DIY: Hidden Money Container

Books are simple to adapt for hiding money in them, especially if the home has many books in which to hide it.

A container for hiding money is a useful way of keeping petty cash on-hand for emergencies, while keeping it secure from theft or loss. The container material depends on where the container and money are to be hidden. For hiding money outside the home where it is exposed to the elements, a waterproof and corrosion-resistant material is preferred. For a container inside the home, it is valuable to have a container, such as a hollow book, that blends in with other everyday items in the home.

Things You'll Need

• Book, at least 2 inches thick.
• Craft knife

Instructions

1. Open the book to a page approximately one-third of the way into the book. For example, for a 500-page book, open it to about page 150.

2. Cut a square into the pages of the book using the craft knife, using our example, from about page 150 to page 350. This may require several passes of the knife across the same surface to cut deep enough into the pages. Make the opening as wide as necessary for the amount that will be hidden in its pages.

3. Place the money into the opening in the book.

4. Close the book and place it with other books on a bookshelf, ensuring the hiding book is recognizable by the people who need access to it.

Tips & Warnings

• For a container kept outside the home, a strongly sealed plastic container will do the job, as security containers kept outside rely more upon an obscure location, such as underground or in rafters, instead of attempting to "hide it in plain sight" as is done when keeping money secure inside the house. To make the hollowed out book more secure, fit the opening in the book with a solid container for holding the money, such as a film canister, box or other container.

• Be careful not to cut into the back cover of the book.

References

• Crooked Brains: How to Make a Secret Hollow Book