I did not carry a wallet since that would attract pickpocketers. Instead, I placed my money in a small coin purse.

I’m not sure how much your budget is, but I would only carry at most 40-50 euros outside my money belt, although it is usually around 20-30 euros which is usually my daily spending money after accomodations have been paid for.

What advantage does the coin purse give that a wallet cannot? It would seem like if a thief can take a wallet he can take that too. Also, did you keep the 20-30 euro in there as a consequence of going to the atm every day? Or did you withdraw money for a few days and leave some in the hostel safe or something?

Just pocket it. I typically carry the equivalent of about $50 in my (front!) pocket, the rest goes in the money belt. If you have shirt pockets, those are probably even safer. Or buy pants with zippered pockets.

You seem quite worried about having your pocket picked…I wouldn’t worry so much. Just go to the bank machine, take out a few hundred Euro’s, stuff most of it in your money belt and put your daily money in a wallet, or whatever you usually use at home.

You say that pickpockets are everywhere. I am sure pickpockets are everywhere in a sense that every country has them, but they do not dominate the streets. Even if you do get it picked and lose 20-30 Euro’s, it’s not the end of the world and not worth worrying so much about in advance. If it happens, then it happens. But I think the percentage of travelers who get there pockets picked is actually quite small.

I’m sure you keep some money in your pockets in your country, can’t see a reason not to do it abroad.

Actually I dont.

I only carry a wallet at home. I’ve never known anyone who has been pickpocketed where I live.

Pick pocketing is something people generally dont do in America. Now, killing and armed robbery are another matter…but being how I’m a resident I know where not to be…which eliminates the threat of that for the most part.

Its not about living in fear or anything of that sort. Its about adjusting to your surroundings in a manner that will be most conducive to a happy and safe trip. I’m not going to live exactly how I live in America over in Europe. That would be foolish..just like a European wouldn’t live in America in the same way they’d live back home.

It’s all about intelligent and good-intentioned adaptation.

By the way I’m not categorizing all of Europe. I’m thinking about the areas prone to this kind of stuff in this thread.

I would put the money in either my money belt, socks (eww.. sorry) or if you are female, the side or strap of a bra works too…

I like to split things up when I travel. The money belt’s safer but I don’t like to be constantly going into it for stuff, cause I wear it under my clothes. So in the money belt I keep some emergency cash, my second credit card, and my passport and important documents.

I carry a travel wallet for everything else (daily spending money, my regular credit card and bank card, a basic piece of ID like a license, etc.) It zips and velcroes shut, is lightweight, and – best of all – has a metal chain that connects to my travel purse.

It’s helpful to prevent it from being pickpocketed (worked like a charm in Paris, when the kids who tried to pickpocket me had to walk away disappointed).

Plus, the chain means that you can’t accidentally leave your wallet on a countertop someplace, or think you replaced it in your bag but actually drop it on the floor.

If I’m particularly worried, I use a makeshift wallet that doesn’t look like one—an Altoids container works really well to hold an ID and cash. Or I’ll keep cash in my bra—a little strange when you go to pay the museum entrance fee, but who cares? Also, simply splitting it all up just in case is a good plan. I’ll tuck a little cash into my journal, a little in my bra, keep some in my pocket. A thief generally won’t take the time to pat you down thoroughly or check everywhere—they’ll just grab your bag or pick your pocket and run.

My pocket of course, where I have always kept money my whole life, including travelling to 30 countries and never once having anything stolen from me. Also, when wearing jeans, the tiny keypocket is perfect to fold up money and store. Also, jeans tend to look clean for a very long time. You might be suprised.