Name: How Much Cash Should You Keep at Home in Case of an Emergency?
Uploaded: 2023-10-04T21:45:00Z
Duration: 6 min 40 s
Description: Financial advisors recommend keeping physical cash at home in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. Wall Street Journal personal finance bureau chief Jeremy Olshan joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how much cash should be put aside. Photo: iStock

https://www.barrons.com/client

Topics

Memberships

Tools

Customer Service

Network

Newsstand

For Business

For Education

For Advertisers

Account

About Barron's

bolded

unBolded

"We're trying to build an infrastructure at a pace the world has never seen before," Said Mike Intrator, CEO of CoreWeave. This interview was recorded on Jan. 21, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260130/9fefeb96-21f1-4462-b112-3aaca3722949/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

CoreWeave CEO on Whether the AI Boom Is a Circular Economy

"The promise of AI is starting to get traction," said Mike Intrator, CEO of CoreWeave. This interview was recorded on Jan. 21, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260130/d1a78d1d-5153-453e-b4f6-6071639a1866/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

CoreWeave CEO on the Future of the 'AI Economy'

"Nvidia has been an absolutely incredible partner for CoreWeave," said Mike Intrator, CEO of CoreWeave. This interview was recorded on Jan. 21, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260130/d8bc483e-3a75-466a-8e14-6c1712b12f14/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

CoreWeave CEO on the Company's Relationship With Nvidia

Mike Intrator, CEO of CoreWeave, discussed the company's investments in self-built data centers, as well as third-party infrastructure. This interview was recorded on Jan. 21, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260130/3116ef6f-8fc2-43d8-a8e5-1c7b2aa839a4/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

CoreWeave CEO on the Company's Data Centers

Mike Intrator, CEO of CoreWeave, explained why the company's relationship with Nvidia is "symbiotic but not equal," the future of the AI economy, and more as part of a conversation with Barron's editor at large Andy Serwer. This interview was recorded on Jan. 21, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260129/92afbff0-1175-4030-a383-f6a94b7dd910/2/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

CoreWeave CEO on Nvidia, AI, and Building the Cloud

Joseph Dominguez, President and CEO of Constellation, discussed global aspects of the energy business. This interview was recorded on Jan. 20, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260122/dbf8069d-2eb7-4993-95e2-df86725f078f/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Constellation CEO on Transmitting Energy Globally

Joseph Dominguez, President and CEO of Constellation, discussed the future of the electric vehicle industry. This interview was recorded on Jan. 20, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260122/669e068f-d199-4ee5-9376-7eb2e8a83461/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Constellation CEO Sees Steady Growth for EV Demand

Joseph Dominguez, President and CEO of Constellation, discussed President Donald Trump's call for an emergency power auction. This interview was recorded on Jan. 20, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260122/52e7ac58-b132-4bcb-b752-a15c6e189bb5/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Constellation CEO on Trump's Plan to Cut Mid-Atlantic Electrical Bills

This level of energy demand has not been seen "in a long period of time," said Joseph Dominguez, President and CEO of Constellation. This interview was recorded on Jan. 20, 2026, at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260122/082972b7-68f3-4df5-978c-7da79ff3fd50/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Constellation CEO on What Hyperscalers Mean For the Energy System

At Barron's

"Your 9-5...is just not going to do it," Nick Magguilli, personal finance expert, said on Barron's Streetwise podcast.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251216/e6897805-d131-4cc4-9c59-ca03b0c0b958/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How to Scale Your Net Worth

TJ Thornton, Head of Global Research Product Marketing at BofA Securities, talks to Jack Hough about his favorite stocks outside of AI.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251210/f9c1a95c-5a0e-4349-9fe4-73b3ac53bfb8/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

BofA’s Favorite Non-AI Stocks

Jack Hough talks to TJ Thornton, Head of Global Research Product Marketing at BofA Securities about diversifying stocks to hedge AI risks.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251210/8e164ff7-1500-4c2f-8713-e891c640a0f4/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Evaluating Investing Opportunities Beyond AI

Steve Quirk, chief brokerage officer at Robinhood, breaks down the value of tokenizing stocks in different markets.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251126/f86d65ea-bd8b-4777-b6b0-80f7bb12027e/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Unpacking Tokenization for Everyday Investors

Jack Hough talks to Steve Quirk, chief brokerage officer at Robinhood, about trends in retail investing.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251126/a9cbdcc6-f060-4fc9-a15e-396924e25946/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How Robinhood Reshaped the Trading Landscape for an Entire Generation

Streetwise host Jack Hough sat down with strategist Scott Wren to discuss how the AI-fueled market run stacks up against the dot-com boom.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251111/bd2e1a5b-1a6e-4543-8133-dcc63f69b5dc/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

AI vs. The Dot Com Bubble

Bank of America’s Haim Israel shares what’s next for Nuclear Energy development.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250930/ab4fc336-af44-4af2-8e40-9ae6f04a445e/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Outlook For Nuclear

Jack talks to Lyft CEO David Risher about growth potential in the company.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250929/ae62b70e-912b-4ce7-ae63-1b2652628bae/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Lyft's Ride to Profit

The stock market is expensive. What does that mean for your portfolio? Jack sits down with Franklin Templeton’s Matt Quinlan to talk dividend investing, and whether it’s a good move in a pricey market.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250911/9c85e132-d710-4458-9467-aa69d4f25ae0/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Dividends and Capital Appreciation

Barron's Streetwise

Anthea Tjuanakis Cox, Morgan Stanley’s head of financial planning, discusses key trends that advisors should consider when offering clients financial advice.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260127/2debf803-64bf-4584-81dc-c92da72b7ed3/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Five Trends ‘Coalescing’ in Wealth Management

Interviews with top wealth management professionals about topics including compensation, hiring, marketing, next-gen, and more.

Advisors who can successfully serve a family with starkly different priorities represents the "alpha" that deepens the value of financial advice, says Anthea Tjuanakis Cox, Morgan Stanley’s head of financial planning.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260127/2fd71263-ad5a-47f3-b7b8-9f784fd5f557/3/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Reconciling Divergent Values in Multigenerational Planning

For younger clients, advisors should discuss immediate life goals, not just distant  milestones, says Anthea Tjuanakis Cox, Morgan Stanley’s head of financial planning. “‘Make sure that you bring in the things that are actually relevant now.”

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260127/a12a45bb-eb55-40ec-bdaa-03cf9e74c32c/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Generational Differences and Advising Digitally Native Clients

Anthea Tjuanakis Cox, Morgan Stanley’s head of financial planning, says that when providing financial planning, advisors should offer multiple scenarios to reduce client anxiety and ensure that all parties involved feel seen.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260127/ffcd128f-79e9-4cdc-b902-43c7667db536/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Advisors Should Share ‘Multiple Versions of Reality’ With Clients

“When you are with a prospect, a client, or a center of influence—anyone who has the ability to connect you—use the word introduction or connection,” says Bill Cates, founder of Referral Coach International.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260113/61e36ad7-2500-42fb-abff-a52ca20310e8/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Why Advisors Should Embrace the Word ‘Introduction’

Bill Cates, founder of Referral Coach International, explains how advisors can learn more about their clients and build trust in the process.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260113/ce45e37f-bb13-4b0c-896f-c7068a9e3fa0/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

‘Three Magic Words’ That Advisors Should Say to Clients

“True relevance is all about empathy and really knowing your market and really knowing the people you are trying to reach,” says Bill Cates, founder of Referral Coach International. “That builds trust.”

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260113/85e0ebeb-a785-4705-b6af-5525daba48fd/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Relevance, Empathy, and Trust

Bill Cates, founder of Referral Coach International, describes how financial advisors can distinguish themselves from competitors.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260113/bcc0f384-0f4a-4f62-bce9-6526a43e8948/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

What’s Your Differentiator?

Although the northeast is still a “very strong market,” advisors and wealthy clients have been moving to the Southeast since Covid, says Jeff Gonyo, head of Wealth Management at Steward Partners.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251229/3365335d-5a6e-435b-8ac2-df76d0ebcb93/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Advisors and Wealth Are Shifting to the Southeast

Barron's Advisor The Way Forward

Emily Green, head of wealth management at Ellevest, discusses the company’s intensive approach to training advisors on alternative investments.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260122/3a98e5d9-ae20-4526-ae91-8a3df74c93a0/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How Ellevest Works With Advisors and Alternative Investments

Clients are concerned with the timing of distributions and the after-tax return of a fund and focus more on the value they receive than a fund’s fees, says Emily Green, head of wealth management at Ellevest.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260122/eef5dc96-9ac0-4f4b-9944-c36951d47e40/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The Things That Clients Care Most About

Emily Green, head of wealth management at Ellevest, says advisors should “show up” where women are, be sensitive about how they are showing up, and focus on helping clients achieve their goals.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260122/33e77af3-1032-4891-9284-c455d900f9d2/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Three Effective Ways for Advisors to Reach More Women

Ellevest’s head of wealth management discusses how the firm is addressing the gender wealth gap and how its advisors are helping female clients with all aspects of financial planning.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20260122/7bcfe251-9b72-47e7-b6d2-46b70f68b77c/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Emily Green: Women, Investing, and the Great Wealth Transfer

The Ameriprise Financial Services private wealth advisor discusses the centrality of the advisor-client relationship, the shift to holistic planning, and reasons why the financial planning process should be simplified.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251216/0763524d-fc27-4495-a779-bbb533e16abc/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Doug Messina: The Importance of Strong Client Relationships

In terms of business continuity, “We don't leave until the client says, ‘yeah, I'm comfortable with so and so now and I know how to reach you if I need you,’” says Doug Messina, private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251216/32c51a2b-7ac0-4867-a758-7dd04ed104a1/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Transitioning Clients to a New Financial Advisor

“If you’re only hyper-focused on what’s happening in the market, it’s not going to do a whole heck of a lot,” says Doug Messina, private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251216/d08e7cf8-15b2-4d7b-b911-be1fa6058a65/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

‘You Have to Be Able to Connect With People’

Be honest, be yourself, and “put yourself in the client’s position,” says Doug Messina, private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251216/e3bd3c54-c3c9-4856-b27b-52e1f20f96b3/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

3 Pieces of Advice for Younger Advisors

Advisors need to “invest in the younger folks,” says Merrill Lynch private wealth advisor Tony Carpentieri, who asserts that developing “energetic, new, up and coming, and emerging players is the most important part” of succession planning.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251204/b5efe5ba-edf5-4dc7-9040-2739b43dd9c4/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

The ‘Most Important’ Part of Succession Planning Today

Barron's Advisor Next Generation

Will Nvidia and other technology companies keep powering the stock market in 2026? We'll speak with two veteran money managers about their views on tech and their favorite stocks for the coming year.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251212/5683d7a0-ed1f-4e3c-b913-bb3367ea3abd/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Finding Bargains in a Pricey Market

Explore what could go right for investors, and what could go wrong, in a year that will see the AI trade evolve, the Fed's leadership change, and global competition for resources increase in this 2026 Outlook.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251212/573f5954-c4ab-43e9-804d-f1ea93fbb70c/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Meeting the Challenge

Stocks are expensive, risks abound, and AI is about to change the world. Other than that, building a calamity-proof retirement portfolio should be a cinch. Tune in as two veteran money managers size up the markets and share their investment ideas.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250211/17a5e7d6-7c36-44b0-a35e-bf5ac3a24194/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Saving for a Sunny Day

Research shows that people greatly underestimate the healthcare costs they’ll face in retirement. Learn from experts how to estimate those costs, prepare for potential long-term care needs, and manage healthcare expenses in retirement.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20250211/e7c022d9-badf-4e95-8e7c-0b6fce9f7823/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Are You Fiscally Fit?

Surging power demand, new energy sources, and growing competition have spurred the utility industry to become more innovative than ever before. Our panelists will unpack the changes afoot and explore what lies ahead for companies, customers, and investors.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240917/001ea098-1fcc-4da5-9f0e-a3b149bbb2fb/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Not Your Father's Utility

Modernizing America's grid will take creativity and money -- lots of money. Learn how players across the power sector can achieve their electrification goals and serve new customers without breaking the bank for consumers.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240917/bd6bd43a-bb07-4b7f-9d1c-6ae04220bea9/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Ready for a Revamp?

The launch this year of Bitcoin ETFs has made it easier for investors to buy and trade the cryptocurrency. But is that a wise move, and if so, how much crypto should you own?

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240529/cbb77f15-ef70-445d-85ae-5f02c24ea1ef/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Investing in Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin and other digital currencies reside on software networks that aim to revolutionize everything from finance to art. Barron's talks to industry experts about the outlook for blockchain technology and its potential uses.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240529/8f60a5ea-6de4-4c3c-b7c2-12b11aaa99f3/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Is Crypto Really a Game-Changer?

Persistent inflation means retirement savings don't go as far as they once did. We discuss the best inflation hedges, and how retirees can benefit from higher-for-longer interest rates.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240429/69577ad6-cbaf-4d34-96f1-c42136e26aa2/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Protecting Your Nest Egg from Rising Prices

Barron's Roundtable

Whether you're leading a transition, building a scalable team, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve, this episode will give you practical insights to lead smarter and grow stronger.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20251010/fd26d60b-d1e6-409b-b51b-101da4aaa368/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Next-Gen Leadership Meets Smart Innovation

Electric vehicles sales are growing but not at the pace some expected. Some would-be buyers worry about the range of EV charging, and others are swayed by politics. But innovators from Detroit to Silicon Valley still envision a dramatic shift in how we get around. What’s going on and what’s next?

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240603/5784fa60-791c-47ad-9740-42e4553de5c4/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Forces Shaping EV Adoption and the Future of Driving

Success in improving the power grid to accommodate the electricity demands of the future will be a boon for companies doing the work and utilities that succeed. Explore the investing risks and opportunities.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20240522/2b825c69-2687-4d88-923b-0c8f523a2f67/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How to Invest in Initiatives to Bolster the Power Grid

Joanna Rotenberg, Fidelity's president of personal investing, discusses ways to make investing more accessible and how to bolster your own financial security.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20231025/8ad733df-ac90-41fd-9655-7761b3e0532c/2/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Mind the Gap: Demystifying Investing

Reshma Kapadia sits down with Cozy Wittman of College Inside Track to discuss how to tackle all things college, from what admission officers are seeking today, to navigating the different ways to funding higher education and evaluating the ROIs.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230515/b7229011-05cc-42ec-9c16-1d7752ec668d/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Decoding the College Search and Financing Puzzle

Nicole Webb, financial advisor and SVP at Wealth Enhancement Group, shares ways to navigate the real estate market this spring whether you are a first-time buyer, a retiree downsizing or someone who is relocating or looking for a second home.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230424/93eb00e1-caf0-4e83-9fc7-b502a57dc546/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Pro Tips on Buying and Selling a Home

Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president and COO of Nintendo of America, joins Barron's deputy editor Alex Eule to discuss his unlikely rise to the top, and the risks he took once there to beat the odds and achieve success.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20220630/61e2296d-ab1a-4216-ae65-24676447c616/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How Nintendo's Former President Disrupted the Gaming Industry

2050 Wealth Planners co-CEO Lazetta Rainey Braxton, Sequoia Financial Planners vice president Elizabeth Scheiderer, and MoneyZen founder Manisha Thakor offer tips on how to prepare for recession, inflation, caregiving needs.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20220617/a71025ce-518b-49b9-b098-21417863f8ce/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Financial Advice for the Inflation-Weary

Families and advisors have a lot to navigate when it comes to generational wealth transfer. Add sustainable investing to the list. Examine strategies to help close the generational divide. From the Dow Jones Energy & Sustainability event series.

https://m.wsj.net/video/20230210/85cbf3f9-b5ab-4bfa-93c6-f8e8a247d386/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

Sustainable Investing and the Wealth Transfer

Barron's Events

Level Up

Barron's Explains

Back to Business

Great Investors

MarketWatch

Video Center - Barron's home

Financial advisors recommend keeping physical cash at home in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. Wall Street Journal personal finance bureau chief Jeremy Olshan joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how much cash should be put aside. Photo: iStock

https://m.wsj.net/video/20231004/17ba6ced-8dc0-4b63-a6cc-7070e7df396d/1/hls/manifest-hd-wifi.m3u8

How Much Cash Should You Keep at Home in Case of an Emergency?

J.R.: Here's Your Money Briefing for Wednesday, October 4th. I'm J.R. Whalen for the Wall Street Journal. How much money should you put aside in case of emergencies? The Wall Street Journal of Personal Finance team spoke to experts about that and bureau chief Jeremy Olshan joins me. So Jeremy, just to be clear, this is different from having an emergency fund in your bank account. We're talking about having physical cash stashed away in your house?

Jeremy: Every personal finance expert or advisor will say you need to have three to six months expenses saved for an emergency. This is not what we're talking about. This is in the event of a natural disaster like a hurricane, a power outage, a snowstorm, or let's say a cyber attack where you cannot access your money digitally or the ATMs are not working, credit card readers are not working. There's no Venmo or Cash App. How are you going to pay for necessities? How are you gonna pay for anything?

J.R.: That's the moment we realize how reliant we are in technology.

Jeremy: Exactly, and most people aren't carrying as nearly as much cash, if any cash right now. So if when these situations come up, if you don't have some set aside, you could really be in a jam.

J.R.: How much do financial experts suggest people put aside?

Jeremy: There was no one answer. We asked a whole bunch of people, about a dozen financial advisors. I even reached out to some disaster prepper experts. If there was consensus, it was you need at minimum, the low end was a few hundred dollars. And then I'd say if we had to average it out, it was you need a week of expenses. Some said you need at least two weeks. And I think it depends if you live in say Florida or other storm prone areas, it's pretty common at this stage that there's a ritual to it. The power goes out. You're gonna need to pay for gas and food. So having a couple of weeks of expenses and cash is more common in places like that than where the power doesn't go out so often.

J.R.: And knowing ahead of time if the power might go out and it could take down the ATMs.

Jeremy: It's a funny thing. And that was a lot of the feedback we heard from readers and there was a great deal. It was like, you know, the power's out. It usually isn't for long. The credit card readers might start working. I could still go to my bank and but the truth is that if there's a sustained outage, and I've covered hurricanes and you know, it could, that could go on for weeks where but the financial system is just not functioning in that place. And so this isn't crazy town to think you need this much cash in your home, you know, could be a real need.

J.R.: I mean everything from a daily cup of coffee to clothing for your family to some sort of a tarp to cover a hole in the roof.

Jeremy: And then people mentioned you need repairs done. If there are any damages, a contractor might be more willing to come by quickly if you say you have cash, you could pay them right away than if you say, well, once the power's back on, you know, I'm good for it.

J.R.: Cash is king.

Jeremy: Yeah.

J.R.: Now for fear of burglars listening, let's not talk about where people might stash the money, but the challenge here might be hiding it in a safe place but then being able to find it when you actually need it.

Jeremy: That was another area there was some division. I mean the definitely an argument to have a safe. Safes are rated for certain degrees of fire resistance. There's also risk of flooding, so putting cash in plastic, but then a lot of folks we talked to said it doesn't really make sense to put all your cash in a safe. If there is a robbery, that's the first thing a thief would go for. Putting money in some other locations can make sense. Of course, that can also cause challenges too. A, you have to remember all the places you hid the money. We want other people in your family perhaps to know where that money is.

J.R.: It becomes quite a treasure hunt.

Jeremy: Yeah, I was imagining like drawing a map, you know, like in this room, you know, under the third cabinet we have, you know, 50 bucks. I think there's practical issues with the scavenger hunt approach.

J.R.: Some people might hide it in a shaving cream can or maybe my parents had emergency money, and they would put valuables in an empty box of rice and put that in the house somewhere.

Jeremy: There's a whole cottage industry of products for this purpose. Like one of the disaster prep experts, he mentioned a shaving cream can with a false bottom which if you've seen Jurassic Park.

J.R.: Oh, that's right, yes.

Jeremy: And it, and I was like, I thought he was joking, but it really exists and there's a whole bunch of them and there and similar things. So if you really wanna get serious, but yeah. I think you're right. The more people probably just do their own makeshift version of that.

J.R.: But in the event of say a natural disaster, you might need more than just cash to grab in a hurry, right?

Jeremy: There's a website ready.gov that the Homeland Security Department set up for this purpose to tell you how to prepare for various forms of emergencies. And it's interesting because they list food, water, canned goods. There's a whole bunch of things on the essentials. Money was not on that list. Cash was on a secondary list, saying additional items that might come in handy. To the federal government at least, it's more important to have a can opener than cash.

J.R.: So eat the non-perishables in the house and then worry about the money.

Jeremy: Yes, yeah, they, you know, having the cash is not gonna feed the kids if things really are shut down. That's the thinking there.

J.R.: Now some generations might think no problem. Having cash on hand is a smart idea. But Jeremy, there are generations currently where having cash on hand is something that never happens.

Jeremy: I have two teenagers. To them, even having to carry a wallet is a chore. They're so used to just using their phone to pay for things. So the idea of keeping cash doesn't seem real. The attitudes to cash are definitely generational. Although there are young people who like cash. We did a story on how physical cash helps people save because you can see it, it's tangible. It's like a version of the classic piggy bank, which is harder to do digitally. We now have a whole generation raised on entirely digital money and a $10 bill is like a, you know, a historical artifact, not something they encounter in their daily lives.

J.R.: That's Wall Street Journal personal finance bureau chief Jeremy Olshan. And that's it for Your Money Briefing. Today's show is produced by Ariana Ospuru with supervising producer Melanie Roy. I'm J.R. Whalen for the Wall Street Journal. We'll be back tomorrow morning. Thanks for listening.

WSJ's Your Money Briefing podcast is your personal-finance and career checklist. Finance reporters and experts break down complicated money questions every weekday to help you make better decisions about managing your money. 