What is a Small Money Safe? (Explained)

A small money safe is a secure lockable cuboid-shaped box that we use to store valuables away from hazards like fire, water, and burglary. You will find small money safes made from either cast metal or blow-molded plastic. 

There are different types of small money safes, also known as coffers. You will find them secured to the wall, for example, those found at home. At the bank, the safe is at the counter. 

Whichever your preference, a small money safe is a necessity if you have valuables to secure.

What is a good safe to store money?

Having a sound safe to store money will most definitely give you peace of mind. The right kind of safe to store large sums of money will be attached to the wall or the foundation of your house, and no one can move it. 

So it would be best if you placed it far from the sight of people.

You would want a fireproof, waterproof, and burglary-resistant safe. A good safe made of cast metal or blow-molded plastic has fire insulation on the doors and the safe’s body to withstand extreme temperatures for an extended period. 

A document Safe, for example, can take up to an excess of 1,000 °C (1,830 °F) while maintaining a temperature of less than 177 °C (351 °F).

The design of a burglary-resistant safe will protect you against thieves because it is resistant to the crude tools thieves use to attack the safe. In addition, this burglary-resistance safe can withstand the duration of an attack, which lasts 15, 30, and 60 minutes, and can help you buy time till the police come in case of a heist.

Consider getting more than one money safe for huge cash and keep them in different locations on your property. Then, in an eventuality like burglary, you will be at ease knowing that you did not put your eggs in one basket.

What is a good small safe to buy?

The best way to know a good small safe is by reading reviews from online shopping platforms. If that seems like an uphill task, worry not! We have identified that a good small safe has the following standard features. 

Your small safe should not only be fireproof and waterproof by design, but it should also have anti-theft features.

Anti-theft features include:

• A Backup key
• Incorruptible multiple programmable combinations which can hold up to 40 fingerprints
• A large storage capacity for your money.

In addition, some safes have the old-school combination lock, others have digital keypads, and others have both.

A good safe should receive the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification that assures you that its combination lock is free from tampering and your safe is fireproof.

Where should I put my safe box in my house?

Your safe box is out of harm’s way in a place that is either not readily thought of or a place that is too obvious to keep your money. The latter gives rise to a diversion safe. 

Ordinary or even ridiculous objects such as a candle, a book, a can, or a wall outlet plug can make a diversion safe.

Even if every house is different, we shall give you some pointers on safer places where you can install your small safe box to safeguard your valuables against fire, floods, and burglary. 

If your small safe is to guard your valuables against burglary, look for a place with low human traffic that can not be easily spotted. Your built-in coat closet and guest bedroom are good examples of such spots. 

Once you install it on the wall, a door that marries well with the wall should cover it. You can include a cabinet to conceal it fully.

If you are protecting your valuables from fire hazards, a secure place to install your safe will be where there is most protection, like the corner where two outside walls meet. In addition, you should ensure that there are sprinklers near the safe.

Flooding is one phenomenon that can destroy your valuables. So install a small safe storage box that protects these valuables from water due to flooding, with a concrete or steel base. 

Anchor the steel base at least 2 ft (60cm) above the ground to support it. Waterproof safes are not only suitable for storing cash but also electronic valuables, photographs, and jewelry.

Where NOT to install a Safe

Please do not install your small safe in the main bedroom. The main bedroom is normally the first place that bandits look for safes.  

Avoid putting your safe in the garage. The garage is usually the least secure place in your house. Bandits tend to easily access your house through the garage since their doors are mostly unlocked. 

Besides burglary, the garage is prone to fires and flooding and is easy to remove safes from. 

How do you store money, so it doesn’t mold?

Molds can plague your safe and destroy your valuables if not taken care of. Molds need a moist environment in a safe box to thrive. We have listed a couple of tips to help you deal with mold problems and prevent them from occurring.

• Please open your safe door to aerate it every two weeks for 20 minutes.
• Store them in airtight plastic bags or sealed containers before keeping them in the safe for pictures, jewelry, title deeds, money, and other valuables.
• Store your safe in cool and dry areas of your home. Use a hygrometer to measure the humidity of the place you intend to install the safe and the humidity levels of your safe.
• Check to see if the airtight seal on the safe is intact.
• The Items you intend to store in the safe should be dry before storing them.
• Use desiccant packs, baking soda, or pouches filled with charcoal to absorb dampness, reduce odor, and replace them every six months.
• Use an electric dehumidifier to absorb excess moisture in the safe. After absorbing the maximum moisture, plug the electric dehumidifier into an outlet to dry it and use it again. 
• Allow your new safe to adjust to the environment. Acclimatizing a safe helps avoid condensation in and around the safe due to temperature differences between the outdoors and indoors. Keep the doors open for 24 hours to prevent the safe from trapping excess moisture. 

Where is the safest place to store cash?

Other than safes, there are other safe places you can store cash, and they include yards, Fish tanks, picture frames, litter boxers, and Diversion/decoy Safes, 

Yards

Did you know that your yard is ideal for keeping your money besides being a place to play with your dog? That’s If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty with soil from digging a hole. Find yourself an airtight plastic bag to put your cash in and bury it in the hole. 

When burying it, ensure you pick a location you will not forget, or your money will not get wet inside.

Picture Frames

Picture frames look unsuspecting, which is why many people love to store their cash in the back of those picture frames. You Can easily slide your cash into the back of the picture frame in plain sight without anyone else knowing.

Put your cash in a sealable envelope. Next, look for a frame that can hold the envelope well, tuck it in and fasten the frame with tape. Finally, could you take note of the picture and hang it up? 

Decoy/Diversion Safes

Diversion safes have the design of appearing like your common household items to throw off a burglar. Decoy safes are fire- and water-resistant and will come in handy in natural disasters. 

These safes come in various sizes, shapes, and designs that will give you an array of options. For example, if you want to have your safe somewhere in your kitchen, you will find a decoy safe that looks just like one of your utensils. 

With endless opportunities, you can find diversion safes that look like; shaving cream, soup cans, mirrors, and benches, among others.

One good thing about diversion safes, you can build one yourself by converting a utensil you don’t use to be Safe for money.

Fish Tanks

Your money can be safe in the water! I know you are wondering how the fish tank is your answer. A fish tank can make a perfect place to keep money out of sight. 

For this Safe, you should have filled the fish tank with gravel. Find an airtight container or a sealable plastic bag to keep your cash. Ensure that the bag or container has no air bubbles or gaps that will allow water to sip in. 

Besides the risk of your cash getting wet, a fish tank is one place few people would look for money Safe.

To curb the risk of your money getting wet, test one bill in an airtight sealed bag to see whether it gets wet.

Litter Boxes

A litter box is one of those gross places yet very effective in keeping your money. It’s one place where no one will ever look for money because it’s disgusting in the first place. The litter on top serves as an extra layer of defense for your cash against thieves.

Identify a litter box that you intend to use. To make it even harder for burglars who might want to check the litter box, have many of them in your house at strategic places. 

Choose a litter box in a place you feel is out of sight. Seal your funds in a plastic bag and place it in the box. It is safer to tape your sealed cash to the bottom of the litter box. Then put fresh litter on top, and your money is safer there. To access your money, you will need to empty your litter. 

Be careful of those who volunteer to put your trash out on trash day because they may also end up trashing your cash!

Conclusion

We are all in the business of generating and accumulating wealth, and how to keep your money safe can give you sleepless nights.

A small money safe is one way of settling your anxiety that your money will be safe. You can have more than one small money Safe in different locations in your house to diversify your risk of a single safe getting cracked or stolen.