A few weeks ago when I was packing for a ski trip to Lake Tahoe, California,

I decided to audit my wallet before just throwing it into my carry-on bag.

With so much personal information inside, carrying a stuffed wallet could give a thief the golden

tickets to my financial life if it were lost or stolen. So I really decided to think carefully

about what was in it before packing it. This podcast will review nine items that I never,

ever carry, whether I'm driving across town or traveling a long

distance. I'll explain why having these items on your person puts you at risk of financial loss

or identity theft if they were to fall into the wrong hands. Welcome back to Money Girl, everyone. I really

appreciate you downloading the show. I'm Laura Adams, an award-winning author, on-camera spokesperson,

money speaker, and founder of The Money Stack. That's my substack newsletter. You can learn more

at Laura D.ams.com.

This is episode 996, which means we are definitely getting close to the 1000th Money Girl podcast.

I can't believe this huge milestone is on the horizon.

And I'm planning a special show, and I want to feature comments from listeners like you.

Please leave a brief voicemail by calling 302-364-0308, and let me and the QDT team know what's on your mind to celebrate 1,000 shows.

Okay, let's talk about these items that you should never carry.

If you've got any of them in your wallet, bill fold, or purse, I highly recommend removing them

right now. Number one is your Social Security card. This is one of the worst items to keep on

your person or even a copy of it. I remember that I

actually did carry my original social security card in my wallet for years, but then I removed it a

long time ago after I understood the potential danger. Your social security number is truly the golden ticket for an identity thief.

If a criminal gets your social security number, they can do all kinds of bad stuff,

...