Comments on: Preparing for Disaster: Records to Store http://www.moneyandhappiness.com/blog/?p=129 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:25:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: rockydog http://www.moneyandhappiness.com/blog/?p=129&cpage=1#comment-5780 rockydog Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:51:31 +0000 http://www.moneyandhappiness.com/blog/?p=129#comment-5780 Laura, thanks for a good reminder. Now, as a reminder to myself - I need to take a video camera and walk through the house for a half hour, zooming in on serial numbers and just generally proving what I have. I'm pretty financially responsible, but I admit to doing a bad job of keeping my household inventory up-to-date. A video is insufficient but it's a better start than I've got now. It's worth pointing out that many banks provide a free safe deposit box rental with certain types of accounts. Usually, a minimum balance is required for a free S.D. box, but, sometimes paying for a checking account that includes a free safe deposit box is a good deal, too (as always, read the fine print). The safe deposit box isn't enough, though - I'd suggest keeping an onsite fireproof safe for your will, copies of any docs you'd grab in an evacuation, at least one year's tax return, and emergency cash (at least enough for one night's hotel, one tank of gas, and one day's food, in small bills, plus a roll of quarters). Laura, thanks for a good reminder. Now, as a reminder to myself – I need to take a video camera and walk through the house for a half hour, zooming in on serial numbers and just generally proving what I have. I’m pretty financially responsible, but I admit to doing a bad job of keeping my household inventory up-to-date. A video is insufficient but it’s a better start than I’ve got now.

It’s worth pointing out that many banks provide a free safe deposit box rental with certain types of accounts. Usually, a minimum balance is required for a free S.D. box, but, sometimes paying for a checking account that includes a free safe deposit box is a good deal, too (as always, read the fine print).

The safe deposit box isn’t enough, though – I’d suggest keeping an onsite fireproof safe for your will, copies of any docs you’d grab in an evacuation, at least one year’s tax return, and emergency cash (at least enough for one night’s hotel, one tank of gas, and one day’s food, in small bills, plus a roll of quarters).

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