Storing important papers

[Anonymous]

Given there is going to be a run on banks by next year safety deposit boxes are not a good idea.

Safe that is too heavy for someone to remove from your home. Fill it will cash as well or silver and gold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given there is going to be a run on banks by next year safety deposit boxes are not a good idea.

Safe that is too heavy for someone to remove from your home. Fill it will cash as well or silver and gold.

You need to see someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for these ideas everyone. We have a small home with minimal closet space and dread the idea of having a safe. It sounds like it might be the best option though.

Also, I did not realize that bank safe deposit boxes aren’t considered safe!

They also make "fireproof" bags that are less than an inch thick.

For most people, I don't see how this is worth much time and expense. I can't think of any ID and financial documents that are not replaceable.

If I lost my driver's license, passport, and birth certificate, I don't know how I would prove who I am. I do have fingerprints on file.

[Anonymous]

You can get a new birth certificate within 2 weeks by ordering on line (about $20). Same for replacement DL (but it will cost you $5). Once you get those, you go get a new passport

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for these ideas everyone. We have a small home with minimal closet space and dread the idea of having a safe. It sounds like it might be the best option though.

Also, I did not realize that bank safe deposit boxes aren’t considered safe!

They also make "fireproof" bags that are less than an inch thick.

For most people, I don't see how this is worth much time and expense. I can't think of any ID and financial documents that are not replaceable.

If I lost my driver's license, passport, and birth certificate, I don't know how I would prove who I am. I do have fingerprints on file.

This essentially happened to my mother. She lost her passport, and when she went to get a new one, discovered there was a clerical error on her drivers license (had her first and middle name reversed) that no one had noticed. She was in her 60s and her birth certificate and social security card had been lost to the ages. She literally did not have a single piece of ID with her correct name.

It worked out. She had to go to the hospital where she was born to dig up old records. I forget how they allowed her to prove herself. I think she may have needed like affidavits signed from a few people who knew her. Perhaps her minister? And her employer? So she got a copy of her birth certificate. That was the hardest part, if I recall correctly. Then, she got a copy of her marriage license (that was easy, church had it on file I think) since she had changed her name, and then could use those to get a new social security card and then she was able to get the drivers license fixed, and then the passport.

Yes, it was a PITA, but it was very doable. And remember that 1) usually your drivers license is in a different spot than your other stuff (wallet vs files) which minimizes risk, and 2) ordering a new drivers license if yours is lost is actually super easy. They’ll just send you a new one in the mail as long as your address is accurate. It has a picture and it’s all on file at the DMV. Once you’ve got a copy of your drivers license everything else becomes easy. This isn't a really problem. The real lesson is just to make sure your drivers license is accurate and you keep the address on it up to date.

[Anonymous]

I had replace marriage and birth certificate to get real ID, plus I have lost my DL more than once and had to get a duplicate, ditto SS card. It maybe helped that I have lived in the same house for more than 20 years. I don't remember the steps but it was all easier than I expected. I know that with various govt things to prove identity (don't remember if I had to for the marriage and birth certificates) there will be a series of questions--like a multiple listing of vehicles and one will be a car I owned 10 years ago, or none I have ever owned, addresses with an apt I lived in 25 years ago (or none), etc. Surprised they don't have my college GPA or my GRE score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for these ideas everyone. We have a small home with minimal closet space and dread the idea of having a safe. It sounds like it might be the best option though.

Also, I did not realize that bank safe deposit boxes aren’t considered safe!

They also make "fireproof" bags that are less than an inch thick.

For most people, I don't see how this is worth much time and expense. I can't think of any ID and financial documents that are not replaceable.

If I lost my driver's license, passport, and birth certificate, I don't know how I would prove who I am. I do have fingerprints on file.

Store photocopies in the cloud and in a grab and go binder for emergencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm a safe? Or the cloud? Adulting is hard for you, so it seems.

Not op but you're a dumb b. This is a valid issue that is not easy to resolve.


Most safes made for homes are ridiculously easy to break into if that is a concern. You have to get a heavy one so it isn't easy just to pick it up and walk away. If you want to bolt it into concrete for most of us it's going to be in a very inconvenient out of the way location which more than likely means it won't be used as it should.

Op this is a difficult issue to resolve. I have a safety deposit box but after reading how unsecure they are and I believe the banks really don't have any responsibility if they are broken in to.

I will be having workers in my primary suite and bath and have too much unprotected jewelry that I'm worried about.
I don't think there is an easy answer.

I have a heavy safe that cost a bit of money but the lock broke in under a year without a lot of use. It is supposedly fire safe. I will probably purchase another and take the suggestion to put another safe inside. It will have to be bigger and heavier and more difficult to move than I want.

For anyone who knows, how much should a decent safe cost? I need one for documents but also to put some valuables in when I'm away.

If you have workers in your home or are showing your home, you should probably move jewelry and guns to someone else’s home for that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our last 2 banks have not had Safe Deposit Boxes available. We do not have a safe.

Where is the best place to store car and house titles, passports, birth certificates, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Nobody wants to steal these things so there's a no reason to bolt them to the floor. You can either keep in a file cabinet (assuming you are organized and don't throw other stuff in there), a Tupperware in the closet, or a small document safe. Keep e-copies so you have the document numbers, but they can all be reissued if lost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm a safe? Or the cloud? Adulting is hard for you, so it seems.

Not op but you're a dumb b. This is a valid issue that is not easy to resolve.


Most safes made for homes are ridiculously easy to break into if that is a concern. You have to get a heavy one
For anyone who knows, how much should a decent safe cost? I need one for documents but also to put some valuables in when I'm away.

C-Rated safes will run around $1500-$7000 depending on model and obviously the size.

E-Rated safes are better with 1inch thick walls, and will be a bit more.

you can get a decent gun safe for less than $500. They weigh more than 300 pounds, so bolting it to a floor isn't really needed. And they're fireproof

Those aren't safes. They aren't really fireproof either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our last 2 banks have not had Safe Deposit Boxes available. We do not have a safe.

Where is the best place to store car and house titles, passports, birth certificates, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Nobody wants to steal these things so there's a no reason to bolt them to the floor. You can either keep in a file cabinet (assuming you are organized and don't throw other stuff in there), a Tupperware in the closet, or a small document safe. Keep e-copies so you have the document numbers, but they can all be reissued if lost.

If doing this, leave the "safe" unlocked. ^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw you posted on freecycle asking for a safe.

OP— too funny! Wasn’t me but maybe someone else on the thread?!

[Anonymous]

Passports and birth certificates? Are you kidding? Put it in a nice box and store it somewhere nondescript aka not out in the open. That should do. If someone breaks into your house I guarantee you they will steal your safe, jewelry, electronics before searching high and low for your birth certificate! Who are you people??! And what major bank doesn't have a safe deposit box?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm a safe? Or the cloud? Adulting is hard for you, so it seems.

Not op but you're a dumb b. This is a valid issue that is not easy to resolve.


Most safes made for homes are ridiculously easy to break into if that is a concern. You have to get a heavy one
For anyone who knows, how much should a decent safe cost? I need one for documents but also to put some valuables in when I'm away.

C-Rated safes will run around $1500-$7000 depending on model and obviously the size.

E-Rated safes are better with 1inch thick walls, and will be a bit more.

you can get a decent gun safe for less than $500. They weigh more than 300 pounds, so bolting it to a floor isn't really needed. And they're fireproof

Those aren't safes. They aren't really fireproof either.

We got a large gun safe that is "fireproof", at least for a certain amount of time or heat. It was a little more than $500, but not that much more.

We bought it from Bass Pro and it is 5' tall, maybe 24-30" wide. It is so heavy, I can't imagine thieves being able to cart it out.

If you are just wanting to store documents to keep safe from a short fire, get a small safe and hide it in a box or behind some clothes in your closet. Put it where robbers won't notice it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm a safe? Or the cloud? Adulting is hard for you, so it seems.

Not op but you're a dumb b. This is a valid issue that is not easy to resolve.


Most safes made for homes are ridiculously easy to break into if that is a concern. You have to get a heavy one
For anyone who knows, how much should a decent safe cost? I need one for documents but also to put some valuables in when I'm away.

C-Rated safes will run around $1500-$7000 depending on model and obviously the size.

E-Rated safes are better with 1inch thick walls, and will be a bit more.

you can get a decent gun safe for less than $500. They weigh more than 300 pounds, so bolting it to a floor isn't really needed. And they're fireproof

Those aren't safes. They aren't really fireproof either.

We got a large gun safe that is "fireproof", at least for a certain amount of time or heat. It was a little more than $500, but not that much more.

We bought it from Bass Pro and it is 5' tall, maybe 24-30" wide. It is so heavy, I can't imagine thieves being able to cart it out.

If you are just wanting to store documents to keep safe from a short fire, get a small safe and hide it in a box or behind some clothes in your closet. Put it where robbers won't notice it.

They call them safes for marketing reasons, but they aren't safes, but storage containers. The fire ratings are all hype and garbage also. Only metal will survive their time/heat ratings.