Better "Safe" Than Sorry

Important documents, special jewelry, mementos - they're all vulnerable to fires, floods and other disasters. But you can keep them safe and secure if you plan ahead.

Professional organizer Joan Kisver says that spending a few bucks could save you a fortune in the long run.

"You get a safe deposit box at the bank. They come in all different sizes and they are priced according to the size," she says. You can generally get a small one for less than $50 a year.

What should I keep inside?

What should you box? That's easy - anything that's difficult to replace or has irreplaceable sentimental value. Documents include:

Insurance policies
Deeds
Titles
Mortgages
Contracts
Investments (like stock and bond certificates)
Birth, marriage and death certificates

BRIGHT IDEA...

Keep an inventory of what's in your box. If you're looking for something and you think it's in the house, it could be in the safe deposit box. A list will make it easier to keep things straight.

Keep Out

Not all of your important documents should go into to the box. Don't forget - the bank is closed at night, weekends and holidays. "Anything that you may need to refer to or someone in your family may need in an emergency," Kisver says.

Keep the following items at home in a fireproof safe (rated by the Underwriters Laboratories for fire resistance) and out of the bank box:

Passports
Power of attorney
Will
Funeral instructions


CYBER SECURITY

It's the Computer Age. Security is going high-tech and safe deposit boxes are going digital. You can't store your keepsakes or mementos in cyberspace, but you can store important documents.

In fact, you can even create a household inventory online for your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy that includes pictures and even video of your belongings.

A company called "Mnemopolis" offers the service, and will even convert your documents to digital formats if you don't have the tools or know-how to do it yourself.

For more on the costs and benefits, including FAQ's, check out the company yourself. Click here for Mnemopolis.com.

Read more smart consumer tips and strategies
from Fox11 Eyewitness News Online

PRIME PICKS

AMERICAN IDOL
Tonight at 8:00 PM
Scott MacIntyre and Matt Giraud perform; four contestants are eliminated; the top 12 finalists are revealed