Quick and Easy - Office Safe

If you have some cash that you keep at your desk but you don't want everyone to see or get at it, here is an easy way to have it handy but people will never guess where you keep it!

The quick and easy office safe!

Step 1 What you will need

You need only a few basic supplies that should be readily available in any standard office environment.

- Computer keyboard
- Envelope
- Tape
- Something to save in the safe (i.e. moola!)

Comments

[aristide202]

What about the cleaning service at your office? You better learn in detail how they work, years ago they used to put all all key boards vertically to wholly clean horizontal surfaces . Now it seems they stopped that.

[KW_Klein]

My favorite stash spot would be the 4 black tubes of the organizer/monitor shelf. Hollow, easy to get to,

[jayro707]

hey at, what ible' did u get the panic button? PS. im curently hiding my money in my cpu. SHHHHHHH..

[AT]

I got that panic button from my mom years ago.  I'm not sure where she got it and I would bet she doesn't even remember giving it to me.  It was that many years ago.

[conrad2468]

Hey guys! WHERES MY COMPUTER?!?!?!?!? Oh we got them upgraded while u were gone they are being donated to a school! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[AT]

I hate it when that happens...

[Holden_vy_s]

And again, this isnt a safe, rather just places to hide things.

[AT]

How is this not a safe? A safe is a place where things can be kept safely. By hiding things, they are safe. Putting things in a big metal box with some sort of locking mechanism doesn't mean things are more safe than hiding them. In face, an evil doer would be more likely to spend their time going after the metal box because they would think that is where the valuables are hiding.

[Holden_vy_s]

According to Wikipedia "A safe (also called strongbox, coffer or kist) is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or damage. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face removable or hinged to form a door. The body and door may be cast from metal (such as steel) or formed out of plastic through blow molding." According to thefreedictionary.com "1. A metal container usually having a lock, used for storing valuables. 2. A repository for protecting stored items, especially a cooled compartment for perishable foods: a cheese safe." I would not consider putting money under a keyboard "safe", but that is just me.

[AT]

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English language: "2. Any repository for protecting stored items:" So, what was the original point anyway? Do I need to change the name of my instructable or something? :-)

[Holden_vy_s]

So you would still call hiding money under a keyboard safe? I was trying to explain that this isnt a safe, or a safe space to hide things.

[bwpatton1]

Ah, Are you left handed?

[AT]

It just so happens that I am. Did you see my mouse location? I picked that up back in the late 80's when I was doing a bunch of cad work. The application menus were all number driven as was the data I was entering. It made me quicker to mouse with my left hand and numeric key entry with my right. Everyone else was using their right hand only and moving it from mouse to keypad and back. I tried to clue them in but few listened.

[mettaurlover]

and a way to make the underside of the computer safe: make the tape and envelope the same color as the keyboard!

[mettaurlover]

another addition: in the small space on the underside of the base of the monitor:) always works!

[asianwizard]

i use to hide money inthe actual computer but i dont think it safe

[AT]

There is a ton of room in most computer cases. Maybe I should tape my envelope in one of my computers? They have an easy access side release panel. And that has a key and is lockable too! I would think you could do something with an old CD-ROM drive. When you open it up, it would be a small drawer in which you could put stuff. Someone that was very cleaver could write a special driver for that drive that would only allow it to open if a password was entered or something along those lines.

[jethrow815]

that works great until someone steals your computer....

[asianwizard]

omg i always wanted that too that woould be so cool with the pw thing

[AT]

Then do it! I have planted the seeds of inspiration. Grow your thoughts into reality and post an instructable on it.

[TimAnderson]

How about storing Euros or Yen in your safe as a way to protect your money from inflation and dollar devaluation? Every time the U.S. invades some country our dollars seem to lose value.

[meritsetgo]

sorry to sound pessimistic but having been fired once and laid off twice before there is no way they will let you open office equipment while showing/shoving!?! you out the door!!! In my last job i left a nice digital camera on top of a pc that was under the desk. So, if it is dear to you, do not keep it in the office!. The days of you carrying out your own stuff in boxes are over. They now have "security" do it for you or they will tell you they will mail it to you. FYI. Not an attack on the instructable at all, just sharing my experiences about keeping valuabes in the office.

[AT]

You make a good point. I have been in that position. As a contractor, I didn't keep much of anything at a gig. My area was very un-personalized at most places. So if you are at a job and you do not fee secure, don't leave anything there with which you are not will to part.

[lemonie]

Let's hope no one tries breaking into your place just because you've told the world where to look for your cash... L

[AT]

They will be disappointed if they do since this is my work computer's keyboard. There is nothing under my home computer keyboard. But I am sure the local police would be more than happy to hear their story about how there was supposed to be something under there.

[gmjhowe]

i think the idea of using the computer itself as a safe should be explored, if its one where u can lock the side, and also has one of those proper security rings at the back, so you can bolt it to the floor. that would be safe! I wouldnt recommend using it as a safe if it isnt secured, cos then the burgulars would just get something more when they are selling your pc on the market!

[CannonFodder76]

While I applaud your instructable (great photos, good explainations, etc.), I have to say that this isn't a good place to hide cash. In the old days, Hackers would "social engineer" (Sweet talk the receptionist) their way into the office in question. Then, they would scan the desk for any written passwords - most of the time, people hide passwords under the keyboards, primarily. They'd tape it/use a post-it note to the bottom of the keyboard. I'd suggest you change this so it tapes to the underside of your desk... Great job, though!!!

[AT]

Very true in your comments. It is an improvement over what I was doing of just putting cash under the keyboard. ;-) There is plenty of air space in the keyboard and the mouse, maybe I should set them up so I can open easily and hid stuff inside of them! Or if I was serious about it, I would just put any extra cash in my lockable file cabinet or file drawers. Or I could just put my moola in an empty jewel case and leave it in plain sight.