Preparedness for when

mardatha

I don't keep anything in the bank.

Living_proof

I am quite the opposite and rarely have more than 20 in cash about my person although there is a 2 litre Kilner jar half-full of all denominations of coin in a not very obvious place at home. It's rather heavy to lift so safe enough I think.

I would be too worried by the responsibility of cash in the home frankly. Supposing some of it went - you would suspect everyone who had been within a hundred yards of your house. I think it's rather alarmist and futile to take all your money out of a bank. Do you mean money in Isas and the like as well?

jk0

Update 3 (Also posted for my friends on Landlordzone.)

I'm back!

Did you notice I was away?

The Tramadol worked very well, but seem to take a few hours to 'kick in'.

On Wednesday I was still in pain. On Wednesday morning I rang the surgery to discuss my blood test results. First of all, they couldn't even get a doctor to phone me until next Monday. I wasn't happy with that, so they offered a nurse practitioner to ring me later that day.

I pointed out that I had been to the GP three times, and was still in pain, and considering going to the hospital. Miraculously my doctor agreed to ring.

(Crikey. Getting medical attention is like a nuclear arms race.)

The GP admitted he was stumped, and sent me off to hospital.

After a further wrong diagnosis there of constipation and stressful treatment for it, they finally gave me a CT scan on Thursday. This shows gall stones. I have to have an op in the new year.

Until then I am on antibiotics to relieve the infection, and have to have no fat at all until I get the op.

Interestingly this diagnosis explains why I have been so susceptible to belly aches after my mother's Sunday lunches the last few years.

GreyQueen

(((((jk0)))))))))) owww! Gallstones are very painful, I know people who've had them. All the best for a prompt recovery.

Re keeping cash at home, I am in two minds; I don't trust the banks but I don't trust (some of) my neighbours either.

I tend to always have cash with me, in decentish quantities, but it is with me at all times, such as the wallet zipped up in a fleece pocket itself under a jacket. I do my shopping from a small purse with a tenner/ fiver folded into that, so that I'm never flashing the cash.

And there is the flammability issue, the vermin-edibility issue, the it's-fiat-not-precious-metal issue and any number of other things to think about. It all makes you head spin, doesn't it?

The trick is, whatever you do, don't put all your eggs in one basket and keep schtumm about what you have and where you have it. You might even want to think about having a distraction-jewellery box or a distraction-safe. To be stocked with good lookin' but not-too-valuable Stuff, in case some 'orrible little tea-leaf comes by.

Woman I know was burgled. They turned over her jewellery box and got some modern carp, never found the safe with the good stuff.;)

alfsmum

jk0 gallstones are excruciating, matched only in my experience by contractions in childbirth! Had a couple of gallstones episodes about 10 years ago, first one was terrifying as I had no idea what it was and emergency medic was none too sympathetic - thought it was something I'd eaten, dosed me with morphine to dull the pain. I dIdn't fancy surgery and fortunately a low fat diet has worked for me ever since. One of the nurses said a typical sufferer was 'fat, fair and forty' but I was none of those. Hope you feel better soon - I found a hot water bottle very soothing to help manage the pain.

ivyleaf

Poor jKO, No wonder you've been feeling so rough! Thank goodness you finally got a diagnosis. It's a low fat Christmas for you then but it will be worth it.

Grey Queen my OH has a similar hat, which he refers to as his "Burglar Bill"

Softstuff

Glad you at least have progress even if it is a pretty painful diagnosis Jk0.

I've been wondering recently what to do about money. At present we have a small amount in a high interest account. I certainly don't feel comfortable having everything in a bank like it currently is, but given various issues here, wouldn't keep any money at home either. In any case, keeping cash money isn't much use if you end up with a situation like Russia.

Frugalsod

Living_proof wrote: »

I am quite the opposite and rarely have more than 20 in cash about my person although there is a 2 litre Kilner jar half-full of all denominations of coin in a not very obvious place at home. It's rather heavy to lift so safe enough I think.

I would be too worried by the responsibility of cash in the home frankly. Supposing some of it went - you would suspect everyone who had been within a hundred yards of your house. I think it's rather alarmist and futile to take all your money out of a bank. Do you mean money in Isas and the like as well?

If you have money in ISA's you may not be able to get it out anyway without paying a penalty. That said many ISA pay more interest so for many it is worth a gamble leaving it in there.

As for keeping money at home you will not be insured for it all anyway. You will need to adjust any situation based on your local circumstances. If you live in the country you might be better to hide some in the garden under the flower beds. so if the house is ever burgled all your eggs are not in one basket.

The other aspect is that banks may go on for quite some time before there is another financial panic. Bubbles can go on for quite a long time. Just look at the housing bubble. Prices higher now in many areas even though median incomes are lower in absolute terms. So houses are even more unaffordable now than they were in 2008 when they crashed.

Also most people do not have significant sums to start with. Most people are living from paycheque to paycheque so it makes little difference to them either way. If they are wiped out then so will absolutely everyone else be.

The very rich are spending their cash on assets like houses and land and items that will still have some residual value even if the banking system collapsed. For most people that could be topping up preps like baked beans and toilet paper. So if the bank accounts are "taxed" then they will have their basic needs met for several months.

Frugalsod

Softstuff wrote: »

Glad you at least have progress even if it is a pretty painful diagnosis Jk0.

I've been wondering recently what to do about money. At present we have a small amount in a high interest account. I certainly don't feel comfortable having everything in a bank like it currently is, but given various issues here, wouldn't keep any money at home either. In any case, keeping cash money isn't much use if you end up with a situation like Russia.

The Russians have been out buying things like TV and cars, while they can. The basic defensive position for most people is to spread your money around to minimise the risk. People who have access to many thousands of pounds are rare to start with. Most people are just scrapping by. So a bank bail in may have absolutely no impact on them at all, as in Cyprus. Though it will impact their employer so they may get no wages for several months.

Keeping money at home is the last resort but does have serious benefits when there is a banking crisis. Banks may shut their doors the moment there is a banking run now, and you will find that bank cards will be useless everywhere for some time even in stores. So having some cash at home will get you through the bail in period.

S_Wales_Saver

jKO gallbladder infections are the worst pain ever. I went down with infection two days after leaving hospital after a hysterectomy. I honestly thought I was dying. Of the two I'd take the hysterectomy any day!!
Because of the hysterectomy I couldn't have the Cholecystectomy for six months. Luckily that was the only flare up and gallbladder was duly removed six months later.
I wasn't 'fair, fat and forty (well forty) but I wouldn't have risked another bout of that!!
Have a very fat free Christmas and get better soon.