Backpacking Tips TV: How to Hide Money Whilst Backpacking
By Ubertramp • Nov 24th, 2007 • Category: Backpacking Tips TVThis clip demonstrates a way to hide money inside something in your backpack.
Obviously, a big fat permanent marker may draw attention (no pun intended) as it would probably seem an odd thing to be carrying around backpacking, but if adapted slightly – by maybe using something like a non-clear ballpoint pen instead – it has the potential to become a nifty emergency money holder.
If a thief did get into your backpack and went looking for goodies then a crappy pen knocking around in the bottom of your backpack could be easily overlooked in the hunt for money, cards or other valuable items.
Something this small could easily accommodate a tightly rolled $100 bill which would be enough to get by on for a few days should you somehow get parted from your other money and cards.
Backpacking Tips TV: How to hide money whilst backpacking
Ubertramp is the brainchild of freelance travel writer and inveterate cheapskate Nath Richards.
On occasion, he's been known to write for cash, food or friends - but never to flash for coins or publicity. If you enjoy his articles and want one for your own publication then drop him a line. Unless hungry, he's quite approachable.
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this is old, im backpacking right now, i have a necklace made of a piece of copper pipe with a rubber bung on either end, it wrapped decorativle in leather and on a leather cord around my neck,
it always has all my notes over 50 euro in it
Thanks for sharing that tip with the rest of us. It’s amazing how many ingenious ways different people tuck things away. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Robert.
Safe travels
But if they’re going to rob you, chances are they’ll grab your backpack & run. They may not find it, but you’ll still lose it.
Like Robert does, hide it on you, somewhere subtle that doesn’t obviously look like a moneybelt.
Thanks for the comment, Steve - I agree, If you have your backpack on when you get robbed then you’re probably going to lose it. But speaking from my own experience, I probably only have my backpack on about 10 percent of the time. Of course, we’re talking eggs and baskets again here ie wherever possible you split your valuables up - some on you, some in the backpack - so if you get robbed and your backpack is back at your digs then you only lose some stuff, and vice versa: if your backpack gets robbed from your room then you still have things in your possession. Its all about damage limitation.
Talking about getting your backpack pinched from your room - It’s much, much more likely that any theft in your room will be more from ’sticky fingers’ (ie people having a nose in and just pinching money, or electronics or cards) than it will from someone pinching your whole pack. Walking through a guesthouse reception with some stolen money in your pocket is a lot easier than trying to walk out with a bloody great backpack! lol!
Fair enough though, if they do that, you’ve lost everything in (and including) your pack - but this is rare. If you hide money in a few places in your pack (and in your room, come to that) then you have more chance that something will be overlooked - especially if its in something inconspicuous.
You may be interested in the next post also - its about ways to hide money on your person without the use of a money belt - also, if you have any tips to do with this or any other aspect of backpacking/travel, fel free to share them here.
Thanks
Nath