At the Dallas Pen Show, I spoke with a lot of people about my Traveler’s Notebook Passport size ($45) as a wallet. I was so sure I’d posted about this use/hack in the past but after some fruitless searching, it appears I’ve been keeping this little hack to myself.
I have had the Passport size Traveler’s for years and wasn’t really using it so when I came across the Traveler’s Company canvas wallet insert (not currently available but I have some other options listed below), I decided to give it a shot.
Along with the canvas insert (comparable stye for $31.90 on Etsy), I added a kraft envelope ($5.50), plastic sleeve ($7.50 on Etsy) for additional cards and a lightweight paper insert ($5.50) to finalize the items I needed for a do-it-all wallet. If the canvas insert is unavailable there are other options available if you search Etsy for Traveler’s Wallet Insert.
I use the canvas insert to hold my driver’s license and my bank card and the zipper pouch to hold any cash or quarters for my Aldi shopping. The kraft envelope is where I slip receipts and my health insurance cards.
The notebook is for lists, phone numbers, and “oooh, I can’t forget that”.
I slide a mini pen along the spine and Voila! — a super nice wallet made from an unused Traveler’s notebook cover. Hope this little hack might be useful. I find this to be the perfect wallet set-up for me and I think its a bnus that, to most people, it looks like a notebook and not a wallet.
I do the same! I bought a leather insert from Galen Leather that I love. 2025 I used a weekly TN insert, but for 2025 I’ll just use a monthly.
I also use a passport Traveler’s Notebook as a wallet, and it’s been so useful! I have the zipper/card slot insert that I use to carry my cards, and then I have a Uniball One P pen in the zip section. And then I have the monthly calendar insert so I can keep track of my schedule on the go.