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Comment by PebblesRox | Hacker News Reader

I once threw away a fast food bag that contained our checkbook, $100 in cash, plus the title and registration paperwork for our new car! We didn't realize until a few days later, but fortunately we found the bag before the trash pickup came :)

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One nice Friday night when I was tired and barely walking after long week I threw into the trash my wallet with some cash, credit card, debit card, subway pass, driver license and US green card. Then I threw the trash into container next to my apartment building. Didn't remember a thing.

Next morning after more than ~1 hour of turning my apartment upside down I, out of desperation and thanks to intuition, dove into container and recovered my trash bag. Everything apart from cash survived.

The cash was destroyed by the garbage.. juices? Or someone found and took it?

Destroyed by the garbage. Cards survived due to being plastic. Wallet went to washing machine.

If it was any amount worth the effort, you could have sent it to https://bep.gov/services/currencyredemption.html

As someone who's done this, I can 2nd this comment.

Fire damage.

I fail to understand why anyone would keep such important documents in a fast food bag.

Have you never been in a situation where 2 hands were not enough, but that's all you had? Sometimes, getting out the car is a lot easier combining things that are not in a pocket or bag/purse into whatever back you might be carrying into the house with you.

I was wondering the same as gp. Why would anyone ever do something that risky and obviously stupid?

Then I read your comment and realized I've done this like 6 times in last year...

You know what? Based on my life experience to this point I wouldn’t do that. On a couple of occasions I’ve had an idea of where to put something (e.g. “if I put the money here it will be safe”) and my brain stop me (e.g. “are you stupid? You’ll never remember you put it here. Put it somewhere you’ll actually check if you cant remember”) and it stops me. Benefit of getting older and learning from past mistakes?

Wallet goes in right front pocket. Phone goes in left front pocket. Keys goes with wallet.

Exception: When I'm out running, if cell phones are forbidden (certain locations at certain customers), or if I wear a suit (things like weddings, funerals and when I celebrate 17th of May.)

If a pair of trousers cannot hold these items I don't buy them.

Sticking to these invariants makes for less frustration. Not sticking to them means frustration twice a month or so.

You are my people.

I was wondering the same thing, believe me!

Sometimes if you are in a hurry, such things happen.

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