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From the Mailbag: Losing Wallet Weight

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Shedding Billfold Bulk – Card Case & Money Clip Combos under $75

I’m a young guy (28) who’s had  a hip problem ever since junior high. Because of this, I have been told by all of my doctors that I shouldn’t keep anything in my back pockets, especially my wallet. So because of that, I keep my wallet in my front pocket, but it seems like my wallet is ever increasing in size! I do try to keep it as empty as possible, but it doesn’t help. I could use some help finding a nice stylish wallet which is good for the front pocket and super thin. I don’t want people to think I’m trying to compensate for something when I walk around with a huge bulge from my wallet in my front pocket.

– James

An angry hip this young is nothing you’d want to wish on anyone, but the good news for James is that he’s been forced to lose the bulky wallets most Men tend to carry.  This is going to sound a little extreme, but even if you carry a nice and slim bi-fold (tri-folds are torture devices) with little inside… give this combo a shot:

  • A leather card case (to be carried in either the back pocket, front pocket, or inner blazer pocket)
  • A slim, non-metallic money clip.

Never in a million years did I think I’d ditch my billfold for the above duo full time.  Sure, I had a card case and money clip on hand for when I was wearing a suit.  But I haven’t carried a true wallet in at least a year.  Why?  Because the opportunity to stuff that wallet is gone, and the card case carries lighter and looks better in a pocket or is invisible w/out bulk inside a jacket.  YES you can do this.  Here’s a few combos to give this a shot with:
. 

Chester Mox Slim Dogleg Wallet – $39.00 | J. Crew Tie-Stripe Money Clip – $15.55 (via eBay)
A good setup for James

A can’t-miss combination.  The Chester Mox dog-leg wallet is simple, sleek, and holds up to 8 cards.  Most of us can get by with three (License, Debit Card, Credit Card for emergencies).  Made in the USA, sleek Italian leather, and your choice of black or natural thread.  The J. Crew money clips are hard as hell to find.  They used to be everywhere (Factory was making one at one point) but there’s only a few tie-stripe patterns lingering about on eBay.

 

Saddleback Leather Small Card Case – $33.00 | Allen Edmonds Money Clip – $12.00 ($15)
If you’re looking for nonsense, you’ll find none of that here.

One of the best values out there.  Thirty three bucks and a 100 year warranty.  Thick though.  So if you’re looking for something lightweight, while this is still a card case, it’s a bit of a tank.  Money clip is made in the USA.  This is the type of combo that’s so lacking in any sort of frills, you’ll want to stand outside over a roaring flame, pounding your chest about how you made fire.

 

J. Crew Factory Magic Wallet – $16.50 | Coach Bleeker Legacy Money Clip – $48.00
The unbrowns.

Who needs brown?  The black watch plaid option from J. Crew Factory is one of those magic wallet things.  Y’know, the one’s you can flip around every which way but deep into a 5th dimension wormhole.  Goes on sale all the time.  As far as the money clip… hot damn, cool grey.  Available in five colors in total, and there’s complimentary monogramming available on it.

 

Old Calgary Felt Card case – $25 | Cole Haan Hermitage Money Clip – $38.99
Made in the USA, and most certainly not.

Speaking of grey… The Old Calgary Felt Card case is equal parts casual and, um… debonair?  It’s like a favorite tweed suit (consider yourself uber-lucky if you have one of those).  It’s soft, it’s tough, and it’s not quite as board-room slick as something smoother.  Twenty five bucks direct through Etsy.  Usually under $20 on Maxton Men, but they’re sold out right now.  The Cole Haan clip is magnetized, the contrast stitching jumps out just enough, and the embossed CH script logo is a nice touch.  Ships free via Zappos too.

 

Wheelmen & Co. Leather & Cork – $69.00 | Roman Lee Money Clip – $4.99
Leather & cork… and a cheap money clip.

Who is Roman Lee?  No clue.  Ask that Galt guy, maybe he knows.  But it is cheap enough to get under the self-imposed $75 threshold.  Wheelmen & Co. can get expensive, but they know how to nail one detail just different enough to make something drool worthy.

 

Rugby Skull & Bones – $35.00 | Bosca Slim Money clip – $35.00
Small, dark, and in your pockets.

If you’re going to carry something with a little character, like this card case with the skull and bones, keep its partner on the quiet side.  The moneyclip has a grain pattern to the leather but that’s it.  Dead simple.  If you like the card case (not all will like the skull & bones) keep an eye on it.  With sales, it should drop quite a bit.

Final notes

Switching to a card case & money clip is a transition.  It’ll take time to get used to.  Avoid card cases with that plastic window for your ID.  Watch where you lay that magnetic money clip (magnets + credit card strips, smartphones, and/or other computing devices = not good.)  Don’t worry about matching your card case and your money clip.  They’re barely visible on their own, let alone being seen together and having leathers clash.  Try and keep at least twenty bucks on you at all times.  It’s a smart play, and two singles in a clip can look a little sad.

At top:  Wallet by Jack Spade.  Card Case by Chester Mox.  Tie-strip money clip by J. Crew Factory.

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Comments

  1. if you want to integrate the money clip with a slim-fitting bi-fold leather wallet that’s designed to fit in your front pocket, check out this: http://www.walletbe.com/
    been using it for more than a year–durable quality, decent leather, extremely slim, and can’t be beat for the price.

  2. If you’re only carrying $20, why bother with a money clip? A few bills can tuck inside the card case without issue. That’s basically how most women’s “wallets” are handled.

    I rarely carry more than $20 in cash, and never more than 3 or 4 bills for any meaningful period of time. If I’m in some weird unfamiliar place where people only accept cash I usually have my messenger bag with me and can just keep the money in there.

  4. Young man, do not pay for a money clip. Card cases are good and can be had a target/Costco/Wally for almost nothing to start. But a money clip is a rip off. Use a large paper clip or one of those small paper binder things. They’re cheap and can be swiped at the office 😉

  5. I have the Saddleback Card case in Chestnut. There is a slot in the center designed for cash which for me, eliminates the need for a money clip. I make a point to carry $50- $100 with me in just for emergencies but pay for everything with a credit card. I earn cash back/points that way and keep my wallet thin. Also have a traceable means to review my finances. As for the wallet, I’m very happy with the quality – I think I’m going on about 2 years with it. As it wears, the leather breaks in/softens. I carry 2 personal credit cards, a debit card, a work credit card, a license, a door key (activation card) and a few large bills. Wallet is flatter than most and as minimalistic as I can make it.

  7. I’ve carried a Big Skinny for the past 5 years now. Slim, lightweight, nearly indestructible.

  9. This is very, very true. I actually used one of those “small paper binder things” for a while, and it was amazing. It can get annoying because the handles of the clip kept getting snagged, and the clip part isn’t exactly streamlined so it can jab you a bit. However, the price is right.

  10. I got the previously recommended Rugby Madras card case (since discontinued) for around $20 and it’s been great. The big thing to keep in mind is that they WILL stretch out over time, so though initially it can be hard to put even one card in a pocket or any money in at all, within a week it’s easier and then it just gets even easier from there. I think there are about 10 bills in my card case right now along with 5 or 6 cards, putting at capacity, but that covers me on absolutely everything.

  11. I just carry a bifold Tumi wallet that I don’t stuff full of trash. That’s a real easy solution and I didn’t have to buy a new wallet.

  12. same here, I got a nice Smythson card case at the airport in London a couple of years back and it’s served me well. Unless you’re a parking lot attendant I don’t see the need to carry a lot of cash on a day-to-day basis.

    For some reason I still like to carry a wallet when I’m wearing denim though

  13. I skip the money clip. I’ve been carrying just a card case for a little more than a year now–it’s Jack Spade. I bought it from Bonobos for about $15 with a coupon. On each side of the card case is a single card slot which can accommodate a few cards, and up top there’s a spot which can handle a couple bills. I keep my driver license, credit card, a few other things, and a bit of cash. Like you I have a hip problem (I’m 24) so needed to get away from the big bulky wallet that didn’t actually have anything in it anyway.

  14. I’ve used a spring-clip paper binder as my “wallet” for many years. Can’t imagine using anything else. I take my most essential cards, biz cards and ID — fold my cash over it — and clip it all together. Love the “snap-snap” of closing down and flipping up the arms of the clip. My clip even has little round plastic “$” buttons on the ends of the metal arms. Classy.

  16. I picked up one of the Saddleback card cases just a few months ago and love it. It is nice and thin, but still looks great. Holds a couple credit cards & my ID. Cash goes in the front pocket. Definitely worth the cost.

  19. For a few years I used a Fossil wallet that was basically a couple card slots with a magnetic money clip on the back. I was great: small and unobtrusive. I loved how easy it was to take out cash, and I always got pleasure in flipping the money clip closed. Sometimes cashiers would compliment me and tell me they wished their boyfriends would have as much style.

    Earlier this year, I switched to the handmade folded wallet (wholecut from a single piece of leather) from Corter. http://www.corterleather.bigcartel.com/product/folded-bifold

    Even though it was bigger and bulkier (especially at first, before the leather broke it; it was downright stiff), I loved the craftsmanship and the quality of the leather. I condition it every so often with Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP (my favorite of all the leather conditioners I’ve tried), and am enjoying how supple and patinaed it’s become. It’s not as bulky as it first was, I still get compliments, and I still get satisfaction from it every time I take it out.

    I’m looking forward to it continuing to wear in over the years
    http://www.corterleather.com/imported-20100617030825/2012/2/8/worn-in.html

  20. I tried to ask Galt, but he was nowhere to be found. And then I noticed society was crumbling and money was worthless and the question became moot. jk

  21. I also have a chronic back injury, and I used to carry the largest wallet I’ve ever seen. It even had a friggin’ coin purse built into it. 😛 It was extremely expensive, but I chose to retire it because it wasn’t worth the pain.
    I switched to a Ben Sherman card case that I picked up at Marhsall’s for $15, and it’s worked well for me ever since. On days where I’m wearing a suit or sport coat (fairly regularly), I keep it in one of the jacket pockets.

    That being said, I still take the large wallet when I travel since it can carry SO much stuff. I just find somewhere else to put it besides my back pocket.

  22. Who carries cash anymore? I’ve had a Coach cardcase for about the last 8 years or so. Use it everyday. Been through the wash. I bought a Saddleback card case about a year ago, but it is crude in comparison to the Coach. The Coach cardcase is one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.

  23. Listen to this man about getting a metallic money clip! I had one from BR, and the silver coating has scratched off and now it looks all shitty and brassy. I will for sure be investing in a leather or wool one.

  24. The Slimmy front pocket wallet I’ve been using for the last year has revolutionized my life. It is about 40% of the size of what I was carrying, and still manages to have three pockets. ID, check card, punch card for my local tea shop, and occasionally a few bucks are all I ever have in it. And it could easily fit double that if one was less concerned with minimalism.

  25. Yes, I was expecting one thing thing when I clicked that link, and I was not disappointed.

  26. THIS.

    My brother works with leather and made me a copycat of this design. I use it every day, holds 6 cards easily along with cash, and it’s front-pocket friendly.

  27. Gangsta roll > money clip.

    But seriously, the money clip isn’t that useful. Keep a couple 20’s and 50’s neatly folded in the middle compartment of the card case and you’re all set. Keep the smaller bills in one of your pockets if you need them.

    Also, I have a bigger wallet with an outer slot that fits a card case. It’s perfect. I throw the wallet + card case into my bag for work and then grab the card case when I’m out and about.

  28. Wow I’m jealous. Any chance your brother would share the love? I can’t wait for mine to come in next month.

  29. I have the Chester Mox Slim Dogleg Wallet and I absolutely love it. It can carry up to 8 cards but I tend to keep only 5 cards in it. Its perfect, imo.

  30. Love trying to keep the wallet slim, but I’ve never found a good way to carry around a magnetic money clip. You can’t put it with the phone, and if you put it with the keys things just end up messy.

    Also, I picked up one of the J Crew Factory magic wallets on black Friday and I love it so far. It is a full-fledged wallet though, it makes no sense to also carry a money clip.

  33. I have been carrying a small front pocket wallet for many years. I recently switched to the saddleback card case and it is great quality. Might be a bit bigger then the other card cases listed, but still fits nicely in a front pocket. Just leave the stuff you dont need every day at home.

  34. I’ve been using the saddleback card case for a couple years now. Great product and last month I got a felt card carrier in my Birchbox men’s box. I use both, the saddleback as my wallet and the felt carrier for my calling cards when I want to carry more than a couple.

    Both are nice, but that leather is looking better than ever with a patina shine becoming nicer all the time.

  35. I have 6 places for cards in my card case and I use three of them and I might keep a couple of notes in the center slip. I have a bit of a chuckle to myself when I see guys pull out huge wallets stuffed beyond capacity, there are probably 3-5 items in there the use with any regularity.

  36. I just ordered a City Slicker from Phil’s Wallet and I can’t wait to ditch my bulky, old wallet. They’re ultra-slim AND made by hand (with recycled materials!). Best thing is they’re under $15. A quick Google search will land you on his site, so check them out!

  38. Hmmm. My post was deleted. I will just say, slim clip.

    I have looked at what is out there and none of them, including the above, impress me as much as the slim clip. I carry Eleven cards and at least five bills at all times.

    U can buy slim clips at your local drug store

  39. I’ve been using this one from Coach for just over a year now and have been really happy with it. Forced me to purge and get rid of a habit of letting receipts pile up. I can easily fit my subway pass + credit + debit + license on the outside slots and my health card + insurance card + a few folded bills inside with room for a couple of extra cards if I need.

    Forget the money clip, unless you’re carrying around a wad of cash with you at all times, I don’t see the point. Just pare down on the amount of cards you carry and you’ll have room for bills.

    http://www.coach.com/online/handbags/clickatcoach-10551-10051-en-SMCO0007?cid=Z_PINsharedtools1&partNumber=74014_mah&t=MAHOGANY

  42. Anyone have information on which magnetic money clip is thinnest? Love the J. Crew look with tie-patterns, but can’t seem to find more than one or two around, and they seem like they used to go on sale for something like $5. Are these leather clips thin?

  43. Well, unfortunately, giving one away would be a slight to my brother’s craftsmanship and material cost, whereas selling one would be ultimately unfair to the designer – it’s not my brother’s design from which to profit. Just a lucky beneficiary of his project-tackling nature, sorry! 🙂

    If you are interested in any other custom leather work though, he’d be more than happy to oblige.

  45. Ha! Thanks for the response. It was just my impatience talking. A few minutes after my post the kickstarter page was updated to say orders were starting to ship! Any day now…

  46. Bluefly also has some wallets, I got a J fold with money clip, front pocket friendly. was about $20 and it’s orange and textured if you want a little flare.

  47. I recently found a Paul Smith genuine leather card case on Amazon for a total of $8, shipped. Definitely worth a look, works just as well as any of the other more expensive options on there.

  49. I don’t have a hip problem, but i didn’t like a bulky wallet in my back pocket. I switched to a vintage cigarette case (doesn’t have to be vintage… i just like old stuff) My cards don’t get bent anymore (from being sat on) and it forces me to edit what i carry with me. I don’t always have to have my CVS discount card in my pocket, for example.