How to use a Money Belt?

This article is part of a series of posts in my Beginning Traveler’s Handbook.

Most people are concerned about the potential dangers and risks associated with traveling the world.  One strategy that you can use to protect yourself is to use a money belt.   I have read some other articles about how to use a money belt, but in my opinion, they are giving the wrong techniques.

There are two different reasons why you would use a money belt.  One is to protect yourself from pickpockets and the other is to protect yourself from armed muggers.  People use money belts in a number of different ways, but in this article, I will explain the most effective and convenient way.

What you will need:

• A small money belt which goes around your waste
• any valuables you need to carry around
• a wallet
• expired bank cards, gift cards, expired IDs, gym passes

My money belt with my valuables inside

For more information on the specific money belt I recommend check out my resources page.

How to use your Money Belt

1. Put all of your larger bills into the pocket.
2. Put your identification card, bank cards, passport, and any other small valuable items into your money belt.  Don’t put so much in your money belt so that it can be seen underneath your shirt.
3. Put your non-valuable cards into your wallet.
4. Leave some spending money in your wallet, enough to buy a few meals.
5. Leave your wallet in your pocket or day bag.  It doesn’t matter.

So now if you get pickpocketed all they get is your spending money and some useless cards.  If on the other hand, you are mugged you can hand over your wallet without having to give up your valuable bank cards, passport, or identification cards, just give them the wallet.

I am wearing my money belt underneath my shirt, but no one can see.

Don’t Reveal the Money Belt in Public!

One article I read literally suggested using the money belt as a wallet replacement.   Not only does this make you look like a dork, but it completely misses the point.  If you buy something in a shop and the shopkeeper sees your money belt, when you leave, he can call his mugger friend.  When they mug you, you will lose everything.

You need to hide the fact that you are wearing a money belt from everyone.  Just use the wallet to make purchases, and if you need more money from your belt, make sure to refill your wallet in the bathroom.

Can’t I Just Leave my Valuables at the Hotel?

Yes, you can.  But there are a few problems with this strategy.  When you are first arriving in a new city you will have all of your stuff with you and will be especially vulnerable.  If someone does decide to mug you at this time, it would be smart to have some bank cards, identification, your passport, and some cash handy after the mugging.  So use my money belt strategy when going to a new city.

Also, when I first started traveling I was on an extremely tight budget.  I often stayed in guesthouses for less than 10 dollars a night and the dorms were pretty basic as well.  Note: flashpacker party dorms are usually secure, but you need to be careful in cheaper dorms.  I couldn’t leave my valuables in the guesthouses because I had no idea if the employees were going to rob me.  So I would carry my valuables with me everywhere.

It worked, nobody ever tried to mug me.  But if they had mugged me all they would have gotten would have been some spending money, a few useless gift cards, and old IDs (at this point I still didn’t own a cell phone).

Although I still go for cheap accommodation, I no longer go for the cheapest option in the entire city, I get something decent.  So I feel safe leaving my valuables in my room.

Do I Need to Wear a Money Belt Everywhere?

Definitely no.  A lot of countries are safe enough that you can be confident you won’t get mugged. Generally speaking, you can only benefit from a money belt in Latin America and parts of Africa and the Middle East. And even in dangerous places, you don’t necessarily need to wear one.

Still, no one has tried to mug me in Latin America or Africa.  And I have met a lot of travelers who have been all over dangerous countries without any complications.  But, if you are worried, there is no harm in taking the extra time required to prepare your wallet and money belt.

Sure there are pickpockets everywhere, but there are other ways to avoid getting pickpocketed.

What are the Other Ways to Protect Myself from Pickpockets?

The most effective technique, other than using a money belt, is to put your valuables into the front pocket of your jeans.  Usually, these pockets are tight and it is nearly impossible for someone to reach in there without you noticing.

I know a skilled magician who can do things like remove people’s watches without them noticing.  Pickpocketing and magic are similar, they both rely on attention and distraction.  He told me that the only way to truly protect yourself from a pickpocket is to leave your wallet in your front pocket.

If your front pockets are loose, like in some shorts or khakis, someone can reach in and steal your stuff without you noticing or your valuables can even fall out accidentally.  In this case, it might be a good idea to use a day bag or your money belt.

If you want to avoid people robbing your day bag you need to bury your valuables deep at the bottom of the bag or if your bag has a second zipped up pocket inside, use that.  One time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia someone got into my day bag without me noticing.  Luckily I had buried my valuables at the bottom of my bag and he couldn’t get to them.

If you do use a day bag it is possible that someone can steal the whole bag from you.  So pay attention and hold onto your bag tightly if necessary.  Sometimes two people will speed past you on a motorbike and the guy in the back will grab the bag from you when you aren’t looking.

Also, I suggest not wearing a day bag if you are going to ride a motorcycle taxi.  Sometimes thieves will try to rip the bag out of your hands while you are on the motorbike.   I know a middle-aged woman who was seriously injured after being ripped off of a moving motorbike in Cambodia.  The thief was trying to steal her bag, but he pulled her off the bike instead.  This is a fairly common occurrence in Cambodia as well as other countries.

How Can I Protect my Cell Phone?

Personally, I have never put my phone into my money belt.  However, in the online reviews, many people claim that you can put your phone into the specific money belt I recommend.  Alternatively, you can use the techniques from the previous section.  Hide your phone in the bottom of your day bag or leave it in the front pockets of your jeans.

Is it possible to protect your phone from muggers?  Other than leaving your phone in your hotel room, there isn’t a good strategy.  When I first started traveling I didn’t have a cell phone and it was fairly common for people to travel without phones.  Nowadays, everyone uses cell phones traveling, with good reason.  Travel applications make the whole experience much more convenient.  And ride-sharing apps make it safer in new cities.

The downside is that every mugger will expect you to be carrying a phone.  I have been to a lot of dangerous countries and as a result, I have met a lot of people who have been mugged.  Interestingly, everyone who asked the mugger if they could keep the memory card on their phone was allowed to keep it.

So if you want to keep your pictures just ask to keep your memory card.  Ask politely and if they say no don’t insist.  Remember that a lot of muggers are high on hard drugs or are just insane.  They won’t hesitate to hit or slash you.

How to Reduce the Risk of Being Mugged?

Try to fit in with local people as much as possible.  When I am in a new area I will smile, say hi to the people in the neighborhood, and even try to remember their names if I can.  If you look different from the locals you will quickly develop a reputation, you might not recognize the people you see, but they will recognize you.

If you aren’t friendly to people, some people will start to dislike you for no reason.  They will start to say bad things about you and you will develop a bad reputation.  On the other hand, if you are friendly to people and learn about them you will quickly develop a good reputation.  This will do wonders in terms of protecting you from muggings.

Another important way to avoid getting mugged in dangerous cities is to stick to busier roads.  Some people actually feel safer on empty roads, but the truth is that muggers prefer to work in private, they don’t want anyone to see what they are doing.  While you can get pickpocketed in a busy area, it is nearly impossible to get mugged.

Use taxis or ideally ride-sharing apps at night time.   Walking around at night time in a dangerous city is always risky.

A money belt, when used properly, is one great way to protect yourself from pickpockets and armed muggers.  While it might not work every time, it is a perfectly reasonable technique.  Naturally, wearing a money belt should be combined with other strategies.  Nothing will guarantee your safety completely, but the more careful you are, the safer you will be.