9 things you should never keep in your purse

7. Gift cards and store credit cards

Keeping gift cards in your wallet feels natural for most of us, in case you find yourself on an impromptu shopping trip.

But according to Intuit’s Mint, it can be nearly impossible to get the balance back if they’re lost or stolen, so minimise the risk by bringing them only when you’re heading to that store to make a purchase.

You should do the same with store-specific credit cards – the more cards you have on you, the more damage a thief can do before you’re able to cancel them all with your bank.

“Do you need to carry that department store card with you all the time? No, only when you plan to go to that store,” Linda Jacob, a certified financial planner and accredited financial counselor told Discover.