Let's say hypothetically someone had $100,000 in cash and they wanted to convert it to some other item of equal value and store in a safe deposit box. What would the best item be? In the movies it tends to be some kind of certificate like bearer bonds, or precious metals, artwork, or jewelry. What choice is the most secure and likely to retain its value over time?
posted by averageamateur
on May 4, 2013 -
24 answers
I have at least $500 worth of cash from half a dozen different Asian countries sitting in my underwear drawer for at least two years now. What's the cheapest, lowest-fee but legal way to convert them into one currency (Euro or USD)? I travel frequently to France and the United States, so changing them to Euro or USD is fine either way, but just not sure if the best way is the airport counter, a random bank, at the hotel I stay at, or something else...? I would like to have a good idea on how to go forward with this, before I go about traveling with all this random cash, only to find out I'd have to lug them back to home to my ultra top secret underwear drawer hideout since it's too expensive/all these currencies aren't accepted for exchange/not worth it.
[more inside]
posted by peachtree
on Apr 29, 2013 -
7 answers
We have a large quantity of cash that my mother in law has stashed in an old purse over the years. Now she wants us to deposit it in the bank for her, but we don't want to run afoul of cash reporting requirements, prohibitions on structured transactions, or civil forfeiture.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Apr 11, 2013 -
30 answers
How can I get something shipped from L.A. to Wisconsin when the seller won't ship it, asks for cash, and I don't have any friends there?
[more inside]
posted by Tchad
on Oct 2, 2012 -
11 answers
I am visiting my boyfriend's family for Christmas. His parents and two of his younger brothers (still in school) will be there, and I've met each of them very briefly. They celebrate Christmas with gift exchanges, but I was thinking about giving them cash, partly because I feel I don't know them well, partly because I don't want to travel with lots of boxes, and partly because cash is a perfectly acceptable gift in
my culture (for New Year's Day). I've asked my boyfriend and he seemed lukewarm, but not entirely against it. Is this an absolutely horrible idea? If it's not, what is a good amount that says I'm not stingy, but also also not trying to bribe them?
posted by ethidda
on Sep 26, 2012 -
39 answers
We live in a tiny Manhattan apartment and have everything we need. What do we register for?
[more inside]
posted by alicetiara
on Sep 19, 2012 -
37 answers
This past weekend I had a huge moving sale, and ended up with about $1500 in small bills ($1s, $5s, $10s, $20s). Between cleaning my apartment and packing everything up today, I forgot to go to the bank and deposit the money into my account. Tomorrow morning I fly out of JFK (Terminal 4, specifically) to move to San Francisco, and since my flight is early there's no time to go to a bank. I feel weird traveling with these huge wads of cash, especially as it's all small bills. Right now it's all stuffed into a cigar box in my carry-on. I don't think it will fit in my wallet. Will the currency exchange places give me $100s (or better yet a money order) for my cash, and will I find one before passing through security? Will TSA steal from me, or give me a hard time for carrying these wads of bills? Is there possibly a Bank of America branch in JFK? What should I do? I don't think I'm comfortable depositing this much cash through an ATM, and anyway it would take forever.
posted by betsbillabong
on Aug 27, 2012 -
18 answers
I need an iOS app to track cash spending, preferably with a quick category function.
[more inside]
posted by griphus
on Aug 7, 2012 -
13 answers
Is there a place online where (presumably they would have to be nice, I would guess) people would trade money for gift cards to stores at which they shop anyway? Or something similar?
[more inside]
posted by jitterbug perfume
on Jul 29, 2012 -
9 answers
I need to mail approximately $1,000 worth of euros from WA to NY. We received it from our bank through FedEx, but FedEx refused to accept the shipment when I tried to send it and said that the bank must have had third party insurance. What is the best way to get the money to the opposite coast within the next couple of weeks?
posted by halogen
on Jun 28, 2012 -
14 answers
With so many customers using non-cash methods of payment and customers getting cash back via debit purchases, are grocery stores becoming cash-negative operations?
[more inside]
posted by rmd1023
on May 14, 2012 -
11 answers
What benefit does a Negative Operating Cycle get you? Other than just cash on hand. Amazon has a lot of cash because they practice Just In Time inventory management & sell out of their products before the bill for that product comes due. Other companies pay the bill first & then wait for the stock to sell out to recoup their money. Aside from the benefit of having cash on hand, what benefit do you get from this?
[more inside]
posted by MesoFilter
on Feb 17, 2012 -
19 answers
What are some publicly available prizes or rewards for solving really obscure / awesome problems?
[more inside]
posted by CharlieSue
on Jan 30, 2012 -
9 answers
I have $500 in brand new, fresh-from-the-mint, sequential $1 bills. What is the fastest way to "break them in" so they don't stick together?
[more inside]
posted by Hey Dean Yeager!
on Jan 14, 2012 -
17 answers
Is it possible to move rented accommodation in the UK, in London, while claiming Housing Benefit?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 10, 2011 -
8 answers
We were recently in the market for a house, and managed to put together a decent down payment. Then we decided not to buy a house after all, although it's a possibility down the road. Now that we're out of the market, what's the best thing to do with the money until we need it (at least a year from now, possibly multiple years)?
[more inside]
posted by captainawesome
on Oct 11, 2011 -
10 answers
Let's say we have £25,000 sitting in a current account and no debt, other than a very low-rate mortgage. We can comfortable can add approximately £5,000 a year to this amount. Investment advice please!
[more inside]
posted by Wroksie
on Aug 4, 2011 -
14 answers
Looking for a program to help with cash flow calculations for a small business
[more inside]
posted by zara
on Jul 28, 2011 -
3 answers
If you use budgeting software, do you have a good system for tracking and categorizing your cash spending?
[more inside]
posted by andrewcilento
on Jul 17, 2011 -
16 answers
I'm trying to pay my (US) HSBC credit card from europe and the credit card company can't find a way to accept my funds. please help me find a way so I don't ruin my credit score...
[more inside]
posted by krautland
on Jun 6, 2011 -
16 answers
The site that I'm valeting at right now has plenty of foot traffic. Almost every time I'm at work, I get asked if there's an ATM machine around. I tell them that it's a half-mile away, and they just give up. I thought it would be a great opportunity to put up an ATM machine nearby.
[more inside]
posted by RaDeuX
on Apr 24, 2011 -
14 answers
I want to sell my used car that's worth about $10K. Are there other options than asking for cash?
[more inside]
posted by emily37
on Jan 17, 2011 -
13 answers
Did a Bank of America teller just "lose" $1,000 of mine? I deposited $1,000 in rolled coins, which were placed in a plastic "CoinSafe" bag, sealed, and I was given a "bag receipt" (a piece of the plastic bag with a serial number/contents handwritten on it) and NO deposit receipt at all.
[more inside]
posted by speedgraphic
on Oct 14, 2010 -
28 answers
I got a money order for a security deposit on an apartment, but then ended up not staying with them. They gave me back the money order, but im having trouble getting the money back into my own hands..
[more inside]
posted by Esefa
on Oct 9, 2010 -
8 answers
UK banking query: I bank at the Co-operative Bank, which has just one branch in my town, miles from where i live & work. Can I i) pay cash in at any other bank [eg HSBC, Barclays, etc] via the counter and deposit in my account; ii) does this cost money? iii) does it take time to 'clear'?
posted by dash_slot-
on Sep 12, 2010 -
11 answers
My uncle has cancer...allegedly, and our family members are rallying together to help him. How can I give without feeling like a sucker?
[more inside]
posted by stedman15
on Jul 19, 2010 -
11 answers
Under 30 with a 16-month-old. Getting $750k from insurance settlement. Have $65k in a money market from previous settlement, $10k in my Roth IRA, and $13k in my 16-month-old's 529. Should I pay cash for a house?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 24, 2010 -
19 answers
I need $150 by March 31st. Running out of ideas to obtain it. What can I do?
[more inside]
posted by spinto
on Mar 26, 2010 -
49 answers
A friend of ours is in deep financial (medical- wife died of cancer) trouble. Many friends have pooled money (cash and checks made to cash).
What is the best way to give it?
We are considering Cashier's check, Visa gift card, etc. Keep in mind, he is very proud, and we're afraid that he will not cash a pile of checks. (Also, avoiding tax implications would be nice.)
posted by antipode12
on Feb 7, 2010 -
29 answers
Basic dumb question that could use a little expert advice. What's the best way to turn gold into cash? I've got two Krugerrands in my safe deposit box, but now I need the money. I live in a small town; we have banks and one coin shop. But I'm reluctant to just go up to someone at a counter and say "what will you give me?" Any advice? (Beyond "keep it, it's going up up up." I need to pay my dentist now.)
posted by kestralwing
on Dec 14, 2009 -
8 answers
