Stash of cash for the road? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

Stash of cash for the road?

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We haven't had a problem any place we have been. We use Credit Cards on almost every purchase, however we do carry small amount of cash. Pay all bill on line, its free thru our bank. Really don't remember a time we had a problem. However we don't do any camping mostly Rving. 26yrs 22 days in the Army got all the camping I wanted. Love the full hook-up and satelite Tv. GBY...

Howard · Host

This is a great question. However, answering it can be a little delicate, since we are in a public forum and we don't want to create security issues for people.

Many RVs have built-in safes in out of the way locations. However, I would recommend a fire-proof box that can be locked for extra cash and all valuable papers. Hopefully, it is something you will not need to access frequently, so I'd hide it somewhere where it is a bit difficult to access. Theft is not a huge issue in RVing, but there is no point in making ourselves easy targets.

As for how much, my opinion would be to keep it somewhere between a couple hundred dollars and a thousand in denominations of twenties and less. You won't need much as there are few emergencies I can think of where a debit card, credit card, or check won't do.

We rarely use cash at all. We will get $200 at an ATM about once every three months. We use a debit card 95% of the time, and checks/cash the other 5%.

Hopefully, that helps. I would caution folks away from getting too specific with their answers, but it is a question we asked when we started. We found we probably carried too much in the beginning and have scaled it waaaaaaay down - to a point where a thief wouldn't find it worth the trouble and it wouldn't be a major blow to us if it disappeared.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

We pay for almost everything with credit cards. There is not much need to carry cash. We take out $400 at a time from ATMs. It lasts months. We each take $200. Danielle generally carries hers on her. I carry half of it and stash the other half in my dresser drawer.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don't think it's even an issue. The few monthly bills we have are paid on line with transfers, or are deducted automatically from checking. Daily purchases are paid for with credit or debit cards, and when cash is needed we simply get it as cash back in a supermarket, or very rarely, from an ATM.

Our few important papers are kept in a fire proof "safe" that we got at Office Depot for about $30 that we keep under the bed. Wallets and money are just kept where we hopefully will remember where they are when we occasionally need them.

Security, for us, is also not and issue. We've only been out 6 months now, but have been in more than 30 campgrouonds and parks, and never once have I ever felt any sense of danger or unease. We have consistantly been surrounded by either families on vacation, or old folks like us. This RV life is absolutely the "best neighborhood" you could imagine.

We've actually gotten so comfortable, that we rarely even lock the door anymore when we go shopping for a few hours. It's really a lot safer out here than some of you are imagining.

Fred

mikeway · RV-Dreams Family Member

Regarding cash, we tend to spend normally(??). That is, we get a weekly allowance from a friendly ATM. One thing I did learn, early on: even though there is a fee, I tend to use banks or businesses that I can trust, somewhat. That means Walmart or national bank groups. I would prefer to get my card back if something happens.

Our regular bills, and credit card payments are automatically deducted from the checking or we do online transfers. Other than that we use a debit card. Some folks use a card that discounts gas purchases when paid off monthly. Make sure the discount is worth the experience.

I typically won't do business with a group that won't take a card. I always wonder why they won't. even the road services do!.

Lastly, our important papers are scanned and stored on CDs and a thumb drive, as PDFs. That gives quick access, when needed, to unofficial copies and backup CDs are scattered among relatives and friends.

Mike

susie/jack · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cash----Me, I am keeping mine in my mattress!!

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

We find that our cash goes away slowly, mostly we spend it when splitting checks in restaurants with friends. About everyone takes plastic these days (mostly credit, but most also take debit), so that is what we depend on for emergencies. In our trip to Alaska this summer only one place wanted cash for camping, all others took plastic, all restaurants took plastic, and all fuel stops took plastic. Make sure your daily ATM limit is set high, many can only pull $200 a day, so you can get more if needed. If plastic works about everywhere in Alaska and Yukon, it should work about anywhere else in the U.S. and Canada.

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree that plastic works almost everywhere, I've gotten cash at ATMs in Moscow, Panama and Kuwait to name just a few, but last weekend, in West Virginia, the nice little campground we found wanted CASH ONLY! I rarely have more than a fiver in my wallet anymore, but thankfully my little stash answered the call.

Of course, the $25 for the campsite went right in the owner's pocket, he didn't give a receipt.

Best Regards!

mcw50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

In our 6 years on the road we have done well with just a few hundred stashed between us and in a hiding place, replenishing it maybe two or three times a year when we are near a branch of our "home bank" or at a casino where you can always cash checks. We don't even have an ATM card. We pay almost all of our few bills on-line and charge everything we possibly can-no matter how small the charge (and check our account on-line several times a week). Once in a while we come across a campground or small restaurant that won't take plastic....they would have to pay a fee that would increase their costs. Our credit card gives us cash back, with a greater percentage on all fuel charges, so we love Flying J so we can "double dip." We also have had our credit card "turned off" when the bank person checking accounts one day decided that no person would spend $300 on fuel at a gas station so our card must have been stolen. They turned it right back on when we called and explained that we have a 150 gal. tank and fuel was about $2.25 a gal at that time (wish that's all it was now!!)

Safe travels!