Uncomfortable carrying large sums of money...please help

chillrob · #1 06-30-2007, 05:28 PM

And I don't want you to tell me to give it all to you!

This is actually a serious problem that I could use some serious advice with. I have moved up in stakes over the last 3 years from playing 1/2 limit to 10/20 limit, and I may move up again within the next year. I am not playing anywhere near professionally so this is not really a question related to bankroll requirements, though I do have a few thousand dollars of winnings I am keeping in cash for last minute trips to play. I have not had a problem staying comfortable with the amount of money I am risking as I move up in limits - I still just think of it as chips and just playing a game trying to get the most chips, no matter what the number on them reads.

However, I am not wealthy and honestly barely get by in regular income compared with my expenses, and the buyin for the games I am playing now is a large amount of money to me, and not one I would be comfortable losing if I just outright lost it (not playing poker) or it was stolen.

The last 2 days I took a two day trip to play poker $10/$20, and took about $2000 cash with me. This was the largest amount of cash I have ever had on me, and it made me very nervous. My whole life I have always had problems with misplacing things, and also been nervous about thinking I have lost things anytime they are not in my sight (a little OCD).

I am not that worried when I am actually in a casino or poker room, but anytime other than that, I am extremely uncomfortable carrying that much cash. I'm afraid I will lose my wallet or get robbed (even though I have never really been robbed before). I went for a walk for an hour yesterday morning before I went out to play, and I really wasn't comfortable walking along the road carrying that much so I left it in my room, but then I was very nervous about that as well, afraid that the hotel maid could take it or something.

I really have no idea what I will do if I want to move up again and need to start having $5000 or so for a poker weekend. In addition to being nervous, that many bills wouldn't even fit in my wallet, and if I just bundled it in my pocket I'm really afraid I would lose it.

Does anyone else have this problem? I know some people are used to carrying large amounts of cash, but I have charged almost everything I buy for the last 15 years, and I never carry more than $100 when I'm not on a poker trip, so I'm really not used to it. I would appreciate any solutions, either to avoid carrying so much cash, to make sure my cash is more secure, or to make myself more comfortable with it.

Don Olney · #2 06-30-2007, 05:38 PM

money belt or ankle wallet will work just fine.
I like the ankle wallet because the belt is not very comfy.

cmoke · #3 06-30-2007, 05:39 PM

*munches popcorn* let the flaming begin............now

TheDna · #4 06-30-2007, 05:53 PM

wonder as well how high stake players do that i mean i heard storys about chip reese having a bad with one million left on the roof of his car etc. But do they really carry around cash in bags i mean wtf thats scary to have 1mill with you..

chillrob · #5 06-30-2007, 06:01 PM

Come on, what's to flame about? Is this not a legitimate concern? I guess the ankle wallet is a thought, I have never even heard of that before though.

Temp Hutter · #6 06-30-2007, 06:04 PM

You will get used to it.

When I was a kid I freaked out the first time I earned $5 mowing the yard. I hardly even notice $5 bills anymore.

otc · #7 06-30-2007, 06:10 PM

buy yourself a 10k watch and everything seems like pocket change

*TT* · #8 06-30-2007, 06:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Is this not a legitimate concern? I guess the ankle wallet is a thought, I have never even heard of that before though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Its not a legitimate concern because nobody else except for you knows you have a large sum of money on your body, unless you were followed from the poker room ala Greg Raymer. Grow a pair, and deal with it.

talking toaster · #9 06-30-2007, 06:57 PM

This is not really an issue for me since I never need more than a few bills in my games.

Why don't casinos band together to create a sort of large-sum bearer note that they would all honor and exchange for cash, so that it would be much easier to carry around and hide on your person? Counterfeiting might be an issue, but with fancy technology, they can easily make them harder to imitate than Benjamins.

This would also immediately become the preferred currency of drug wholesalers, of course.

csuf_gambl0o0r · #10 06-30-2007, 06:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
*munches popcorn* let the flaming begin............now

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Come on, what's to flame about? Is this not a legitimate concern? I guess the ankle wallet is a thought, I have never even heard of that before though.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol cause its not really a legitamate concern.

$2000 really isn't that much money in casino terms. i routinely walk around with ~$3000 in my pocket for the 8/16 and 9/18 games in LA, never once had a problem. im willing to bet that over 25% of the degens at any LA casino walks around with more money in their pocket then you or i.

i think you're being a little nitty and paranoid. $2000 in your pocket isnt gonna make you any bigger of a target then having $20 in your pocket. just relax and enjoy the games.