I think that I will stick with cash, or food/water if we have enough, for trading materials. I have some reservations about trading ammo with someone who has an unloaded gun. Question one: Where did the first batch of bullets go? Question two: What is my security situation like if he starts loading up?

In response to the original posters question: 10 each of 20's, 10's 5's and 1's hidden in each vehicle and each BOB. One roll of quarters in each vehicle and each BOB. Plus usually $150-200 of "everyday cash" in various places (like my money clip).

This is from a fella who put up some Katrina evacuees. I've copied the paragraph applicable to this cash subject, the link is his full story.
Katrina

"The "bank problem." This bears consideration. I was at my bank this morning, depositing checks I'd been given by my visitors in exchange for cash. The teller warned me bluntly that it might be weeks before these checks could be credited to my account, as there was no way to clear them with their issuing banks, which were now under water and/or without communications facilities. He also told me that there had been an endless stream of folks trying to cash checks on South Louisiana banks, without success. He warned me that some of these local banks will almost certainly fail, as they don't have a single branch above water, and the customers and businesses they served are also gone - so checks drawn on them will eventually prove worthless. Even some major regional banks had run their Louisiana "hub" out of New Orleans, and now couldn't access their records. I think it might be a good idea to have a "bug-out bank account" with a national bank, so that funds should be available anywhere they have a branch, rather than keeping all one's money in a single bank (particularly a local one) or credit union. This is, of course, over and above one's "bug-out stash" of ready cash."

I apologize for drifting the thread, but...

Interesting and insightful; contains useful advice. Nothing like firsthand accounts from those who've been there. But, in the interest of accuracy, with regard to statements made by the teller:
.
As most of you know, those funds are FDIC insured up to prescribed limits thus the checks would only be "worthless" were they drawn on accounts outside the limits (and households can have coverage greater than $100K limit, depending on how accounts are held).

To go a bit further, – and I say this acknowledging that emotions were high – I question the wisdom of the teller spreading speculative doom and gloom anyway. That contributes nothing to the situation.


My .02 FWIW.

Dan

Yep, that line didn't work for me either. There may be a time lag but worthless - nope.

No offense, but not on your life man. Trading ammo for anything to a person of an unknown quanity ain't happening here. Cash, fuel, food maybe. Ammo no way.

He may use it against me. Like the middle east countries ready to use weapons we sold them against us.

Lazermonkey.....I tried to fit 2 bills into the tube but they didn't fit. I did find a very small 'issue' to deal with. I opened the tube to get the money and the top came out and the money stayed inside....fixed it by putting a small piece of string around the bill while rolling it up so that you can EASILY get the money out without difficulty. Unfortunately I don't see how even trimming the edge of the bills would help.....there only seems to be room for a single bill in it.

Is that container waterproof? It doesn't look it. I had a similar one from
Magellan which wasn't either. Later I found Sunshine Products who have a modular kit approach that is water proof. I should think you could also use the matchcases that have been discussed here.

No the 'hide a cash' isn't waterproof. It has a hole in the bottom, that I didn't know what it was for until a bill got stuck in the tube. You can push the bill out if that happens.

A couple of potential problems with hiding cash at home are theft and fire. I've heard of hiding cash inside your freezer, disguised as a package of food or something. It should stand a better chance of still being around if your house burns. The other option would be a fire safe, but if it's a small one a burglar would simply take it with him.

I did a google search on "hidden valuables home" and got lots of hits on safes disguised as furniture, etc. There are also books on how to hide things.

Regarding ATMs - anyone here remember the tv movie The Day After (1983) with Jason Robards? One scene showed people attempting to withdraw money from an ATM, only to find that it displayed the "out of service" message.

During the American Civil War, soldiers would probe the flower beds and gardens around houses with their ramrods, looking for buried valuables. Don't hide stuff in the obvious places!

I carry a pill safe or pill caddy on my keyring. I bought it at a local drugstore or pharmacy for a few dollars. It has an o-ring on the screw top, so it should be pretty much watertight. I carry two folded and rolled 20 dollar bills and a single Tinder Quick firestarter in it. It's a tight fit and the bills tend to stick, but they come out with a couple of taps. These pill caddies are on ebay.

Also, some nylon wallets or billfolds have zipper compartments where you could hide a few bills.

Having a little cash on hand has come in handy more than once for me.

Take a look at using a leather belt with a hidden pocket. It should be large enough for 4-5 bills single stacked and up to 10 double stacked. Or place bills in the hidden pocket or brim of you hat. Place one or two bills under your shoes's footbed.

All kinds of locations to stash cash in the vehicle or at home.

While small bills are fine and necessary don't forget to include a few larger bills like 50s and 100s - literally more "bang for the buck!"