Does Your EDC Include Cash?
Every Day Carry, or EDC, is a term that preppers use when they talk about their everyday supplies. You probably call it something different – maybe a purse, wallet, or your pants pocket. No matter what you carry your supplies in, your EDC should include cash.
Actual cash is not carried by many people these days. Our society has stepped away from change jingling in our pockets and forking over bills for purchases. It could be that people are afraid of getting robbed, but most likely they think that their credit or debit card will serve them just as well as cash will. And it just might- under certain circumstances. After all, there is an ATM machine on just about every corner.
I like to keep a small amount of cash on me at all times for the following reasons.
If You Carry Cash, You Spend Less
Keeping an extra $20 in my wallet helps me to spend less money. How? Because I have to think about my purchases if I’m going to pay with cash. Most people will think twice about breaking a $50 or $20 bill for a small purchase. Once you break that bill, it tends to go really quick!
If You Carry Coin, You Spend Less
In my car and wallet, I always have an assortment of change for those little purchases. I’ve found that pulling out a few quarters and dimes for payment makes it easier to keep the big bills in my wallet. How much do I carry? Just a few dollars in each.
Change comes in handy when you need to pay parking or vending machines and are purchasing other small items at the convenience store. It just seems a waste to swipe my debit card for a $.99 bottle of water. I’m not one of those people that will plop down $5 in change for an item, though. That would be ridiculous!
Cash in an Actual Emergency
The biggest reason that I always carry cash is so that I’m prepared for an actual emergency. If our local power goes out and I don’t have cash I’ll be stuck. There is no swiping a debit card without electricity.
You know, smart people always carry cash in their 72-hour kits, and this prepared gal always has at least $20 in small bills in her wallet in case of an emergency.
What About You, Do You Still Carry Cash for Emergencies?
The Prepared Bloggers are at it again!
Everyday carry, or EDC for short, refers to items that are carried on a regular basis to help you deal with the normal everyday needs of modern western society and possible emergency situations.
Some of the most common EDC items are knives, flashlights, multitools, wallets, smartphones, notebooks, and pens. Because people are different, the type and quantity of items will vary widely. If you have far to travel for work or have young children, your EDC could be huge!
But, even if you’re just setting out for a walk around the neighborhood, taking your essential items with you in a pair of cargo pants with large pockets, may be all you need to be prepared.
Follow the links to see what a few of the Prepared Bloggers always carry in their EDC. Would you feel safer with these items close at hand?
Shelle at PreparednessMama always carries cash, find out why and how much she recommends.
John at 1776 Patriot USA tell us the 5 reasons he thinks his pistol is the essential item to have.
LeAnn at Homestead Dreamer won’t be caught without her handy water filter.
Justin at Sheep Dog Man has suggestions for the best flashlights to carry every day.
Bernie at Apartment Prepper always carries two knives with her, find out what she recommends.
Nettie at Preppers Survive has a cool way to carry duct tape that you can duplicate.
Todd at Ed That Matters tells us about the one item you’ll always go back for…your cell phone
Erica at Living Life in Rural Iowa knows how important her whistle can be when you want to be safe.
Todd at Survival Sherpa always carries 3 essential fire starters wherever he goes.
Angela at Food Storage and Survival loves her Mini MultiTool, it’s gotten her out of a few scrapes!
I use to never carry cash more than a few bucks unless I was planning on buying something, I’ve always tried to keep enough in my car or on my bike for at least a tank of gas and a few bucks for other things if needed, then I started reading all the doom and gloom and realized that your debit and credit card would probably be useless so I started a stash in my wallet and try to keep $ 50 to $100 tucked away but don’t tell my wife she’s the type who hands me a $20 today and tomorrow asks do you have any money so any I have is really hers if she knows about it.
I do in fact have cash in my EDC set up…more importantly I will also carry(when it’s time to boogie)a tin with close to $30 in change. It’s great to use when/if the box stores you come across have the machines that count the coins for you and give you a voucher for the dollar amount you put in(minus a small fee).no dipping into the wallet and you may even have $$ left over to go back INTO your wallet!!