Forget about under the mattress. What about inside the water tank on the back of your parents’ toilet? That’s actually one of the first places we look when we’re hired to clean out houses after a parent or grandparent dies. We’ve found that today’s seniors are a generation that tends to create secret hiding places for money (or stock certificates and savings bonds), so finding their treasure troves after they’re gone requires patience and a little detective work.
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Here are the Top 10 secret hiding places for money we’ve found:
The Tank
There’s plenty of room in the toilet’s water tank for a jar or some other watertight container stuffed with cash or jewelry. And while you’re at it, make sure there’s nothing taped to the inside of the lid.
The Freezer
Cold, hard cash isn’t just a cliché. It’s a way of life for many seniors. We’ve found everything from credit cards to gold coins frozen inside blocks of ice and plastic zipper bags filled with cash at the bottom of ice trays.
The Pantry
Look inside every cereal box, flour bag and coffee can. Pour out the contents if necessary so you can see what’s at the bottom.
The Bookshelves
Yes, you want to check for those hollowed-out bibles and dictionaries that you can buy online. But you also have to shake out every book on the shelf. We’ve found everything from $100 bills to dividend checks stashed between the pages.
Under the Floorboards
This is a very common place to hide valuables, especially in older houses. Check for loose boards under throw rugs, new nails that look out of place, and loose edges around wall-to-wall carpets.
Old Suitcases
We’ve found plenty of vintage suitcases packed with cash. Steamer trunks used in World War II had special holes built into them for wives to pack mementos for their husbands who were going off to fight. Check under the lining, and look for a false bottom.
Closets
You have to go through every piece of clothing and every box. We’ve found hundreds of thousands of dollars in shoeboxes, cigar boxes and inside the pockets and lining of old jackets.
Bureaus
We’ve found envelopes full of cash or other valuables taped to the bottom or the back of just about every type of furniture, but chests of drawers offer unique hiding places. Women’s vanities usually have at least one drawer with a false bottom to hide the good jewelry.
The Backyard
Yes, people still bury canning jars filled with rolled up $20 bills in the yard. If they’ve been there a long time their location could be hard to spot, but a metal detector should pick up the lid if they aren’t buried too deeply.
Birthday Cards and Church Envelopes
Seniors often pre-load these with cash and then forget to follow through.
This list is really just the tip of the iceberg. Hiding places are unique to the house and to the individual, so the best way to uncover your family member’s secret stash is to ask them while they are still around to tell you.
The takeaway we’ve learned is to never assume that relatives don’t have money or other valuables hidden somewhere. Even if they lived very modestly, older generations took great pride in living frugally and saving as much as they could. In fact, the ones who never talked about money usually are the ones we discover have the most hidden.
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As an expert in home organization, estate management, and the psychology of personal finance, I can attest to the intriguing and sometimes complex strategies that individuals employ to safeguard their valuables. The article you provided offers insights into the often overlooked world of secret hiding places for money that older generations, in particular, tend to utilize. The concepts discussed in the article reveal a fascinating blend of practicality, sentimentality, and a desire for privacy. Let's delve into the key concepts mentioned:
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The Tank (Water Tank on Toilet):
- The water tank of a toilet serves as an unexpected yet ingenious hiding spot. It highlights the creativity individuals employ to secure their assets. The emphasis on checking for items taped to the inside of the lid demonstrates a thorough understanding of these covert practices.
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The Freezer:
- Storing cash and valuables in the freezer is a classic tactic. The article points out the use of ice and plastic bags, showcasing the lengths individuals go to protect their assets. This method reflects a combination of practicality and a belief in the security provided by the cold environment.
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The Pantry:
- The pantry is a common household space that is exploited for hiding valuables. The suggestion to check inside cereal boxes, flour bags, and coffee cans indicates the meticulous nature of this search, urging individuals to examine every nook and cranny.
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The Bookshelves:
- The mention of hollowed-out bibles and dictionaries, as well as the recommendation to shake out every book, demonstrates a keen awareness of commercially available concealment items. This concept underscores the need for a comprehensive search beyond the obvious.
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Under the Floorboards:
- Older houses often have hidden spaces beneath floorboards. The advice to look for loose boards under rugs, new nails, and loose edges around carpets highlights an understanding of architectural nuances that facilitate secret storage.
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Old Suitcases:
- Vintage suitcases, especially those from historical periods, are identified as potential hiding places. The article suggests checking under the lining and looking for false bottoms, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of seemingly ordinary items.
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Closets:
- Closets, including clothing and boxes, are recognized as hiding spots. The mention of finding cash in shoeboxes, cigar boxes, and jacket pockets underscores the importance of inspecting every conceivable location within these storage areas.
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Bureaus:
- Specific attention is given to chests of drawers, particularly women's vanities with false bottoms. This insight into furniture design highlights the diversity of hiding places and the need for a nuanced approach to searching.
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The Backyard:
- Burying valuables in the backyard, a practice dating back generations, is acknowledged. The article suggests using a metal detector to locate buried items, demonstrating a practical method for discovering assets hidden in outdoor spaces.
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Birthday Cards and Church Envelopes:
- The mention of seniors pre-loading cards and envelopes with cash aligns with sentimental habits. This emphasizes the importance of exploring not just physical spaces but also items with personal significance.
The overarching takeaway is the uniqueness of hiding places tailored to individual preferences and the necessity of proactive communication with family members to uncover these secrets. The expertise demonstrated in the article aligns with a deep understanding of human behavior, home organization, and the historical context of hiding valuables.
