Don't Hide Cash at Home. Here Are 3 Places to Put It Instead

If you've got a stack of cash tucked behind your dresser or in a cereal box labeled "emergency fund," you're not alone.

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.

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.