Product Review: Speck SmartFlex Wallet Case for iPhone 5

The Stuff In Our Lives

Increasing wealth through simplification and better utilization of existing tools is one of the main themes of this blog. It is well documented that the stuff cluttering our lives wastes both time and money. Also, here.

The Wallet

Let's start by putting our money where our mouths are. First question: do you really need that giant wallet you're carrying around? Take a hard look at the items you're using on a regular basis. How often do you use the things in your wallet? Can anything be digitized? For example, a recently-passed California law allows drives to carry proof of insurance on a smartphone.

Simplify & Reduce

If you can reduce your wallet down to three cards and one folded bill, consider replacing your wallet with the Speck SmartFlex Case or a similar product. It'll reduce the number of items you need to grab before leaving the house. It's also an exercise in simplicity. I recommend carrying the following cards: ID/drivers license, debit card, and credit card. Then digital wallets such as Lemon Wallet can be used for auto insurance, health insurance, loyalty cards, gym membership cards, and other credit cards. For receipts, see my previous posts here and here.

Safety & Security

In addition to simplifying the wallet and reducing the items required for daily carry, many smartphones offer functionality to track lost or stolen devices. If you simply misplace your smartphone/wallet case, there are many tools such as Apple's Find My iPhone app that allow you to track and find your smartphone and wallet items.

Photo credit: Speck Products