24 Home Security Tips
.24 Home Security Tips
With perhaps the exception of fire, home burglary is the biggest threat to our safety at home. Depending on where you live, government statistics show that a home burglary occurs every few seconds. While the exact number obviously varies, best estimates in the USA have burglaries occurring every 8 seconds.
Unlike the stereotypical burglar we see in the media and movies, most home burglaries actually occur weekdays during work hours. This is for the simple and obvious reason that the burglar chooses the path of least possible resistance, and this includes picking a time when they are least likely to run into the homeowner.
24 Home Security Tips
With perhaps the exception of fire, home burglary is the biggest threat to our safety at home. Depending on where you live, government statistics show that a home burglary occurs every few seconds. While the exact number obviously varies, best estimates in the USA have burglaries occurring every 8 seconds.
Unlike the stereotypical burglar we see in the media and movies, most home burglaries actually occur weekdays during work hours. This is for the simple and obvious reason that the burglar chooses the path of least possible resistance, and this includes picking a time when they are least likely to run into the homeowner.
The majority of burglars are potentially dangerous however, should they run into the homeowner. It should be assumed that most of them would be armed in some way, albeit with a screwdriver or crowbar, and the majority of them (approximately 75%) of them use force to gain entry. A burglar, like any other violent criminal will utilize maximal force against what they perceive to be the weakest target. A house that appears to be a "hard target", will usually be bypassed for a more vulnerable easy pick.
This is because most burglars are young males, under 30, looking for an easy score that they can convert into quick cash. In most cases, the drug trade is what fuels this, as the burglar is looking for valuables, TV equipment, DVD players, Laptops, etc., to convert into cash, which then is used to keep them a high for the day until the whole sordid cycle repeats itself again the next day, on yet another innocent victim.
Home Security Tips
Burglars will choose the easiest, softest target in a home. Therefore it is a good idea to use a systematic approach in assessing your home's vulnerabilities, effectively turning liabilities into strengths. As mentioned before, there is no such thing in the "real world" as a burglar proof home, but that shouldn't preclude us from pursuing that value as if it were an absolute. Most burglars will typically spend less than a minute trying to gain entry and less than 3 minutes inside. The enemy of the burglar are, when you get down to it, two things: time and noticability.
Time is a self explanatory natural enemy of the burglar. The longer that he has to work to get in, the safer you are, as the likelihood of him giving up increases by the minute. Every minute longer that he spends trying to get in, brings him closer to the second natural enemy of the burglar, noticability. Noticability comes in two forms: audibility and visibility. Anything that will cause the burglar to be seen or heard is an asset to you!
24 Tips To a More Secure Home!
Survey your home, thinking like a would-be burglar. Try to assess things that are a threat to your time, audibility and visibility. Are there windows hidden by shrubs? Are there windows out of view from the neighbors?
Are there doors or windows that back onto a ravine, where the criminal could easily exit? Are there valuables visible to anyone who might look in your windows? What doors and windows are the softest targets?
If someone were to break a door or window, is it likely that it would not be heard by a neighbor? Are there ladders in your driveway or backyard that a criminal could use to access a vulnerable second floor window?
Have a look at the locks on your doors, the length of the screws used to secure the hinges, and the screws used in the striker plates that the deadbolts rest in. You do have deadbolts on your doors, don't you? Quite often the screws uses are so short that they are really useless. For example, the place I am renting now is a small house.
When I moved in, I found that the screws holding the deadbolt striker plate into the door frame were only 1/4" long, and the ones used to secure the door hinges were actually 1/2" long. My 70 year old mum could likely kick in the door! Needless to say, I replaced them with 3" screws.
Securing the door frames themselves makes good sense. Mostly they are made of just cheap pine wood, and the force of a strong kick can easily split the frame. It is a good idea to put some of those three inch screws right into the door frame at 6 inch intervals as well. If you live in a high risk area, perhaps consider using a metal brace with staggered screw holes which is about 8-12" long, 1/8" thick, and 1 1/2" wide, screwed right onto the frame itself. That frame, isn't going anywhere!
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Even the Smartest Man In the World Was A Terrible Central Banker
.Even the Smartest Man In the World Was A Terrible Central Banker
Notes From The Field By Simon Black May 9, 2022
By the early Spring of 1696, England was on the brink of a major currency crisis that had been building for decades. This was back in an era where English money was primarily silver; more than 1,000 years ago, in fact, Britain’s pound sterling was originally struck by Anglo-Saxon kings in the British Isles as one “Tower pound” of sterling silver.
(The ‘Tower pound’ was a medieval unit of measurement roughly equivalent to 0.75 modern pounds.) But over time, of course, English kings heavily debased their coins and reduced the silver content; by the mid-1600s, the pound only contained about 1/3 its original silver content.
Even the Smartest Man In the World Was A Terrible Central Banker
Notes From The Field By Simon Black May 9, 2022
By the early Spring of 1696, England was on the brink of a major currency crisis that had been building for decades. This was back in an era where English money was primarily silver; more than 1,000 years ago, in fact, Britain’s pound sterling was originally struck by Anglo-Saxon kings in the British Isles as one “Tower pound” of sterling silver.
(The ‘Tower pound’ was a medieval unit of measurement roughly equivalent to 0.75 modern pounds.) But over time, of course, English kings heavily debased their coins and reduced the silver content; by the mid-1600s, the pound only contained about 1/3 its original silver content.
This massive debasement, though, wasn’t just a game for kings. People across England realized that they too could reduce the silver content of the coins.
Metallurgy and minting technologies were still in their infancy; most coins in circulation at the time had been hand-made, literally hammered at a forge by silversmiths, so they were riddled with imperfections and irregularities.
People figured out that they could easily clip a few grains of silver off each coin, keep the metal scraps for themselves, and put the shaved coin right back into circulation.
Eventually everyone was stealing silver from the coins, from the mightiest king to the lowliest peasant. Even workers inside the Royal Mint routinely shaved silver from the coins they were striking.
This practice continued until the coins had become laughably tiny; imagine a US quarter that had been shaved and clipped down to the size of a penny.
To make matters worse, the price of silver kept steadily rising. England had been in a nearly perpetual state of war, including its bloody Civil War in the 1640s. Public finances were in turmoil, and chaos was rampant.
People turned to silver as a safe haven, and demand for the metal soared.
But the Royal Mint, which purchased silver from miners and traders in order to produce more coins, refused to pay market price for silver; their official price was well below the prevailing market price.
Naturally this led to a shortage of coins.
In fact, the market price for silver became so high that people used to melt down their coins and sell the metal at a profit to silversmiths.
You can see the problem here: English coins were rapidly disappearing from circulation. And those few coins that remained had been clipped down to a hilariously diminutive size.
Naturally it took decades for the government to finally get serious-- just after King William III suffered a massive defeat in 1690 at the hands of the French navy, and he was desperate to rebuild his military.
But England was heavily in debt. And they had almost no savings, no credit, and very little coin.
The government tried a host of ideas to come up with quick cash, including forced loans, lotteries, and paper money. But the primary debate was about the coinage: how could they fix this problem?
Many people were in favor of a major devaluation, essentially slashing the value of the coins until they were in balance with the actual metal content. Others pushed for a recoinage, i.e. calling in all the old coins and replacing them with new ones based on the better technology that had emerged.
Some of England’s brightest minds stepped forward to offer their advice, including the philosopher John Locke.
Locke was adamantly opposed to a devaluation, stating that “it will weaken, if not totally destroy, the public faith”.
And Locke had plenty of support-- most notably from his good friend Isaac Newton.
Newton was legendary in England, practically a living god. And with he and Locke both on the same page against the devaluation, Parliament authorized the “Great Recoinage” of 1696.
And to really drive the point home, Isaac Newton himself was made Warden of the Royal Mint, on the 2 May 1696, to personally oversee the program.
Now, the actual central bank, i.e. the Bank of England, had just been created only a few months before, so they didn’t really have much power yet.
This essentially made Isaac Newton the de facto central banker of England, since he was in control of the nation’s money supply.
Newton applied his unparalleled genius to his new post with admirable dedication.
He personally tracked down, interrogated, and prosecuted counterfeiters. And he was a also man of impeccable integrity, having once refused a bribe of £6,000, worth roughly $1MM today.
But, candidly speaking, he sucked as a central banker.
Newton threw himself into studying international markets and metals prices, and routinely reported back to Parliament with recommendations about adjusting the value of the coins.
In a 1701 report, for example, he meticulously calculated what the value of English gold and silver coins should be, based on current market prices in Spain and France.
Newton may have been right at the time. But almost immediately after his report was published, the market prices changed. Market prices always change.
And he never figured out that no man, not even Isaac Newton himself, was smart enough to regulate the price and value of money.
The Great Recoinage ended up being a total disaster. The Mint recalled all the old coins, but replaced them with new coins based on equivalent silver weight.
In other words, people received the same amount of silver from the Mint that they had turned in. But since the silver content in the new coins was higher, they received fewer coins.
This made people feel like they were being robbed… and riots quickly broke out across England.
Plus, markets plummeted. And a massive deflationary spiral caused widespread economic devastation.
Now, it’s not like these consequences were Newton’s fault. He was incredibly well-meaning and clearly did his best.
But even the smartest man in the world at the time-- one of the greatest intellectual giants in human history-- couldn’t manage to properly regulate the price/value of money, or to prevent economic disaster.
This is a really important lesson.
For some bizarre reason, we are made to have unshakable confidence in today’s central bankers. No one questions their wisdom and infallibility, and it’s inconceivable that they would ever make the wrong call.
This is ludicrous. People make mistakes. Even Isaac Newton. Even modern central bankers.
One needn’t look any farther than last week’s remarks by the Federal Reserve, in which the Chairman told the American people:
“Inflation is much too high. . . and we’re moving expeditiously to bring it down. We have both the tools we need and the resolve it will take to restore price stability.”
Yet only moments later he ruled out the possibility of increasing interest rates by more than 0.5% at a time.
So basically they’ll do whatever it takes to fight inflation… except for what it may actually take to fight inflation.
That’s like the Detroit Lions saying they’ll do whatever it takes to win… except for making any changes to their roster, coaching staff, or front office management. Good luck with that.
The Fed seems to have consulted the recently departed Meatloaf for inspiration: “And I would do anything to reduce inflation… but I won’t. do. That.”
Fed officials are walking the ultimate tightrope. Inflation is at a multi-decade high. Government debts and deficit spending has never been higher. Supply chains are in chaos. Covid is still a thing after 2+ years, forcing major world economies to shut down. There’s a war raging, conflict is rising.
Oh, and the US economy shrank last quarter.
To presume they can simply wave a magic wand and engineer widespread prosperity forever and ever until the end of time is a little bit foolish.
Even Isaac Newton couldn’t get it right. You might want to have a Plan B… just in case the Fed doesn’t get it right either.
To your freedom, Simon Black, Founder, SovereignMan.com
Over 60 Places to Hide Valuables in Your Home
.Over 60 Places to Hide Valuables in Your Home
Rising burglary and home invasion rates are the main reasons one might consider hiding property or valuables from others. There are many good reasons for hiding money, cash and valuables.
Some of the more common hiding places for cash or valuables are a home security safe, decoy safes, gun safes, a floor safe, or some sort of specialized money safe. However, sometimes the best hiding places are right in plain sight in your own home. You can hide things in your home in such a way that you won't even have to spend a cent on some expensive home security safe.
Over 60 Places to Hide Valuables in Your Home
Rising burglary and home invasion rates are the main reasons one might consider hiding property or valuables from others. There are many good reasons for hiding money, cash and valuables.
Some of the more common hiding places for cash or valuables are a home security safe, decoy safes, gun safes, a floor safe, or some sort of specialized money safe. However, sometimes the best hiding places are right in plain sight in your own home. You can hide things in your home in such a way that you won't even have to spend a cent on some expensive home security safe.
How and where you hide your valuables will depend on three important things. The first, decide whatever it is that you are trying to hide. It is precious coins or jewelry? a stamp or coin collection? money? incriminating or critical documents, foreign currency, gold or other precious metals, firearms, external hard drives with your bitcoins, family heirlooms? The list could go on and on.
The second is whom are you trying to hide it from? It is a burglar, nosy relatives or landlords or some other criminal who has found out that you have something worth stealing?
This is important because the average thief will just snatch loot what can fenced quickly (electronics, jewelry), and likes to be in and out as quickly as possible (usually ten to twenty minutes). Weigh the risk if your valuables were found - what would be the consequences? The most valuable items could be hidden in something like a floor safe, while others in makeshift hiding places where you could have fast daily access to them.
Then, once you've got an idea of all the things you need to hide to make it very difficult for burglars to find, the final thing you need to do is decide on multiple hiding spots so that all of your loot isn't in one or two places.
Obviously, don't use well known places and avoid anything in the bedroom including dresser drawers, closets, inside clothes pockets or socks, and under mattresses or pillows. This would the first place anyone would look. The bedroom still remains the number one room that burglars go to.
Likewise, avoid the medicine cabinet (most home burglaries are committed by those involved in the street drug scene and will scour your medicine cabinet for any medications they can sell) and any hiding place visible from the front door of your house. If the objects are really sensitive you may better hiding it off the premises.
Perhaps you could also keep some valuables with a trusted neighbor, relative, or long time friend.
Secret Spots to Hide Valuables at Home
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10 Things You Must Know About Becoming a Millionaire
.10 Things You Must Know About Becoming a Millionaire
By: the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Dan Burrows April 26, 2021
Think you are a millionaire in the making? Read on to see what it takes to be truly destined for wealth.
Being a millionaire isn't a ticket to mansions, yachts and caviar like it once was, but the goal is more reachable than ever. According to 2020 data from Phoenix Marketing International, a firm that tracks the affluent market, 6.71% of U.S. households (or 8,386,508 out of 125,018,808 total U.S. households) have investable assets of $1 million or more.
Note well that to be considered a millionaire by the standards of wealth research, a household must have investable assets of $1 million or more, excluding the value of real estate, employer-sponsored retirement plans and business partnerships, among other select assets.
10 Things You Must Know About Becoming a Millionaire
By: the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Dan Burrows April 26, 2021
Think you are a millionaire in the making? Read on to see what it takes to be truly destined for wealth.
Being a millionaire isn't a ticket to mansions, yachts and caviar like it once was, but the goal is more reachable than ever. According to 2020 data from Phoenix Marketing International, a firm that tracks the affluent market, 6.71% of U.S. households (or 8,386,508 out of 125,018,808 total U.S. households) have investable assets of $1 million or more.
Note well that to be considered a millionaire by the standards of wealth research, a household must have investable assets of $1 million or more, excluding the value of real estate, employer-sponsored retirement plans and business partnerships, among other select assets.
That's only one way to measure if someone's a millionaire, of course. A net worth of $1 million also qualifies; subtract liabilities, including mortgages and car loans, from assets, including home equity and retirement savings, to determine your net worth. (Use our Net Worth Calculator to get your number.) Either way, hitting the million-dollar mark is no small feat.
Keep reading to see if you have what it takes to become a millionaire.
1 of 10 Most Millionaires Are Made, Not Born
Some folks figure that if they didn't summer in Martha's Vineyard or attend boarding school as a child, they have no chance of becoming a millionaire. But you don't need rich parents to become a millionaire yourself.
Just like Oprah Winfrey and the protagonists of virtually every Horatio Alger novel, the vast majority of Americans with a net worth of at least $1 million were not born rich. In fact, just 1 in 5 millionaires received money from a trust fund or an estate, according to The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. During his 30 years researching the wealthy, Stanley says he consistently found that between 80% and 85% of all millionaires are self-made. More recently, a 2017 Fidelity Investments survey indicated that 88% of millionaires built their wealth themselves.
Among our favorite rags-to-riches millionaires: Radio One founder Catherine Hughes, a teenage mom and college drop-out; Tastefully Simple CEO Jill Blashack Strahan, who grew up on a farm; and entrepreneur Ali Brown, who had less than $20 in her bank account when she launched her first marketing company in 1998.
2 of 10 You Don't Need a High-Powered Graduate Degree
With condolences to those with grad school debt, an advanced degree does improve your chances of higher lifetime income, but it doesn't necessarily improve your chances of joining the millionaires' club. Only 18% of those with a net worth of $1 million or more hold a master's degree, while 8% have law degrees and 6% went to medical school, according to The Millionaire Next Door.
Seventy-four percent of millionaires do have an undergraduate degree, even if they didn't stick around for their master's or PhD, according to Spectrem Group, a consulting firm that specializes in wealth research and management. (Spectrem defines a millionaire as someone with a net worth of $1 million excluding the value of a primary residence.) That number is 70.1% among the billionaire set, according to a 2015 Wealth-X census.
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How To Bounce Back From a Financial Setback
.How To Bounce Back From a Financial Setback (Without Beating Yourself Up for It)
Gabrielle Olya Mon, May 2, 2022,
t’s easy to be self-critical of our mistakes, and when we make a financial mistake, it can bruise our wallet in addition to our self-esteem. But no matter what financial setback you are facing, with the proper plan, it’s possible to bounce back. In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Eleni Patel, a CPA with Equitable Advisors, about the common financial mistakes women make and how they can recover from them.
Common Mistake No. 1: Not Actively Participating in Long-Term Financial Planning
Patel said that her female clients often make two common mistakes, the first of which is taking a backseat when it comes to planning financially for the long term.
How To Bounce Back From a Financial Setback (Without Beating Yourself Up for It)
Gabrielle Olya Mon, May 2, 2022,
t’s easy to be self-critical of our mistakes, and when we make a financial mistake, it can bruise our wallet in addition to our self-esteem. But no matter what financial setback you are facing, with the proper plan, it’s possible to bounce back. In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Eleni Patel, a CPA with Equitable Advisors, about the common financial mistakes women make and how they can recover from them.
Common Mistake No. 1: Not Actively Participating in Long-Term Financial Planning
Patel said that her female clients often make two common mistakes, the first of which is taking a backseat when it comes to planning financially for the long term.
“For women who are in relationships, they may delegate the long-term financial planning and investing to their partners,” she said. “We often find that women are highly involved in managing the household and day-to-day expenses — paying bills, buying groceries and other household items — but are not nearly involved to the same extent in long-term financial planning, such as future income production, cash flow management and investing.”
Single women also tend to focus on the short term.
“Women who are single often focus on short-term needs — one to three years ahead — but don’t have a long-term plan for the next 10, 20, 30+ years,” Patel said. “In our view, long-term financial planning is especially important for women, as we tend to live longer than men.”
How To Bounce Back From This Mistake
“It is never too late to take control and play an active role in mapping out your financial future,” Patel said. “Every day is a new day in financial planning! No matter where you are in life or what your financial situation looks like, start prioritizing your financial well-being today.”
Even if you are in a bad financial place right now, being proactive is the only way to change your situation.
“There are many women (and men) of all ages, who have recovered from major financial setbacks, such as bankruptcy and foreclosure, who go on to achieve great financial wealth,” Patel said. “Wherever you are, start today by setting goals and formulating a plan to reach them. If you have a partner, engage in regular conversations about your finances to make sure you both have input in setting goals, evaluating opportunities and managing risk.”
Common Mistake No. 2: Not Investing
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https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/bounce-back-financial-setback-without-200019364.html
How To Become A Personal Finance “Black Belt”
.How To Become A Personal Finance “Black Belt”
Written by Sam
David Allen in “Getting Things Done” compares productivity to the martial arts. He gives instruction on how to become a black belt in your personal productivity with a “mind like water” that allows you to handle anything that comes your way with a balanced response. When a stone is thrown into a pond, the water reacts with perfect balance. It reacts just enough to disperse the energy, no more, and then returns to a calm state. It doesn’t over or under react.
Becoming a black belt and having a “mind like water” in your personal finances is very similar. It means you can take whatever is thrown at you without knocking your finances out of control. You can respond to any situation with perfect balance. Unexpected events or changes in your finances, good or bad, can be handled with optimum efficiency, and little or no stress. It means you can direct the flow of money where you need it almost effortlessly.
How To Become A Personal Finance “Black Belt”
Written by Sam
David Allen in “Getting Things Done” compares productivity to the martial arts. He gives instruction on how to become a black belt in your personal productivity with a “mind like water” that allows you to handle anything that comes your way with a balanced response. When a stone is thrown into a pond, the water reacts with perfect balance. It reacts just enough to disperse the energy, no more, and then returns to a calm state. It doesn’t over or under react.
Becoming a black belt and having a “mind like water” in your personal finances is very similar. It means you can take whatever is thrown at you without knocking your finances out of control. You can respond to any situation with perfect balance. Unexpected events or changes in your finances, good or bad, can be handled with optimum efficiency, and little or no stress. It means you can direct the flow of money where you need it almost effortlessly.
In an effort to help people gauge where they are in their personal finance development, I’ve defined what people at the various “belts” might look like. Where are you?
White Belt
You’ve recognized there is a problem with your finances and have committed to taking control. Recognition that there’s problem may come as a nagging doubt that you’re not meeting all your financial goals or a harsh reality check as you face mounting debt. You have a lot of stress concerning finances (even if you’re living within your means). You tend to fight with your spouse every time you discuss financial matters.
You recognize your spending isn’t in line with your true values. You have no idea where all the money goes from month to month. You may be living paycheck to paycheck. If you saved $5 on your phone bill, it would just disappear somewhere but you don’t know where. Your idea of an emergency fund is a credit card or Home Equity Line of Credit. You frequently pay late fees on your bills and unnecessary bank fees. Net worth? What’s that?
Despite your lack of financial control, you have a strong resolve to take action even though the thought of facing the “deep mess” of your finances seems overwhelming. You and your spouse have agreed to work together. In an effort to get your spending under control, you’ve started using cash for your “out-of-control” budget categories.
You’ve stopped using credit cards somewhat reluctantly and possibly out of the sheer pain of your dire financial straights. Despite some complaining, your family has agreed to use cash as well. You’ve taken initial steps to figure out what your basic monthly income and expenses are and have tried budgeting for at least one month even though it doesn’t match reality yet.
Most importantly, you’re no longer willing to BE IN DEBT!
You’re no longer willing to constantly WORRY ABOUT MONEY!
You’re no longer willing to FIGHT ABOUT MONEY!
You’re no longer willing to PAY LATE FEES!
You’re committed to TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FINANCES!
You’re committed to WORKING THROUGH FINANCIAL ISSUES TOGETHER WITH YOUR SPOUSE!
White belts come in many shapes and sizes. Of course, those steeped in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy can be white belts, but so can those who are living within their means (see below). Being a white belt means you don’t have total control over where your money goes. Your spending doesn’t reflect your true values and is not conscious. The white belt is about recognition and commitment. You’ve recognized a need to change and are committed to doing what it takes to change.
Green Belt
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9 Things You’ll Regret Keeping in a Safe Deposit Box
.9 Things You’ll Regret Keeping in a Safe Deposit Box
by: Bob Niedt September 24, 2021
Locking up certain important documents and valuables in a bank vault could turn into a headache for you or your heirs. No doubt, it's a digital world. Seemingly anything that matters is stored virtually in the cloud. To that end, a physical safe deposit box comes across as a relic of the bricks-and-mortar past. But don’t be too quick to dismiss the importance of keeping certain valuables securely tucked away in your bank’s vault.
Some examples of things you can keep in a safe deposit box include prized possessions such as baseball cards or jewelry inherited from a relative, for example. A safe deposit box can also offer critical protection for important documents.
9 Things You’ll Regret Keeping in a Safe Deposit Box
by: Bob Niedt September 24, 2021
Locking up certain important documents and valuables in a bank vault could turn into a headache for you or your heirs. No doubt, it's a digital world. Seemingly anything that matters is stored virtually in the cloud. To that end, a physical safe deposit box comes across as a relic of the bricks-and-mortar past. But don’t be too quick to dismiss the importance of keeping certain valuables securely tucked away in your bank’s vault.
Some examples of things you can keep in a safe deposit box include prized possessions such as baseball cards or jewelry inherited from a relative, for example. A safe deposit box can also offer critical protection for important documents.
But a safe deposit box isn’t a wise choice for everything. We talked to experts to come up with a list of nine things you might come to regret locking away in your bank, which isn’t open nights, holidays or perhaps even weekends.
Access to your safe deposit box could be even more limited during emergencies, including natural disasters (which could be frequent, depending on where you live). The coronavirus pandemic, too, reduced operating hours for some bank branches, and limited access or required appointments for in-branch services, such as access to safe deposit boxes. Moves like that complicate your ability to retrieve important documents or items when you need them--so create a financial plan beforehand.
Experts recommend storing important items that you need to access more frequently or on short notice in a fireproof home safe that’s bolted to the floor. But what are those items? Read on for our list of safe deposit box no-no’s.
1 of 9 Cash
You may wonder if it’s OK to put cash in a safe deposit box. Experts warn there are several reasons you shouldn't stash cash in a safe deposit box:
If you need the money in an emergency, but the bank is closed, you’re out of luck.
The idle cash loses buying power over time due to the effects of inflation. It’s better to put the money in an interest-bearing account or certificate of deposit.
Some banks expressly forbid storing cash in a safe deposit box. Read the fine print of your agreement.
Bear in mind, too, that cash in a safe deposit box isn’t protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, says Luke W. Reynolds, chief of the FDIC’s Community Outreach Section. To receive FDIC insurance, which covers up to $250,000 per depositor per insured bank, your cash needs to be deposited in a qualifying deposit account such as a checking account, savings account or CD.
2 of 9 Passport
Unless you’re, a global business executive or social media influencer who travels for clicks, you probably don’t need your passport in hand 24/7. So it’s tempting to store it in a safe deposit box where it won’t get lost, damaged or stolen. Our advice: Don’t.
A planned trip is one thing, but emergency trips by their nature are unplanned – and inevitably arise during non-banking hours. A child getting sick while studying abroad or a parent suffering an accident while on an international cruise can spark a scramble to leave the country on short notice.
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11 Best Things to Keep in a Safe Deposit Box
.11 Best Things to Keep in a Safe Deposit Box
by: Bob Niedt September 24, 2021
These valuables and documents, along with some items you hold dear, should be stored securely at your bank.
With digital records and cloud storage becoming the norm, the bricks-and-mortar safe deposit box might seem ready to join our growing list of things that will soon disappear forever. But don’t rush to declare the safe deposit box a relic of the past just yet. There can still be times when you’ll need to be able to produce certain original documents (including ones that have a raised seal) rather than digital scans or photocopies, and some valuables simply can’t be digitized.
Installing a safe in your home is one alternative to a safe deposit box, but they aren’t foolproof, says Luke Reynolds, chief of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Outreach & Program Development Section. Home safes are more susceptible to fire and water damage, not to mention theft, than bank safe deposit boxes, Reynolds says.
11 Best Things to Keep in a Safe Deposit Box
by: Bob Niedt September 24, 2021
These valuables and documents, along with some items you hold dear, should be stored securely at your bank.
With digital records and cloud storage becoming the norm, the bricks-and-mortar safe deposit box might seem ready to join our growing list of things that will soon disappear forever. But don’t rush to declare the safe deposit box a relic of the past just yet. There can still be times when you’ll need to be able to produce certain original documents (including ones that have a raised seal) rather than digital scans or photocopies, and some valuables simply can’t be digitized.
Installing a safe in your home is one alternative to a safe deposit box, but they aren’t foolproof, says Luke Reynolds, chief of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Outreach & Program Development Section. Home safes are more susceptible to fire and water damage, not to mention theft, than bank safe deposit boxes, Reynolds says.
On the other hand, access to your safe deposit box can be limited, more so during emergencies. For example, the coronavirus pandemic reduced operating hours for some bank branches, and limited access or required appointments for in-branch services, such as access to safe deposit boxes. Moves like that complicate your ability to retrieve important documents or items when you need them.
Our best advice: Use a safe deposit box and a home safe. Hard-to-replace items that you might need frequently or in a hurry, such as your passport, are best kept in the home safe, while other important items you rarely need stay in the safe deposit box.
Here are 11 of the best things to keep in a safe deposit box at your bank, updated for 2021. This guidance should also help you determine the size of the safe deposit box you wish to rent (important legal documents may take up a lot of room).
1 of 11 Social Security Card
Having your Social Security number fall into the hands of an identity thief can be the start of years of headaches as you are forced to file disputes, freeze accounts and monitor credit reports for signs of financial fraud. It’s why we rank the Social Security card among the worst things to keep in your wallet in case it’s ever lost or stolen.
Stow your Social Security card in your safe deposit box. On the rare occasions when you actually might need to produce it, say, for a real estate closing, you can plan to retrieve the card. Then immediately return it to the bank vault. Meantime, memorize the number, if you haven’t already, for filling out routine paperwork.
2 of 11 Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Certificates
Vital records that are rarely needed but a hassle to replace are prime candidates for your safe deposit box. We're talking birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates and divorce certificates. The same goes for adoption-related documents; in particular, birth certificates from an overseas adoption are extremely difficult to replace if lost or destroyed.
Government agencies typically can issue certified copies of vital records, but it’ll cost you time, money and a lot of frustration. You’ll also need to provide proof that you are entitled to copies. Virginia, for example, charges $12 per certified record (versus $25 in California and $53 in New York), and it can take weeks to receive the document by mail.
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If You Don’t Want an Emperor, Stop Giving Him Your Money
.If You Don’t Want an Emperor, Stop Giving Him Your Money
Notes From The Field By Simon Black May 4, 2022
Elon Musk may be the richest man in the world, but he has a long way to go before he catches up with Jakob “The Rich” Fugger — a powerful merchant banker who lived in the 1500s.
Fugger’s name rhymes with ‘cougar’, not ‘bugger’. Fugger was born into a prominent family in the Free City of Augsburg, part of the Holy Roman Empire. But he took his family fortune to unimaginable heights because he understood a critical concept: POWER. Most of Fugger’s competition at the time — traders and financiers across Europe — focused on accumulating wealth. Fugger focused on accumulating power.
If You Don’t Want an Emperor, Stop Giving Him Your Money
Notes From The Field By Simon Black May 4, 2022
Elon Musk may be the richest man in the world, but he has a long way to go before he catches up with Jakob “The Rich” Fugger — a powerful merchant banker who lived in the 1500s.
Fugger’s name rhymes with ‘cougar’, not ‘bugger’. Fugger was born into a prominent family in the Free City of Augsburg, part of the Holy Roman Empire. But he took his family fortune to unimaginable heights because he understood a critical concept: POWER. Most of Fugger’s competition at the time — traders and financiers across Europe — focused on accumulating wealth. Fugger focused on accumulating power.
He routinely financed the conquests of both kings and clergy; in exchange, they owed him. And Fugger knew how to call in a favor.
In 1488, for example, he used his influence over Archduke Sigismund of Austria to take control of the vast Schwaz silver mines, giving Fugger almost total control of the silver trade. He later used his influence to dominate other industries — copper, silks, furs, spices, citrus, munitions, and more.
And every time Fugger took control of an industry, he would raise prices sky-high. It contributed to a widespread inflation that had never before been seen in Europe.
Fugger used his money to completely reshape European society. He believed in a form of capitalism where big businesses would be protected by government. And he weaponized his wealth to make his vision a reality.
Fugger financed the election of Charles V to become Holy Roman Emperor, which essentially put Europe’s most powerful politician in his pocket.
Even the Pope was beholden to Fugger, who used his influence with the church to override ecclesiastical limitations on interest-bearing loans, and to rewrite regulations governing commerce and trade.
At the peak of his wealth and power, Fugger had amassed a fortune exceeding TWO PERCENT of Europe’s entire GDP at the time.
The equivalent today would be about $500 billion — more than double what Elon Musk is worth.
Moreover, Fugger’s average annual investment return exceeded FIFTY PERCENT, ranking him one of the most successful investors of all time — just behind Nancy Pelosi.
But his lasting impact was the way that he fundamentally reshaped capitalism by modernizing the perverse, symbiotic relationship between politicians and private monopolies.
Today, we politely refer to this as a “public-private partnership”. And the best example of this in our modern times is the case of BlackRock, and its CEO Larry Fink.
Fink’s net worth, compared to Fugger, is a paltry $1 billion. But his firm, BlackRock, controls more than TEN TRILLION in assets.
Incredibly, much of this is through the company’s various exchange traded funds, like the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF; this single fund has $300 billion under management.
Like Fugger, Fink has been aiming to reshape capitalism as we know it. His vision is something called ‘Stakeholder Capitalism’, or ‘ESG Capitalism’, which stands for Environmental, Social, Governance.
In short, Fink’s vision is ‘woke capitalism’, where companies prioritize social justice and the progressive agenda over creating shareholder value and delighting their customers.
This is the sort of nonsense thinking that has big corporations frantically trying to nominate a blind, perigender, pansexual Native American to their Boards of Directors… or force company CEOs to speak out against proposed legislation that no one has even read.
(Naturally, Chinese and Islamic companies are exempt from ESG requirements, because we have to respect their cultures.)
Fink works very closely with Klaus Schwab at the World Economic Forum, whose book The Great Reset details the new way of life that he, Fink, and their ilk have imagined for the rest of us.
The World Economic Forum, mind you, is the same organization that thinks we should all eat insects and weeds, because it’s good for the environment. They love Covid lockdowns, vaccine mandates, propaganda & censorship, and authoritarian governments.
This is a classic case of what I called the Tyranny of the Minority — a handful of people who believe they have the right to dictate how the rest of us should live.
Sadly, Fink actually has the resources to pull it off… and much of it is thanks to us.
BlackRock’s funds collectively contain trillions of dollars of capital. But it’s not BlackRock’s money. It’s your money.
Your company’s 401(k), for example, may be invested with BlackRock. Your personal investment portfolio may contain a few BlackRock ETFs.
Essentially, BlackRock has pooled everyone else’s money and taken it all under their management. They then invest this money in stock and bond markets around the world. And that gives them extraordinary influence.
BlackRock’s equity funds are typically in the top 5 shareholders of every major company on the planet.
For example, BlackRock is the #2 largest shareholder in Apple, Google, Exxon-Mobil, JP Morgan, and more, which means that Fink can practically hand pick these companies’ Boards of Directors.
The Boards, in other words, work for Fink. He has the power to pressure them into accepting his woke ESG capitalism requirements. And if they refuse, he can have them fired.
Reminder — Fink doesn’t have this power because of his own money. He has this power because he’s in control of OUR money. And he isn’t afraid to use it.
Jakob ‘The Rich’ Fugger ruled Europe from behind the scenes. By comparison, Fink’s power has become so vast today that Charlie Munger (Warren Buffett’s business partner at Berkshire Hathaway) called him an emperor:
“We have a new bunch of emperors, and they’re people who vote with the shares of their index funds… and I’m not sure I want [Fink] to be my emperor.”
There’s a pretty simple fix to this: If you don’t want Fink to be your Emperor, stop giving your money to these giant Wall Street firms. There are literally thousands of other small, passive index funds to choose from.
To your freedom, Simon Black, Founder, SovereignMan.com
https://www.sovereignman.com/trends/if-you-dont-want-an-emperor-stop-giving-him-your-money-35315/
Game of Loans: 10 Money Lessons from Game of Thrones
.Game of Loans: 10 Money Lessons from Game of Thrones
Tawnya Redding 2019-03-30
Love it or hate it, this popular HBO series contains a wealth (pun intended) of very important social and economic lessons that we’d all do well to pay attention to.
Just like in the real world, the rise and fall of the different Houses vying for the throne is intertwined with money. In fact, Game of Thrones is somewhat unique in just how important the financial planning of the characters is to the various plot-lines.
So, just how real is this fantasy?
Game of Loans: 10 Money Lessons from Game of Thrones
Tawnya Redding 2019-03-30
Love it or hate it, this popular HBO series contains a wealth (pun intended) of very important social and economic lessons that we’d all do well to pay attention to.
Just like in the real world, the rise and fall of the different Houses vying for the throne is intertwined with money. In fact, Game of Thrones is somewhat unique in just how important the financial planning of the characters is to the various plot-lines.
So, just how real is this fantasy?
Here are 10 money lessons from Game of Thrones and their real-life implication to your finances.
10 Money Lessons From Game of Thrones
1. Winter is Coming
“Winter is coming,” the motto of House Stark.
While the meaning behind this dark foreboding is of vigilance and preparation for the harsh winters of the north, we would do well to apply this same principle to money.
The seasons of Westeros are unpredictable in their duration, the summer season at the beginning of the series having lasted 10 years. With such a long summer, it was predicted that the coming winter would last as long or longer.
You’d better have quite the stores piled up if you hope to survive a 10-year winter in the north.
Just as the members of House Stark preach preparation for the coming winter, you would be wise to prepare yourself for a financial winter by paying off debt and building up savings.
Like the winters of Westeros, you never know when a financial pitfall will hit, or for how long it will last. Having a healthy store of savings, as well as little liabilities, will prepare you to survive even the longest of financial winters.
Everyone hopes for long summers and mild, short winters, but it’s much better to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
No matter how careful you are, an unforeseen event will eventually impact your finances.
Winter is coming, prepare for what’s ahead.
2. A Lannister Always Pays His Debts
The unofficial motto of House Lannister.
While this line often took on a more sinister meaning in the series, the underlying principle remained the same.
The House of Lannister was well-known for paying their debts, both monetarily and otherwise, which allowed them more leeway in continually borrowing, buying, or coercing whatever they wanted throughout the series. Whether it was money, men, favors, or protection, the promise of a Lannister was always good enough to strike a deal (that and their rumored stores of gold).
Simply put, the Lannister’s were running with a credit score of 850 at the Iron Bank.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://moneysavedmoneyearned.com/money-lessons-from-game-of-thrones/
Organize Important Papers in Case of Emergency
.Organize Important Papers in Case of Emergency
By NIH/National Institute on Aging
Help others find key documents and records if you are incapacitated
Based on content from the NIH/National Institute on Aging AgePage "Getting Your Affairs In Order."
No one ever plans to be sick or disabled.
Yet, planning ahead can make all the difference if you take an unexpected trip to the hospital or suffer a health problem making it hard to remember where you put everything. Good planning and organization is a gift to those who will help you manage your health and financial affairs if needed.
Organize Important Papers in Case of Emergency
By NIH/National Institute on Aging
Help others find key documents and records if you are incapacitated
Based on content from the NIH/National Institute on Aging AgePage "Getting Your Affairs In Order."
No one ever plans to be sick or disabled.
Yet, planning ahead can make all the difference if you take an unexpected trip to the hospital or suffer a health problem making it hard to remember where you put everything. Good planning and organization is a gift to those who will help you manage your health and financial affairs if needed.
Steps for Getting Your Affairs in Order
Put your important papers and copies of legal documents in one place. You could set up a file, put everything in a desk or dresser drawer, or just list the information and location of papers in a notebook. If your papers are in a bank safe deposit box, keep copies in a file at home. Check each year to see if there's anything new to add.
Tell a trusted family member or friend where you put all your important papers. You don't need to tell this friend or family member about your personal affairs, but someone should know where you keep your papers in case of emergency. If you don't have a relative or friend you trust, ask a lawyer to help.
Give consent in advance for your doctor or lawyer to talk with your caregiver as needed. There may be questions about your care, a bill, or a health insurance claim. Without your consent, your caregiver may not be able to get needed information. You can give your okay in advance to Medicare, a credit card company, your bank, or your doctor. You may need to sign and return a form.
Which Legal Documents Are Needed?
There are many different types of legal documents that can help you plan how your affairs will be handled in the future. Many of these documents have names that sound alike, so make sure you are getting the documents you want. Also, state laws do vary, so find out about the rules, requirements, and forms used in your State.
Wills and trusts let you name the person you want your money and property to go to after you die.
Advance directives let you make arrangements for your care if you become sick. There are two ways to do this:
A living will gives you a say in your health care if you are too sick to make your wishes known. In a living will, you can state what kind of care you do or don’t want. This can make it easier for family members to make tough health care decisions for you.
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.nextavenue.org/organize-important-papers-case-emergency/