Emergency Money Preparations

[JudyJB]

I have been reading WheelingIt's blog posting on her experiences losing her wallet with driver's license and credit cards, and it got me to thinking I need to make better plans.

I had my purse stolen about 30 years ago, and experienced having a full checkbook stolen, so I never travel with more than one check with me in my purse. My purse was stolen about three days before I was planning a two-week trip with my two teenaged sons. Luckily, I had put my credit card in my pocket, but I had to go out and get a new drivers license. The worst thing was the checkbook. The person who took it passed bad checks in my name for almost two years. I closed the account, but the problem was compounded because when a check was passed, my then-bank reported it as "insufficient funds" instead of a stolen checkbook and closed account. This meant I had every credit agency in the country after me as a bad check passer. Which meant I could not pass any checks without a great deal of trouble for almost three years. Every time a check was passed, I had to provide a copy of the police report and a notarized letter saying it was not me who wrote the check.

And because my drivers license was stolen, when I showed my drivers license for identification and someone ran it through whatever to check it, it showed up as stolen!!! I was furious with my bank and changed to a credit union at that point.

In another instance, about 10 years ago in London, I had my debit card demagnetized in the first ATM machine I used. I was alone in the UK for 12 days with almost no cash--except, I had been smart enough to bring backup travelers checks! Yea for me!! I also had an extra credit card on that trip hidden in the lining of my suitcase, which was a good thing because I had been planning on spending cash from my checking account and now could only spend from my credit cards.

Anyway, I have been carrying a small amount of extra cash, and I keep two backup credit cards, but I think I need to increase the amount of cash I keep on hand. Also, I need to take photos of all my medical cards and membership cards and store them online, as the blog suggests.

Anyway, I thought this is something important enough to share. WheelingIt's blog post on this is at: http://wheelingit.us/2015/02/15/5-prep- ... -the-road/

[Azusateach]

I think that full-timers probably have different issues they need to consider than those of us who are stationary.

I keep at least $100 cash in my car at all times. I started doing this after the Northridge earthquake in the 90s, largely because there were a couple of days when using credit cards would have been difficult. Additionally, if I ever got in a bind and was someplace where neither checks or credit cards were accepted I'd have some cash on hand. We also keep about $150 in cash in the motorhome, hidden.

Whenever I'm heading out and plan on doing a lot of walking I take cash, drivers license, AAA card, insurance card, and credit card(s) in a small wallet I got at REI that fits comfortably in a button-up pocket. That way I don't have to worry about losing everything but have what I need for the day.

I have a couple of credit cards in addition to my ATM, but only use one of them regularly. But it's nice to have a couple of them available if I should ever need them. To keep them from being closed, I try to use them once every 6 months or so.

Having different options for accessing your money is important. And keeping track of those options is even more important.

[Liz]

I keep $1000 emergency cash hidden in my RV. CArol taught me to divide it and hide it in more than one place, but I admit I no longer do that. It is enough that if my wallet and credit cards were stolen, I could get where I need to and live until they were replaced.

[retiredhappy]

I kept and still do, copies of both sides of all my credit cards, driver's license, medical cards, etc. In this day and age I don't think I would store any of my personal card information for anything, on line. Hackers could possibly access it and it would take longer for you to realize you'd been hacked. When traveling I kept extra cash in a fake soup can located in my pantry.

[Carolinagal]

I carry quite a large amount of cash also, but still divide up and keep in different places and especially amount for getting me back home is always in what I hope is the safest place. BUT THESE DAYS I MAKE A CODED NOTE AS TO WHERE ITS ALL HIDDEN !! give you one guess why, and its not because I've lost any yet.
I don't keep license in purse, but do keep an amount of cash in it in hopes if someone breaks in and gets purse they will think maybe that is all I have left (couple hundred) and won't tear the place apart.

Never have had a problem, but sure its because I've been lucky as I do know several who have been robbed and all their money was in one place , usually a purse or wallet of sorts just setting there.

We all have to do what and how we think and hope we don't have a testing of our ideas as to keeping our funds safe.

CArol

This was a great subject to bring up Judy !!!

[Acadianmom]

At one time I had made a copy of the front and back of the credit cards I carry and left it in my desk where my son could find it if needed. I probably need to do that again. My fear is being off somewhere and having my RV stolen. If I'm by myself I eat the food I bring. My sister always wants to eat out. I hate to walk off and leave it in a parking lot.

Martha

[Carolinagal]

I don't eat out while traveling either, I think its more restful to have a break and eat in my rv. Usually have a book going or there is always the IPad Unless at a gtg, and there is someone to eat out with, I don't advertise I am alone in some other state.

CArol

I have read that you shouldn't use your remote to lock your rig, use the key instead when leaving the rv. I do this when traveling.

[Pooker]

For some reason, the remote for Serendipity doesn't work even though I've replaced the battery. I have to lock the doors with the key, but I don't think the security system is activated when I lock up that way. Bad part is having to check all the doors to be sure they are locked! With the fob, everything locked with one click.

I've had checks stolen 3 different times. When the house was broken into, the clever crook found my boxes of bank checks. He took one of the packets from 4-5 sets down so it wouldn't be noticed right away. Since I had gone through this stolen blank check routine before, it was the first thing I checked. Sure enough, one set of numbers was taken from both my bank's checking account and my credit union account. Also, the police told me only one check is needed because all they need is the bottom series of numbers and they can duplicate their own checks using your account and bank's numbers.

A friend had her credit card numbers stolen when she filled up her RV at a truck stop station. The thieves immediately stole her identity, had her mail forwarded, created new credit cards, etc. Of course she cancelled everything and the bank issued her new credit cards. A few weeks later the new card numbers were stolen, too, even though she hadn't even used the card yet! Figure that one out!

We can only protect ourselves just so much. No matter where your hiding place is in a rig, a real professional can probably find it. One saving grace, though, is that RV's aren't broken into as often as homes or cars. I guess it's because the thieves don't know if someone may be inside with a weapon, or there may be a biting dog left inside. It sure is a different world these days. I remember a time when a wallet could have been left on the picnic table and some other camper would put it inside your tent. That's how old I am girls!!!!

Pooker

[Bethers]

Speaking of this - over the years I've used some of my "cash stash" for some tours etc I wanted to do - and it's time to add to it. Like Liz and CArole, I keep a little more in case it's needed. One time in Canada, even though I'd notified credit card companies I'd be there, I couldn't use my cards to get gas ... I dug out my cash until I hit Alaska. You never know when you might need some.

I used to be very diligent about my various credit cards - guess I should organize and copy, etc again.

I rarely ever use checks anymore - but still have them - stuffed away in here for when I need one.

[Wanderer2]

Good info-thank you. As I prepare to hit the road there are so many things that I haven't even thought of yet so all of this is helpful. I am taking a deep breath and close on the house this Wednesday. I have been on the hunt for an rv but haven't found one yet. I kind of know what I want, but have to spend some time in it and get the feel of it.
This has been an emotional journey for me but I am doing OK. You know sometimes when you know that you are doing the right thing for yourself but it hurts anyway? I know that I will get through this and be on my way. Anyway, thanks for all of your good info-I will add it to the list.

[JudyJB]

I can't find the things I hide, let alone have a thief find them. I think hiding things inside an RV is fairly safe, assuming you don't put things in obvious places. My sugar container spilled in my top dishes cabinet a few days ago, so I had to get on my stool and empty everything out so I could clean up the mess. Found a bottle of painkillers from 2012 that I had apparently stashed up there. Completely expired! (An RV is sort of like having a gigantic purse with too many pockets, except a LOT worse.)

One thing I DON'T do is travel with jewelry and family treasures. Those things stay in my safety deposit box. I don't wear jewelry anyway, and what I have is mostly what my parents bought me as a teen and some things my mother gave me. I am going to make printed copies of my credit cards and membership cards when I am at my son's house (using his printer) and have him put the hard copies in his gun safe, where I also keep my backup hard drive. Then, if I lose my cards, I can call him, and he can email the copies to me so I can cancel them, or he can do that for me.

And while I am going to keep some extra cash, I might do what I did many years ago--buy some American Express Travelers checks. Yes, they are not easy to cash, but I belong to a credit union and can use thousands of branches around the country, so could cash them there. They saved me in England.

One last thing--those of us who hide things probably should tell a trusted child or relative. Would hate to be like the person who hid money and the family had to tear walls apart when he died! I also need to put a password list together and give it to my older son so in case anything happens to me he can access my accounts, know where bills are online that need to be paid, and cancel reservations.

[etexlady]

Interesting thread. It inspired me to enter all my credit card information into Last Pass. I still need to enter other important things like bank/credit union accounts, driver's license, medical/health id cards, etc. Wheelingit had good advice too. Keep those ideas coming!

[LilGoBug]

So many great ideas here that I will implement. Being new to traveling in a motorhome I hadn't given much thought to what to do with my purse when we go hiking. When we took car trips I just locked everything in the trunk. No trunk in a motorhome and I doubt the basement locks would stop anyone. I have some good ideas now. Thanks!!

[Acadianmom]

Unless you change the locks on the basement storage the keys are pretty much universal. The chances are there will be someone in the campground with a key that would fit yours. I opened a compartment one time for someone that had lost his key.

If I ever make any really long trips I may have to get a debit card or one for ATMs. I'm afraid to let Harold lose with something like that. It's just a miricle that he hasn't lost a check book.

Martha

[JudyJB]

You can buy replacement locks. Here is one I bought but have never gotten around to installing. http://www.essentialhardware.com/fjm-se ... Ak-e8P8HAQ

OK, maybe I need to dig it out and install it. If it is not too hard, I will buy several.