When I was in line the other day, the cashier had a problem swiping my card.
He started squinting at the numbers (I use the card a lot, so it’s really faded), trying to type them in.
I noticed he was struggling and angling the card to try and read the numbers, so I said:
Do you want me to tell you the numbers? I have them memorized.
He looked up in surprise and said: Uh.. yeah. Sure that’d help a lot! Do you need the card to help?
I replied “No” and proceeded to rattle off all 16 digits along with the expiration date.
He typed everything in as I said the numbers, and asked me: Are you sure those are the numbers?
I sort of gave a half smile and said: Yeah. I’m sure. I’ve had the card for a long time and I use it a lot.
He looked at me and said: That’s amazing. I can’t even remember how mine even starts.
It got me thinking: How many account numbers do you memorize?
As it stands, I can tell you any of the following:
- My credit card number
- My business bank account number
- My personal bank account number
- My savings account number
- My investment account number
- My retirement account number
And each of them are at least 16 digits long.
I know a lot of people have problems remembering all of those numbers, and so did I in the beginning, but as it is with everything, constant repetition and practice makes it easier to burn the codes into your brain.
When you log into those accounts on an almost-daily basis like I do, you don’t even think about it.
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I was just talking to someone about this yesterday! I once screwed with a friend by memorizing his credit card number while he had it laying on the table. However, I can’t remember someone’s name to save my life. I have those memorized as well. Debit, AMEX, retirement, driver’s license, old DL, bank account numbers, routing (I think). I don’t have my retirement password memorized though as it has letters in it.
I’m a good memorizer but I believe you do have me beat. By a long shot.
I have my SIN memorized (but not drivers or health card). I have my BMO account number memorized along with the card that goes with it for online banking, but not my Credit Union card number. I have parts of my Visa and Mastercard memorized but not the whole thing.
Between those and emails for home and work, it certainly makes me realize how many ways I have to use numbers to run my daily life.