!!!IMPORTANT!!! Have some cash on hand! My 500th post! UPDATED.

Karen - Congrats on your 500th post and what a great one it is. I haven't watched the news in almost 15 years so I don't hear all this stuff about the Japanese jumping out of windows, etc. I will mention to my wife about saving all her money and not in the bank. I have never liked banks and this is one reason why, no guaranty. I really like your blog and keep them coming.

As for the economy crashing, I don't care. I have a small home back in Minnesota where all of my family lives, bought and payed for. My expenses for living in the home, taxes, utilities come out to be about $50 dollars per month. So if this country goes to pot, I am prepared for it. And if Obama becomes President, we are going to have some serous problems.

I ALWAYS keep some cash on hand - just in case but, I would certainly NOT use this as a reason to go raid the piggy bank.  My concern is more for natural disasters and th elike that stop the credit card machines from working.

Congrats on the milestone Karen.    I always have some cash on hand, too - - - no need to make a run on the bank!

Shucks.  My HELOC loan was frozen months ago.  Who cares?  I never used it anyway. 

Cash is king.  However, don't carry too much.  I'm an impulse shopper.  Carrying cash is risky business.

Save, save, save.

KAREN - Before you go running to the bank to pull out all of your money, you might want to do a little research.  Most accounts up to $100,000 are currently insured by the federal government by the FDIC (http://www.fdic.gov/).  This morning, both Barack Obama and John McCain have requested that the FDIC raise the amount to $250,000.  By the way, where did you get your information about the 125 deceased Japanese people that jumped out of their windows?  Was it the same person that advised you to take your money out of the bank?

Karen, I know lots of insane rich people, too so you are not alone. Your source on the Japanese suicides needs to lay off the sauce.

Karen, this is ridiculous fear mongering.  Name your source - could it be the National Enquirer?    

Karen, Yes, my husband and I have investigated things.  We spoke with our advisor yesterday.  First we moved one checking account only getting 2%, to a new account receiving 3%.  And, OF COURSE, everything is insured.  We have many accounts spread around like BofA, etrade, schwab, etc...  And like I said, we're still young (at least I am, he's pushing 40 LOL), and the market is just going to go back up, even if it takes a few years to get "good" again.  Buying low now makes a lot of sense for us.

Okay Karen.  I'll watch out for 125 flying Japanese and withdraw a few bucks if it will make you happy :)  Thanks for the heads up.

How small are the dollar bills that you advocate deducting?  Are we talking like 3/8ths to scale or what?

If everything collapses in a fiery heap and well-dressed Asian business men continue to hurl themselves out of office buildings at an apparently record pace, what exactly is that $300 gonna do for you?  It would be worthless paper that won't buy the umbrella to ward off the Japanese stockbrokers falling from the sky.

Karen - You seem to have really gotten under some peoples skin, you are the (Best). Only a few know how you and I work with words. Don't tell anyone OK?

This post is definitely worth a feature, I love the comments.

Karen - No problem and keep those great blogs coming.