How much cash you got?

I'm a person that despises foldin' money - I prefer all of my transactions to be electronic. That said, I still find it essential to keep a small wad of bills laying around the house for those rare occasions that demand a cash only payment. The question is, how much do you keep?

Normally I have between 100-200 dollars cash hidden under my mattress, kept with a spare debit card in case I lose my wallet. I also keep between 20 and 30 in my wallet for those rare times I have to pay for parking, cash-only tips, or get surrounded by girl scouts and their damn addictive cookies. Motley Fool suggests that you should keep about $1000, but I think their reasoning is flawed and silly (they say it's to survive a city-wide evacuation for a week. Its almost like the author has actually never done one of those before).

What got me thinking about this was my girlfriend texted this morning, she wanted to grab some quick groceries for this week, but accidentally left her wallet at her parent's house. It made me wonder if my 100-200 bucks still applies as a reasonable amount.

So how much cash you got laying around the house? How much should you have on hand? This is completely separate from what you have in savings, btw.

 

I hardly ever use cash for anything anymore. That said I try to keep some cash in my wallet just in case.

I normally do it in hundred dollar increments. That’ll last me a while because I only use it in small amounts over a period of time - Maybe some place has something I want and doesn’t accept cards for whatever reason. My wife or daughter will ask if I have any cash on me for something they want, etc. - I pay no attention at all to how much is in there, once that runs out I’ll go and grab another hundred and the cycle starts again.

I don’t keep any large amount stashed away at home but now you have me thinking.

Hmmm, Maybe I should?

 

I'm actually on the other side of the spectrum. I like using cash as much as possible and don't often use my credit card, unless of course I'm buying something online.

 

McRuff the anti crime dog says not to tell people where you keep your cash.

 

$2 currently in my wallet

Cash can be lost/stolen, plus cash doesn't give me 1-3% cash back

 

Mattress is just an idiom in this case. I'd never keep my cash in the same place I keep my contraband.

 

taking note of how much, and where

 

I used to keep like $4k on hand when I was doing a lot of 'wheeling & dealing' on Craigslist, because cash talks and if you had to wait to run to the bank on Monday you'd lose out on a good deal. I don't do as much of that these days so I only keep about $1000 on hand for emergencies/surprises. Plus I usually have around $100 on my person in case I get to the store the gas station and realize I've forgotten my card

 

I have about 40 cents in my cup holder.

 

I carry a good bit of cash because I much prefer using cash. I carry a pistol also.

 

I like to keep a hundred, fifty, twenty, ten, five, and a one. Then i also keep a quarter, dime, nickel, and penny. Just in case.

 

I don't carry cash for reasons of dropping it or mishandling it and then losing it, being robbed or having an excuse to give beggars any. It's all card for me. My wife may want to buy something though and I tell her to put it on a card I stack points on then she gives me cash to deposit but that's it.

 

$100. Whats that, like half a tank for you and the land barge?

 

Last time i checked you cant buy drugs with a credit card. STRAIGHT CASH HOMIE

 

Actually you can. Ever been to a pharmacy?

 

I carry very little cash, less than $100. There are just so few scenarios that require cash anymore. You can transfer money instantly to anyone in the world with a smart phone, so cash is pretty obsolete at this point. I'd rather it be in the bank where it can't get lost/stolen/etc.

 

Psssh only if you want to pay full price!

 

Not if you have good insurance. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯