You’d think minimalists just walk around with some keys and 2 credit cards right?
WRONG.
How impractical is that? Here’s what I carry around and feel is pretty practical and useful for my everyday life.
PURSE = $1707.94
Click to biggify
Wallet = $454.94
See below for contents.
Emergency Pouch = $54
See below for contents.
Lip Balm = $4
I really like this one, it’s quite natural too and smells amazing.
Keys (Recut) = $10 (possibly more?)
Although come to think of it, I might have to redo all the locks in the house if I lost my keys.
Music (iPod Shuffle & Headphones) = $80
The iPod shuffle is $50 before taxes and the headphones are at least $20, plus we have 13% sales tax in Ontario.
Organizer (iPod Touch) = $452
My heart skips a beat if I think I lost it or left it at home.
Sunglasses (Persol) = $353
Polarized, glass lenses = NOT CHEAP.
[OPTIONAL] Digital Camera = $300
I sometimes bring it out when I know I will be walking around and may want to get some shots. Or going to dinner.
WALLET = $454.94
Click to biggify
CASH = $164.17
Surprisingly I carry around about $100 – $200 worth of cash at any given time in bills, but rarely use it.
I only take out cash when I am forced to (at ethnic grocery stores).
HAIR STUFF / PINS = $0.50
I am a flip flopper when it comes to having my hair up or down, and pins are handy when your skirt flies open or something rips/pops.
PEN = $15
For when other people don’t have a pen and you need it. This one is a super slim one by Moleskine and is made in Italy. It writes very well and smoothly.
WET WIPE = $0.20
You just don’t know when you’ll need one and wish you had it.
FACIAL BLOTTING PAPERS = $5
When your forehead gets unimaginably shiny.
TRANSPORTATION = $160.45
I always have a spare Day Pass around and a few tokens just in case. You never know. I also bought a pass for June.
REWARDS CARDS = $40
Reward cards from stores I frequent quite often. The reward cards with money are:
- Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum = $30 in points
- Air Miles = $10 in points
GIFT CARDS = $39.62
Still trying to use up my gift cards…
- Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum = $7.01 left as a balance
- Starbucks = $26.61 left as a balance + a free drink reward ($6)
MEMBERSHIP CARDS = $0
Toronto Public Library card (must-have!), my LiveGreen card for organic stores, and I am going to move that Mountain Equipment one into my other Archive wallet because I so rarely use it and it takes up space.
CREDIT CARDS = $0
These ones really get used a lot, except for the Hudson’s Bay one — that one is just for discounts and points.
DEBIT CARDS = $0
I rarely bring these out unless I need to deposit money.
EMERGENCY POUCH = $54
Click to biggify
PURSE HANGER = $15
This is to hang my purse when there is no room otherwise.
PILLS = $10
Motion sickness pills (Gravol) and Allergy pills. I’ve used them often enough to need them in case of emergency.
NAUSEA SNACK = $2
These are just ginger chews to bring down my nausea if I get sick.
WET WIPES = $1.00
Always handy!
LENS WIPE = $0
Sometimes using your shirt is not an option.
FLOSS = $0
Free from the dentist, it’s great to get out that annoying bit of food stuck between your teeth. Also doubles as string in a pinch.
HAIRBANDS = $1.50
Lots of hairbands and pins.
FACIAL BLOTTING PAPERS = $5
Can never have enough.
SEWING KIT = $0
Free in most hotel rooms, never know when you need to stitch up some ripped pants.
EARPLUGS = Priceless.. just kidding. $1
For screaming kids, loud venues, and just in general when you need some peace and quiet.
SAFETY PINS = $0.50
Never know when you need them…
PEN = $10
Made in Switzerland, it’s handy to do crossword puzzles with.
STAIN ERASER = $3
Tide-to-Go has saved many a shirt of mine.
FOOT BALM = $3
When I feel a blister coming on, I rub this over my feet.
FOOT TAPE = $2
When a blister has already started (or even before, when I know I am going to be walking a lot), I use this to tape up my feet and toes to prevent blisters.
HMM… WOW. ALMOST $2000 IN MY WALLET
On any given day, I carry around about $2000 worth of stuff in my wallet. That’s how much it would cost to replace everything at retail.
Quite an interesting exercise. It makes me even MORE careful to keep my things close to me when I walk around (not that I wasn’t paranoid before..)
