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Instead of buying an expensive safe, here are six hot spots to hide your money at home, courtesy of Wise Bread’s 10,001 ways to live large on a small budget.

1. Tampon box – “By leaving a little ‘product’ in the box for authenticity and taping a wad of cash to the inside, you can be sure a robber won’t think to look there. (Ladies can be certain that a husband or boyfriend won’t find it, either.)”

2. Fake drain – “By constructing a false drain in the floor of your garage or basement, you can place a pipe full of money where no one can see. (Just make sure your cash is stored in a waterproof container or baggie, in case an unknowing person tries to use the drain!)”

3. The yard – “Digging holes and hiding money is an age old practice. The key is to remember where you put the cash and keeping it safe from the elements. Most experts recommend using some kind of PVC piping to keep the dirt away from the stash and to discourage the ground from caving in. This will also prevent a pesky underground burrowing creature from discovering your secret.”

4. Return-air vent – For detailed directions pick up November 2008 issue of The Family Handyman magazine. The set up involves magnets and sawed-off screw heads.

5. Frozen food – A wad of twenties will find a cozy home in a box of cold grub, empty or not!

6. Fake electrical outlet – No need to rig one yourself, stores sell them pre-made.

The chapter also suggests NOT hiding cash in three obvious places like under the mattress, in the toilet bowl, and in a purse. If you have a significant amount of cash at home, add it to your home owner’s insurance policy.

Now that you’ve hidden so much cash at home, how do you remember where it is stored?

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