Minimalist Wallet: Pros and Cons

Do you have too many things you do not need in your wallet? Are you tired of coins dropping all across the floor when you take out something from it? You have numerous receipts, credit cards, bills, point cards in your wallet because you think they might be useful in the future. Who knows when you might need them? The answer is: never. All they do is add more inconvenience to your life. You may have everything you will ever need in your pocket, but what is the point of a loaded wallet if it just makes things harder for you. You will struggle with finding what you are looking for because of all the excessive, unnecessary junk. Not only that, but there is also a medical condition that can result from a thick wallet.

Fat Wallet Syndrome

In today's fast-paced life, most men tend to carry wallets loaded with coins and cards, bills, receipts, and more. When you are constantly receiving printed information as proof of your transactions, you probably quickly shove it inside your wallet without giving it a second thought too. Many people keep their wallets in their back pockets. When you sit down with your wallet in there, there is a possibility that it might damage the central nerves in your lower back. This can result in extreme pain.

The phenomenon is generally referred to as wallet neuropathy or fat wallet syndrome. It is more commonly found in men as the majority of them carry wallets. The neuromuscular condition involves both the piriformis muscle and the sciatic nerve. Some common symptoms of this condition include pain upon standing, sitting, lying down for a long duration, difficulty in walking, and foot numbness. Some other names used to describe this condition are walletosis, credit carditis, wallet sciatica, hippopocket syndrome, etc. So a wallet filled with junk is more harmful than you think. A simple solution to avoid this is to get a minimalist wallet. It will prevent you from hoarding unnecessary items and receipts.

Organizing vs. Minimalism

Many people are adopting a minimalist lifestyle these days. However, it is not only limited to your home-space and clothing. Everything you own should harmonize with the minimalist mindset to truly experience the benefits of this lifestyle. Applying the concept to an item you carry everywhere and every day will conserve so much of your mental space that all these useless things generally take up. Getting a minimalist wallet is not about decluttering or organizing. It is about getting rid of the excess to the point where you do not have to worry about organizing things ever again. You know how buffets provide smaller plates sometimes so you take less food? The concept of a minimalist wallet is quite similar. A sleek, slim, and small wallet forces you to reduce the number of items you carry along with you daily.

Pros of a Minimalist Wallet

Some other benefits of a minimalist wallet include:

1. It reduces potential security and safety risks.

Carrying every single credit card, debit card, or ATM card you own only ensures a field day for the thief in case your wallet gets stolen or lost. Moreover, you will have no other options while you wait for new cards. Fortunately, a minimalist wallet can help prevent any of this. It ensures you carry only the necessities with you, such as one primary card and another one as a backup. So, even if your wallet gets stolen, you will face less loss. Keep in mind: Do not carry it if you will not need it. You may also digitize your payment cards and avoid carrying one at all.

2. Less clutter.

A cluttered wallet can wreak havoc on your mind. Imagine you are in a hurry and have to take out some change and pay the cab driver, but your wallet is like a maze. You have to maneuver through it to find what you need carefully, which can be stressful. It can ruin your mood and make you irritable. A minimalist wallet ensures less clutter as it restricts the number of things you can carry in it. If there are fewer items in your wallet, you will have to deal with fewer things while searching for something.

3. It ensures your spending is organized and more strategic.

A decluttered wallet is a decluttered mind. If your wallet does not have unnecessary bulk, it becomes easier to keep track of your money and ensure smart spending. This will prevent you from purchasing things impulsively without taking your money situation into consideration and also help with saving.

4. Keeps everything organized.

A minimalist wallet ensures you have to deal with fewer items in your wallet, thereby helping everything stay organized. Putting things back in their place will not be a hassle because of fewer items. Not to forget, you cannot shove anything you want, anywhere you want inside a minimalist wallet.

5. It helps you find things easily and quickly.

Fewer items in your wallet mean it will be easier for you to find things. Getting a minimalist wallet is not only about getting rid of things you do not need, but it is also a good opportunity to determine your everyday necessities and organize them so they are easily accessible. It can be particularly helpful if you suffer from a serious health problem and need to place emergency information where you can easily see it.

Cons of a Minimalist Wallet

1. No lost treasures to be discovered.

There is no better feeling than going through and organizing a cluttered wallet only to find lost treasures or money you had forgotten about. Sadly, with a minimalist wallet, you will not get to experience the euphoria of this moment anymore.

2. Not having everything on-hand.

A minimalist wallet requires you to leave unnecessary items at home. The downside to this is that in rare scenarios, you may not have an item that you need at the moment in your wallet.

3. Accidentally throwing away something you might need later.

When limiting your everyday wallet items, you might accidentally get rid of a receipt that you may end up needing later.