure place before you leave.
Make copies of important items. Some people prefer scanning images of their passport and credit cards and then emailing the files to themselves, but others don't feel secure having these on their computers. Whichever method you prefer, make copies of important items in case something is stolen.

Source

Fab Finding Follow Up: A Fab, But Cheap, Spring Look

FabSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:00:22 PDT

As much as I fantasize about fashion, sometimes the difference between what we want and what we can actually afford is vast. Pulling together a totally affordable, chic outfit is an art form; I would argue that doing so deserves more props than any unbudgeted ensemble.

I propositioned you to pull together the ultimate Spring look . . . for under $100. I started you off with this Forever 21 Faux Leather Wallet ($13) because it's uplifting and, well, affordable. Let's see what you all came up with!

Look # 1, created by bvfashion, is so versatile. The total cost is $95.78, and many of her picks can be mixed and matched with other looks.

Crinkled Scarf-Forever 21-$9.99	UrbanOutfitters.com > Painted Metal Bangle $4.99
Bangles-Forever 21-$5.80	Union Sunglasses-Forever 21-$5.80
Metallic Braided Sandals-Old Navy-$16.50	Rose Earrings-Forever 21-$4.80
Jillian Knit Dress-Delias-$34.90	Forever21.com Orange Clutch

To see the rest,

Look # 2, created by EllaB is super cute. I love the pairing of the bold top, striped shorts, and metallic accessories, all for just $96.30 total!

Alexis Eyelet Top ($32.50)	Women's Button-Tab Shorts ($15)
Loeffler Randall for Target - Rosette Ballet Flats - Rose ($21)	Forever21.com - Beaded Wire Bangle set ($6.80)
Forever21.com - owl necklace ($8)	Forever21.com - Product C3

Look # 3, created by mletrav, is classic with a funky twist - the dress reminds me of something Victoria Beckham would wear, and the accessories are unique - all for $88.99.

Bateau Dress - $19.99 - Laredoute.com	Rhinestone Stud Earrings - $7.50 - Old Navy
Jungle Chic Bangle Set - $11.00 - Lulus Fashion Lounge	STRAW CLUTCH - $14.50 - Alloy	Karolyn Bay Teal Two Tone Cork Wedge Heel - $23.00 - Lulus Fashion Lounge

Come Fab Finding With Me: A Fab, But Cheap, Spring Look

FabSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:00:22 PDT

I proposition you to pull together the ultimate Spring look . . . for under $100. I'll start you off with this Forever 21 Faux Leather Wallet ($13) because it's uplifting and, well, affordable.

Let's go Fab Finding! Be sure to come back and tell me your Fab Finds are up, or just tag your Fab Finds with cheap Spring look.

Now, you can build outfits by creating a list of clothing items. We have everything you need to build outfits, and you can use your Fab-Find bookmarks, too. This is an even better way to put together an entire outfit when you are completing your Fab-Finding missions.

To learn what a Fab Find is and how to make one, click here. For a more detailed explanation of bookmarks from geeksugar click here.

To see some of my favorite online stores,

Active Endeavors
Banana Republic
Bluefly
eLuxury
Girlshop
Jildor Shoes
Live Natty
Neiman Marcus
Net-a-Porter
Pink Mascara

Five Steps to Follow When Your Wallet Is Stolen

SavvySugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:01:05 PDT

Fortunately, I've never lost my purse or wallet, but during instances where I momentarily thought that I lost my debit card or driver's license, panic surged through me. The automatic reaction when something happens that could compromise your everyday livelihood is fear and worry, but you need to overcome those sensations very quickly and focus to ensure nothing more happens. You want to be one of those people saying "it could be worse," not one who says, "they emptied my bank account and stole my identity." To see what steps you should take in the instance your purse or wallet is stolen just

Call your bank and report your ATM card as stolen. Do this immediately, because your liability for money withdrawn by a thief increases within two days of the crime and you could end up with unlimited liability.
Call your credit card companies and inform them that your cards have been stolen. Have your online account in front of you while making the call so that you can easily relay your last transaction. You don't want to have to rely on memory when you're already jittery from stress.
Make an appointment with your DMV. It's not the best place to waste time, but toughing it out is better than getting in trouble for driving without a license.
Call the credit reporting agencies and place a temporary security alert on your file. This way, if the thief tries to open any new credit in your name the lenders will be flagged to verify the identity before accepting the application.
File a police report with your local precinct.

Source