30 EASY PREPAREDNESS IDEAS — DAY 12

Start a Small Emergency Cash Stash

Welcome to Day 12 of our 30 Easy Preparedness Ideas!

Today's challenge is a little different.

We're not checking the pantry.

We're not charging a flashlight.

We're not packing a Grab-N-Go Bag.

Today we're putting aside something that can be very useful when technology isn't cooperating:

CASH. 

Before you start thinking, “Mimi, I don't have hundreds of dollars to put away for an emergency!”

Neither do you need to!

Today's challenge can start with just:

$10 OR $20.

That's it.

Remember what this entire month is about?

ONE LITTLE THING AT A TIME. 

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WHY KEEP A LITTLE EMERGENCY CASH?

Most of us are used to paying with:

• Debit cards
• Credit cards
• Phones
• Watches
•  Online accounts

They're convenient—until they aren't available.

Power outages, communication disruptions or payment-system problems can sometimes make electronic payments unavailable.

Having a little cash gives you another option.

It isn't meant to replace your bank account or normal payment methods.

It's simply another layer of preparedness.

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START SMALL

Here's today's challenge:

Put $10 or $20 aside for emergencies.

If that's too much right now?

Start with $5.

If you can comfortably put aside more?

Great.

The amount isn't the important part today.

Starting is.

Maybe next payday you add another $10.

Then another $5.

Then another $20.

Over time, that little emergency cash stash can grow without becoming a big hit to your budget.

Mimi's Tip: Preparedness shouldn't mean skipping your electric bill so you can build an emergency cash stash!

Work within YOUR budget.

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THINK SMALL BILLS

If possible, keep at least some of your emergency cash in smaller denominations.

Think:

• $1 bills
• $5 bills
• $10 bills
• $20 bills

Why?

During a disruption, a business or individual may not be able to make change easily.

If something costs $7 and all you have is a $100 bill...

That could be a problem.

Having smaller bills gives you more flexibility.

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WHAT ABOUT COINS?

A small amount of change can be useful too.

You don't need a giant jar of quarters in your Grab-N-Go Bag. 

Remember:

SMALL. LIGHT. USEFUL.

A few dollars in coins may be worth including depending on your needs, but don't weigh down an emergency bag unnecessarily.

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WHERE SHOULD YOU KEEP IT?

Your emergency cash should be:

✔️ Somewhere secure
✔️ Somewhere you can access during an emergency
✔️ Somewhere you will remember

Exactly where you keep it is a personal decision.

You may decide to keep emergency cash with your household emergency supplies and a smaller amount in a Grab-N-Go Bag or another secure location.

But here's an important reminder:

DON'T ADVERTISE WHERE YOU KEEP YOUR EMERGENCY CASH.

This is one preparedness item that doesn't need a cute label on the outside saying:

“MIMI'S EMERGENCY MONEY — LOOK HERE!” 

Keep it discreet and secure.

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SHOULD CASH GO IN YOUR GRAB-N-GO BAG?

A small amount may make sense.

Think about what you might need if you had to leave home unexpectedly.

Maybe:

• Transportation needs
• Food
• Water
• Basic necessities
• Pet needs
• Unexpected expenses

Your Grab-N-Go emergency cash doesn't need to be your entire emergency fund.

It's simply enough to give you another option if normal electronic payments aren't available.

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WHAT ABOUT THE CAR?

After Day 10, you might be thinking about putting emergency cash in your vehicle too.

If you choose to do that, think carefully about security.

Vehicles can be broken into, lost or stolen.

Instead of keeping a large amount in your car, you may decide that a small amount stored discreetly is enough for your personal situation.

Preparedness should always be balanced with common sense.

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THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY

How much emergency cash you eventually want to keep depends on your household.

Ask yourself:

“What might WE need cash for during a short disruption?”

A single adult's needs may look different from a family of five.

A household with babies, pets or special needs may have different priorities.

There's no magic dollar amount that works for everyone.

That's why today we're not worrying about the final number.

We're just STARTING.

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ADD CASH TO YOUR 6-MONTH CHECK

Look at everything we've been adding to our regular preparedness check!

• Batteries
• Emergency snacks
• Backup power
• Pet supplies
• Car supplies
• First-aid supplies

And now:

EMERGENCY CASH

Every six months, check that your cash is still where it belongs and decide whether you want to add a little more.

You might even make it a habit:

$5 here. $10 there.

Little amounts can add up over time.

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MIMI'S MINI CHALLENGE

Want to make this one even easier?

The next time you have a $5 bill left in your wallet at the end of the week...

Put it in your emergency cash stash.

You probably won't miss one $5 bill nearly as much as you'd notice trying to come up with a larger amount all at once.

That's how I like preparedness:

SMALL STEPS THAT ADD UP.

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TODAY'S EASY PREPAREDNESS CHALLENGE

Today:

☐ Find $10 or $20 you can comfortably set aside—or start with $5
☐ Include smaller bills when possible
☐ Choose a secure, accessible location
☐ Consider a small amount for your Grab-N-Go supplies
☐ Don't publicly label or advertise where it's stored
☐ Decide whether you'd like to add a little each payday or month
☐ Add emergency cash to your 6-month preparedness check

That's it!

You started another layer of your emergency plan today.

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✅ DAY 12 — DONE!

You don't need to have $500 tucked away by tonight.

You don't even need $100.

START WITH WHAT YOU CAN.

$5 becomes $10.

$10 becomes $20.

$20 becomes $40.

And little by little, you've created another resource your family can turn to if normal payment systems aren't available.

Preparedness doesn't have to happen all at once.

It just has to START. 

Tomorrow for Day 13, we're making something that costs almost nothing but could be incredibly useful:

AN EMERGENCY CONTACT CARD!

Until then...

One little thing at a time.

— Mimi 

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