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21 If you maintain physical certificates at home please make sure that they are stored in a fire-proof safe. To implement a successful cash management strategy you must reduce your need for cash. That means using your cash to pay off mort- gages car loans student loans credit card debt and personal and business loans. It may also mean investing in greater self-sufficiency in a manner that permanently reduces your overhead. I often tell the story of clients who found that falling yields on investments and rising water bills were squeezing their household budget. The resolution was to sell securities and to reinvest the money in a well for their home. Similar examples involve providing for independent energy systems or gardens orchards and edible landscapes. Another way to reduce future cash needs would be to stockpile nonperishable goods. This includes items you are sure you will need such as office supplies that can be purchased during advantageous sales. It may also include items that are useful for trading purposes. During the collapse of the general economy in Russia during the 1990s it was reported that vodka served as a much more liquid currency than gold and silver. Person- ally I have a stockpile of liquor including lots of smaller bottles and other goods that are attractive to barter and trade. If the banking system or markets go to neg- ative interest rates or go cashless you will be well served by investing your cash to reduce future cash needs. Barter local-time banks and local sharing and gifting services such as the Freecycle Network are examples of numerous meth- ods used to facilitate local regional and even international liquidity of goods and services without paper currencies. Please make sure that you have thought through all the security issues involved in keeping cash at home and how you will han- dle some of the fact patterns that contribute to significant losses from a home depository Theft this includes thefts by profession- als including professionals tipped off by family friends and service providers such as cleaners plumbers electricians and pest control personnel who have access to your home. Unfortunately thefts by family and personal friends also happen so think carefully about who knows that you main- tain valuables in your home. Home invasions the pros expect you to give up the goods under stress. Fire make sure you have fire-proof stor- age solutions. Good records dont laugh some of the greatest losses on home savings occur when people forget where they put the precious metals or cash stash. Or their heirs do not know and ship the box of gold coins out to the yard sale without realizing it. One of the most sensitive issues is whether or not you will insure your household holdings or provide disclosure to law firms and CPA firms. I am of the opinion that doing so may increase the risk of theft unless you provide coverage through an umbrella policy. This permits a certain amount of discretion on how you report your home inventory.