And should you set your sights on a new wallet, bear in mind that its shape, the material it’s made of and even what you place in it bear great significance on your fortunes.
To be on the safe side, here are a few “rules” that FMT Lifestyle has compiled so that you get the most of your new wallet.
1. Do: get a rectangular or square-shaped one
Round-shaped items are often regarded as good in Chinese feng shui as the shape signifies a smooth flow of your “luck”.
That logic doesn’t extend to your wallet, however, as a round shape means your money or wealth will only go in circles, leaving you financially stagnant.
To avoid such misfortune, steer clear of triangular or round wallets as these will negatively affect your ability to accumulate wealth. Instead, opt for rectangular or square-shaped ones.
2. Don’t: get a wallet in red, blue or white
One colour you should avoid at all costs is red, although it’s the colour usually associated with prosperity. As it turns out, red could also mean excessive spending and result in your inability to save money. The colour red also signifies a deficit in finances.
The colour blue is just as harmful for a wallet as it signifies the element of water. This means your wealth or money will flow out easily, the same way water does.
As for white, although this colour signifies purity and cleanliness, for the Chinese, white also signifies emptiness. And no one wants an empty wallet, right?
Tip: Get a black, brown or gold wallet as these colours are associated with retaining money instead!
3. Do: get the material compatible to your element
The Chinese believe everyone belongs to one of five different elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth.
Depending on which element you are, there are certain materials that will bring you good or bad luck by proxy.
For example, if your element is against leather, then it’s advisable to get a wallet that’s made of fabric or other materials.
4. Don’t: put too much junk in it
Many people place their business name cards, receipts, written notes, or old cinema tickets – all of which are unrelated to money – inside their wallet.
This is not a good practice as it will not only make locating money in your wallet that much more difficult, it’ll also take up a lot of space that could be devoted to storing money or credit cards.
Stuffing your wallet with too many unnecessary items might cause the edges to tear or leave your wallet looking bulky and out of shape.
Besides, if you store too much junk in your wallet, there will not be any space left for the “chi” of wealth to reside in it!
5. Do: place a red packet in it
Placing a red packet inside your wallet will help attract wealth to you. It’s even better if said red packet was given to you by a family elder or a friend.
A red packet in your wallet is also believed to increase your overall “luck”, granting you the ability to earn more money and fill up your wallet, metaphorically speaking.
Note: The amount in the red packet is not important, as long as there’s money inside it.
6. Don’t: use a wallet for too long
The newer a wallet is, the stronger its “aura”, and its ability to attract and retain wealth. In terms of feng shui, the shelf life of a wallet is about three years. After this period, you should get a new wallet.
That being said, some people believe that the older a wallet is, the more in sync it is with their fortune and luck, so they might be reluctant to discard it. If you believe this, and your wallet is still in good condition, don’t discard it for a new one.
Note: Do get a new wallet if the one you have has seen better days!