Over the years I've gone through different patterns in my financial life.
I have the times where I'm dutifully following our family's budget, and constantly keeping track of what is coming in, and what is going out. I'm on top of things.
Then there are the times when I just don't stay on top of things as much as normal. I let things get a little bit out of control because sometimes it just feels like we're doing well enough – that we don't have to keep as close an eye on how things are going.
When we start getting into that routine of not looking at things very closely, I tend to let things slide. I start collecting receipts, coupons and checks to be deposited (and more) in my wallet, and it slowly starts getting fatter and fatter. I end up getting what I like to call “Thick Wallet Syndrome”.
I'm not the only one who gets this problem apparently, as it was the subject of an entire episode of “Seinfeld”.
George has a wallet so thick that it forces him to sit on an incline. It even starts to give him back problems. His wallet keeps getting bigger and bigger until near the end of the episode, his wallet is bursting at the seams. It can take no more. He tries to put one last receipt in the wallet, and it explodes in a shower of business cards, receipts, coupons and everything else he holds dear.
View what happens in the video below.
So what's the solution to the problem of thick wallet?
For me, it's just a matter of getting to the point where I can't sit on the wallet anymore. I end up having to take my wallet out every time I sit down. When it gets to that point, I know it's time to take stock of things.
It's time to:
- Enter receipts into You Need A Budget.
- Shred receipts.
- Get rid of random business cards from people I'll never call.
- Get rid of duplicate health insurance, auto insurance and other cards.
- Deposit checks.
- Take out all but the most important family photos.
For me the thick wallet is only a symptom of a larger “I don't care about my finances right now” attitude.
If it only goes on for a week or two, it's no big deal. But if it turns into a month or more – look out. Back problems (and money problems?) can't be far behind.
It's time to start watching the budget again, and tracking what we're spending a bit closer.
I know this post isn't completely serious – but have any of you actually gotten to that point where your wallet is so thick that you sit on an incline? Why does your wallet get so big? Have you considered a man-purse like Jerry Seinfeld (or Euro bag as he calls it?)
As a chick, I find the GCW a total turn off. Guys, the womenfolk, we notice everything. Even your wallet.
Funny you mention the wallet topic. I have gotten into the habit now of getting receipts out of there way faster than I had before. I was one of those guys who didn’t care, but now I do. It’s mainly because it just gets too unwieldy otherwise. Good to know though, what Slackerjo says. Maybe that could have made a difference back in the old days:)
My chiropractor told me that some of my back problems were probably caused by my wallet. I now carry a thinner wallet in a side or front pocket. It seems to help with the pain and on occasion when I put my wallet in the back pocket and sit down I realize how uncomfortable it is. Over the years I had just become used to the pain and discomfort, but now that I’ve lived without it I can’t stand it.