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One thing you need, and probably don't have, in your emergency preparedness kit!

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Realty West CalBRE #01458572

There were many people here who got caught out yesterday without the all-American dollar in their wallet. Don’t let it happen to you!

This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs out of respect for the original author who did all the work. If you would like to leave a comment, click on the link below and leave your comment with Eric who deserves your pity support with your comments.

One thing you need, and probably don't have,
in your emergency preparedness kit!

I'll bet you have flashlight and fresh batteries. Probably some extra clothes.... non-perishable food.... bottles of water.... swimsuit in case you have to spend the hot day at the cool beach.... contact information for friends and relatives (if you don't have it programmed into your phone).... bathroom tissue.... hydrogen peroxide.... bandaids.... basic and prescription medications.... can opener.... utensils.... bedding.... important papers and documents....

There is one thing that I found I needed yesterday during San Diego's 12-hour blackout that I didn't have and that I've never seen listed on any emergency preparedness kit:

MONEY!

United States $1 bill

United States $5 bill

 

Real money! To most people it looks kind of strange, but it's still a necessary part of society.

Without electricity for 12 hours yesterday, cash registers didn't work at gas stations (not to mention the pumps themselves!), restaurants (do you really want to buy spoiled food or melted ice cream?), and retail stores like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, etc. Those dastardly credit and debit card swiping machines don't work.

Emergency services told us to stock up on extra water and batteries because the blackout might last for two or three days. You can't buy those things once the electricity is out unless you have cash!

Cash, cash, cash. Now I understand why so many real estate agents say, "Cash is king!"

However, there are usually mom & pop shops that will sell you stuff as long as you have cash. Restaurants yesterday were selling their pre-made food, like sandwiches, at discounted prices, as long as you had cash. Ice cream parlors were selling ice cream at discounted prices, as long as you had cash. Liquor stores were selling booze and water, as long as you had cash. Gas stations that had extra supplies of gas were selling it, as long as you had cash. Some stores were selling $1.99 bags of ice for $2.00, as long as you had cash. Some were selling $1.99 bags of ice for $5,000, as long as you had cash. That's called gouging, though, and it's illegal. Authorities put a stop to it very quickly.

I don't normally carry cash around witih me. I've always thought it was kind of stupid since I have credit and debit cards. And what store doesn't take either debit or credit cards? I now know that money is needed in an emergency. My emergency preparedness kit now includes:

  • fifty $1 bills
  • ten $5 bills

Total: $100.

Hopefully I'll never have to use it, but I sure could have used it yesterday. And if I never have to use it, then I'll never have less than $100 to my name!

 

Thanks for visiting!

Russel Ray Photos Russel Ray Photos

 

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