If you’ve got a stack of cash tucked behind your dresser or in a cereal box labeled “emergency fund,” you’re not alone.
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According to a recent Piere survey, the average American has $544 in valuables hidden at home.
But here’s the problem with hiding cash at home: Inflation doesn’t care where you hide money. Every year your hidden dollars lose purchasing power — without you even noticing.
Here are three better homes for your short-term cash.
1. Put it in a high-yield savings account
This one’s first for a reason.
High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) are easy to open, federally insured, and earn 4.00% APY or more at many online banks right now.
That’s miles better than the 0% your cash earns sitting in a sock drawer or under the mattress.
To put this in dollars, let’s say you have a secret $2,000 cash stash at home right now. If you kept it in an online savings account with a 4.00% APY instead (it can still be secret!) you’d earn about $7 per month in interest.
Think of an online HYSA like a digital sock drawer — except this one grows more dollars every month and year.
Got a few thousand saved up? Explore the top HYSA accounts worth stashing your cash in.
2. Short-term certificates of deposit (CD)
If you like the idea of your cash quietly earning a little extra on the side, a short-term CD could be a smart move.
Many banks are offering 3- to 12-month CDs with rates around 4.00% APY. It’s a simple way to guarantee a return on your cash without taking any risk, as long as you’re cool with leaving it untouched until the term ends.
3. Try a money market account
A money market account is kind of a blend between a savings and checking account. You get good interest rates (around 3% to 4% right now), but still have easy access to your money.
Some money market accounts even come with check-writing privileges or a debit card. It’s a solid option to store and grow cash without locking it away.
Stop hiding cash at home
I know, I know, having a secret stack of cash in a place that only you know feels cool. But, that $500 hidden in a shoebox could be earning you $20 to $25 per year, completely passively, with no extra risk.
Small money moves like this add up. You can still keep your money a secret — just store it digitally, where it grows more.
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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Joel O’Leary has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
