As well as safely storing some of our most precious belongings, our wallet can be the item that best defines us. Remember, our wallets are not like our clothes. Clothes make statements – but they are temporary statements.
We will wear one thing one day, and another thing the next day. Both can make contradictory statements about us. One day loud, the next day conservative. What are we? It’s tough to tell.
But, our wallets are different. Our wallet tells everyone exactly who we are. It is a constant. We use it every day. It is us! And that makes it extremely important to us.
And yes, even though we know we shouldn’t, we carry way too much personal information in our wallets. Why? Because we think we will never lose it, or have it stolen. We are much too careful to allow that to happen, aren’t we? Hmm...
It might be PINs and passwords, or maybe you will be sneaky and code them in some way. And we can justify it, can’t we? We cannot be expected to remember all the information we need to – can we?
So, when something is going to be precious to us, we want it to be beautiful. Beautiful for us to look at, and beautiful for us to touch. And as it is very much part of us, we also want it to represent us well when it is noticed. And we do want it to be noticed!
When we pull it out in a supermarket, although we try to conceal its contents, we still show it off.
If it is a beautiful wallet – and particularly a beautiful Paisley Pattern wallet – then we want it to be seen - by the server, assistants, and others in the queue. They will look at our wallet, and they will look at us, and they will form an opinion of us. They might never see us again, but they will have formed a favourable opinion of us.
On every occasion we produce our wallet, and it is seen, someone will form an opinion on us – in a bar, at a boutique, at an airport – we will in part be defined by our wallet. So, it is obvious – we need to get a wallet we love!
And here’s a possibly controversial view. While it is great for us to buy wallets for our kids – it is part of the life journey of the giver and receiver – we should not be buying wallets as gifts.
Why we should buy our own wallets
We should always buy our own wallets because since our wallet is so personal to us, it needs to be right.
Let’s face it, we probably all have had wallets bought for us. And, be honest, how often have you received a wallet and been disappointed? Yes, much as we love to receive a gift, and much as we love the giver, there is always something slightly disappointing about the wallet, isn’t there?
Slightly too small or too big, slightly the wrong colour or texture, slightly too few card pockets or zips, slightly too dull or colourful – they are never just right.
And of course, while we say we love it, and we do love ‘aspects’ of it, we are thinking to ourselves that we will need to use this wallet for the next few years because we cannot offend the giver – who is almost certainly close to us – by not pulling out ‘their’ wallet in future.
So, here’s the rub! If you don’t replace it now, you will forget all about it until the point where its need for being replaced will become noticeable to that person close to you – and they will buy you another wallet. And you will be lumbered with 'their next wallet' for years to come.
So, act now! Go out and get yourself a wallet that you love – one that has all the attributes of your dream wallet. And then try to put yourself in the shoes of your kids because when they get to a certain age – yes, you should definitely buy them their first wallet!
Why do we give wallets to our kids?
When we give wallets to our kids, it is an acknowledgment to ourselves and them that they are growing up, and that their dependency on us is lessening.
It also tells them that we trust them. We trust them to be more responsible, and it is our way of letting them know that we are loosening the reins.
When it comes to money, giving them a wallet encourages them to be careful with their money. No more sticking notes into back pockets – no, it needs to be placed into the relevant little compartments of their wallet.
Of course, that presupposes our kids know what banknotes are. What? Surely everyone knows what a banknote looks like? Well, right now, they probably do. In a few years? I wouldn’t bet on it!
While most carry cards that allow them to pay for anything, the card is under extreme pressure from the phone. And so very soon, the card and the banknote will be joining each other on the journey to oblivion.
And while we are currently likely to ensure our kids have a few banknotes in their wallets for emergencies, they too are much more likely to prefer having a prepaid debit card and an app on their phone.
How will you feel when your kid pulls out their wallet for the first time?
There is something heartening to a parent – if not slightly sad – when your kid pulls out their wallet and says they want to buy you a coffee with their card or transfer you money on an app for the trainers you bought them. You will find yourself asking the question all parents eventually ask – ‘Where did the years go?’
It will give you pride to know that you have brought them up well to this point. But, the slight tinge of sadness will remain because they are maturing into young adults who are becoming less and less reliant on us. And that can feel slightly painful to a parent. And we know, just as our wallets are personal to us, our kids’ wallets will also soon contain money, photocards, ID cards, driving licenses, coupons, and little personal notes and belongings that will so personalize their wallets to them.
Why It Needs To Be A Paisley Wallet
When it comes to wallets, sometimes a flash is all it takes. And when that wallet is a Paisley, as recommended by Just Paisley, the impression will be instant.
You have class! You have style! You might not necessarily have a lot of money (the credit card might be the clue), but there is no taking away your class and style.
Paisley is always instantly recognisable - if you wear a Paisley blouse or shirt, anyone you talk to will be transfixed by that class and style. But – and this cannot be recommended enough – you should stop talking at some point.
It is only manners and if you don’t, you will ultimately die of starvation and thirst. The thing is – your listener-cum-follower will hang on your every word. When you give them time to speak, they will find it difficult to maintain eye contact with you, and this is when they will notice your smaller Paisley items, like cufflinks and earrings, and even thimbles if you are in the habit of carrying them in your hands.
This is also when you take out your Paisley wallet – not to buy a drink, but to show that big companies like Visa and Mastercard trust you enough to allow you to have one of their cards. If they don’t, don’t open the wallet. If you have no intention of buying a drink, don’t open the wallet.
If you open the wallet, you open yourself to the expectation of purchase – not just for a drink but possibly a whole meal. This might be a good idea if you want a relationship to finish – if you present your card and it is refused. (In this situation, it is best to have previously agreed with your server that they say the reason is ‘no funds’, rather than the normal ‘technical issue’)
If downright lying is not your thing, you could decide to surprise. You could pull your business card from your wallet – thereby intimating you have no intention of paying for anything but are solely seeking the business of the individual to whom you are giving your card – which could be a surprise if you are only dining with your husband or wife.
Key Point: In the absence of a formal relationship, this will be considered mean and will not lay the foundations for any form of relationship to form – and remember two ‘forms’ don’t make a ‘right’ (or something like that). If you are seeking any kind of relationship, then at least buy your proposed acquaintance a drink.
If you really want to impress, you could pull out a beautiful Paisley wallet or maybe even a blank card, draw a quick flattering miniature caricature portrait of the individual on it, and then write your name and phone number on the back (of the card, not the individual).
Anyone receiving this will immediately be smitten – I was when it happened to me, and 5 years later as I write this, not from Death Row, but from the next row down, I wish I hadn’t been. But don’t let my unfortunate experience put you off – that was just a joke! Do let my unfortunate experience put you off! If someone gives you a mini-portrait of yourself, take it from me, they want something from you – and that something is everything! That little drawing will cost you everything you own, including your liberty, sanity, family, friends, financial well-being, and other even more important things.
If you are the giver of the sketch, that is okay, you would not cause any harm, as your narcissism is not of the dangerous kind – is it?
The final and probably most important point about your Paisley wallet is that you can put any size card in it – as long as it is the same size as a credit card.
What are you waiting for?