I got an email from a reader the other day asking me what I used as a wallet. This gentleman is in the market, and wanted to know if I had any input.

I sent him the above photo.

For several years, I used some wallet I bought at Target for like $12. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible. Several weeks ago, I noticed the stitching was falling apart when I pulled it out of my bag to open the gate at work. Worried, I cradled my dying wallet in to work and made my way to the office supply closet. After testing and tossing aside a binder clip, I grabbed two rubber bands and — POOF! — a new wallet was formed.

This isn't a perfect setup, though. The rubber bands like to grab my pocket, making it annoying to pull out my stack of cards. While this is a non-issue most days, as I carry a backpack just about everywhere, it's something to consider.

Another important point is the width of the rubber bands. I originally picked thin bands, and they broke within a couple of days, fraying at the edges of the cards. I've since gone to slightly thicker ones, and the problem hasn't reoccurred.

Finally, it's important to get the tightness just right. If the bands are too tight, they will begin to bend the cards, which isn't good, long-term. However, if the bands are too loose, things will simply slide out of the ends, which is worse.

As with most things, taking a little time to test these things is well worth it. If you need some rubber bands, click that Amazon link, or simply look around your office. You probably already have what it takes to be cool like me.