My parents store their cash in their safe... with the code above it circled in GIANT black jiffy marker!!! :)
I suppose that is a where not to store it!!
I know a few people who swear by keeping it in the freezer. Throw it in an old coffee can and nobody will ever look there. At least nobody that hasn't read this post.
Good stuff...thanks for the fun and interesting post.
I used to have an ancient old VCR -very heavy. It wouldn't work anymore, but it did load, and unload tapes.
When I had something to hide, I would lug it over to a wall outlet, plug it in, and eject the tape I had doctored to contain a small stash area. Essentially, I just gutted an old tape, and glued the spindles in. Then I could insert my valuables, insert the tape, and put the VCR back in the closet. Its really secure because you can't readily see the container, and it requires some effort to remove it.
This only works if the VCR is really old, and not pawn shop worthy otherwise they amy just make off with the whole thing. But who steals VCRs anymore?
You made me wish I had something valuable to stash away. We barely remember to lock our door. Although apparently I hide money from myself. I found $20 from last winter in my good coat's pocket. And I think I might check my back up coat as well. If all jackets and purses were examined in my house I'm sure I could make a grocery run or buy a round of drinks but that's about it. Margaret Garcia-Couoh
A hint I read somewhere is that if you do choose to keep a large amount of cash in your home a good idea is to place a decoy stash in a slightly more obvious place to make a burglar think they have all of it before they find your real stash.
For the vast majority of people, a burglary by strangers is extremely unlikely.
With respect to your solutions, most of them provide little/no protection from damage caused by fire, smoke and/or flood. For that reason, I cannot recommend any of your solutions.
Most thefts of cash will be by friends and relatives - not burglars. If you are interested in hiding they money from someone looking for it, make it hard to get to and hard to find.
Best Soultion: Small fire safe hidden in an old trunk (hidden in the attic?)?
Tampax box: bad idea. First place cops go to look for drugs; burglars aren't dumb, either.
Fake electric outlet: been around waayyyy tooo long. Right up there with the wall safe behind the family portrait.
Return-air vent: ditto.
In a hole in the backyard: Anything underground has to be waterproofed every which way from Sunday. Even an in-floor safe is vulnerable to mildew and corrosion, which (i speak from experience) will eat up your paper money, corrode silver money, and ruin your jewelry.
Fake drain: ditto
Tennis ball: LOL! Just be sure none of the kids (who should NOT know about this hidey-hole) decide to use it to play with the dog.
Other possibilities:
Take a box-cutter and some glue to the inside pages of a book to make a "book safe." This requires you to have a large home library that will discourage burglars from going through every book on your shelves.
Glue or tape a cache to the bottom of an ironing board.
Sew it into a blanket hem and tuck that end of the blanket into the foot end of the bed (o'course, they could find it while they were looking under the mattress).
Braid it into your hair?
Spend it all now and stop worrying about it?
Seriously: Your best bet is to invest in a fireproof, waterproof (!) safe that can be bolted to the floor.
I was thinking how about taped to the bottom of a clothes hamper. I don't think anyone would look there. My kids wouldn't even find it since they won't look in the dirty clothes. Love your post and food for thought!
I WALK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PICK UP ALUMIUM CANS. IT IS
GREAT EXERCISE PLUS YOU FIND REALLY NEAT STUFF LAYING ON SIDE
OF ROAD. IN THE PAST MONTH I HAVE FOUND MONEY, PVC PIPE, SKI
LIFE JACKET, COOSIES, GLOVES, CIGARETTES, FULL CANS OF BEER
UN-OPENED, SHEETS, CLOTHES, BUCKETS, TRASH BAGS FOR ALUMIUM CANS, SUN-GLASSES, ETC.
How about in your potted plants...you could stash something in a waterproof container in the bottom of the pot when you are repotting a houseplant? A little easier than digging out in the yard! Just make sure that if the plant dies your hubby doesn't toss the planter out to the curb!
Many people think safe deposit boxes are the safest place, but banks and the government can freeze safe deposit boxes and owners cannot retrieve their property. As well, one must wait for the bank to open to gain access to their money/property. What if the bank doesn't open???
Another thought is that burying cash in the ground is safe so long as it's paper money. There are technologies that can find caches of metal coins/bullion buried in the ground.
Lastly, the best place to hide something is in plain sight.
It's really amazing how incredibly frugal people were in the 1910s. I'm working on a historical newspaper project with U.S. newspapers from the 1910s, and people really knew how to stretch a dollar (and a dime). During WWI, a lot of foods were banned or strictly rationed - most importantly wheat flour, meat, oil, and sugar - so that that food could go to the troops. Newspapers of the time were constantly printing recipes that taught you how to feed your family with a bit of corn meal, corn oil, and milk. There are tons of ads extolling people that milk is food - basically, that it had enough nutrition that you could include it as a side for dinner. People were tough, but I think times were tougher, actually. There was a lot of suicide and murder-suicides, I think in part because of the strain and absolutely no mental health services, not to mention the troops coming back home totally traumatized. A common reason cited for suicide was simply being "destitute". Rough - but certainly a lot of similarities to the present.
My grandparents used to keep some old gold coins in a fake wall outlet. It was 100% identical to the other outlets in the house and to even open it you have to unscrew it. It's not the largest hiding spot, but I thought it was pretty effective.
Re: In Your Toilet-Tank – Several websites still list this as a good place to hide money. Too bad every mob movie I’ve seen with home invasion as a pervasive theme directs the goons towards this niche first. The only thing going into my toilet tank is a freshening tab (or possibly a brick to save on water usage.)
You could try this if you live in one of those ancient buildings with the elevated tanks.
Oh wait, this was covered (sorta) in one of those mob movies...
Another Guest said: "I felt the lesson of sharing was lost on my kids when they said we do not even have a PS3 or Wii. "
Right with ya. I'm sure a lot of these expensive requests come from sweet kids who have no idea of the value of a dollar. And from the notion of a wish list including everything, no matter how unlikely. Ya gotta have feelings for those kids.
By the same token, all these programs have a certain amount of scamming going on. Our family was advised (by other participants) to put our daughter into the Make-A-Wish program because she had heart surgery to repair the most common heart defect. And, even though the surgery was 5 years ago and she has recovered perfectly and is totally normal for the rest of her life, she IS eligible. She has never been in danger for her life ... which is the impression the MAW advertising gives. And neither are many of the kids in that program, so hold onto your wallets my friends.
For this reason and in line with the quote I put up top, our family gives giving-tree gifts in line with the standards we apply to ourselves. I wouldn't give my kids a Wii or Ipod, so no one else's kids are getting one from me, either. When I see a family where they are requesting winter coats and gloves, I feel a surge of compassion and I spend way more than I had budgeted to get really nice stuff. Some years, it's harder to find requests I am willing to fulfill, so we just move along and keep looking. There is no end of opportunity out there for charitable work ... let's all fill our own niches and just try to get along, eh?
aren't those kind of redundant? DIY vagabonds have been nostalgic for the 30s for decades! think about it:
- meatless meals
- hopping freights
- sleeping on sofas
- making music and playing for tiny audiences who are mostly friends
- tattered clothes
- lack of money
- picking through the trash
Okay, I think I read every single post here. I love the talk. Gifts are special, and I think taking the time to think about how we feel about giving, helps put things in a healthy perspective, that is right for each of us.
Off the subject a bit, but still wanted to share it. My son attends a public charter school that just opened this August. It is a small school, with very loving staff. The school motto is "DO THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO". This motto does not just hang on a wall, the kids are reminded of it daily, and they say it often.
Well, four 4th grade girls, with minimal guidence, have organized a toy drive for the needy. They asked the school to donate new or gently used toys. The response was wonderful. I observed the girls going into classes each day to see if there were any donations, then they took the items to a general area, where all the school kids could see. I saw dolls,games,trucks...things kids like. I know kids like these things, because kids picked out these items to donate. It was kids doing for kids.
When the girls were asked why they wanted to collect the toys? They responded, "Because it's the right thing to do".
The girls choose the charity to benefit from these offerings of love.
I want to be like these 4 little girls that had an idea and made it happen, because it was "the right thing to do". I think these girls will always remember this Christmas that they did what was right. Lets all do what is right. If you are not inspired to give an ipod, don't, if crayons are what you feel moved to give, then may the child that recieves them color everything they dream of. If the Spirit moves you to get an ipod, maybe it's about listening to what moves you, more than it is about what happens after you respond. I think these 4 little girls could have stopped themselves from the Toy Drive ideaa, once they thought about how much work it would be, but instead, I saw the happiest sparkle in their eyes as they worked like elves.
Merry Christmas
My parents store their cash in their safe... with the code above it circled in GIANT black jiffy marker!!! :)
I suppose that is a where not to store it!!
I know a few people who swear by keeping it in the freezer. Throw it in an old coffee can and nobody will ever look there. At least nobody that hasn't read this post.
Good stuff...thanks for the fun and interesting post.
This one takes some doing, but is very secret.
I used to have an ancient old VCR -very heavy. It wouldn't work anymore, but it did load, and unload tapes.
When I had something to hide, I would lug it over to a wall outlet, plug it in, and eject the tape I had doctored to contain a small stash area. Essentially, I just gutted an old tape, and glued the spindles in. Then I could insert my valuables, insert the tape, and put the VCR back in the closet. Its really secure because you can't readily see the container, and it requires some effort to remove it.
This only works if the VCR is really old, and not pawn shop worthy otherwise they amy just make off with the whole thing. But who steals VCRs anymore?
You made me wish I had something valuable to stash away. We barely remember to lock our door. Although apparently I hide money from myself. I found $20 from last winter in my good coat's pocket. And I think I might check my back up coat as well. If all jackets and purses were examined in my house I'm sure I could make a grocery run or buy a round of drinks but that's about it. Margaret Garcia-Couoh
I really don't see how keeping money at home could really be better than a bank. Just don't keep it in some little crap bank.
A hint I read somewhere is that if you do choose to keep a large amount of cash in your home a good idea is to place a decoy stash in a slightly more obvious place to make a burglar think they have all of it before they find your real stash.
But now that the secret's out...........
For the vast majority of people, a burglary by strangers is extremely unlikely.
With respect to your solutions, most of them provide little/no protection from damage caused by fire, smoke and/or flood. For that reason, I cannot recommend any of your solutions.
Most thefts of cash will be by friends and relatives - not burglars. If you are interested in hiding they money from someone looking for it, make it hard to get to and hard to find.
Best Soultion: Small fire safe hidden in an old trunk (hidden in the attic?)?
unless you have a small fortune, the best place is still a bank
Tonya,
You are better off staying away from soda, including diet ones. Please see: http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/2007/07/coke-adds-death.html
Also, you need to see an endocrinologist and should definitely pick up Dr. Bernstein's book.
David
Tampax box: bad idea. First place cops go to look for drugs; burglars aren't dumb, either.
Fake electric outlet: been around waayyyy tooo long. Right up there with the wall safe behind the family portrait.
Return-air vent: ditto.
In a hole in the backyard: Anything underground has to be waterproofed every which way from Sunday. Even an in-floor safe is vulnerable to mildew and corrosion, which (i speak from experience) will eat up your paper money, corrode silver money, and ruin your jewelry.
Fake drain: ditto
Tennis ball: LOL! Just be sure none of the kids (who should NOT know about this hidey-hole) decide to use it to play with the dog.
Other possibilities:
Take a box-cutter and some glue to the inside pages of a book to make a "book safe." This requires you to have a large home library that will discourage burglars from going through every book on your shelves.
Glue or tape a cache to the bottom of an ironing board.
Sew it into a blanket hem and tuck that end of the blanket into the foot end of the bed (o'course, they could find it while they were looking under the mattress).
Braid it into your hair?
Spend it all now and stop worrying about it?
Seriously: Your best bet is to invest in a fireproof, waterproof (!) safe that can be bolted to the floor.
I was thinking how about taped to the bottom of a clothes hamper. I don't think anyone would look there. My kids wouldn't even find it since they won't look in the dirty clothes. Love your post and food for thought!
I WALK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PICK UP ALUMIUM CANS. IT IS
GREAT EXERCISE PLUS YOU FIND REALLY NEAT STUFF LAYING ON SIDE
OF ROAD. IN THE PAST MONTH I HAVE FOUND MONEY, PVC PIPE, SKI
LIFE JACKET, COOSIES, GLOVES, CIGARETTES, FULL CANS OF BEER
UN-OPENED, SHEETS, CLOTHES, BUCKETS, TRASH BAGS FOR ALUMIUM CANS, SUN-GLASSES, ETC.
How about in your potted plants...you could stash something in a waterproof container in the bottom of the pot when you are repotting a houseplant? A little easier than digging out in the yard! Just make sure that if the plant dies your hubby doesn't toss the planter out to the curb!
Many people think safe deposit boxes are the safest place, but banks and the government can freeze safe deposit boxes and owners cannot retrieve their property. As well, one must wait for the bank to open to gain access to their money/property. What if the bank doesn't open???
Another thought is that burying cash in the ground is safe so long as it's paper money. There are technologies that can find caches of metal coins/bullion buried in the ground.
Lastly, the best place to hide something is in plain sight.
It's really amazing how incredibly frugal people were in the 1910s. I'm working on a historical newspaper project with U.S. newspapers from the 1910s, and people really knew how to stretch a dollar (and a dime). During WWI, a lot of foods were banned or strictly rationed - most importantly wheat flour, meat, oil, and sugar - so that that food could go to the troops. Newspapers of the time were constantly printing recipes that taught you how to feed your family with a bit of corn meal, corn oil, and milk. There are tons of ads extolling people that milk is food - basically, that it had enough nutrition that you could include it as a side for dinner. People were tough, but I think times were tougher, actually. There was a lot of suicide and murder-suicides, I think in part because of the strain and absolutely no mental health services, not to mention the troops coming back home totally traumatized. A common reason cited for suicide was simply being "destitute". Rough - but certainly a lot of similarities to the present.
Interesting topic choice, Linsey. Some very practical tips here too. I particularly like the wall outlet strategy as well.
My grandparents used to keep some old gold coins in a fake wall outlet. It was 100% identical to the other outlets in the house and to even open it you have to unscrew it. It's not the largest hiding spot, but I thought it was pretty effective.
you don't get your deposit back, it just happened to me, I moved right away!
In the movies, the tank is also where the drug dealer hides his drugs, it usually seems to be cocaine too!
Re: In Your Toilet-Tank – Several websites still list this as a good place to hide money. Too bad every mob movie I’ve seen with home invasion as a pervasive theme directs the goons towards this niche first. The only thing going into my toilet tank is a freshening tab (or possibly a brick to save on water usage.)
You could try this if you live in one of those ancient buildings with the elevated tanks.
Oh wait, this was covered (sorta) in one of those mob movies...
Another Guest said: "I felt the lesson of sharing was lost on my kids when they said we do not even have a PS3 or Wii. "
Right with ya. I'm sure a lot of these expensive requests come from sweet kids who have no idea of the value of a dollar. And from the notion of a wish list including everything, no matter how unlikely. Ya gotta have feelings for those kids.
By the same token, all these programs have a certain amount of scamming going on. Our family was advised (by other participants) to put our daughter into the Make-A-Wish program because she had heart surgery to repair the most common heart defect. And, even though the surgery was 5 years ago and she has recovered perfectly and is totally normal for the rest of her life, she IS eligible. She has never been in danger for her life ... which is the impression the MAW advertising gives. And neither are many of the kids in that program, so hold onto your wallets my friends.
For this reason and in line with the quote I put up top, our family gives giving-tree gifts in line with the standards we apply to ourselves. I wouldn't give my kids a Wii or Ipod, so no one else's kids are getting one from me, either. When I see a family where they are requesting winter coats and gloves, I feel a surge of compassion and I spend way more than I had budgeted to get really nice stuff. Some years, it's harder to find requests I am willing to fulfill, so we just move along and keep looking. There is no end of opportunity out there for charitable work ... let's all fill our own niches and just try to get along, eh?
Oh! Great its looks stylish, I'm eager to wear this beautiful necklace.
I bought tires last night and I went to look two had 4606 and two had 4705. Any cause for concern?
@pavel
aren't those kind of redundant? DIY vagabonds have been nostalgic for the 30s for decades! think about it:
- meatless meals
- hopping freights
- sleeping on sofas
- making music and playing for tiny audiences who are mostly friends
- tattered clothes
- lack of money
- picking through the trash
Okay, I think I read every single post here. I love the talk. Gifts are special, and I think taking the time to think about how we feel about giving, helps put things in a healthy perspective, that is right for each of us.
Off the subject a bit, but still wanted to share it. My son attends a public charter school that just opened this August. It is a small school, with very loving staff. The school motto is "DO THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO". This motto does not just hang on a wall, the kids are reminded of it daily, and they say it often.
Well, four 4th grade girls, with minimal guidence, have organized a toy drive for the needy. They asked the school to donate new or gently used toys. The response was wonderful. I observed the girls going into classes each day to see if there were any donations, then they took the items to a general area, where all the school kids could see. I saw dolls,games,trucks...things kids like. I know kids like these things, because kids picked out these items to donate. It was kids doing for kids.
When the girls were asked why they wanted to collect the toys? They responded, "Because it's the right thing to do".
The girls choose the charity to benefit from these offerings of love.
I want to be like these 4 little girls that had an idea and made it happen, because it was "the right thing to do". I think these girls will always remember this Christmas that they did what was right. Lets all do what is right. If you are not inspired to give an ipod, don't, if crayons are what you feel moved to give, then may the child that recieves them color everything they dream of. If the Spirit moves you to get an ipod, maybe it's about listening to what moves you, more than it is about what happens after you respond. I think these 4 little girls could have stopped themselves from the Toy Drive ideaa, once they thought about how much work it would be, but instead, I saw the happiest sparkle in their eyes as they worked like elves.
Merry Christmas