Keeping cash isn't very safe in my 'hood' (AKA Oahu). Still, we lived through an 18 hour power outage, island wide, that made me thing a few extra bucks on hand would be sort of an "insurance" policy. A neighbor said he typically kept about $100 in singles and a mayo jar full of change for just such events (e.g., hurricanes). The logic is that you always have the exact change to buy something (e.g., food, water, duct tape) when the credit system and cash registers shut down for what EVER reason. Turns out local stores DID accept cash during the power outage for essentials (e.g., canned goods, TP, etc.) On that basis, I've been keeping my singles and change. Probably cheap insurance and if some meth head finds it, he'll probably drop the jar on the way out. Serves 'em right!