Secure your wallet

Do not overstuff your wallet! Besides the inconvenience of carrying a heavy purse (or pocket), you should not be taking personal information everywhere with you. With just your name and Social Security number, identity thieves can open new credit accounts and make costly purchases in your name. With a government-issued photo ID, they can do even more damage. To avoid any risk, remove from your wallet: Social Security Card (or anything else that may contain your number), Password Cheat Sheet (consider an encrypted mobile app), Spare Keys (keep them with a trusted person instead), Blank Checks, Passport, Multiple Credit Cards (carry only one or two, and have a list with cancellation numbers to call in another place), Birth Certificate, A Stack Of Receipts (a crafty ID thief can use the limited credit card info and merchant information on receipts to phish for your remaining numbers).