Hiding money at home

How much cash at home makes sense?

Recommendation: €200–500 – enough for 2–3 days in the event of a power cut, card system failure or natural disaster.

Why NOT more?

❌ No insurance cover: household contents insurance only covers cash up to €1,000–2,000 (depending on the policy)
❌ No interest: €10,000 under the mattress loses €200/year in purchasing power at 2% inflation
❌ Risk of theft: burglars specifically look for cash
❌ Risk of fire: cash burns

Better alternatives:

✅ Overnight money account: available immediately, protected up to €100,000, earns interest
✅ Second current account: at another bank, as a backup in case your main account is blocked
✅ Small safe: for the €200–500 of emergency cash (from €50 at a DIY store)