Hiding Valuables

Hiding Places for Cash at Home

• Inner pocket of a shirt or jacket never worn but can't bring self to get rid off (come on, we all have at least one of those). ;-)

• Between pages of a book no one will likely pick up to read.

• Inside a non-matched sock placed randomly under the matched socks.

• In the toe of a pair of shoes rarely worn.

• Between the padding and cover of the ironing board.

• Between the picture and cardboard backing of a favorite framed photo.

Hope you all share your ideas and, of course, you really should tell someone you trust of your hiding places 'just in case'. ;-)

By Deeli from Richland, WA

Hiding Valuables Safely

Everyone of the responses that she got back were good ones, until you sat down and gave it a little thought. For one thing, every one of them were places I have seen in the news before where thieves have looked and found valuables in homes. For another thing, and to me even worse, what if the house burns down or is flooded out? Every one of the places that were posted such as inside books (one woman had several thousands of dollars in them!), in canning or other jars, in the hamper, and fake wall sockets, among others. Can you imagine what would have happened to any of these homes if there had been a fire? Every bit of their well-hidden valuables and cash would have been totally lost!

I have a better solution. I keep several fire and water safe boxes in my home. One is a large one for larger size valuables, although I make sure I don't have many of those. In the others I keep copies of important papers, photos (along with any pertinent info on the backs) of all my valuables. This includes TVs, DVD players, and anything else like that around the house. It also has current (replaced once a year) photos of all members of the family including pets and all pertinent info about each of us. In another box, I keep cash (I put at least $10 a week in it), valuable jewelry, and anything else.

I do try to put these boxes (not all in one place) in different places around the house that, maybe a thief would find if he had time, but he'd have to do some searching. But even if he did find them he wouldn't be able to get into them. And (OMG) if we had a serious fire or flood, my stuff would still be safe.

As for keys to the boxes. Each one came with 2 keys. The first set of keys I sent to a well-trusted family member (in my case my in-laws). That way if for some unknown reason, I can't get to the ones I have at home, I can call them to send them to me. The second set of keys, I take all the keys except one (usually the one with the cash and jewelry in it) and put them inside one of the other boxes.

I came up with an ingenious way to hide the last key. Maybe a thief could find it, but he'd have to really search, plus he'd be seen by my neighbors. I used to keep it on my key ring, but what if someone breaks in and takes my purse along with the boxes? So I put the key into a plastic bag, then put this bag into a small hard plastic container. I wrap a long plastic wire tie around the container and have the end of it poking out of the ground near a plant. By putting the wire tie on it all I have to do is pull on it and my container comes up easily. I planted these in my garden in the front of the house. This way if some stranger is digging in my garden my neighbors will see. If I should ever hire someone to come and do gardening, I would dig them up and keep them inside till that person is done.

Inside the house I keep a piggy bank and that's where I put my $10 a week. Then whenever I go out to do any gardening I get the key, then go in and add the contents of my piggy bank to the box and re-bury the key.

This way, if we do have a fire or are broken into, the most I've lost is maybe $30-50 at most.

This sounds like a lot of trouble, but it's actually not. It's very easy to keep up with.

By Cricket from NC

Think About Where You Store Valuables

It is not that I never thought my home would be invaded, I just never thought! I am hope you will not make cash or priceless jewelry easy to find in your home and save yourself from this grief.

I live in farm country, not fancy at all, but with the downturn of the economy and the drug problems everywhere, no one is exempt from robberies, so said the police.

By tjc from Pgh., PA

Disguise Valuables As Mayonnaise

By Randa from San Marcos TX