ADHD-Friendly Lost Wallet Action Plan and Checklist

This week, a client messaged me to say they had either lost or had their wallet stolen and did I have a checklist?

Losing your wallet is stressful, but with this step-by-step checklist, you can take all the necessary actions and bounce back quickly.

This ADHD-friendly list also includes some proactive steps you can take today to reduce the chances of losing your wallet, and if you do, these preventive steps will make it a little easier to navigate.

Here’s the checklist!

At the bottom of this article is a handy printable that you can use.

The ADHD-Friendly Lost Wallet Action Plan
Checklist

Preventive Steps.

What You Can Do Right Now, Today! While Your Wallet is Safe

These steps reduce the chances of losing your wallet.

Or if you ever happen to lose or have your wallet stolen, taking these steps now will help reduce the stress, save time, and help you take action quickly.

Carry your wallet in a bag.

Whether it is a cute bag that matches your outfit, a backpack, briefcase, or crossbody bag, it doesn’t matter what type of bag; it helps you to keep track of your belongings. If you carry your phone and wallet around in your hand, that’s two things to remember, but if you put both in a bag, that’s just one thing to remember.

Plus, bags add an extra layer of protection against theft.

Declutter your Wallet

Now is a great time to declutter your wallet so that you are only carrying your essential items.

Perhaps one debit card, one credit card, government ID, and any other essentials. This means there is less to replace things if your wallet is lost.

Make a List of What’s in Your Wallet

In a Google doc, your favorite note-taking app, or on a piece of paper that you keep somewhere safe, write a list of all the cards and other essential items in your wallet.

This list is a memory prompt to help you know exactly what needs to be canceled or replaced if lost.

Take Photos of Your Important Cards

Take photos or photocopies of your ID, credit/debit cards, insurance cards, and other important documents in your wallet.

Then put them somewhere save, perhaps where you keep your passport or in a digital password-protected folder.

Card Freezing

Check to see if your bank offers a “freeze card” feature through their online banking or mobile app. If they do, set it up!

This means you can temporarily freeze your card until you know if it’s lost or stolen forever or temporarily misplaced.

If you find your card, you simply unfreeze it, which is more convenient than canceling and having a new card issued.

An alternative way to pay.

Keep some cash at home in a safe place so that you can still make necessary purchases without your cards.

Get a Wallet Tracker

Get a wallet tracker (and put it in your wallet!) like Tile or an AirTag to help locate your wallet if you lose it.

If you lose your card.

1. Stay Calm & Retrace Your Steps

Take a deep breath—don’t panic or blame yourself. You’ve got this!
Mentally walk through where you last used or saw your wallet.
Check all the usual places: your pockets, bags, car, and home.
If you have an AirTag, Tile, or similar tracking device, check to see your wallet’s last location.

2. Here’s What to Do Next

If you can’t find your wallet or know for sure it was stolen (I felt my wallet being lifted out of my bag in real-time), it’s time for action.

Freeze or cancel your debit and credit card.

Temporarily freeze your card, which you can often do using online banking or your bank’s app.

Phone and cancel your card.

The number to call is on the back of your card (another reason it’s helpful to take a photocopy of your card) or can be found online.

3. File a police report.

If you know or suspect that your wallet was stolen, file a police report (even if you don’t want to).

It makes it easier for your wallet to be returned to you if it’s ever found.

And perhaps even more importantly, it helps protect your identity.

When you file a police report, you have an office record that your wallet was stolen, which is a helpful foundation if your personal information is misused, such as applying for a credit card in your name or unauthorized charges appear on your accounts.

Call the local police on the non-emergency number

File online (this is often an option)

You will get a file number. Keep that number safe.

4. Protect Your Identity

To safeguard against identity theft, contact the credit bureaus in your country and request a fraud alert on your credit report.

Once this is in place, you will be notified before approval if someone tries to apply for a credit card in your name.

Here’s a list of the main credit bureaus in different countries.

Canada: Equifax. TransUnion
United States Equifax. TransUnion. Experian
UK Experian, Equifax –TransUnion
Australia: Equifax, illion, Experian
India: CIBIL, Equifax, Experian, CRIF High Mark
Germany: Schufa
France: Banque de France (via FICP and FCC)

Now that your finances and identity have been protected, it’s time to replace everything else in your wallet.

5. The Replacement Process

Get your list of everything that was in your wallet (the one you made in the preventive step) or if you don’t have a list, take a moment to write down everything you remember.

Healthcare cards, driver’s licenses, membership cards, etc.

Next, work through your list one by one as you begin the replacement process.

Contact the card issuer (bank, driver’s license issuing authority, library, etc.) and explain your wallet was lost or stolen.

Your card will be canceled to stop unauthorized use, and they will tell you the next steps for a replacement.

6. Buy a new wallet.

Pick out a new wallet that you like and put all your new cards in it.

7. Take new photos

Your replacement cards will have a new number, expiration date, and CVV, so take new photos or photocopies of all your cards and shred the photocopies of your old ones to avoid confusion.

8. Updating Your Automatic Payments

If you make automatic monthly payments for recurring payments, your automatic payment might be affected.

Look at your bank statements and write out who you make automatic payments to.

Next, sit down with your favorite drink and work through your list.

Log into each account, look for ‘payment options’ and type in your new card details, number, expiry date, CVV. This will mean all your automatic payments and subscriptions continue without interruption.