How to Store Large Amounts of Cash (With Locations to Avoid) - Survival Freedom (2024)

Many people choose to keep large amounts of money far from financial institutions due to a lack of trust. Thankfully, there are plenty of safe and easy alternatives available if one were to choose to keep their money elsewhere. So how can you safely store large amounts of cash?

To store large amounts of cash, it’s usually best to keep it hidden in a fireproof and waterproof safe that’s out of reach. Just avoid keeping all of your cash in one place. Having multiple locations helps protect you against the risk of losing all your money in one event.

Just make sure the safe you buy is rated to last at least 1 hour in a raging inferno. Here is a link to one that fits the bill, found on Amazon.

I also like to use the “overkill” method and put cash inside fireproof bags like these before inserting them into the safe.

The bags are so cheap it’s a no-brainer to double down on protecting your hard-earned cash. In fact, using both in tandem is a must, in my opinion.

In this article, we’ll be going in-depth into topics such as how to store cash long-term, how much cash you can legally keep in your home, as well as how to properly hide and keep your cash safe. If you’re interested in learning more about these topics, keep on reading.

How to Store Cash Long Term

As we stated above, many individuals fear keeping a large portion of their money in banks. But with the right planning and proper action, you can safely keep your money closer to you and your home long term.

Keep in a Safe Location

Finding the correct location is the key to keeping your cash as safe as possible over the long term. For those who choose to keep their large amounts of money away from large institutions like banks, there are ways to keep your money close while also protected.

Keeping your cash in an area where it won’t be damaged in the case of a fire or water damage should be factored into where you decide to keep your money. There are certain locations you want to avoid when looking for a long-term hiding spot.

You can also get more creative with where you stash your things long-term. Just make sure you avoid certain spots.

Locations like the attic should be avoided, as, in the case of a fire, this will be one of the first places to burn up. Other spots are considered overused areas to hide your wealth that burglars and opportunists have come accustomed to, such as inside mattresses or behind picture frames.

Keeping your money in an area where it won’t be damaged or discovered is the first step to successfully storing your cash for a long period.More on that in a bit. Let’s cover a few things that I highly recommend doing before you stash your cash.

Related How to Build a Fireproof Safe | Constructing vs Re-Purposing.

Tell Certain People Where They Can Find It

If something unexpected happened to you, it would be helpful for a selective and trusted few to know where some of this money is located.

While it’s important to be mindful of who you share this information with, when an unexpected event occurs, letting others know the password to your safe, or any other secret hiding spot they should be aware of if they need access to those funds is vital.

If you don’t vocalize where the money is located, leaving clues can also be helpful, as long as they are easily understood by those close to you and not easy enough for a burglar to figure out.

Don’t Keep All Your Money in One Spot

In the case of an unfortunate incident happening such as your house being subjected to a robbery, not only is it essential to keep your money hidden well, but dispersed in different locations around the house.

You wouldn’t want to keep it all stored in one place if a thief did find your secret spot. Carefully placing different amounts throughout different areas of your house is key to keeping your funds safe in the long run.

You’ll want to make sure all these areas you’ve chosen are just as easily hidden and out of sight. You must do this if you choose to keep a large amount of cash stored in your home.

If a robber was to find a secret spot, they wouldn’t have access to all the money you have at once, keeping a majority of your finances safe.

Related Average Safety Deposit Box Cost (By Size and Bank).

How Much Cash Can You Legally Keep at Home in the U.S?

Having a large amount of cash in your home isn’t illegal, and there is no limit as to how much cash you can have in your home.

Although, if law enforcement were to catch wind of you having a very large amount of money on property, you might end up looking suspicious, and you may even be questioned.

But ultimately, there are no laws that forbid you from having a large amount of cash in your own home, as long as the cash you acquired was from non-illegal activities.

Places to Hide Large Amounts of Money

We briefly discussed hiding places where you can safely store your money. Below, we’ll explore other options you can look into when deciding where to place your cash.

A Hidden Safe

We previously mentioned how the right safe (Amazon Recommendation) would be a secure hiding place for a large amount of money. It’s also recommended that your safe be attached to the foundation of the house, so your safe can’t be stolen and removed from the property.

A fireproof and waterproof safe will also keep your cash from any kind of damage that may occur within your house. It’s also crucial to keep this safe well-hidden and out of sight for anyone who may be on the lookout for it.

In fact, if you have a lot of money, you can’t go wrong with keeping two of them on your property. This gives you more peace of mind that all your money is not located in one space if an incident were to occur where that money was stolen or damaged.

Related Changing the Combination on a SentrySafe | Can You Do It?

Buried in Your Yard

This is another go-to option for keeping your money safe and out of sight.

Protect your cash with a protective bag (Amazon Recommendation) or even a Ziploc, and then insert that bag inside a tin or jar. Ensure everything is sealed and waterproof as possible so the contents won’t be susceptible to rot due to moisture.

Bury the container at least 5 feet down into the ground and fill the hole with different kinds of debris to keep it well hidden. Once you’ve covered up the hole, walk through the dirt to settle and look more natural.

Related How To Bury Money (Without It Rotting).

Locations to Avoid to Keep Money Safe at Home

Above, we explored some options you have in terms of safely keeping large amounts of money in your home. But there are many locations you want to avoid keeping your money in to keep your possessions out of sight and as secure as possible.

Locations to avoid keeping your money include:

• Inside your mattress
• Behind picture frames
• Inside books
• Inside your freezers

These are all routinely searched locations that burglars will gravitate towards because they are common hiding places. Not only are these common spots, but they are easily accessible as well, and your money won’t stay safe in these kinds of conditions.

Recommended Products

For your convenience, here is a list of the products I recommended in this article:

• Fireproof Safe
• Fireproof Bags

Conclusion

Now have the knowledge and the tools to keep your money safe and secure on your terms.

I also wrote a detailed article on protecting cash from fire. Be sure to check it out!