Fold Money for a Money Clip

Money clips offer flexibility, safety, convenience and style. There are situations where a money clip is more feasible than carrying around a large, bulky wallet in your back pocket. Nowadays, money clips come in a large variety of sizes and materials giving you several options from which to choose from. If you are going to purchase a money clip there is a proper way to maximize its benefits. Otherwise, a money clip could become annoying and even embarrass you.

Steps

Using a Money Clip

  1. Arrange your money properly. Order your bills from largest to smallest with the larger bills on the bottom of the pile. Stacking your money appropriately will make you familiar with where your bills are so that you do not have to continuously pull all of your money out of the clip or expose it to wandering eyes.[1]
    • Place your one hundred dollar bills first, fifties second, twenties third, tens fourth, fives fifth, and finally your ones on top. If you are missing any denomination, just skip it.
    • Once your bills are stacked properly, check to make sure they are aligned, smoothed, and pressed firmly together to place inside your clip.
  2. Order your cards. After your money is ready to be placed in the clip decide if you want to take credit cards, a driver license, or identification with you. [1]
    • If you do, stack them in order of importance and then place them vertically on top of the money stack.
    • Make sure which way the cards are facing so that you can see the front of the card when you pull the money clip out of your pocket. This prevents from taking everything out of the clip at once.
  3. Place the stack in your money clip. Once you are finished, fold everything neatly in half so that the larger bills are showing on the outside and the credit cards are in the middle once folded. Or, you could fold the money and place the credit cards on the outside of the folded stack of money, just make sure the money is facing outward when you remove the stack from your pocket.[1]
    • Place the folded side into the clip first making sure not to stretch the stack out. It should fit firmly and tightly with no wiggle room.
    • If you discover that you have too many bills or cards in your money clip, keep taking one out until the entire stack fits snuggly inside the clip.
    • If the stack is too tight in the money clip, you could accidently fling everything all over the place when you try to remove a bill or card from it. Or, getting a single bill out will be impossible and force you to take the entire stack out when you only needed one item.
  4. Take money or cards out of your clip. You have two options when you take either money or cards out of your money clip. You can either take the entire stack out, get what you need, then receive your change or card, and finally place everything back into the stack and into the money clip. The other option is to pull bills or cards from the middle of the stack.[1]
    • Stacking your money and cards permits you to pull from the middle of your stack. If you remember, smaller bills are in the middle and larger bills on the outside. Fish accordingly.
    • Once you get used to handling a money clip it will become easier to pull single bills or cards from it and that is one of the biggest advantages of having one.

Purchasing a Money Clip

  1. Decide when to use a money clip. Whether you are going on vacation, to the beach, the bar, or the club a money clip might be more practical than a wallet. Consider the practical uses of a money clip and when best to use it before making a purchase.[2]
    • A wallet offers a lot of storage and organization for places like work, school, and taking the family out, but it is imperfect because of its bulky size.
    • When you have a wallet in your pocket it can be painful to your anatomy and look awkward in your pants.
    • Money clips are more flexible and force you to take only what is necessary. This will help keep you better organized.
    • Using a money clip offers better security. Criminals can spot a money clip in your front pocket compared to a bulky wallet in your back pocket. Moreover, nosey neighbors won’t be able to look inside your wallet when you pull it out to pay for something.
  2. Choose the material of your money clip. Money clips come in all sizes and fashions. Choosing which one is best for you depends upon your style and what you are doing. Prices range from cheap to very expensive. Some money clips make it easier to travel while other make it impossible to carry magnetized cards.[3]
    • Metal money clips are typically a solid piece of metal folded in half to easily secure money and cards between the two pieces of metal. Metal clips are made from brass, stainless steel, silver, gold, and platinum. They are often inflexible, making it difficult to hold both cards and money.
    • Titanium clips are rare and expensive and usually can be found in silver or black. It is a light metal and hypoallergenic.
    • Carbon fiber is gaining popularity because of its ability to be shaped with advanced molding techniques. They are strong and durable, and can be opened beyond their parallel position making it easy to use. Carbon fiber can also pass through metal detectors without setting off the alarm.
    • Magnetic clips are designed by two strong, flat, and rectangular or round magnets covered in leather. A small piece of leather is often inserted between the magnets so that they can swivel into an open and closed position. Although strong and flexible, they are not recommended for carrying credit cards or other magnetized cards.
    • A money clip wallet is specifically designed to carry both bill notes and credit cards. Sometimes they are referred to as hybrid wallets.
  3. Choose the type of money clip. In today’s world, there exists a variety of money clips beyond the traditional metal clip. They have become smaller, fashionable, and functional. In addition to the materials being used, there are many other types to choose from.[4]
    • The two-pronged clip is the traditional clip made from plastic or metal. Simply put, they squeeze the money and cards between two pieces of metal. Sometimes they are described as a “clothes pin” or a big “paperclip.” Typically unsophisticated and plain in style, they offer the most affordability.
    • The card holder is bulky and looks like a square pocket, but they offer ample space for both cards and cash. Usually made of fabric, they can attach to your smart phone for ease of access.
    • Money bands are made from plastic or an elastic band that are designed to easily swap your cards and cash back and forth with ease. A band can also be bulky but it is flexible and ideal for strange-shaped items you need to take along with you. Most are simple in style.
    • A double-sided clip is similar to the two-pronged clip but it has an extra prong located on its backside for more options. Often made from metal, they offer more places to store you necessities.
    • Magnetic clips are made from leather with magnets located within the leather to help keep it shut. Avoid clipping credit cards, driver licenses, or any other cards with magnetic strips or they will be destroyed.

Benefits of Owning a Money Clip

  1. Reduce debt. Having cash on hand means that you will rarely come up short when paying for the pizza, tipping at the restaurant, or paying for a cup of coffee. Although many money clips nowadays enable you to carry a credit card or two, you will always know that you have cash in your pocket.[5]
    • There is always a need for cash on hand and it is convenient when a buddy needs to borrow a few bucks or when you can cover the tip at the bar. It is always better to be the lender than the borrower.
    • Since you have to organize and place cash into the money clip, you are always aware of how much you have. In other words, you know what you can afford and what you cannot compared to paying with credit cards.
  2. Use cash anywhere. Modern society seemingly allows you to pay for services with any kind of credit card. Cash is still king, however, as it is accepted everywhere and is oftentimes the preferred payment among local businesses and restaurants. Carrying cash in a money clip will not only sure your business everywhere but also help you avoid paying extra because of credit card charges.[5]
    • Carrying cash will save you the embarrassment of getting your credit card declined at the register or restaurant.
    • No extras paid on cash. Credit cards, however, always incur a fee for both the customer and the merchant. No late fees, overuse fees, or limits.
  3. Save money. Carrying cash in your pocket reminds you how much you can spend and sets boundaries so that you don’t overspend. Using a money clip will help you manage your cash better than using credit cards.[5]
    • With a money clip you can physically see and touch how much money you have in your hand and in your pocket. Perhaps this will remind you to pick up one less round of drinks or choose a less extravagant dinner selection.
    • There is a big difference watching five twenty dollar bills leave your hands than it is to simply swipe a card and think about it later. This will help you think about what you really need and what you don’t.
    • Lots of love. Taxi drivers, servers, and bartenders everywhere will appreciate that you chose to carry a money clip.

Warnings

  • Do not overstuff your money clip. Most clips can hold up to twenty or twenty-five bills, as well as a few cards. Placing too much cash or too many credit cards in the money clip might cause it to loosen and drop what it is holding.

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Sources and Citations