What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

One of my earlier posts on this site was about my wallet. It was titled On Rewards Programs in Australia. I took my time to review the best loyalty cards. It’s been ages since I wrote that. Fast forward to 2023. Think about one thing that you always carry. Again, it has to be my wallet. I understand that most of us has gone digital. Whether bank cards (cardless cash), loyalty programs, gym memberships, and even driver’s licenses. Smartphones have mostly replaced the wallet’s roles. In case you missed it, I still prefer physical cards, hence I carry my wallet with me.

Black is back

This card and coin holder is a fairly new addition. I purchased it after last Christmas. Until then, I utilised my older brown leather wallet. It gave me long years of service. To be honest, the wallet was still in very good shape. Obviously, it wasn’t brand spanking new but it was looking quite good after all those years. I bought my new black wallet from another Strandbags store. Both were also from the same brand. Previously, I purchased one from Rodd and Gunn (R&G) but it was a bit tight so my mum gifted it. My new holder had the same issue. This time, I did some research online and worked out the issue.

The wallet has to compartments for bills, similar to the R&G product. However, it takes a step further with a zip compartment. This is reminiscent of my old wallet. These days, this feature isn’t as common. Luckily, it also has a decent coin compartment. The R&G wallet, while half-price, had a smaller coin section. There are eight card slots in my holder. It also has a snap closure. My wallet is RFID protected, which seems like a handy feature for added security. However, this means that my Opal card will not get scanned when I tap on using my wallet. Thus, I have to buy a leather case for my phone.

So what sort of cards are in my wallet?

Banking and Finance

Of course, I have my debit Mastercard. I use this as an obvious alternative to cash. The card is versatile: whether for a quick grocery top up, paying for lunch, or buying other things. At most merchants, you also have the option of selecting savings or credit. For many years now, these kind of cards have generally been the norm. Aside from my bank card, I still utilise my Qantas Travel Money card. These days, I tend to use it more for online shopping. There are other better Qantas cards out there. It’s not like I fly that much anyway.

Health

My Bupa card is one thing I’ve added since last time. In 2016, I’ve already reviewed them so I’ll spare you the details. I use the card for extras only. These include optical, chiro, and dental claims. I’m pretty sure that, if you so wish, you could get a digital card.

Groceries

My Everyday Rewards card is another addition. This is handy since there are two Woolies stores in our area. This ensures that you’ll earn and redeem points easily. No fuss, no dramas. Like most cards, there exists a digital version of this. Other shoppers have taken this up.

I’ve also brought a Flybuys card. This seems redundant, as we do most of our Coles shopping online. Furthermore, there’s no Coles locally. You’ll have to take a bus to reach the nearest branch. It pays though to be a savvy shopper. It’s better to be sure than sorry. One advantage of shopping in store: you could convert your points into Flybuys dollars and use the credits for your groceries. Generally speaking, their brick and mortar locations offer a wider range than Coles Online. It’s the same with Woolies too.

Entertainment

Speaking of being certain, I still bring two cinema cards with me: Reading Reel Club and Cinebuzz. Again, the advent of Netflix and Apple TV has made them kind of expendable. Yet you never know when the cine bug will bite.

My Myer One card still occupies a place in my wallet. Just like Qantas, there are better Myer cards out there, including the Myer credit card. By scanning your membership card, you earn Myer One credits. Once you’ve reached one thousand credits, this will be converted into a $10 reward. Five hundred quid spent to get a ten dollar reward? Meh. I don’t shop at their stores as much as before. Most of my orders are done online. I do keep it in the slot, just in case.

Learning

Aside from loyalty cards, I likewise carry library cards. This is perfect for the bookworm in me. I wish though that there was a physical Afterpay card. We know that’s a long shot.

Runner-up

The runner up goes to my phone. The case that I purchased also houses my Opal Card. The only apps I’ve downloaded are Facebook Lite and Messenger. Everything else came with my mobile. I also have a couple of Chrome shortcuts. In case you’re wondering, my keys are in a separate key holder.

Nine years have elapsed since my last look at wallets and loyalty cards. I look forward to a reexamination in approximately 2032!