Carrying cash, especially while traveling

Despite the fact that the majority of transactions today occur electronically, there is great value in carrying cash with you, particularly when you travel. This is something that many preppers might not think of, particularly new folks.

When a blackout occurs, for instance, stores cannot process credit or debit cards, and some will not even accept checks because they want to electronically verify the checks. So cash is the only way you can buy anything in such a situation.

What if something goes wrong with your credit or debit card(s)? I have personally had a credit card number stolen on three different occasions. By the time I found out about it, once while traveling, the bank had already put a hold on the card.

What if the processing machines where you are shopping don't work? What if the infrastructure needed to process electronic transactions isn't working? What if the merchant only accepts cash? This is not uncommon in rural areas.

And none of these scenarios is an EOTWAWKI event. Even in today's world, there is still a place for cash, especially when 'stuff happens'. Keep cash on you at all times, even when you're close to home.

The need for cash is even greater when you travel. You aren't close to your home 'base' for food, shelter, etc., so you are more dependent on purchasing these things as you need them.

In addition to carrying multiple credit cards as well as a debit card when we travel, we also carry what some would consider to be a sizable amount of cash. How much? At least enough to get us back home from wherever we are. That might involve flying, or it might be renting a car and spending a few days driving back.

But rather than carry significant cash in a wallet when we travel, we carry the bulk of it in a money belt, along with a spare credit card and our passports. Money belts allow you to carry flat items under your outer clothes, and even if you were patted down by someone, they would be unlikely to notice it, especially if you were wearing jeans, for instance.

Cash can be lost or stolen, but I consider those to be lesser risks than me needing to buy something or get somewhere and not being able to.

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Carrying cash, especially while traveling