Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Keeping Cash At Home, in Biscuit Tins!? - WW


.......  a suitcase full of cash was found under the bed......

I was spring cleaning the house when I found some cash inside a couple of biscuit tins. One was hidden under my elderly mother-in-law's bed and another in the kitchen cabinet. My late grandmother used to keep her cash in biscuit tins (remember the rectangular biscuits tins?) too. Some elderly people still do not trust the banks. :)

This is not the first time someone found my MIL's 'secret' hiding place.Years ago, she lost more than S$3,000 cash when she wrapped it in old newspapers and hid it behind her dressing table. We suspected the maid took it but we could not find the money in her possession.

We did not know when the money was taken because my MIL usually does not  look for it unless she needs it. Sometimes she forgets where she hides her money. haha..... 

S$3,000 was a huge sum of money to my thrifty MIL who was in her late 80s. She scrimped and saved, taking years to accumulate the sum of money. My husband and I were so worried she would fall sick over her loss. Luckily she was alright after we counseled her.

I wish I had found a suitcase full of cash, like the photo shown above, under her bed. :P

I think I should start digging in the garden. hehehe..... 






P.S. - The above photo was emailed to me by a friend. It was what Narcotics officers found in a drug dealer's home. Please don't dig up my garden. :P 





First Commenter -Juliana

38 comments:

  1. hohoho...lots of money. My mother also likes to hide money everywhere and yes sometimes when she needs the money she forgot where she put her hide money the last time :D

    thanks drop at my ww post

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  2. hahaha this is so funny! my grandmother used to hide cash under her pillow and between the pages of her bible. She [falsely] accused her young grandsons of stealing her stash when she lost count of her money. oh, granny...she was in her early 90's so we advised the boys not to take her seriously.

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  3. Old people really do that, don't they? My grandma, keeps hers in an old plastic bag. Woe betide if anyone touches her plastic bag though because although she can't see so well nowadays, she likes to hold the notes. :D

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  4. I would like to create a diversion, get you out of town, then I can comb through the garden properly :P

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  5. Juliana,
    Every time I start spring cleaning, my hubby would remind me again and again to check the old boxes or tins before I throw them away. :)

    Despite reminding the elders not to hide money in the house, they still do it. *shake head*

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  6. miranda,
    I hope I don't have to hide my money this way when I am old. lol

    I don't trust banks too.

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  7. Lina,
    Gosh, what if the old plastic bag gets thrown away accidentally?

    It feels good to keep counting the cash ah. :P

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  8. yenjai,
    It's going to be a challenging job for you. My house is in front of a busy road and there are always people walking past my house.

    Also I head the Neighbourhood Watch Group, I think our neighbourhood is pretty secured. :)

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  9. @ECL,
    That's why... the bags can be accidentally thrown away. But lucky for her, those who lived with her knows this quirk and lets those plastic bag stay in her room.

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  10. Its safe to hide money at home in the old days as there were less break ins and robberies.

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  11. Lina,
    yah, that's why we need to check for money or important documents before throwing anything away. Better don't touch. :P

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  12. Sweet Jasmine,
    In the old days, when we live in the kampung (village), we didn't have to lock the doors.

    Nowadays there's danger every where ....

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  13. I once did a big job for a rather eccentric person. When it was time to get paid he pulled out a trunk full of cash. Had to be in the $100,000 to $200,000 range. It was the most money I have ever seen. I got a $500 tip on top of everything.

    Happy Holidays.

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  14. Digital Flower Pictures,
    Wow... there ARE people who keep large amounts of cash in their house! You did a great job to get that tip. :)

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  15. Sorry for your MIL's loss. There were 2 recent somewhat similar stories here.
    One was about a street beggar,she fell ill on the pavement one day and the police found 70,000euros in coins and tightly wrapped notes in her belongings.
    Another case was when a maid threw out an old suitcase of her very old employer not knowing that there was 100,000euros in it!Luckily the police found it in time at the rubbish dump before the suitcase was crushed by the machine with the other rubbish.

    Before I head off to Malta for the X'mas weekend I'll send you and your loved ones my X'mas wishes for a season filled with love and happiness ECL!
    Merry X'mas to one and all on your blog!

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  16. Ya, I remember growing up, we never use lock at our home. My parents house is closed with a lock that can opened from the outside. No keys needed. For my own house, I have stacks of key. Key for the heavy duty padlock for the grill, key for the grill, key for the door, key for the sliding doors, keys for the padlocks on windows... My goodness.

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  17. Wow! That's a lot of money. Wish I had that much.

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  18. I wish you luck with your digging up the garden and hope 2010 brings in lot of fortune for you. :)

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  19. Not wise to stash that load of cash in the home. Better keep in FD where it earns interest or invest in something that will earn good returns.

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  20. ah yes, i remembered the time when we were younger n our parents will fight with their parents about cases like this. n also about forgetting where they put it. XD

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  21. Hi ECL!!

    I have my hiding places here for my emergency money, I always see to it I leave some money here at home because you'll never know when you'll need it. It's ok to put money in the bank but better have padding at home.

    Happy Holidays to you and your family!!!

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  22. What a great find! I sometimes find money too.. Like a dollar! Happy Holidays!

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  23. My mom used to keep most of her money at the house too, though she has bank account. The ATM system is just too complicated for her. But now she lets us hold her card and take the money for her :)

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  24. My late grandma used to do that, until we finally convinced her to keep the money in the bank.

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  25. So where does she live :) That's great really that she knows how to save. Oops haha i just saw your PS LOL ya got me! (So sorry Granny...)

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  26. My grandmother kept her cash in the cookie jar! LOL

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  27. I'll start worrying where to hide my money when I have any left - after paying off my bills and maintaining a "lavish" lifestyle, which in my economic case is a few notches about the poverty line LOL.
    Merry Christmas!

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  28. As usual, I am impressed by your sense of humour and wit in writing such an interesting post. :)

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  29. It's risky to keep so much money in the house! She should keep it in the bank!

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  30. Yes, I think you should start digging in the garden. Who knows what you will find! Then can 'belanja' me if we ever meet up, haha!

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  31. Ecl
    Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you and your family.

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  32. We love to help others out, especially in the cleaning department. If you ever need a hand, just give us a shout over at MOB :-) and we are on our way. lol Merry Christmas.

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  33. I remember my late grandmother keeping money and some of her favorite photos inside a tin can of biscuits. :)

    Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas.

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  34. I thought you were referring to the cash on the pic when I first saw it. lol

    Anyway, I think your grandma should let you handle her cash for safekeeping and just set aside a small sum for immediate use.

    ps: cash is mispelled on the caption

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  35. Hmm... My demised grandmother used to do that. We found out such hiding places only years after. :P

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