I recently spoke with MSNBC for their article, “Money Hiders Risk A Wealth of Woes, Feelings of economic insecurity can lead to cash stashing“.Many people keep cash at home. In my experience, most don’t take the right steps to secure it. During the interview, I shared what we often see with our clients and why better systems matter.
Common Places People Hide Cash at Home
“I’ve found money taped to the back of headboards, in clothes pockets, under loose floorboards, in fake books, and in shoe boxes,” says Scott Roewer, a certified professional organizer from Washington, D.C., who also does estate sales. “It’s amazing what people come up with to hide their money.”
When Hidden Cash Leads to Real Problems
Perhaps you’ve heard the story about the Tel Aviv woman who bought her mother a new mattress and tossed out the old one. She never realized it held her mother’s life savings. One million dollars ended up at the dump. It’s the kind of organizing surprise no one wants to uncover.
In our work with clients in the Washington, DC area, we regularly find cash and valuables tucked in unexpected places. It’s more common than you’d think, and it spans every age group. When we find these hidden stashes, I encourage clients to use safer systems. Deposit extra cash in the bank or store important items in a fireproof safe. And just as important, let a trusted person know where those items live—even if that information is shared through a simple note in a will.
Creating order isn’t just about clearing clutter; it’s about protecting what matters most.
“I advise against hoarding cash,” he says. “I’ve seen instances of fire, robbery and accidental death where clients had money hidden but nobody knew and it was gone forever.”
Do you keep a little cash hidden at home or have a funny story about a stash you once forgot about? Even if your closet looks perfectly organized, holding onto large amounts of cash at home can create more stress than security. Put a few simple habits in place so your money stays safe and doesn’t get lost, overlooked, or damaged. You can check out the full MSNBC article here.
