Hi everyone.

How much cash to you put in your BOB? I put $200 in mine in $20 bills (CAD). I may add $20 every 5 year to keep up with inflation. Because say you put $200 today and nothing happens for 30 years and then all of a sudden you need to evacuate. Your $200 have lost a lot of purchasing power.

How do you determine how much cash you store in your BOB?

Thank you
Frankie

Along with the $20's make sure you have some smaller bills too. After a rather severe wind storm there were a few gas stations pumping from gen sets but cash was required and they didn't have a lot of small bills to make change. I carry several bundles of $36--one twenty, one ten, one five and one $1 bill, scattered around in both vehicles and various kits.

Pick a serious scenario that calls for a BOB.

Tell me how much money is to much.

When you are out of cell phone range, the wrecker driver will not tow you because he cannot confirm your card. $200 won't save your car.

When you have finally bugged out, with what is left of your $200, what can you buy?

Put a price column on your survival list.

This is a subject that all the books I own don't really touch on precise enough. They say "Spare cash...credit cards...etc, etc" but nothing more.

Generally anything from $250 to $300 would make me feel safe, though. It's enough to purchase some food, water. Just enough to get maybe three days out of a hotel/motel.

I wouldn't keep it all in twenties, though. Maybe half $5's, $10's only.

YMMV.

A while ago, I had some spare money. I've never really had cash in BOB, so I put it into liquid assets (no, not THOSE kinds, CASH). There is a roll of quarters in BoB and in the truck, along with a bundle of 5x20 and 20x1.

I've never understood the need for a whole lot of cash in a BOB. Some, sure, but not a whole lot more than I carry daily. If a situation gets so bad that your credit cards don't work and banking has collapsed, you will be needing something more concrete than paper money to barter with. I'm not sure the people who hoard gold and silver will do much better than paper money. What in the heck can one do with a chunk of gold in an emergency? It's really pretty useless when you think about it. Food, water, shelter, gasoline, firearms, ammunition - I'd think these types of tangible things would get you much further in a bartering economy following a banking collapse.

"...If a situation gets so bad that your credit cards don't work..."

When could the almighty credit card not work!?!?

1. When the store won't take it.
2. When the 800 phone service goes down.
3. When the power is out.
4. When you are buying from someone other than a business.
5. When you are out of cell service.
6. When your bank says so.
7. After a magnet ruins your card.
8. And on and on and on.

I have a system that works pretty well for me. At the beginning of hurricane season each year I put $500(small bills)in the gun safe. At the end of the season the money becomes property of the gun safe for new acquisitions. Long ago and far away I encountered young men that spoke unique languages and wore clothing that blended in with the background. They wore heavy ID bracelets with gold links that could be separated. Possibly it is time for Credit Suisse to issue a civilian "blood chit" .... regards Les

Cash may not work in case of TEOTWAWKI. In all other cases it is nice to have. But, definitely, smaller is better! The best advice is to distribute the money over several pockets, wallets, shoes whatever. You are on a sudden budget. Use the money wise! I have been robbed. I have lost stuff. I have forgotten money , credit cards, wallet. What works for me is a moneybelt. You know these belts you can put in your jeans, but with a zipper on the inside. But then I have some other places to keep chance or bills.

haertig, I don't know were your coming from with that statment, it seems to me that situations that would require you to bug out AND have cash are far more likely than the situations your taking about.