You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version is available too.
My dad successfully used to "dummy" stash concept and stored a little cash in a top drawer while hiding the real stash in another drawer. One Sunday morning they had a break it while they were at church. Sure enough, the thieves swiped the small amount of cash in the top drawer and missed the other money entirely.
I once knew this little old Chinese lady, when I was a little girl growing up in the Philippines. She owned a jewelry store, and after she satisfied herself that my dad knew a bit about jade, she took him into the back of the store where she kept more valuable items. She told him that during WWII, Chinese families in the Philippines were desperate to hide their valuable from Japanese soldiers and many of them buried their things in the yard, where it was promptly dug up and confiscated. Her father decided to leave his most valuable things sitting out as though they were worth nothing. When they soldiers came, they left it all alone. This only works if the would be thieves are not good at appraising the items you leave out, however!
Never mind the thiefs, I'm a bigger risk likely. Kidding aside;
My father had a hole in the wall behind the refrigerator. We got burglarized once too, and they looked everywhere.
They never found it his stash.
My Dad had to repair the wall when we moved though, which I remember him cursing about. I never knew about the hole until my mother told me years later.
"Just watch out if burying money- I used to work at a credit union, and musty or buried-smelling money was a giant red flag for suspicious (ie. laundering/organised crime) activity. Depends on the amount and circumstances I guess...."
and?
so what would happen? would the bank report it as supicious? if it did, the cops can come question you if they have nothing better to do.
is there a law against having moldy cash? last time I checked, a bank has to honor it.
if you were a thief and didn't want attention, I could see that this would be a problem, but if you are clean, i don't see this as a major problem. It just seems like a pain in the *&& to bury stuff though when there are cleaner, more convenient ways: for utilities' sake, best to keep your hidden money clean, dry, and mildew-free.
if you put a dessicant in the paper money and then vacuum seal it and put it in a thermos, it should be fine re: protection from dampness, at least for several years
hey, i agree there is hard to find cheap cell phone plans with a large amount minutes however with research online you can find anything. here is one website that show you how to get a dealCheapest Cell Phone Plans
Just watch out if burying money- I used to work at a credit union, and musty or buried-smelling money was a giant red flag for suspicious (ie. laundering/organised crime) activity. Depends on the amount and circumstances I guess....
I agree that sometimes the best place to hide stuff is in plain sight. I have a bag of 'junk silver' valued (now) at $9800. I use it as a doorstop. I knew it was safe when a brother noticed it and commented that 'someone's saving pennies.' People would never suspect that anything of value would be sitting out in the open like that, so it is safe.
I use to work as a piano technician... and you wouldn't believe what I would find in the inside of a piano(upright), there's a lot of empty space in there -- so I've always suspecting that it's a great place to hide cash -- It became very clear to me that once folks lost whatever they lost in their piano, that they were quite content with leaving it in there-- one of the older tech's told me he found a gun in a piano one time... I don't think a thief would take the time to pull apart a piano, let alone suspect it has valuables in it.
Just pop open the bottom foot board, no one ever touches this thing, as demonstrated by all of the spiderwebs, pictures from the 60's and forgotten toys I've pulled out of pianos -- find a nice corner away from the trap work and pedals, put your cash in a baggie and tape it in -- You possibly could have a little protection from fire damage if you jam the cash behind the plate, it's not foolproof, but it will take awhile before fire would be able to overtake it and by that time the piano would have to be fully ablaze and you'll have strings popping everywhere --
Only thing to remember is, if you have small rodents that live in your piano, hopefully no one lives in a house where critters are making a home in a piano(more like pianos that have been scuttled to the garage), although I've pulled a dead rat out of one that came from a house -- your cash will make a lovely nest... and unless you want to spend a few years taping your cash back together after being torn into a thousands of pieces -- be careful if you know you have a problem.
How about behind a picture in the frame? you could easily hide a couple hundreds.
I happen to be one of those people who fell victim to a break in by a stranger. It was the usual, jewelry small electronics and even my bike. For the most part it was all just stuff. I'm mostly upset over losing the data on the external hard drive they stole. There was at least 3 years of photos on that hard drive that I had not taken the time to back up onto disk.
Thanks for reminding us of the dangers of fire. If you're not comfortable with $xxx going up in flames, don't put it in anything but a fireproof container/safe. I also recommend having backup copies (notarized if possible) of all your important legal documents: wills, etc. on your property and stored in the same manner you recommend. I keep my Medical Directive in there, as well.
Some really nice fireproof safes (small enough to fit into into most any secured/hidden area) are available for under $100 at most home or retail stores.
1. Great topic.
2. Reading the posts, I think some people believe we must be "all or nothing" on the cash v. banking issue.
a) I have multiple bank accounts and have no plans on getting rid of them. I look to balance low costs, convenience, and high interest rates. Most of my money belongs in banks.
b) I have a safe deposit box where I keep things like important documents, certain jewelry, paper savings bonds,and my computer backup files.
c) I have a small fire safe with some "emergency" money in case the banks are closed and I need cash now.
Back when we lived in Earthquake Land, we were advised to have cash available to use in an emergency. During the Northridge earthquake we used a lot of that emergency cash while the electricity was out and stores accepted only cash. We stored a few rolls of quarters and about $100 in one-dollar bills with our emergency supplies.
Among our emergency supplies were seven 2.5 gallon bottles of drinking water. Hubby cut a hole in the bottom of one, we drained out the water and hot glued a well-sealed tupperware with our cash fund to the part he cut out. We filled the bottle back up, hot glued the bottom back on and put it with the rest of the bottles. Unless you picked up the bottle and looked at the bottom you couldn't tell it was any different than the rest. It just looked like water.
I'm not anti-bank, either, but I am a firm believer in a small household emergency fund!
Those of you who know me well know this already, but:
1. I'm not rich. Any amount of cash I'd have in my home would be the remains of an ATM withdrawal, some fast cash for a vacation fund, or possibly a small savings method for a "secret" purchase (spouse's birthday, etc.) It's also important to remember that many people don't deal with checks or credit. If you want to purchase a small appliance or a stash of building supplies from Craigslists, for example, cash is kind. It's nice to keep this on hand for a last-minute purchasing opportunity. But I'm not talking thousands, people.
2. I'm not anti-banking. I keep most of my assets is FDIC-insured accounts, well spread out to diversify my risks. I'd never suggest anyone comletely opt out of the banking system. I'm not a financial expert.
3. Any hiding place can be vulnerable to loss. When you assume your own risk, you are basically saying that you think you are more trustworthy than a checking or savings account. For some people, this could be true. For others.... not so much. If you are continually burglarized, live in a home with a loved-one with a drug problem, or are just really bad at remembering where you put things, these tips are not going to be as fail-safe.
4. Crooks read the internet. They read books. They plan and plot and look for the best ways to get your money. That being said, most of the burglaries I'm familiar with are weak attempts at getting fast cash for bad habits. They are last-minute break-ins for whatever they can grab in an hour or less. Electronics, jewelry, guns and other pawn-worthy items are stolen first. Cash is great, if it can be found easily. This is the point to stashing it in a variety of ways, in a wide range of not-so-obvious places.
Thanks for all the extra-creative and awesome stash tips! People have been hiding various amounts of money for as long as there has been money. This will never change. It's cool to hear that people are being careful with what they have worked so hard to earn! Keep up the good work!
Maybe most of the kids dont even get the chance to ask for something and the parents do it?
Or maybe the kids think ill ask for this because i know i wont ever get it off my mam or dad?? and i want to be like other kids?
While useful, I think your places to stash are known all over the universe. About 20 years ago I checked out a book from the library called "Hidey Holes" or something similar. It was a book totally devoted to making places to hide small (foot square or less I believe) items. One of the places we used from the book was behind the baseboard at the back of the closet. Cut it to look like matched pieces and I'm sure no one would know. Besides, it would take probably 15-20 minutes to move the stuff in front, pry the baseboard off and fish the money out.
Now, we use a small safe bolted to the cement floor of the attached garage, under the workbench behind the cans of paint and bucket of paint supplies. Gee, I really hate it when we have to get some money out - hoping that thieves would too.
Putting a brick in commode tank will cause it to slowly dissolve in the water, leaving you with a bricks-worth of detritus floating about in your commode.
"The only thing going into my toilet tank is a freshening tab (or possibly a brick to save on water usage.) "
A better idea than a brick to save on water use is to fill a plastic pop bottle with sand or water and screw the lid on really tight before putting it in the toilet tank. Depending on the size of the tank you can try one or two litre bottles and see which works better for you.
Right. Stagnant money. So I should use all my cash on things I don't need when the economy is at its worst, for the sake of "the system"? Maybe that seems selfless to #17, but try living without some fallback money. A hospital bill or car accident can put a whammy on your life.
Consumers will always need to consume, so don't you worry about the fall of the capitalist system if people want to save for a rainy day.
I was personally burglarized by strangers; maybe that's uncommon, but it happens. My house is old, and we hadn't updated the latches on our windows - so all they had to do was cut the screen and pull the windows open from the outside.
Places they looked: under the mattresses (of course), filing cabinets, closets, under clothes, etc. Didn't try the toilet, but I guess they were in a hurry. They stole the 3 laptops lying around the house, jewelry, and some cash... not bad, but the worst thing about the robbery is the feeling of being vulnerable to the world, when your house is supposed to be a refuge.
If you're going to use a safe, email yourself the code or something (not with an obvious subject line like "HERE IS MY CODE STEAL IF YOU WANT" or anything). Forget the code = lock yourself out.
Enough money-stashes can permanently damage the economy. Money should always be invested back into the system; stagnant money becomes worthless in comparison in the long run.
If you'd like a tool for setting your goals, you can use this web application:
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version is available too.
My dad successfully used to "dummy" stash concept and stored a little cash in a top drawer while hiding the real stash in another drawer. One Sunday morning they had a break it while they were at church. Sure enough, the thieves swiped the small amount of cash in the top drawer and missed the other money entirely.
I once knew this little old Chinese lady, when I was a little girl growing up in the Philippines. She owned a jewelry store, and after she satisfied herself that my dad knew a bit about jade, she took him into the back of the store where she kept more valuable items. She told him that during WWII, Chinese families in the Philippines were desperate to hide their valuable from Japanese soldiers and many of them buried their things in the yard, where it was promptly dug up and confiscated. Her father decided to leave his most valuable things sitting out as though they were worth nothing. When they soldiers came, they left it all alone. This only works if the would be thieves are not good at appraising the items you leave out, however!
Never mind the thiefs, I'm a bigger risk likely. Kidding aside;
My father had a hole in the wall behind the refrigerator. We got burglarized once too, and they looked everywhere.
They never found it his stash.
My Dad had to repair the wall when we moved though, which I remember him cursing about. I never knew about the hole until my mother told me years later.
When we were robbed, the freezer and fridge were two of the spots they hit. They even stole some food!
re: stagnant money shackling the nation into slavery:
don't worry, Paulson et al have enough printing presses to replace the $287.43 that i stashed away in a jar.
put velco on the outside of a stainless steel water bottle or a simple mason jar, with the matching velcro on the inside of the piano.
put cash or whatever in jar.
place against velcro.
done. and you can remove and replace it easily.
"Just watch out if burying money- I used to work at a credit union, and musty or buried-smelling money was a giant red flag for suspicious (ie. laundering/organised crime) activity. Depends on the amount and circumstances I guess...."
and?
so what would happen? would the bank report it as supicious? if it did, the cops can come question you if they have nothing better to do.
is there a law against having moldy cash? last time I checked, a bank has to honor it.
if you were a thief and didn't want attention, I could see that this would be a problem, but if you are clean, i don't see this as a major problem. It just seems like a pain in the *&& to bury stuff though when there are cleaner, more convenient ways: for utilities' sake, best to keep your hidden money clean, dry, and mildew-free.
if you put a dessicant in the paper money and then vacuum seal it and put it in a thermos, it should be fine re: protection from dampness, at least for several years
hey, i agree there is hard to find cheap cell phone plans with a large amount minutes however with research online you can find anything. here is one website that show you how to get a dealCheapest Cell Phone Plans
Just watch out if burying money- I used to work at a credit union, and musty or buried-smelling money was a giant red flag for suspicious (ie. laundering/organised crime) activity. Depends on the amount and circumstances I guess....
I agree that sometimes the best place to hide stuff is in plain sight. I have a bag of 'junk silver' valued (now) at $9800. I use it as a doorstop. I knew it was safe when a brother noticed it and commented that 'someone's saving pennies.' People would never suspect that anything of value would be sitting out in the open like that, so it is safe.
I use to work as a piano technician... and you wouldn't believe what I would find in the inside of a piano(upright), there's a lot of empty space in there -- so I've always suspecting that it's a great place to hide cash -- It became very clear to me that once folks lost whatever they lost in their piano, that they were quite content with leaving it in there-- one of the older tech's told me he found a gun in a piano one time... I don't think a thief would take the time to pull apart a piano, let alone suspect it has valuables in it.
Just pop open the bottom foot board, no one ever touches this thing, as demonstrated by all of the spiderwebs, pictures from the 60's and forgotten toys I've pulled out of pianos -- find a nice corner away from the trap work and pedals, put your cash in a baggie and tape it in -- You possibly could have a little protection from fire damage if you jam the cash behind the plate, it's not foolproof, but it will take awhile before fire would be able to overtake it and by that time the piano would have to be fully ablaze and you'll have strings popping everywhere --
Only thing to remember is, if you have small rodents that live in your piano, hopefully no one lives in a house where critters are making a home in a piano(more like pianos that have been scuttled to the garage), although I've pulled a dead rat out of one that came from a house -- your cash will make a lovely nest... and unless you want to spend a few years taping your cash back together after being torn into a thousands of pieces -- be careful if you know you have a problem.
How about behind a picture in the frame? you could easily hide a couple hundreds.
I happen to be one of those people who fell victim to a break in by a stranger. It was the usual, jewelry small electronics and even my bike. For the most part it was all just stuff. I'm mostly upset over losing the data on the external hard drive they stole. There was at least 3 years of photos on that hard drive that I had not taken the time to back up onto disk.
Thanks for reminding us of the dangers of fire. If you're not comfortable with $xxx going up in flames, don't put it in anything but a fireproof container/safe. I also recommend having backup copies (notarized if possible) of all your important legal documents: wills, etc. on your property and stored in the same manner you recommend. I keep my Medical Directive in there, as well.
Some really nice fireproof safes (small enough to fit into into most any secured/hidden area) are available for under $100 at most home or retail stores.
Linsey Knerl
Linsey,
1. Great topic.
2. Reading the posts, I think some people believe we must be "all or nothing" on the cash v. banking issue.
a) I have multiple bank accounts and have no plans on getting rid of them. I look to balance low costs, convenience, and high interest rates. Most of my money belongs in banks.
b) I have a safe deposit box where I keep things like important documents, certain jewelry, paper savings bonds,and my computer backup files.
c) I have a small fire safe with some "emergency" money in case the banks are closed and I need cash now.
Back when we lived in Earthquake Land, we were advised to have cash available to use in an emergency. During the Northridge earthquake we used a lot of that emergency cash while the electricity was out and stores accepted only cash. We stored a few rolls of quarters and about $100 in one-dollar bills with our emergency supplies.
Among our emergency supplies were seven 2.5 gallon bottles of drinking water. Hubby cut a hole in the bottom of one, we drained out the water and hot glued a well-sealed tupperware with our cash fund to the part he cut out. We filled the bottle back up, hot glued the bottom back on and put it with the rest of the bottles. Unless you picked up the bottle and looked at the bottom you couldn't tell it was any different than the rest. It just looked like water.
I'm not anti-bank, either, but I am a firm believer in a small household emergency fund!
Those of you who know me well know this already, but:
1. I'm not rich. Any amount of cash I'd have in my home would be the remains of an ATM withdrawal, some fast cash for a vacation fund, or possibly a small savings method for a "secret" purchase (spouse's birthday, etc.) It's also important to remember that many people don't deal with checks or credit. If you want to purchase a small appliance or a stash of building supplies from Craigslists, for example, cash is kind. It's nice to keep this on hand for a last-minute purchasing opportunity. But I'm not talking thousands, people.
2. I'm not anti-banking. I keep most of my assets is FDIC-insured accounts, well spread out to diversify my risks. I'd never suggest anyone comletely opt out of the banking system. I'm not a financial expert.
3. Any hiding place can be vulnerable to loss. When you assume your own risk, you are basically saying that you think you are more trustworthy than a checking or savings account. For some people, this could be true. For others.... not so much. If you are continually burglarized, live in a home with a loved-one with a drug problem, or are just really bad at remembering where you put things, these tips are not going to be as fail-safe.
4. Crooks read the internet. They read books. They plan and plot and look for the best ways to get your money. That being said, most of the burglaries I'm familiar with are weak attempts at getting fast cash for bad habits. They are last-minute break-ins for whatever they can grab in an hour or less. Electronics, jewelry, guns and other pawn-worthy items are stolen first. Cash is great, if it can be found easily. This is the point to stashing it in a variety of ways, in a wide range of not-so-obvious places.
Thanks for all the extra-creative and awesome stash tips! People have been hiding various amounts of money for as long as there has been money. This will never change. It's cool to hear that people are being careful with what they have worked so hard to earn! Keep up the good work!
Linsey Knerl
Maybe most of the kids dont even get the chance to ask for something and the parents do it?
Or maybe the kids think ill ask for this because i know i wont ever get it off my mam or dad?? and i want to be like other kids?
While useful, I think your places to stash are known all over the universe. About 20 years ago I checked out a book from the library called "Hidey Holes" or something similar. It was a book totally devoted to making places to hide small (foot square or less I believe) items. One of the places we used from the book was behind the baseboard at the back of the closet. Cut it to look like matched pieces and I'm sure no one would know. Besides, it would take probably 15-20 minutes to move the stuff in front, pry the baseboard off and fish the money out.
Now, we use a small safe bolted to the cement floor of the attached garage, under the workbench behind the cans of paint and bucket of paint supplies. Gee, I really hate it when we have to get some money out - hoping that thieves would too.
Putting a brick in commode tank will cause it to slowly dissolve in the water, leaving you with a bricks-worth of detritus floating about in your commode.
Hide it under your cat's litter box. Nobody is going to look there.
Where do I get this sticker for my Prius?
"The only thing going into my toilet tank is a freshening tab (or possibly a brick to save on water usage.) "
A better idea than a brick to save on water use is to fill a plastic pop bottle with sand or water and screw the lid on really tight before putting it in the toilet tank. Depending on the size of the tank you can try one or two litre bottles and see which works better for you.
Right. Stagnant money. So I should use all my cash on things I don't need when the economy is at its worst, for the sake of "the system"? Maybe that seems selfless to #17, but try living without some fallback money. A hospital bill or car accident can put a whammy on your life.
Consumers will always need to consume, so don't you worry about the fall of the capitalist system if people want to save for a rainy day.
I was personally burglarized by strangers; maybe that's uncommon, but it happens. My house is old, and we hadn't updated the latches on our windows - so all they had to do was cut the screen and pull the windows open from the outside.
Places they looked: under the mattresses (of course), filing cabinets, closets, under clothes, etc. Didn't try the toilet, but I guess they were in a hurry. They stole the 3 laptops lying around the house, jewelry, and some cash... not bad, but the worst thing about the robbery is the feeling of being vulnerable to the world, when your house is supposed to be a refuge.
If you're going to use a safe, email yourself the code or something (not with an obvious subject line like "HERE IS MY CODE STEAL IF YOU WANT" or anything). Forget the code = lock yourself out.
Enough money-stashes can permanently damage the economy. Money should always be invested back into the system; stagnant money becomes worthless in comparison in the long run.