4 ways to lighten your wallet

What’s the current state of your wallet? I used to use a Day-Timer wallet and that thing was stuffed to capacity. How often have you taken your wallet out of your pocket or purse and immediately your back pain faded? In all seriousness, if it’s time to clean out your wallet, here are four cards you should start with…

Credit Cards: Credit and debit cards are needed items, but thanks to technology, you don’t have to actually have them on hand to use them. Thanks to mobile wallets, you can store your credit and debit cards digitally and use your phone to pay at any point-of-sale that accepts near-field communication. And these days that’s almost all of them.

Loyalty Cards: If you’re often dealing with loyalty cards, either your wallet or keychain is completely filled with them. Either way, it’s time to lighten the load. Download an app like Key Ring and kiss those loyalty cards goodbye. I use Key Ring at the grocery store, the gym, and everywhere in between.

Insurance Cards: A lot of insurance companies will now allow you to download a digital insurance card or access one through an app. Not only will this make your wallet a little lighter, but you won’t have to remember to swap out your car insurance card twice a year.

Gift Cards: Gift cards are as good as cash. Unless you’re going to spend your gift card, don’t leave home with it. A lost wallet equals lost cash in any form. If you’re worried you’re going to forget a gift card when it comes time to use it, try out an app like Gyft.