10 Best Hiding Spots For the Valuables in Your Home

Hiding your money and other valuables under your pillow or mattress will not protect them from a thief. There are options besides a bank's safety deposit box, which by the way, may not be as safe as you think. You can either hide your loot in secret places within your home OR you can hide your stuff in diversion safes. There are ten main areas that can double as hiding spots for your valuables.
 
BEAMS
 
ReMove an unnecessary "support" beam and hollow an opening at the top or backside. Before beginning this project, confirm that the beam is not a true support beam or you could wreak havoc!
 
WALLS
 
Hollow walls provide tons of hidden storage in every room. Choose spots that are not exposed, such as walls behind your headboard, large pieces of furniture, etc. Use your imagination when camouflaging the area; for double security, hang artwork or a heavy mirror, or create an architectural niche in the area. If you have paneling or wooden walls, don't use this hiding place for heavy items that are not secured because they could break through or cause a slump in the paneling.
 
STAIRWAY
 
You can renovate an existing stairway to make a very small room underneath it. This could also be used to hide yourself if your home is invaded.
 
BASEBOARDS
 
ReMove a small section of baseboard; hollow the area needed to store your valuables and replace the baseboard.
 
INTERIOR DOORS
 
You can make a large hiding place in the hollow of an interior door; camouflage it with fancy molding or simply mount a mirror covering the compartment.
 
FURNITURE
 
Build secret drawers. ReMove molding and create a hollow. Remove stationary drawer fronts in cabinetry and attach secret containers to the backsides of the drawer fronts.
 
BOOKCASES
 
Beneath the lowest shelf in most bookcases, you have a few inches of dead space that is protected by molding. Remove that shelf and use the large space to store items; you may wish to attach the valuables to the underside of the shelf by nailing a box or by using magnets and an attached magnetic strip.
 
Light SWITCH
 
Remove an electric outlet plate or Light switch (after turning off the electricity). Store small valuables within the box or create a box nearby that you can access from behind the plate.
 
HOUSEPLANTS
 
If you already have many indoor plants, create a hiding spot in the base of a plant container. Place the money or other valuables in a sealed plastic bag to protect from water damage.
 
BACKYARD
 
Bury your valuables underground. Make a map of the exact location of your buried treasure and keep it with your important papers in a safe or other locked place that a thief can't access.
 
For guaranteed security, when hiding your valuables in your home, strive for excellence in the camouflaging of your secret places and never tell anyone where the hiding places are located! If you don't want to go through the extra effort and time to create these hiding places, then a diversion safe might be the perfect hiding place for your valuables.

10 Best Hiding Spots For the Valuables in Your Home

10 Best Hiding Spots For the Valuables in Your Home

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10 Best Hiding Spots For the Valuables in Your Home

10 Best Hiding Spots For the Valuables in Your Home 10 Best Hiding Spots For the Valuables in Your Home

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Hotel Security

Today, more than ever, hotel security has grown to encompass more than just emergency and evacuation plans, a stern visit to a rowdy room, or a security guard at the hotel's entrance. Like all other large facilities in a post 9/11 world, hotels must protect themselves and their guests against terrorists looking for a high-throughput environment that would draw media and public attention in the case that an event transpires there.

Hotel Security

Hotel Security

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Hotel Security

Hotel Security

The connotations of contemporary threats translate into several crucial aspects regarding hotel security. First, the risk assessment is no longer an option for hotels, but rather a necessary tool. Secondly, the security manager and his or her team must be professionally trained and qualified to deal with today's contemporary hotel security threats. Third, hotels benefit from joining an industry organization whereby they can be kept abreast of measures that their competitors are taking in terms of hotel security. Finally, hotels must have an orderly system in place whereby they are periodically updated about the local and/or national security warning level by law-enforcement bodies.

In the case that a hotel is not mandated to undergo a hotel security risk assessment by local or national authorities, it must take this responsibility upon itself. That is, a professional risk assessment will help a hotel identify its assets, the potential threats to those assets, and the magnitude of losses in the event that the threat manifests. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a risk assessment will draw conclusions and provide workable recommendations and countermeasures to be implemented by the hotel management. Although a professional risk assessment prevents a formidable investment for the hotel itself, it is the most imperative investment that the entity can make.

Most hotels have a security manager or chief of hotel security operations who is responsible for a crew of security guards. Today's managers and their teams must be professionally trained and educated regarding modern threats that face the hotel security industry. In addition to knowing how to properly monitor security technologies such as CCTV, access-control and other integrated hotel security systems, today's hotel security [http://www.thepsos.com/hotels] managers and officers must be trained in identifying suspicious behaviors, interpreting body language and cris-response intervention.

Thirdly, many countries or states have collective hotel associations that provide a supportive community network for local hotels. Some examples include the IH&RA ( International Hotel & Restaurant Association ), the AH&LA (American Hotel and Lodging Association), the EHMA (European Hotel Managers Association) and the IHA (Israeli Hotel Association). These fraternal organizations are the ideal platform for hotels to gain support in regards to how their counterparts are providing services to their clients.

Finally, hotels must have an orderly system in place whereby they are periodically updated about the local and/or national security warning level by law-enforcement bodies. Many national and/or local law enforcement bodies make this aspect of hotel security a requirement. That is, the hotels in a given area must be willing to have a consistent flow of dialogue between police or state security forces, and themselves. Through updates, and even set standards, these hotels will be better equipped to provide the best to their guests.

Hotel Security

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Understanding Social Security Retirement Benefits

Each day I receive more and more questions from my baby boomer clients who are confused about Social Security benefits and taxation. Social Security benefits come in three flavors: Retirement benefits, survivor benefits and disability benefits. The questions I receive primarily involve questions regarding the retirement benefits area. With 365 baby boomers turning 62 each hour, since January 1st 2008, I have no doubt that the frequency and diversity of these questions will grow. Fortunately, most of the questions are very similar and I will address, in this article, the most common issues I am regularly confronted with.

Understanding Social Security Retirement Benefits

Understanding Social Security Retirement Benefits

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Understanding Social Security Retirement Benefits

Understanding Social Security Retirement Benefits

When can I retire and collect benefits?
You have three choices as to when you can begin collecting retirement benefits:
Age 62 or
Normal Retirement Age or
Later than Normal Retirement Age

Normal Retirement Age refers to the age you need to be in order to receive your Primary Insurance Amount ("PIA"). PIA is the full, normal retirement benefit you are entitled to. When you retire early (i.e. at age 62), your full retirement benefit is reduced to an amount equal to 75%. This means if you retire at age 62 you will receive 75% of what you would normally receive if you waited until you hit your normal retirement age. If you retire later than your Normal Retirement Age, your future retirement benefits grow by 8% per year until you reach age 70. After age 70 the Social Security Administration will not increase your benefit amount one red penny.

Normal retirement age varies according to your year of birth:
Born 1937 and earlier = 65
Born in 1938 = 65 + 2 months
Born in 1939 = 65 + 4 months
Born in 1940 = 65 + 6 months
Born in 1941 = 65 + 8 months
Born in 1942 = 65 + 10 months
Born in 1943 to 1954 = 66
Born in 1955 = 66 + 2 months
Born in 1956 = 66 + 4 months
Born in 1957 = 66 + 6 months
Born in 1958 = 66 + 8 months
Born in 1959 = 66 + 10 months
Born in 1960 and later = 67

How are my Social Security retirement benefits determined?
The calculation of retirement benefits is based on earnings over a forty year period. The lowest five years are dropped and the remaining earnings are averaged over this thirty-five year period.

Am I eligible to collect Social Security retirement benefits? I did not work that much during my life.
In order to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits you need to have worked forty quarters and earned a specified minimum amount during each quarter, in order for the quarter to qualify. A quarter is a three month period.

My wife was a homemaker and has never worked. Is she eligible for any Social Security retirement benefits?
If a spouse did not work they are still eligible for Social Security benefits equal to 50% of their working spouse's PIA (full retirement amount). When the working spouse dies, the surviving, nonworking spouse, is entitled to 100% of their deceased working spouse's retirement benefits.

Should I begin collecting benefits at age 62 (early retirement)?
If you are hell-bent on early retirement and need the retirement benefits to survive, then the answer is an obvious yes. If you do not need the benefits to survive and there is longevity in your family, then waiting until full retirement age is probably the best option as your increased benefits will begin paying off after age seventy-six.

What if I retire early, collect retirement benefits at age 62, and soon after realize I need to work because I am not making ends meet?
In this case the amount of earnings you make during the year cannot exceed ,160 (2009). If your earnings exceed this amount you will be required to pay back one dollar in Social Security retirement benefits for every two dollars of earnings that exceed this ,160 (2009) amount. You can find yourself in a financial mess when this happens so you must consult your CPA if you are thinking of returning to the workforce, even part-time.

I am divorced and I did not work much during my life. Am I eligible for Social Security benefits?
A divorced spouse who does not meet the forty quarter minimum requirement and who was married for ten years to the same spouse, is entitled to 50% of their ex-spouse's PIA (full retirement benefit) if they wait until their full retirement age. If they want to collect at age 62, then they are eligible for 37.5 % of their ex-spouse's PIA (full retirement benefit).

When should I apply for retirement benefits?
The earliest you can apply for benefits is three months prior to turning age 62.

I never worked but want to apply for early retirement benefits (age 62) on my husband's account. My husband says he is going to continue working. Is this a problem?
Yes. Generally, a spouse cannot collect on their spouse's account until their spouse begins collecting. There is an exception, however. The working spouse can "file and suspend" (apply for Social Security benefits and then immediately apply to suspend collecting benefits).

I intend on applying for early retirement (age 62) but I will work part-time. Do I have to pay Social Security tax on my earnings?
Yes. Everyone who works, even those collecting Social Security benefits, must pay Social Security tax on their earnings.

How much of my Social Security benefits will be taxed?
The maximum amount of your benefits subject to income tax is 85%. It may be lower, depending on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income.

Understanding Social Security Retirement Benefits

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