Shoe money?

March 8, 2007 4:13 AM

Should I store emergency money in my shoe when I travel?

I travel to Nigeria for work -- sometimes to Lagos. It can be a dangerous place at certain times and in certain circumstances, though no one in our group has ever experienced problems, because we take a lot of precautions. But one coworker told me that whenever he goes to a third world country, in addition to his travel wallet, which he wears underneath his clothes, he always keeps a spare bill in his shoe. If he was robbed and separated from the group, he's have enough to get a cab, or transport to the Embassy.

Is this too extreme an idea? I've traveled to Africa three times now, and frankly couldn't even bring myself to wear a hidden wallet, mostly because I sweat like a pig in hot climates. If I carried money in my shoe for even a day, I'm sure it would be in no condition to ever use again. (I ended up taking a small purse, and keeping a close eye on it.) Do other 3rd world travelers really wear 'shoe money'? How do they keep it dry?

posted by bchaplin to travel & transportation (35 comments total)

I've had lots of problems while on business in Nigeria. Definitely hide some cash. And your passport.

I carry a leather bag under my arm containing my passport, the bulk of my cash, as well as all but one credit card.

If you must carry cash in your shoe (I've done this as well), put it into a plastic bag.
posted by Mutant at 4:47 AM on March 8, 2007

Nowhere in my head does this sound extreme, especially in the context of a place like Lagos. The money will dry.
posted by 10ch at 4:50 AM on March 8, 2007

I've always kept $100 or so wrapped up tight in some difficult-to reach part of my backpack. Never done the money-in-the-shoe thing (a coin-bag from a bank would keep it dry) but I had a belt that had an unzippable compartment on the reverse side for storing banknotes. Most thieves are wise to the hidden pouch trick but I don't imagine many would think to check the inside of your belt.
posted by Black Spring at 4:50 AM on March 8, 2007

Spare bill: Yes
In shoe: No, way too obvious
posted by DU at 5:01 AM on March 8, 2007

I have never bothered, and I agree that cash in the shoe would get soggy and disintegrate. When I was in the Peace Corps, we were told (truthfully or not, I don't know, because I never needed to try it out) that in an emergency, as Americans we could take a cab to the embassy and the embassy would pay the cab driver. Other embassies are probably similar, for their own nationals (my envious experience has been that the European and Canadian embassies provide far better services to their citizens than do the well-fortified US embassies, and they have better parties, too.) Since you pay for cab rides at the end of the ride, you don't need to tell the driver that there will be a delay paying him until you are actually at the embassy, where the guards can help defuse any confrontation that develops.

I do always keep money in different pockets, with spending money (for buses, cabs, lunch) separate from the rest of the cash and id. I've read of people carrying separate wallets, with expired credit cards, to have something to give to a mugger, but I've never done so, nor has anyone I know. There are only so many places to hide cash (in your bra, down your sock, in your underwear, in a moneybelt) and experienced thieves will know them all.

This might be more of an issue "up country," where you would have to take a series of buses, taxis, etc, to the nearest consulate or embassy. But even then, if you are a visible foreigner, your chances of hiring a driver with the promise of extravagant pay at the end of the drive are really good.
posted by Forktine at 5:01 AM on March 8, 2007

I think it's a smart idea to carry money in a few locations on the body in Nigeria or other places where being robbed (or even misplacing your purse) would be real trouble. Even a fake pocket in a purse is not too extreme.

I never carried money in my shoe (sounds uncomfortable), but I do carry hidden money. My preference is an eagle creek all terrain money belt that looks a lot like a regular belt, but has a zipper and room to stash a few traveler's checks or bills. It won't hold a credit card or passport, unfortunately, but I think it's a decent disguise for enough currency to get you out of a jam. You could probably fit a copy of your passport in there too. Even better would be having your own belt made that really didn't look like a money belt - it might also be more comfortable than the belt eagle creek sells, which I found a bit uncomfortable at times.
posted by Amizu at 5:25 AM on March 8, 2007

Do you have a fake wallet? A good technique in poor countries is to have a "mugger's wallet" with some out of date credit cards, and a few bills in there.
posted by wackybrit at 5:38 AM on March 8, 2007

wackybrit has good advice which I have used when I was living in Spain. I never got pickpocketed but always kept an old wallet in the back pocket filled with those fake credit cards that companies are always sending me and maybe a Euro or two for effect. My real wallet was always kept deep in my front pocket and I used it as surreptitiously as possible.

Other standard advice is to always keep a copy of the main page of your passport somewhere safe and separate from your real passport.
posted by JJ86 at 5:56 AM on March 8, 2007

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far.

Further background which I should have included: I am female, dress is business-style, and I don't wear belts. Also, our program has a team of local Nigerians, one or more of whom always travel with us when we go (and take good care of us). We stay in groups and are driven everywhere. Though we do sometimes go by car from one city to another, so we are always aware of the possibility of highway robberies. I like the fake wallet idea! Also, I might consider fitting some bras with a hidden pouch. (Let's hope the robbers wouldn't look there...)
posted by bchaplin at 6:05 AM on March 8, 2007

It does sound obvious to carry money in your shoes. Muggers that "specialize" in foreign visitors will absolutely be aware of this popular hiding spot.

That's not to say, however, that you shouldn't do it. You should. In fact, from my experience, the best strategie is to have a bit of cash scattered around all your stuff. Every bag, even the ones you check, should have some cash hidden in them. And your shoes too. Not a lot of money of course, just enough to get you through an emergency - a couple cab rides, a meal, etc.
If you loose a piece of luggage on airport connections, you loose a little cash with it. But if you get seriously mugged and all that's left are the large bags on the trunk of the van, believe me, it's gonna be a huge relief.

Regarding the bulk of your money, I say don't put it in your shoe, but never carry it all in one place either. I guess that's common knowledge for frequent travelers: muggers do know all about these hiding techniques, but they are likely to be in a hurry and will not keep searching you once you produce an amount that gets them "satisfied".

And for carrying in your shoe, not only put the bill in a plastic bag but if possible underneath the inner sole and to the front of the shoe, under your toes. There's a slight chance a mugger in a hurry wil look under the heel and go on. Slight.
posted by AnyGuelmann at 6:20 AM on March 8, 2007

Is this too extreme an idea?

I don't think so. Why do you think it's extreme?

If you think it's over-paranoid, you can simply keep it to yourself. No one will be able to detect it, and so cannot judge you.

The fact that you consider it suggests that you have doubts about your safety, which means that it's not an unreasonable thing to do - it's not difficult, dangerous, or extreme in any way.

Imagine needing it, and having it -- you would feel fortunate that you did it. Imagine never needing it -- the worst consequence would be a somewhat disfigured 20$ bill, accompanied by good health and good fortune.
posted by fake at 6:23 AM on March 8, 2007

bchaplin: I just saw a line of bras that had "pillows" in the cups (for maximum push-up effect), which were inserted into the cups through a seam. You could buy one of these bras, remove the air pillows, and insert the money, etc in there. It can't hurt to photocopy your passport (you can reduce it so it's legible, but smaller to fold) and keep it in there, too.
posted by parilous at 6:30 AM on March 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

Seconding wackybrit. If you are at all at risk you should carry your money concealed somewhere on you and have a fake wallet with a few notes and old cards in it ready to hand over from your pocket.
posted by fire&wings at 7:00 AM on March 8, 2007

The foot taboo in many African. Middle Eastern and Asian countries will mean that a lot of third-worlders won't want your shoe money. You may cause offense. Duct-tape and a bill folded in eighths works anywhere in the lining of the clothes.
posted by Phred182 at 7:02 AM on March 8, 2007

If I was going to put money in a shoe, I'd put it under the insole, and maybe wrapped in tyvek (like the no-rip envelopes) for protection. Maybe an experienced mugger would find it, but if you're pickpocketed or something less dramatic it would be there.
posted by sLevi at 7:26 AM on March 8, 2007

...a lot of third-worlders won't want your shoe money. You may cause offense.

I'd be very offended if a third-worlder searched my shoes for money. Mugging is my culture's taboo.

Sorry Phred182 if I didn't understand your point. I didn't.
posted by AnyGuelmann at 7:52 AM on March 8, 2007

I don't know if I count as a third world traveller, but I do live in Kenya and I have been mugged at gun point in the last few months, so I think I can pitch in here.

In answer to the direct question "should I carry money in my shoe", I'd say do keep some money separate from your wallet - preferably loose in a different pocket to your wallet - but be prepared to hand it over should you need to. I can't see why it needs to go in your shoe..

Forktine: "as Americans we could take a cab to the embassy and the embassy would pay the cab driver."

Forktine: "Since you pay for cab rides at the end of the ride, you don't need to tell the driver that there will be a delay paying him until you are actually at the embassy, where the guards can help defuse any confrontation that develops."

Unless you are official embassy staff (as in, in the country working for your government/military/whatever) this is almost certainly not a given in today's world. Despite what you may think, your embassy probably doesn't give a toss about what you're doing in a country unless you're doing it for or against them. I wouldn't try this unless I absolutely had no other options.

wackybrit: "A good technique in poor countries is to have a "mugger's wallet" with some out of date credit cards, and a few bills in there."

JJ86 "I never got pickpocketed but always kept an old wallet in the back pocket filled with those fake credit cards that companies are always sending me and maybe a Euro or two for effect."

The spare wallet is good if you know there are pickpockets about, but when it comes to being mugged having two wallets may actually be a bit risky. I used to carry a fake wallet, but should you actually BE mugged, you'll need b4llz of StEE1 to pull off the subterfuge involved without potentially putting yourself in more danger than necessary. The last thing you want to do is to antagonise someone who is armed, edgy and focusing their attention on you. Being caught trying to trick a mugger out of their winnings is not a good idea. Having said that, I have managed to get away with handing over a dummy wallet before and the rush afterwards was pretty intense (I had a wad of cash loose in my other pocket at the time). However, now I'm a father so I'm a bit less rash than I once was.

So, what to do instead? Being in Africa and being white, I have always walked around with the assumption that although the chance of being mugged is, on the whole, pretty low, if there was someone around looking for a good target, I'd probably be a pretty visibility one...

Nowadays I think there's no point in my having two wallets if someone is pointing a gun/waving a panga at me. If they say "empty your pockets"; bingo, they get two wallets and a reason to start asking why I have two wallets. All I really want them to do is to go away as quickly as possible so I can go home and make a claim on my travel insurance.

The best advice I can give is to just be careful, consider where you are going and what you are doing and work out how much cash you will need for the day. Try to carry only what you need for what you are doing and nothing more. Keep cards or travel documents in hotel safes. If you have good travel insurance, anything left in a hotel safe should be covered for loss or theft as opposed to stuff you leave in your hotel room or in a locked car - however well hidden - which generally isn't. Moreover, don't take muggers for fools - nearly everyone knows that tourists have money belts/under arm goodie stashes. If you don't need something, don't carry it.

One last thing, there is a caveat on the "carrying enough cash for what you need". If you work on the assumption I posit, that you are always a mugging target and you don't want to piss off a mugger if you're being mugged, you'll need to carry an amount of cash that won't hurt you financially should you have to kiss it goodbye but at the same time is enough not to antagonise a mugger should they take a peek inside your wallet.

Put it this way, a dollar is probably not gonna do it; fifty bucks almost certainly will.

On preview (good god, this took me a while to write!):

bchaplin: "We stay in groups and are driven everywhere. Though we do sometimes go by car from one city to another, so we are always aware of the possibility of highway robberies."

What you may need to be aware of, by the sounds of it, is what the carjacking scene in Lagos is like. There have been a couple of US citizens shot dead recently for their Prados here in Kenya and official USians here have all been sent for training on how to deal with carjack situations (do what you're told, give what you've got, get out quick). I don't know the exact situation in Nigeria, but I'd venture that if you're driving around in big 4X4s for most of your trip - you should check out whether it's happening locally.
posted by davehat at 8:02 AM on March 8, 2007 [2 favorites]

Besides the advice above....
Photocopy your passport, credit cards, driver licenses, etc... and leave them with someone at home. Worst case scenario, you can contact the embassy and have your friend/relative fax your information to you and/or cancel your credit cards, even if you're robbed of everything you take with you.
posted by Crash at 8:03 AM on March 8, 2007

Maybe slightly gender-specific, but I've always found keeping bills in my socks much more comfortable, and easier to get at discreetly, than in my shoes.
posted by anadem at 8:04 AM on March 8, 2007

Oh, yes, if you're female, in the bra is definitely a good place - down underneath, not under the strap or at the top (it works its way out from the top fairly often). You could also safety-pin a few bills inside the waistband of your underwear.
posted by timepiece at 8:05 AM on March 8, 2007

I think the bra is a good idea for an emergency bill too (and definitely don't forget a piece of paper with important phone numbers, passport number, etc) because, and not being alarmist here, if a mugger has made it that far, things have moved beyond a point that any preparation can salvage.
posted by wackybrit at 8:16 AM on March 8, 2007

Another former Peace Corps volunteer here. Yeah, carry an extra bill, but not in your shoe (too obvious!). I second (third?) the bra recommendation. Don't hide it in an pocket of your backpack or purse, because chances are, a robber will take your entire bag, not ask you to selectively remove its contents. Also, I don't think it's worth carrying around a spare wallet for reasons mentioned above ( robbers tend to take everything). However, I do believe in the "take with you exactly what you will need" philosophy. Carrying around extra money to appease robbers is unnecessary. In a third world country, they'll be happy to take the few bucks you do have on you. Chances are you probably will get robbed at some point, or at least pickpocketed (extremely common in poor countries), so don't wear jewelry or carry around your credit cards, and it won't be anything more troublesome than a minor inconvenience. Seriously, though, if your car gets held up by gunmen, do yourself a favor and hand everything over. If you do end up in a jam, people will help you out because they assume you have money and they will be compensated.
I hope you're not getting freaked out by reading this thread- have a great time!
posted by emd3737 at 8:41 AM on March 8, 2007

When travelling in Asia, I found money in the sock to be more comfortable than my shoe.
posted by dazed_one at 8:49 AM on March 8, 2007

Thanks, everyone. Seriously, I'm going to start retrofitting a few bras! And emd3737, I'm not freaked out at all -- I think I should be more prepared for emergencies on future trips. The first time I went to Nigeria I was nervous, but once I was actually there, and I saw how thorough all the arrangements were, I calmed down a lot. Now I'm probably less wary than I should be!

Davehat: Lagos is no picnic, but there are actually less carjackings there than in Nairobi, from what I've heard. Perhaps more highway robberies, in which case I'm sure we'd all just hand over our stuff.

Now that I think about it, I'd be less inclined to go to the embassy, since we know so many people who would be more helpful in an emergency than anonymous embassy staff.
posted by bchaplin at 9:00 AM on March 8, 2007

Tilley Endurables has wardrobe items with secret passport pockets and pickpocket-proof carry bags. The handbags are fearfully ugly, but even their light and dressy clothing has a secret pocket.
posted by Sallyfur at 9:31 AM on March 8, 2007

I lived in Brazil in the late eighties during a bit of a crime wave, and lots of people started putting money in their shoes. A friend of mine got mugged and his muggers took his shoes as well, probably because they knew people hard started to put their money in their shoes. A throwaway wallet is an excellent idea.

Scan copies of your important documents and email them to yourself at a web-based email address (gmail, yahoo, etc.) then you can access your copies anywhere. Leave anything you couldn't bear to part with at home, and the rest of it is just stuff, so hand it over.
posted by ambrosia at 9:45 AM on March 8, 2007

Duplicate wallet - The risk of being pickpocketed may be more than the risk of mugged, in which case having a separate wallet still seems like a good idea, and is pretty standard.

Bra - Parilous bra reconstruction idea is fantastic (I never liked stuffing dirty bills into my bra, and a friend got a nasty infection from doing that). I shudder to at the thought that muggers will "expect" tourists' bras to be full of cash, though.

Belt - I don't wear belts either but that eagle creek belt works well UNDER a dress or business casual clothing. Or a belt to that effect.

Extreme - I don't think this is extreme at all. Despite how Lagos may feel, Lagos is a dangerous place, and it's also a relatively poor place - there's no good reason not to take precautions. I've been in plenty of places where I felt pretty safe, and friends have still been mugged, and I have been pickpocketed. You can be mugged at home, too, it's just easier to deal with the fact that you've been mugged when you're home and have acess to all your resources.
posted by Amizu at 12:28 PM on March 8, 2007

I shudder to at the thought that muggers will "expect" tourists' bras to be full of cash, though.

I had two friends get mugged, and both times the muggers knew to request spare cash from bra cups. Particularly when there are lots of tourists around, and they are wearing sandals, shorts, and t-shirts, there just aren't very many places for them to hide their cash. Any mugger who specializes in tourists will know about cash in bras. (Lagos isn't so touristy, compared to some places, and maybe you are wearing more clothes, so maybe the muggers wont know to request cash from bras. But then again, maybe that's where all the Nigerian women keep their cash?)
posted by Forktine at 1:20 PM on March 8, 2007

AnyGuelmann, maybe to get the idea, you should just think "arse" when you read "foot".

in many countries, if you pull a reeking bill out of your shoe and try to hand it to someone in exchange for goods and services--like a taxt ride away from a mugging--even a starving person would think twice about accepting it.

The foot is considered unclean. Baring the sole of the foot, in many different countries ranging from Asia to Africa, is an extraordinary insult. It's one of those beliefs that unite the world--if the question were "What are my best odds of causing offense in a strange culture?", "shoe money" would be a good response.
posted by Phred182 at 3:45 PM on March 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

Phred182, the problem of offending people with "shoe money" is easily solved if the money is wrapped in plastic or tyvek under the insole of the shoe, and removed from the shoe out of view of others.
posted by yohko at 4:56 PM on March 8, 2007

Phred, I completely understand that part. I have spent months in the East. Plus, I'm a third worlder too.

What I meant to say is that when you're worried about getting carjacked or assaulted, offending your possible-muggers' culture should be the least of your worries. You think they could become more violent if you offer shoe-money? Well, the point oh having money in your shoes is so you can keep it hidden during a mugging! Not offer it! If you're gonna offer all the money you have hidden on you, just keep it all in one pocket so you can get it over with faster!

Plus, if they are so disgusted by feet they probably don't want anything to do with some foreigner's soles in the first place and will not look there. That in my view would actually make your shoes a great hiding place!
posted by AnyGuelmann at 5:18 PM on March 8, 2007

AnyGuelmann:

Phred's point was that the money would be no good even if it survived the mugging, because it would be "unclean."
Yohko rebutted by insisting you pull the money out out of site.
posted by disillusioned at 5:39 PM on March 8, 2007

Whilst working in a particularly shady part of Rome, I would take the following precautions:

1) Only carry what you're going to use for the day, in cash.
2) Leave all but one form of low-level photo ID at where you're staying.
3) Carry what cash you have in an unlikely place- bras are great for women. I put mine in a sunglasses case.

Best of luck, and enjoy your trip.
posted by The White Hat at 3:17 PM on March 9, 2007

Thanks, everyone, for all the great ideas, and sharing of stories! I've learned a lot about security, and cultural taboos. Next time I travel I'll distill the wisdom from the thread into the tips I think most apply to my particular situation.
posted by bchaplin at 4:30 PM on March 9, 2007

Here's another alternative to hiding money in the shoe: convert a pen into a safe and store a few bills inside.
posted by Amizu at 1:41 PM on March 15, 2007