No matter how wealthy or how poor we are we all have a little cash on hand, maybe it's a couple of bucks maybe it is considerably more it depends on our circumstances and our life style. As preppers we realize the importance of keeping some cash on hand in case the SHTF and the banks are closed or we can't get to them. There could be a thousand scenarios that could play out that might lead us to that situation: severe weather, personal illness or injury, forced government closure, cyber attack, EMP, economic collapse etc. The list goes on. However many of us have little idea of how much cash we should reasonably keep on hand. What make it more difficult for some is that they don't often use cash as method for transactions. In all every day transactions I never use cash, it is all done with the use of debit cards, credit cards and electronic transaction.
I have two stashes, a modest one that I carry with me and the other in a safe location at home. I always carry cash just in case but I never use it. The recent debacle in Cyprus has caused me to reevaluate my cash stash. We learn from experience and we base our future behavior on experience. So for those of you who were wondering how much cash should I keep at home the minimum amount has just been revealed. In Cyprus the banks were closed for twelve days straight by government order. There was no warning so people could not draw out what they needed in advance. This has shown us that the absolute cash minimum that you should keep on hand is enough to sustain all your endeavors for two weeks. From groceries to entertainment and the tank or two of gas that you need for transportation in a week add it up and multiply by two.
Again this is the bare minimum that you should keep and hand and it would be prudent to keep much more but for those starting out and those reevaluating their situation it is a starting point.
Good post. Thanks
" Those willing to give up liberty for security deserve niether and will lose both " ??
We don't have alot of money so we just chose to start saving all our toonies and $5 dollar bills. After awhile they start adding up. We decided small denominations were not only easier to save budget wise but probably more useful if needed too.
I do the same. With family south of the border, I keep a stash of Can and USD. If circumstances required, my GOOD plan includes having the cash on hand to manage here or down south.
Needs must when the devil drives.
I'm just starting to "prepare" and your post is very useful, thanks.
Hi catgreentea! Welcome aboard 🙂
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Quack, Cluck, Moo, Hee-Haw, Meow and Baaaaaaa from Shalom Engedi Farm
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Welcome to the forum Catgreentea. If you are just starting out it is easy to start to prepare if you take it slowly and address your highest priorities first. As far as t your cash stash is concerned even if you start by just saving all your change you will be surprised how fast it accumulates.
I have 50 oz pieces of silver and $300 cash, hopefully with enough warning I will be maxing my credit card to max. Even with power out some places still have the old machines.
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
If you ever listen to financial planners, the same message is repeated time and again; one needs to have an emergency fund. Who would have thought that you would be getting prepping advice from these folks but I really think it's true. I've heard that one should have anywhere from three to six months of living expenses tucked away for if and when your own private S hits the fan. While I'm certain that a financial planner would direct your funds to what ever institution they work with, I think it prudent to keep that stash a little closer to home. I've written this elsewhere and will do so again... I really think that saving for retirement some day ought to be considered a "prep" for any responsible prepper as well. consider it a prep that you hope you get to use versus all of the ones in place that you hope you don't have to use.
Ranger, I personally recommend keeping enough on hand to replace a furnace in the middle of winter. I don't know your situation, but I do know what it's like to loose heat on Christmas Eve and have to scramble.
Needs must when the devil drives.
My furnace is fairly new with a renewed 3 year plan on it. So that hurdle is already old news. 
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
Money has no real value when SHTF. What would cost a dollar now will cost much MUCH more in an emergency. Spend it now on things you may need in the future.
There are many different kinds of SHTF events. If it is your own personal SHTF situation like loss of employment or illness resulting in loss of income that little stash might come in quite handy. 😉
It's good to have a few cash stashes here and there. Always make them secure and remember where they are. After Cyprus and the Canadian Economic Action Plan 2013 (page 145ish) saying that in a (I paraphrase here) "systemic bank failure" a "bail-in" is an option. (for those not in the know that equals YOUR BANK does stupid business bad and needs $$$$ so gov't says ok and they grab a portion of YOUR $$$ from YOUR ACCOUNT.) Since reading those fateful words I have decided to leave in my bank only what I can afford to lose.
Also for those not in the know: neat fact: 4% of our $$ in Canada is actual paper money, the rest is electronic (in other words, it only exists in LaLaLand and on bank balance sheets). Think you'll get your cash in a bank run?
Ranger: Love the thought of silver on hand but really, if silver prices per ounce goes through the roof, who can you trade your 50. oz wealth with? Make sure your ounces are small enough for SHTF trading. Remember: gov't has a bad habit of confiscating gold during inflation or lack of confidence in a country's currency. (1930's US). Silver may be overlooked and is a better bet since it does cost less than gold.
$300 only Ranger??.......Dunno your circumstances, you'll have to convince me that's enough.
“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
My former brother in law, use to drop all his pocket change into a large bottle every day. When that bottle was full, he would take it to the bank (Germany) and pour it into the coin sorter. He would end up with $300-$500, mind you, it took 2 people to carry it into the bank.
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
Cash on hand will depend on current situation, we are in debt to the gills, so any additional cash on hand is a bonus. If you don't know the situation, than criticism doesn't help. 😐
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."