12 Places to Hide Important Items in Your Home
On average, over 2.5 million homes in the United States are burglarized every year. Most of us don’t like to think about that statistic, but that’s not going to stop it from happening. I can also guarantee you when a thief breaks into a home, the first place that they’re headed to is the master bedroom to gather their plunder. The picture above is the front yard of my home with my two dogs, Izzy and Bailey, looking at me with the look of “what are you doing mom?”
That’s because many homeowners make the mistake of hiding all of their valuables and important documents in the same room where they sleep. Check out these places to hide important items in your home.
Places to Hide Important Items in Your Home
Heaven forbid if someone were to ever break into your home, but wouldn’t it give you at least some satisfaction that the thief left your house disappointed? It’s time that we get smarter than these criminals, by limiting the loot that they wander off with. You can do this by hiding your belongings in places that they would never suspect. Here are 12 places where you should consider hiding your important items in your home.
1. Kitchen Pantry
Your kitchen food pantry offers you a treasure trove for places that you can hide your emergency cash and other important items. After all, why would thieves want to squander precious minutes by searching through your kitchen pantry for a bite to eat? Many homeowners use the coffee can in their pantry to store important items, but you can also use an empty food can with the lid put back on top, or hide items at the bottom of a healthy box of cereal that you know your family would never touch.
2. Empty Paint Can
A thief would never think about picking up one of your old paint cans, unless they’re considering doing a little bit of painting and house remodeling themselves. (Trust me, they’re not.) This is why storing your valuables in an empty paint can that’s sitting amongst several others is a good option.
3. The Backside of a Pull-out Drawer
Another sneaky place to store your important items is on the backside (not inside) of one of the pull-out drawers in your kitchen. Even when the drawers are pushed all the way in, there’s usually a bit of extra space for you to take advantage of. All you need to do is duct tape an envelope with what you’re hiding inside.
4. Underneath the Soles of Old Sneakers
Do you own an old pair of shoes that you never wear, but you’ve never seemed to give up on? Put some of your emergency cash beneath the soles of one or both of them. Just don’t forget that you’ve hidden it there.
5. Bins For Out-of-Season Clothing
A thief also isn’t going to spend any time rummaging through your clothing storage bins that are marked with out of season clothing. Why would they, unless they’re thinking about adding to their own wardrobe for next year? Go ahead and bury a smaller container of your treasures beneath several articles of clothing for the perfect hiding spot.
6. Fake Plumbing Pipe
If you’re looking to get really clever by outwitting a thief, consider installing a bit of fake PVC piping along with a cleanout plug down in your basement. Trust me, that’s the last place that a crook will want to look for your valuables.
7. Family Album
It seems like we seldom look in the family album at old pictures. Which is why it’s a great place to store some of your emergency cash.
8. Put Valuables in Suspended Ceiling Tiles
A lot of finished basements have suspended ceiling tiles that are ideal for hiding important documents, cash, or jewelry. They’re usually out of reach unless a thief was to take the time and grab a step stool and check each one. Just make sure that it’s nothing that is too heavy and that you use a plastic container or a filing accordion to protect them.
Please keep in mind, if the items you’re trying to hide are very valuable, you should strongly consider a very heavy safe that could not be removed from your home without a lot of work. Better safe than sorry. Also, those items you seldom use that are really valuable could also be placed in a safety deposit box at your bank. Not convenient to access, particularly during off business hours, but very safe.
9. Children’s Bedroom
When a burglar comes across a child’s bedroom, most times they quickly move on towards the master bedroom while thinking that’s where they’ll strike gold. (Unless your kids have some pretty expensive toys lying around.) Find a place in your child’s bedroom where not only a burglar, but also your children would never bother to look.
10. The Leg of Your Ironing Board
Even your ironing board can be a great and convenient place to hide a wad of cash. Simply pull the cap off of one of the legs, and you’ll be wondering why you didn’t think of this sooner. Just remember to stuff a wad of cotton or toilet paper in first, so that your money doesn’t get stuck too far out of your finger’s reach.
11. Hide-a-Key Inside the Keypad
Most of us parents could probably agree that our kids are notorious for losing their house keys. Hiding a spare house key in a safe place outside will keep them from being locked out after they get off the school bus and you’re still away at work. Your garage door keypad is the perfect place to hide a spare key, just behind the battery.
12. Keep a Treasure Map
Having several different hiding spots for important items throughout your home is a smart idea on your part. But it doesn’t do you a bit of good if you forget where you’ve tucked away your stash of cash, or an important document. To avoid this, you’ll need to create a treasure map that will help you track down your various treasures. All you need to remember is where you’ve hid the treasure map.
Final Word
Have any of you ever had the misfortune of coming home, only to find that your house was burglarized? I certainly hope not. I’ve known friends and family who have, and they’ve shared about how painful and scary it was to have their privacy invaded. Where do you hide important items in your home? Oh wait, don’t tell us! May God Bless this world, Linda
I have 2 fireproof boxes one in one room, one in another room. Also i keep items in the bottom of a laundry hamper.
Hi June, it’s great to have a fireproof box, it’s too bad we have to even worry about being robbed. But life is what it is. Stay safe, Linda
Great advice and ideas, as always, Linda.
Hi Laura, thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot to me. Linda
Your suggestion of hiding valuables in an out of season clothing bin made me laugh. When I was a kid (early 1970’s), we came home one evening to find our house had been burglarized. Not much was taken, and it was only a few odd things…..some of my father’s dress socks, a clock radio, …… and a box of maternity clothes that my mother had prepared for storage. I immediately thought of those maternity clothes. My mom has always stashed cash in various places……. I thought, what if she had hidden cash in that box of clothes.
Anyway, this is a great list of places for hiding stuff! And creating a treasure map would be a definite for me!
Hi Karilyn, great comment. I’m so sorry you had burglars enter your home and take stuff. It’s interesting what they took, dress socks (for work or church, maybe), and a clock radio. Now, we will ALL wonder why the burglars took the maternity clothes (were they expecting) and was there $$$$ in the container prepped for storage. Thank you for sharing!!! Linda
We have different places in our house to store important items. We do have 2 safes that are not in plain site, and in different places. Since we have been burglarized, we don’t keep a lot of important things in the master bedroom. Or even other bedrooms. I’m not gonna put where we hide things on the internet. Sorry good people. I’ve gotten to where I’m not as trusting as I was before.
Hi Deborah, it’s too bad but you are right we can’t share where we hide our stuff. You of all people know what it’s like to be burglarized. Stay safe, Linda
It is so scary? I had been in the house for a few minutes before I realized we had been burglarized. Then I didn’t know if they were still here or not. I took the phone to the front porch and called the sheriff’s department and my son. He came and looked in and around the house.
The burglar had gotten in with a screw driver. Needless to say, door locks are NOT enough. We put dead bolts in after that. Our windows stay locked unless we are home and airing out the house. I was scared for a long time after that. Oh, we have the steel doors, too. Had them then. You just can’t be too careful. Take care everyone.
Hi Deborah, I’m glad they weren’t there when you came home. Glad you were safe, but man that is scary! Linda
Just a quick follow up. It’s hard to beat a good safe deposit box at your bank for important papers, high value items, and other smaller items you wish to protect. However, if the bank is closed, or for whatever reason you are denied access to your box, you have a problem. Like I said, I just don’t see a 100% perfect solution, but a safe deposit box is an option that you might want to consider.
Hi Jeff, I worried about a complete power grid outage, then I couldn’t get my stuff out of the bank safe deposit boxes. I keep my important documents in a safe at home now. Like you said there is no 100% perfect solution. Linda
Burglars will overturn everything, including ripping pictures off walls and busting out the backs. Small waterproof / fireproof safes are just walkout briefcases to them – to be opened later. There is no 100% guarantee hiding place. Best bet, invest in a weapons safe. Don’t cheap this. Companies like Liberty, Cannon, etc are worth your money. If possible, have it secured to the floor. Burglars are usually well studied in all the “hiding places”; your house is usually not their first rodeo.
Hi Jeff, I totally agree with you on the damage the burglars do. I have heard about it but not seen it first-hand. I have had neighbors robbed when I lived up north. You are so right about the “walkout briefcases”, great comment, thank you! I would hope those that have valuables, invest in a really good safe as you mentioned, and secure it to the floor. Thank you, Linda
Jeff, I agree. Hubby’s aunt and uncle got burglarized and they destroyed so much. Not just on e by the same people. Last time, he caught them and shot one in the foot as he ran away. Then, if being burglarized wasn’t enough, the burglar sued him. Oh, and uncle was no billed, and the burglar lost the case!
Hi Deborah, oh my gosh, he sued him! Geez! Glad the burglar lost the case! Linda
The burglar lost the heel of one of his feet. “He was disabled.” Uncle caught him and told him to stop, it they guy kept running. Uncle said stop or I’ll shoot. No stopping. So Uncle shot. Burglar did stop.
Hi Deborah, oh my gosh, wow!! The burglar did stop after the bullet hit. Yikes, he should have listened. Crazy! Linda
Your uncle was very fortunate that they found in his favor instead of the burglar. In some cities and states, you are only allowed to shoot the criminal, IF they are still inside your house and only then, if they have a weapon and you feel threatened by them. If you shoot them running away, the court deems that they are no longer a threat, so then the victim is the one who gets charged. We have had community meetings with the county sheriffs liason where I live, because we have a high rate of breaking and entering, car prowls, etc. It is a rural area with a high rate of people using pot and some meth thrown in. I’m in WA State, and it is very, very liberal here, with Seattle politics and Olympia’s running the whole state of WA. The rest of the state is mostly conservative. Liberal laws will always favor the criminal, here. So please, anyone thinking they can shoot an intruder that is fleeing your house, you will likely end up on the wrong side of the law. Only in a very few places can one get away with that.
I’ve been trying to figure out a good hiding place for some of my jewelry, that I want handy, (or I will never use it as I always seem to be in a rush) , but that a burglar would not recognize as a hiding place right away. Lately, we have had the additional scare of high alert fire season. The safe is the most likely spot for protection, but it is too difficult for me to get open in a matter of a couple of minutes, so I will only use that for like leaving the house for a length of time. I guess what was said about nothing being 100% safe, is correct. Dishonest people are sooo irritating!
Love this site and appreciate the time you spend on it, trying to help your readers/followers.
HI Linda, great comment, that makes sense, if the criminal is running away, do not shoot them. You know it’s too bad we have to even worry about protecting our “stuff” valuable or not so valuable. It’s our stuff. Thank you for your kind words, that means so much to me, really. It’s people like you who keep me going. Stay well, stay safe, Linda
Linda, the criminal was still in the house when he got shot. His buddies got away. These three perps had broken in before. Uncle got it on video. Not recorded, but he saw it from work and got there fast. We all live in East Texas. The criminal was lucky. Uncle wasn’t pointing at his heel.
Where we live, you can shoot if they are in your house. And in some cases, in your fenced in yard. We do have a Private Property sign on our fence.
Hi Deborah, I have seen where our judicial system isn’t always honest and doesn’t make sense. You and I have both seen over the years where if you have the money you will get off with whatever you are charged with. Ted Kennedy is one of many, if you and I had done what he did we would still be in prison. The list goes on and on. I don’t need to say anymore, you get what I’m saying. I don’t think this will ever stop, money and ego are corrupt some times. Linda
This is true. Money talks and Bull—— walks. Ted Kennedy did both. At the least, he should’ve gotten involuntary manslaughter. He is one person I detested.
Money can get most people out of anything. The rest of us, have to take our chances, even if we’re innocent. Our judicial system needs to be reworked. It is biased against the poor. Just my humble opinion.
Hi Deborah, every time I watch the news and see a celebrity get away with a crime, I just shake my head. We would be sitting in prison, eating prison food. Our judicial system needs a major overhaul, but that will never happen because someone will pay money to get out of their crime. I used to think the US would look at our government jobs, elected officials’ salaries, and compensation. The rest of us have to work for what we earn and pay social security whether we want to or not. Government workers do not pay any social security. I would have loved to invest “Our” money to our benefit, but that is not an option. I’m disgusted when I hear a government worker for instance say “if I finish my work at 1:00 I watch Netflix on my phone until I clock out at 5:00”. WHAT??? It’s our tax dollars at work, wow. There are no words, Linda
It makes me ill at the people who get away with crimes. Murder someone and you get 15 years? Umm no?
We need term limits on EVERY elected official, and they don’t get a lifetime pension. And a big one at that.
We didn’t pay into SS. Well I did, but hubby worked for the Railroad so he paid into Railroad Retirement. (Equal to SS.) In fact the government borrowed from the Railroad Retirement fund, but never paid 1 cent back. The workers had to. My feeling is we have too much government control over not only our money, but our lives. Do I want to live in another country? No. I just want everything to be fair!
HI Deborah, I totally agree with you, I just want to be treated fairly. At least you understand the dilemma that so many families have to live with. I know “Life isn’t fair”, but when it comes to money, salaries, social security, elected officials compensation, government pensions, let’s be REAL and FAIR. Who needs such elaborate parties, really? Or elaborate vacations we pay for our government workers. We need to bring these groups back to earth so they can live like us. AND so we can contribute our income the way WE want to and it wouldn’t have been Social Security, but we HAD to. I think people hopefully are started to see how crazy our government is run. In my opinion, cut those ridiculous salaries and compensation packages. It’s a joke. It’s a sham actually. They need to live like the rest of us. Okay, I will get off my soap box. Linda
Your mind is your only limit. I’m still going through my father in law stuff after he passed. We literally have to go through every single thing because he was like hide n seek champion and I never knew. He hid money in old utility bills and pretty much any container you can think of as well as ammo in every nook and cranny.
Don’t forget to think outside the box if the house is destroyed.
Hi Matt, oh my gosh, that would be a nightmare to go through old utility bills. Luckily you didn’t just shred everything. Great tip for others, Linda
My ex sis-in-law used to hide money in her books. After she died, her family found thousands hidden in books. People hide things in odd places, that’s for sure.
Hi Deborah, oh my gosh, I grew up too poor, my mother didn’t have any money to hide. Life is sometimes funny, looking back. Linda
Praise God, I have never been burglarized. But, a few years ago, my partner and I had an issue take place that was frightening. My partner’s side of the master bedroom was ransacked. He had a 9mm pistol stolen, some cash he had in his sock drawer, and a few other things. My side was not disturbed and my pistol was not taken, nor was any of my cash. My partner was a great one for bragging! He had recently bragged to his daughter’s boyfriend of all the guns/ammo/cash he kept on-hand. I told him later that he was deranged to tell someone that – I think he even showed the pistol to that boyfriend!! Of course, there was no proof he did it but…Well the daughter eventually married that guy and one day when my partner was at their home, the now son-in-law showed my partner a 9mm pistol. There was one distinguishing feature on that pistol that proved that it was the same pistol that had been stolen! My partner (now my ex-partner) never even called the guy on it.
1) DO NOT brag about what you have and where you have it! DO NOT show your hiding places to anyone!
2) The treasure map is crucial!! I know of people who hide cash in books. I have a friend whose family member died and when this friend went in to clean out the place, put all the books in a box to donate. I asked if she had gone through the books and she said “why should I?” – she finally did and found several thousands of $$ stashed in the books ($8,000)!
3) If you own your own home, inside walls can be opened to create a stashing place – just make sure they are hidden behind a book shelf or something that is not likely to be moved.
4) keep in mind that burglars are are not the only threat to our valuables. Anything stashed away in your home is destroyable by fire and such.
5) fireproof safes are not truly fireproof! My childhood home burned when I was 12. When we rebuilt, Dad installed a fireproof safe in the new home. His home burned in a forest fire 26 years ago. When we went back to the home, the safe looked like nothing had happened to it! Paint was still intact and it looked a bit dirty. Dad opened the safe and all of the papers in it just crumbled. The heat destroyed the papers – documents as well as paper $$. Coins were actually melted together! Fireproof safes may be better now days.
I think the safe deposit box and/or a water tight container buried in the back yard are safer from fire, burglars, etc. Of course, you still need a treasure map for your family!!
Hi Leanne, oh my gosh, this is the best comment today! Please never brag about what we have, yikes!! I’m surprised your ex-partner didn’t say something. I would have. WOW! That’s interesting about the contents just crumbled and the coins melted together. Thanks for sharing, we need to hear this! Linda
Mine didn’t have any to hide either. Now, she had money in her wallet, but it was for groceries or bills or an emergency. She never had more than about $40 though.
Yep, I grew up poor, too. There were 3 adults working, but we still didn’t have a lot. There was a tee , and three young children. 2 bedroom, 1 bath house. It was crowded, but we loved each other and for the most part got along.
HI Deborah, and we got along for the most part. Small homes,3 kids, 2 bedrooms, and one bath. Perfect. I’m glad we learned how to live frugally. Life is good for us, Linda
Yes mam, life is good. There were 3 generations living there. We’ve had 2 In our house, not counting our children. My MIL lived with us until the end of her life. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I promised her that she would not live in a nursing facility. And she didn’t. She spent 2 nights in hospital and about 2 in Hospice. We don’t know, but think she had a stroke or heart attack. It’s something I’ll never regret! We don’t seem to take care of our own like we did way back when. And it’s sad. Our older generations, we can learn from. The younger, can learn from us all. I sure did.
Hi Deborah, I remember my MIL telling the family “please don’t put me in a care center,” she visited so many and they made her sad. Luckily she died at the hospital of a heart attack. It’s a blessing you were able to care for your MIL. What a blessing for all. Great comment, Linda
I didn’t get to keep my promise to my grandmother that she wouldn’t go to a care facility. Her so over rode that decision. He thought I wanted her money. All I wanted was for her not to be alone and to feel like she was a burden. Which she did. She asked me every day when she could go home. I had to tell her to ask her son. I don’t know if she ever did or not. I just couldn’t tell her she wasn’t ever going home. The last time I saw her I told her it was OK for her to go. We’d never be ready to let her go, but we’d be OK. I had told her for years that we weren’t ready for her to go. She died less than a week after I told her that. She’s was 101 years, 8 months old. It hurt so much for her to go, but she was miserable and ready to go home. She was like another mother to me. In fact, we all called her Mamma Riggs.
HI Deborah, thank you for sharing your thoughts, I can tell it’s from your heart. What a blessing to have her for 10 years and 8 months!!! I was not close to my grandmother, she was so mean to me. So when I became a grandmother, I wanted to make sure my grandkids would know I love them to the moon and back! LOL! I’m close to all of them, what a blessing. It’s hard when you are in the middle of the situation, and the son doesn’t want her to come home. So sad. I’m sure she knew you loved her and cherished her. That means a lot to any grandmother, truly. Great comment, Linda
We have a 1 hour fireproof/waterproof safe that is bolted to the concrete floor, but I love these ideas. I’d like to add behind your refrigerator (an envelope taped to the back of it).
Hi Ray, oh the frig, good idea! Linda
Thank you so much for these helpful suggestions. Some of them are so creative! I will be hiding things all around the house!! God bless!
Hi Connie, we need to be creative, that’s for sure. Stay safe, Linda
Good ideas, but one that is very important is what was mentioned above. DO NOT mention what you have stored whether guns,etc. or food. There are too many crazies out there! Always be careful!!!
Hi Cheryl, oh my gosh, exactly! Today was just to give ideas to prompt people to be prepared by stashing their important items. Stay safe, Linda
Great ideas Linda!
I love your ideas. My favs are the bottom of a cereal box you know no one likes and the other is the fake plumbing pipe. I was thinking about some other places to put things and next trip to the big box store, I’m going to get a pipe. I know exactly where I’m going to put it too. Thanks so much for your good ideas!
A few years ago, a neighbor had a very heavy, bolted-to-the-floor gun safe installed. While he was on a trip, burglars attached a chain to it and pulled it out with a truck. This was on the outskirts of our small town, and probably a lot of good ol boys knew about the safe. So there really is no 100% guarantee.
Hi Shanna, oh the good ol boys! Wow, on the outskirts of town, it must have been a good strong truck! Tree trunks are hard to pull out, so a bolted-down safe took a lot to pull it out, yikes! Thanks for sharing, Linda
When I lived in the inner city, I was burglarized a few times: my son was a young teen and it became well known he had the latest in game systems. I even had an alarm. Guess what? Security is only as good as family members use it. My son had friends who’d talk about who scored what on his systems to other friends who’d mention it to others…and my son was Not good about always setting the alarm. Most burglars don’t go in at night, btw, nor are they adults. Alarms can ring quite awhile when neighbors are at work. Even a teen thief can get in and out with the help of another with a car faster than cops will respond in a city. Yes, I ended up doing 2 double dead-bolts on all 3 doors, meaning a key must be used to lock and unlock the door even from the inside. This will stop someone from exiting with stash thru a back or side door that isn’t easily visible. Can stop a home invasion. Did bars on the inside windows. Yes, these measures helped. Lol, my bars worked well when a burglar broke my butler pantry window, after climbing on some stuff he’d piled up. Unbeknownst to him, I was home, my car in the shop. And my security system gave an alert directly into my bedroom, but was silent otherwise. After calling the police, I met him with a 22 pistol in his face, as he was trying to force apart my inside bars. He got real scared, fell sideways into a pile of hundred year old storm windows I was replacing. I was doing a happy dance when the police arrived…15 minutes later! I showed them the bloody glass and tracks to the alley where he had a car waiting. I think thieves talk amongst themselves because I never had another burglary. Snicker. Now, I also never again left that gun in my house because thieves would know I had one..I was also quite prepared to use it if he had continued to force his way between the bars, but there’s this funny law here that says if I wasn’t in imminent danger I couldn’t shoot him. Oh well. This epilogue got off track but a person really has to think ahead on protecting valuables. All the suggestions you offered and comments made are valuable.
Hi Wendy, wow what an ordeal!! Great tips on all those locks and keys!! I Love it! The happy dance was the best! I’m so glad you had that 22 pistol!! Oh my gosh, scary but you were prepared! Glad it came out okay, robberies are scary even if they turn out well. Thank you for sharing!! Linda
A non connected dishwasher is a great place. NOBODY looks for dirty dishes! Just make sure it is non operable.
Hi Rick, this is a great idea! I have a son-in-law that uses her dishwasher for storing cooking pans. She’s never turned it on. Life is good! Linda
Years ago my sis & I lived in a mobile home next to the bar/restaurant where we worked. This was a small mountain town where everyone knew everyone & also knew when & where you worked. The town was so small it didn’t have a bank & since we earned most of our money in tips we always had cash in the house. I owned a Doberman & my sis had a Boxer. Locals had a healthy respect for these dogs as they were big AND territorial. We knew a cheap trailer door wouldn’t stand up to a determined burglar so we just stuck a sign on the door that read: “Might as well come on in. The money is taped under the dogs’ dishes.” We were never robbed. Haha
Hi Linda, oh my gosh this is the BEST COMMENT EVER!!!!! Now, I have the giggles! I LOVE this! Thanks for sharing! Linda
When I was a bartender, I had been robbed while I was at work. I lived 3 blocks from the bar I worked at, so robbers knew when I was at work. I had bought a 1/2 cow, and paid for the cutting and wrapping. Since I had 3 newborn German shepherds that I bred, I would make my own dog food. Two of the items I wrapped were a beef tongue, ( it’s quite long, and I had to cut it into two pieces.) I wrapped my tips, (paper money,) in freezer paper and marked it ” tongue,” and put it in the back of freezer. Robbers took one of my dogs. When robbers were caught, I got back my dog, and NO money was stolen. I did have a couple of roasts stolen, but could not identify them, and I would not want them back anyway. I have made a list of all the places I could hide money, and valuables, but the best place is outside, since I have several acres, all fenced. I let my family know where it is hidden, since they live with me, so after I am gone, ( I’m 76 now,) they can find and use it. They could use it now, for all I care, but just let me know.
I will continue to bury money, and have made a map, but as I always say, “if the dogs (4) don’t get you, I will with my guns.”
Interesting note about the firebox. Good to know. I have a friend that uses one, and I will tell her.
I have many places I could hide money inside the house, but in case of fire, or earthquakes, I like outside. Even when I lived in an apartment, I found places to hide money, until a fire burned everything EXCEPT the money, and most of the furnishings and clothes.
Hi Linda, I’m so sorry to hear your apartment had a fire. Darn! I love your comment about the tongue!! I grew up eating that! The comment will help many people think about what they’re doing, and that’s the idea. Thank for sharing, Linda
I have a friend who wrapped her rainy day fund, in a package for the freezer, labeled liver.
Hi Linda, oh my gosh, the liver tip is the BEST!! No one is going to take that package!! Linda
small problem with all of these suggestions. If you have a fire in your home when you are gone or even at home, you’ve lost all of that hidden money. Even putting your valuables in a freezer or refrigerator isn’t safe as they can melt.
Hi Debbie, you are so right. So, people need to think about what works for them as far as stashing money or valuables. I have to worry about flooding and earthquakes. Just about any disaster is bad, we just need to be careful. Linda
One thing about the hideout key. Having one is a great idea, but it looses it’s purpose if the your kids let the neighbor kids in on the location. I have come home to find one of my son’s friends going through my things. He had observed my son get the key from its hiding place then later came back when no one was home to help himself. If you have a hideout key, you need to impress on the kids how important it is not to tell their friends or let them see them get it out of hiding. In fact, they should understand that they should not even tell there friends that there is a hideout key, let alone where it is hidden.
Hi Judy, oh my gosh, great comment! Wow, I can’t imagine finding a neighbor kid in my house going through my things. YIKES! Thanks for sharing this experience. Linda
Wonderful suggestions, thank you for all of them. We’ll be taking a much harder look at what we can do for valuables and all around safety. These days especially it’s important to be prepared. Years ago, we had a break-in while we were both at work, just days before I had to be home all the time for round the clock bed rest during a high risk pregnancy. I shudder to think what might have happened had they broken in while I was there on bed rest. In the current unrest and political climate, we really can’t be too careful, or too prepared. I’m looking into these ideas here, as well as non lethal self defense for the whole family. Our family of seven is always home these days thanks to the pandemic, so much harder for burglars to do their thing, but it won’t always be so (I pray!). God bless you, and all you do to help us all.
Hi Tracy, oh my gosh, the high-risk pregnancy, and bed rest. Wow!! This pandemic is a mess for the entire world. More and more people are out of work, and income. I’m not sure how much longer our families can handle the stress. God bless your family of seven. Linda
Hi Linda, haven’t touched base in some time. I have to tell you about my mom. She didn’t much trust banks and in addition as she aged she had a hard time getting out and around. So, she hid her money in various different spots throughout the house. I have to say that the most common place was her lingerie drawer.
My last trip home for a visit before she passed was pretty typical. My 2nd day there, she asked me to help her find an envolope with “some money” in it. All she could tell me was that she remembered it was “somewhere in my bedroom.” I immediately went to her lingerie drawer and carefully layed all the items out on her bed. I did find her envelope which was hidden “under the paper that she lined her drawers with”. When I gave her the envelope she asked me to please count the money for her. I did. Was I shocked to come up with over $2000 stuffed in the envelope. She promised me that she would stop hiding her stash, but honestly, I don’t think she ever did.
Hi Suzanne, oh it’s good to hear from you, my sweet friend!! I remember hearing people hiding money all over their homes. In books, boxes, dressers, etc. You have to laugh that she promised that she wouldn’t hide money anymore. LOL! You knew better! Great story! Thanks for sharing. When cleaning out our parents’ and grandparents’ homes we had to check everything and not just between the mattress and the box springs. It was a lot of work, some relatives had bank statements that were 20 years old we had so much to go through and “sift” for important documents. We had to shred so much stuff. Please, everyone, declutter before you die so your kids don’t have to shred so much! Life is good with memories! Linda