You may believe that you don’t have any reason to have a safe in the house. However, you’ll be grateful you do if something happens to your home, such as a fire or flood. You don’t even need to have piles of expensive jewelry or stacks of hundreds to have the need for a safe. Having a safe at home also offers the convenience you won’t get if you keep valuables elsewhere, like a bank. It’s always a good idea to have immediate access to your important belongings without needing to leave the house.
Here are a few things you should always keep locked up.
1. Tax records
Your financial documents are extremely important, and experts say to save your tax records for six years. It’s easier to keep everything handy if you keep important tax and financial documents safely locked up. But you should keep more than just your tax records in your safe. Gather up any W2s, 1099s, and receipts you have around your home, and store them in a file safe that is built for surviving natural disasters. For example, SentrySafe sells a fireproof unit that can withstand being submerged in water for up to 72 hours. Your documents will stay safe no matter what the disaster.
2. Good jewelry
If you splurged and bought yourself some beautiful gold and diamond jewelry, make sure you keep it safe from thieves by keeping it in a safe at home. If it is still somehow stolen, your homeowner’s insurance will likely cover the cost of it, as long as it is included in your paperwork. Check out this wall safe that can be installed right into your wall between the studs. Place a picture over it and you’ll have an amazing wall safe like the people you see in the movies!
3. Personal identification
Any document that could be difficult or costly to replace should be kept in a quality safe. This includes your passport, birth certificate, social security card, car title, marriage certificate, divorce papers, and anything else you might need if you are asked to prove your identity. A sturdy safe from the company FireKing will hold all of your letter-sized documents safely while protecting them from water and fire damage.
4. Cash
You should always look for an interest-earning savings account if you have extra cash to invest. However, it’s a great idea to keep some cash around in your home in the event of an emergency. For example, you might need cash if a hurricane hits your hometown and you need to evacuate as soon as possible. Consider a safe that allows you to slide bills in through a slot without having to actually open it. This keeps your cash safe from intruders and even yourself! Choose a quality safe that can be opened up with either a physical key or a personal code, keeping your cash safe from the rest of the household. Remember, always keep your key in a place that no one but you will find.
