How to Hide Money When Traveling
I’ve often heard people say that they were stolen while traveling, or that they thought a hotel worker had stolen money from their belongings. If your wallet gets snatched up at the Colosseum in Rome, or stolen while you board the Barcelona commuter train, you will never suspect that your money is gone until you go to use it. Fortunately, there are many creative ways to keep your money safe while traveling.
Use an old tube of lip balm.
An old tube of lip balm is a great way to smuggle a few bills. This method is great if you’re heading to a street market, walking around a new city, or going on a tour of a specific location but don’t want to take a lot of money with you.
Here’s how to do it:
- Line up the bills on top of each other.
- Roll the bills into a tight cylinder.
- Put the cap on the top and you’re done!
The height of your banknotes will fit perfectly into a standard (scrubbed) tube of lip balm.
Tape it up
Many of us probably carry money in suitcases between our clothes, which makes it vulnerable to theft. But if you don’t want to walk around with wads of money, and there is no safe in your house, what can you do?
There are many places in your home where you can place your money. All you need is a ribbon and a bag – something small but opaque to put money inside the bag and attach it to these unsuspecting places:
- Under the chair
- Inside the ironing board lid
- Behind the bed frame
- Under the bottom of the box. No, not inside the box, but at the very bottom, on the underside of the box.
- Under the mattress, closer to the center
- Inside the toilet
- Inside the shower curtain rod
Dirty laundry
For long stays of more than a week, I prefer to carry a dirty laundry bag with me. I also used this bag to keep my money safe. I hope no one takes the time to find dirty underwear or sweat-stained shirts, and so far it has done its job.
Slip your money into a pair of socks and roll it up as if you had taken it off for the day. You can always use the same pair as a “dummy pair” by initializing them and making sure they are not the actual pair or brand you usually wear. Store them as special bait socks.
Big bills per person, small bills in your pocket
I used this tactic when I was working as a waitress in college. If someone wants to rob you or demand money from you, keep small bills in your pocket. A bundle of small bills always looks like big money until you realize that it’s only about $ 5 rolled up or folded.
If you wear it, large bills can get caught in your bra. Sports and padded bras usually have pockets in which to store large bills. Large bills can also get on your shoes if you are wearing boots or trainers and socks, if you are in climates where your feet do not sweat.