$400 for Girl Scout cookies sounds like a legitimate emergency to me!We try to keep about $100 to $400 on hand just incase we need cash to pay for some small item (Girl Scout cookies).
That's a good point. I will update my instructions regarding cash. I was astonished at a friend's house when she needed some cash she walked through the house checking under every lamp, doily, and other places I never would have thought to look. She had $20 bills stashed all over the place.More importantly, as part of our overall instructions if something were to happen to both of us, there is a statement that says this amount is all the cash we have in the house. I've seen several friends spend a significant amount of time going through the house of a deceased relative looking for hidden money and do not wish that burden on my children.
I currently have around $700 cash. I keep $50 to $100 in my wallet, and the rest in one drawer. I try to keep it to around $400 but it sometimes creeps higher if someone pays me with cash for a hobby sale (I prefer Venmo or Paypal for such transactions). On the other hand, it's sometimes good to have the extra cash. Recently a handyman's face lit up when I paid him with three crisp benjamins.
Statistics: Posted by tuningfork — Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:53 am — Replies 57 — Views 2714