Has Your Wallet Got Fatter In Thailand?

[uptheos]

Years ago in a different life, I never used to carry a wallet and I hated them with a passion. To be honest, I never felt the need for one, just folded up my money put it in my pocket and off I went. Most times I never carried any sort of credit card, but now I carry 5 debit cards too! In UK I didn't need to carry a driving licence, as if stopped we had 5 days to produce it. If the car broke down I just phoned the AA, reverse the charges if necessary. Now I carry three licences for some stupid reason, 2 Thai & 1 UK. I have laminated copies of my passport and visa, Stupid Spot and Makro cards, Cards from lawyers and doctors. Laminated hospital cards from Ram, Rajevej and Sripat. Lots of bits of personal information etc. plus of course loadsa money (just joking). It's like putting a bloody suitcase in my pocket and I hate it! I hate it because I don't know how it happened....but I have an idea and I'm not sure how to reverse it.

I would like to go out with just money in my pocket plus vehicle keys, but just can't seem to do it and feel comfortable. Sitting on that bulging wallet full of meaningless stuff is, well, literally a pain in the arse!

How about you?

[ripstanley]

Put it in your front pocket then no pain in the arse

[uptheos]

Put it in your front pocket then no pain in the arse

Yeah, but then other guys will get jealous......and I'll be an even more hansum man

Edited May 16, 2013 by uptheos

[poanoi]

I use a big belt here, i used a wallet in my back pocket home,

For starters i need to carry my passport now, but the primary reason is i

am uncomfortable without safety here, with pickpocket thieves etc,

the belt in front of me gives me peace of mind.

[patongphil]

I don't carry a wallet. Just some cash and drivers license does me fine.

[uptheos]

I use a big belt here, i used a wallet in my back pocket home, For starters i need to carry my passport now, but the primary reason is i am uncomfortable without safety here, with pickpocket thieves etc, the belt in front of me gives me peace of mind.

Well, I never carry my passport, heaven knows where I'd stick that ( no comments necessary)

[uptheos]

I don't carry a wallet. Just some cash and drivers license does me fine.

You don't think in an emergency you might need to get a large sum of money fast?

[Bangkokhatter]

I know what you mean,never carried a wallet back home. What done it for me though was buying a bloody Samsung S3 and then having to wear glasses, so now i have to use a man bag to fit it all in...am disgusted with myself to be honest

[uptheos]

I know what you mean,never carried a wallet back home. What done it for me though was buying a bloody Samsung S3 and then having to wear glasses, so now i have to use a man bag to fit it all in...am disgusted with myself to be honest

I know what you mean, it's like packing to go on holiday!

[phuketjock]

I don't carry a wallet. Just some cash and drivers license does me fine.

Same here + my ancient phone to call the missus in case of emergency, never had to yet, touch wood.

[sotsira]

For me a wallet just isn't large enough to carry all my stuff,

i use a bum bag, although i dislike to.

[kannot]

I carry bugger all except some money, driving licence stays in the car, no ID yeah I know Im supposed to, can't be arsed, I'm rarely outta the car anyway or very close to it.

I have a samsung tab thing like a paperback size only as I'm too lazy to wear glasses and I can enlarge the screen easily to read anything, also good for small labels in supermarkets, take a photo and then blow it up to read what it says

[Chicog]

It's a struggle finding shorts with enough zip pockets in but I've managed to acquire enough over the years to deal with cash, keys, smokes and, at a push, shades or glasses.

Bum bags and man bags are just a no-no.

[fletchsmile]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Plus a card to operate the lift in the condo.

Luckily some places have now started to link the card number to a phone number - spot card at Tops is one you could do that for. Manpong another and 1st card at central. So for these no need to carry, and I just give them the wife's mobile phone number and they key that in and link it to the card.

I also put my wallet in my front pocket. As my dad used to say, it's less easy to pick than a back pocket, and if someone does manage to steal it at least you might get a feel out of it

Cheers

Fletch

[Rsquared]

My Bad......looking at the topic of the thread, stupidly I was thinking of cash making one's wallet fatter.

My nanosecond response would've been a resounding NO!

Sorry, time for bed.

Cheers.

[rene123]

I envy you guys who have wallets you can put in your pocket. Women have to carry a purse. At least in thailand everything is transacted in cash. I carry a purse that fits in my pocket with an ATM card and my larger bills. I try to wear shorts with at least 4 pockets in which to separate my change, and my 20 baht bills and another pocket for my 100 baht bills. I empty all the coins I collect each day and toss them into a jar. Then, about every two weeks I cash in the coins. I give the satang coins to the little old lady who lives across the street.

[NeverSure]

I don't carry a wallet. Just some cash and drivers license does me fine.

You don't think in an emergency you might need to get a large sum of money fast?

No, do you think I'm an idiot? Just turn your pockets inside out and speak French.

[Eesat]

I carry nothing but a picture of my Chinese-Thai Hi-So wife,a copy of my bank statement proving I'm a multi-millionaire and my Special Forces ID card.Anyone who doesn't carry the same really has no business posting on Thai Visa!

[BookMan]

Like the Op I loathe using wallets. I don't keep any business cards or discount cards in my wallet and regularly remove receipts and excess paper.

For Thailand I initially used to use my small digital camera case. It could carry my old Nokia phone, laminated copy of passport, Drivers License, Credit/ATM Card, cash, plus any coins. Fit nicely into the pocket of my cargo pants, jeans or shorts.

The zip on that broke and now I use a similar size wallet/purse for my cards/coins etc. Small enough for my pocket and not large enough to carry too much stuff.

I have a larger smart phone now and you can get the protective cases for them that have a sideways flip with a pocket that you can store a ATM card and cash in. but no coins, so that can be a wallet also...oh, lets not forget having to carry the tablet device...and bottle of water... sunscreen...long sleeve shirt, during any day trip ...

For those I have a small Thai style shoulder bag that I can take anywhere....

[Spoonman]

Why do you carry your UK cards/licenses in Thailand ?

[Puyai]

No wallet, scared i'll lose it. Phone, cash, smokes in my pocket, driving licence stays in the car. Never carried id in 4 years of being here, ATM card stays at home unless I need to draw out money, it then goes in the car with the driving licence. As for bum bags or man bags, never in a million years! Nor would you catch me wearing socks with sandals!

[Payboy]

I've got people to carry my heavy stuff around.

[uptheos]

Why do you carry your UK cards/licenses in Thailand ?

No reason really and it's now removed thanks to you. I put it in some time ago to get a couple of documents notarized at the British Consul.

[uptheos]

No wallet, scared i'll lose it. Phone, cash, smokes in my pocket, driving licence stays in the car. Never carried id in 4 years of being here, ATM card stays at home unless I need to draw out money, it then goes in the car with the driving licence. As for bum bags or man bags, never in a million years! Nor would you catch me wearing socks with sandals!

I understand socks with sandals are coming back into fashion judging by the amount of people wearing them in Chiang Mai........purple seems popular.

[uptheos]

I carry nothing but a picture of my Chinese-Thai Hi-So wife,a copy of my bank statement proving I'm a multi-millionaire and my Special Forces ID card.Anyone who doesn't carry the same really has no business posting on Thai Visa!

I just show my special forces tattoo.

[uptheos]

It's a struggle finding shorts with enough zip pockets in but I've managed to acquire enough over the years to deal with cash, keys, smokes and, at a push, shades or glasses.

Bum bags and man bags are just a no-no.

Back in UK I never bothered with long trousers (no shorts lol) with zips, why here?

You'd get clocked at the clock end with a bum bag.

[uptheos]

I carry bugger all except some money, driving licence stays in the car, no ID yeah I know Im supposed to, can't be arsed, I'm rarely outta the car anyway or very close to it.

I guess no need if you only go from the house to the car.

[NanLaew]

I carry nothing but a picture of my Chinese-Thai Hi-So wife,a copy of my bank statement proving I'm a multi-millionaire and my Special Forces ID card.Anyone who doesn't carry the same really has no business posting on Thai Visa!

I just show my special forces tattoo.

I didn't know they had a team called 'muppet'?

[uptheos]

I carry nothing but a picture of my Chinese-Thai Hi-So wife,a copy of my bank statement proving I'm a multi-millionaire and my Special Forces ID card.Anyone who doesn't carry the same really has no business posting on Thai Visa!

I just show my special forces tattoo.

I didn't know they had a team called 'muppet'?

Men Under Pressure Pentagon Exotic Team (but mines much superior)

Edited May 17, 2013 by uptheos

[overherebc]

I know one guy who always takes his wallet out of his pocket and sits it on the bar in front of himself, it must be about an inch and a half thick stuffed with notes. If you take a good sneaky peek at it they are all twenty baht notes with maybe a couple of 1000's. Always pays with the 1000 note and stuffs the change in his pocket.

Really don't know what it's all about.