Although I don't have a bug-out bag per se, I do try to keep some emergency cash on hand in case of disaster or if my ex- finally succeeds in having be thrown in jail on a baseless charge. At first I had $500 in $50 bills because that made for a small package, but then I got to thinking – what about change in a disaster situation? Fifties aren’t all that handy. I have revised the mix to include $100 worth of $20s, but am curious what kind of mix others have with their emergency cash.

You're right about the mix. After earthquakes I've found that some places will still stay open, but it's cash and maybe no change or maybe checks are OK. So I have mostly $1.00 and $5.00 bills with some $20.00. Remember no power means no Banks, ATM's, cash registers or gas stations and most large markets will close. After the Loma Prieta quake I know people that drove about 50 miles to find a working ATM. ( and get gas, ice, food,water, clean up supplies, batteries, etc)

I agree with a mix of small bills. I have mostly 1's, 5's and 10's. Usually about $100. In addition, I also keep 3 rolls of gold dollars....mostly because I find I do not spend them...paper money is so tempting to "borrow" for a bit. The gold dollars are heavy but I still have them where right now I have "borrowed" the folding cash.

After the Northridge quake some local merchants held the public hostage with grossly inflated prices. While your paying cash, get a receipt( even hand written) and make a note of the time,date and location. On the positive side, my local Sikhe owned convenience store ( my area was unaffected, short of a power failure the first day) gave me 5 gallons of bottled water for my grandmother. Again, create a community in good times and it's there during the bad.

3 rolls? Don't advertise stuff like that! You may find yourself with just a bag of green candy and no starbucks! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Of course I was planning on buying ice, not bailing myself out !!

As you point out, merchants might not have much change ... so my BOB contains 5x$50 bills, 5x$20, 10x$10, 5x$5, 25x$1, and a $10 roll of quarters. And to discourage myself from "borrowing" the emergency money, I've sealed the bills into a small envelope -- it's easy to rip open but makes for a decent psychological barrier against raiding the BOB unnecessarily.

Where did you say you lived, and which way is it you walk home?

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Working with the fire department when we travel to help other jurisdictions, they recommend $100 to $300 dollars in ones and fives. We have to keep all receipts.

Ah, but I don't plan on carrying my BOB unless I'm really getting the heck out of Dodge ... and in any event, I stay away from dark alleyways and deserted streets!

I'd say that the monopoly mix is a good place to start:

2 x $100, 2 x $50, 6 x $20, 5 x $10, 5 x $5, 5 x $1 = $500 in 25 bills. Swapping one of the 20's for three fives and five ones is slightly thicker, but better for change.

Waterproof cash (ie coins) isn't a bad idea, either. Dollar coins and quarters might substitute for a couple of those dollar bills.

Here's another question: how do you package it? All in one place, or distributed a little around your bag. Beyond even the chance for theft, I'm a little worried that pulling out a roll of bills might tempt someone I'm haggling with to push a little harder.

$50's and $100's are useless and coin phones are non-existant (around here anyway)
So:
$25 1's
$100 5's
$200 10's
$400 20's
Is a good mix.

I'm sorry, what exactly did you say your address was?

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Martin, I strongly disagree about the $100 in SHTF situations. The only magic piece of paper is the US $100 bill and it is pure magic. For "routine" situations, it may be more than you wish to part with. OTOH, simple things like getting a tow or vehicle extraction in a remote area or in dicey times... a $100 bill again produces results.

I write this from the perspective of experiences here and in third world countries. I imagine the Euro will achieve that status soon (if not already) in some parts of the world, but so far the US $100 remains universal.

The problem with the $50 is that it is too frequently mistaken for a $20 in a hurry and is not as frequently used, so I agree about that.

Regards,

Tom

I think it's important to have a bunch of $1's and $5's and I should probably put some aside myself. I do usually have a few rolls of quarters around for the laundromat. Keeping a stack of $100's is a little too rich for my blood. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My experience is that whatever you want to buy costs as much as the seller sees you have.

I keep lots of $1 bills. Not much total $$, but much easier to negotiate if all you have are $1's I keep larger bills in another place and have them so that I can see and get to them in my pack without anyone else being able to see them. I agree that the $100 is the best "realllly need help" bargining tool. I only pull than one when I need to, but it works.

Ok, I keep some of the "ones" in a folded stack in my pocket and have gotten good at peeling off one at a time without pulling the stack out.

All this talk about money brings up several concerns to me.

If someone is going to gouge you because they have what you need, they may just end up taking the money and not giving you anything. In an "out of your own backyard" scenerio, even though the law is probably good and honest, it's the word of someone they have probably known all their life who probably is and will continue to be honest with his own, but who sees a chance to profit from those "snobby rich folk".

If the person you are dealing with is a devoted criminal type, he can just plain steal all your money as the amount is worth the potential of being caught. If he is already stealing from you and you are a lone woman, or a man with an attractive wife or daughter, he may want a whole lot more and no witnesses.

The sight of a lot of flashing bills no matter what denomination they are in can stir some people up to do criminal or antisocial things that they otherwise wouldn't think of.

I have a credit card, check book, debit card, and rarely travel locally (US borders.) with more than $60.00 in my pocket. A lot has to do with my occupation as a blue collar worker (HVAC) which does not have me traveling in circles where a lot of cash is used.

I did go to Oklahoma to buy some cars a few years ago with $2,500.00 in my pocket, but those were in travelers checks.

Bountyhunter

To Bounty and All in this Thread. There's also Another Important Consideration. Which Gives an Advantage to Having X Amount of Smaller Bills, -as Oppossed to Larger Ones.

And that is, -Where Paper Money is Paper like Any Other!, -and Suffering the Same Statistical Chance of Being Lost, Accidentally Burned, Etc!, -Then Which of the Two would you Rather Lose?!, -a 50 or a 100!?, -Or a One or 5ive?! Which "Slip of Paper" would you Rather Such Accidentally Happen to?!

That said, -I Agree with some Other Good Points, for Having some Larger Bills with you too! Including the Value of a 100 that T.G. and Nomad have mentioned!

But When it Comes to "What Could Happen to Paper!", -I and Anyone would of course Rather Lose a One or a Five, -Than a 50 or a Hundred!

Also, -Say Survivor A Has $100 in a $100 Bill. And Survivor B Has the Same $100 Total, but in either 10 Tens or 20 Fives. Both Survivors say Have 200 Pieces of Paper Individually, All Told. (This and Other Paper Money, Cards, Etc Etc). So They Each Stand the Same Statistical Chance, -of Losing One of their 200 Pieces of Paper.

Now Say They Each so Lose One Piece of Paper. It Just Happens to Be Survivor A's $100 Bill in the One Case! And One of Survivor B's Fives or Tens!, in the Other! Do you See How Smaller Bills Have the Advantage!?, -When it Comes to the Law of Averages?!

Also, of course and As Mentioned, -Divvy your Total Up among Several Locations!

Including an Area of Small Bills to Give a Thief if you Must! In the Reasonable Hope that He or She may Think that's All you Have!

And some Coins too! As also Mentioned in our Thread.

Coins also Have the Additional Advantage of Being Fireproof! And "Windproof", -in that they Won't be Blown Away!

They however, -have the Disadvantages of Weight, "Rollability", and Much Greater "Sinkability" (Off the Boat, Into a Lake, Etc!)!, -than Paper Money! (A Clear Lake's Bad Enuff! Let Alone a Cloudy, Muddy Etc One! To say Nothing of Sinking Into Muddy Bottoms!). And at least Bills Have some Substantial Tendancy to Float! At Least for a While Anyway. And are More Visible! This is More Advantageous for Seeing, and perhaps Retrieving, -your Loss!

And Coins are also More Likely to Get Lost Down those Damm Sidewalk Grates!, -Partly from their being Smaller. But Paper Money, ID and Credit Cards, Keys, Other Important Papers, -and Many Important or Special Things Else!, -Can Very Easily Get Lost Down Those Dong Things! Too! Be Aware! And Act Accordingly Around Them!

I'm of the Typical Total Mixes, -Given in Many Places thruout this Thread. Though Within Such, -I might Tend to Shift a Little More to the Smaller Bills, -for the Reason(s) I've said. [color:"black"] [/color] [email]bountyhunter[/email]

Thanks for all of the thoughtful replies. I am going to be revising my "roll" as time and finances permit.
As an aside, I was talking about this with my Dad, and he objected on the grounds that $500, in the bank, would earn me X-amount of interest by the end of the year. But after I explained to him what the lack of electricity does to modern banks, I think the lightbulb went off over his head, too.

Maggot:

A lack of electricity at the better banks sets off the emergency generator.

Bountyhunter