It&#x27;s not really a viable option for anyone.  You&#x27;re exposing yourself to huge risk of theft&#x2F;destruction&#x2F;confiscation, and you&#x27;re losing out to inflation every year.  Much safer to keep your money in an FDIC-insured bank account.  If you have more than the maximum, then open up several bank accounts.<p>Any event catastrophic enough to wipe out money in FDIC-insured bank accounts would also affect your paper currency.  If you&#x27;re really worried about that eventuality, best to hoard gold.<p>EDIT: Let me clarify, I suppose it is a viable option if you are living paycheck to paycheck, but if you have accumulated wealth of any significance, it is not.