Never Stash Your Cash in These Obvious Hiding Spots
Creativity can be your best friend when it comes to hiding your hard-earned cash. Stashing money in the usual spots not only makes it easy for thieves to find but also takes the fun out of your own personal treasure hunt. Check out this list of obvious places to avoid when hiding your cash. Each spot is like a big neon sign saying, “Money’s here!” So, let’s mix it up and keep your stash safe.
Under the Mattress
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Ah, the classic! Hiding money under the mattress is so common that it’s practically a cliché in every old movie. Did you know that during the Great Depression, people distrusted banks so much that stashing cash under the mattress became incredibly popular? Nowadays, though, it’s one of the first places a thief would check. Your bed is for dreaming, not banking!
Behind Toilet Tanks
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Think you’re being slick with money behind the toilet tank? Think again. It’s such a known trick that even plumbers might stumble upon your cash stash during a routine repair. Toilets in the U.S. are often easily accessible, making this hiding spot less secure. Let’s leave the tank for water and the banks for money.
In the Freezer
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Stuffing bills in a frozen vegetable bag might seem clever, but it’s a cold, hard fact that this is a well-known hiding spot. It’s estimated that one in every four people who hide money at home choose the freezer. Plus, you risk the ink running if your bills start to thaw. Keep your veggies and your valuables separate!
Cookie Jars
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Cookie jars might seem sweet for hiding dough, but they’re actually quite predictable. Fun fact: cookie jars emerged as popular household items in America during the early 20th century, which means they’ve been potential money hideouts for nearly a century. Thieves can smell the cookies and the cash from a mile away.
In a Home Safe (that’s not bolted down)
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A safe is smart, but if it’s not bolted down, it might as well be a cash carry-out for any thief. A staggering 30% of burglaries involve a small, movable safe. Secure it to the floor or wall; otherwise, it’s just a heavy cash box.
Bookshelves (between books)
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Hiding money in a book might seem like a plot twist, but it’s one of the oldest tricks in the book—literally. If a burglar takes a moment to flip through your collection, your secret stash could easily be found. Just stick to reading them, like Warren Buffett—one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, who attributes a book as the cornerstone of his vast fortune.
Old Coat Pockets
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We know the feeling of finding forgotten money inside pockets can be exciting. After all, slipping cash into an old coat in your closet is actually quite standard for many. And on average, forgotten money finds amount to over $100 per household. Now, imagine if that was your hidden stash, lost or accidentally donated. Yikes!
Inside a Picture Frame
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Cash behind a family portrait might make you feel like you’re starring in your own spy movie, but it’s a popular enough spot that thieves often check there first. Picture frames are often disturbed during burglaries as they can easily conceal items. Let’s keep the frames for memories, not money.
Plant Pots
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While the idea of money growing on trees is fun, hiding your cash in plant pots is dirty business. It’s too common, and soggy money is no good when you decide to dig it out. Interestingly, soil can degrade paper bills over time, so this is both a literal and financial dirty trick.
Sock Drawer
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Everyone thinks their sock drawer is a sneaky spot, hiding banknotes, jewelry, and other valuables in there. News flash: it’s not. It’s right up there with under the mattress for “First Places Thieves Look.” Socks and cash have been cohabitating since drawers were invented. Time for a change!
Personal Desk Drawers
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At work or at home, a desk drawer is probably one of the least secure spots. It’s accessible to just about anyone who passes by. Desk drawers are notoriously easy to break into, making them a poor choice for hiding anything valuable. Might as well put a sign saying, “Money in here!”
Medicine Cabinet
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Medicine cabinets are typically locked and positioned high enough to be out of reach for small children. However, they are for aspirin and band-aids, not banknotes. Guests also have a way of rummaging through them if they’re not latched. Mixing medications and money not only complicates your storage but risks losing both to the wrong hands.
Kids’ Rooms
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Think hiding your cash in the kids’ room is a no-brainer? Well, it’s actually a yes-brainer for burglars, especially since articles from the past, like from Reader’s Digest, have noted that it’s a good hiding spot. Not to mention, children are curious and might discover and misplace the money. Statistically, parents often forget where they hide things in their own homes, including money.
Gym Bag
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A sweaty gym bag isn’t just a turn-off for people; it should be for your cash, too. Gym bags are often left unattended, making them easy targets for theft. It would be a shame to lose your hard-earned cash right after a sweat session. So, let’s keep the gym bag for your workout essentials, not your financial reserves.
Cereal Boxes
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Maybe Tony the Tiger thinks it’s great, but hiding cash in cereal boxes is far from foolproof. It’s easy to access and often overlooked when considering security. Cereal boxes are easily penetrable and, during a burglary, can be spilled or tossed around, exposing your hidden assets.