What do you keep in waterproof document box? Which one?

[echobench]

Thinking about coronavirus has got me pondering how well organised my documents are in case of any emergency. This isn't necessarily related to CV, but to how well prepared I am generally.

Has anyone got a waterproof, fireproof document box and if so which one? What do you keep in it?

I am watching this with interest because I have looked and never seem to find one I like or am prepared to invest in. I try to have important docs copied into Dropbox or similar. I even have a sturdy key ring thumb drive thing but have never loaded it up because I had second thoughts about security.

I’m the same - I want to Find a good safe but they’re so pricey I keep putting it off as I don’t want to get a crap one. I’ve read that the cheap wallets end up giving people fibreglass splinters so don’t want to cheap out!

I keep some hard drives scattered around (one in my locker at work, one at home). I keep all my documents on there and update regularly. I also have really key documents and photos saved on memory sticks scattered around (car, handbag, grab-bag, Relatives’ house). I’ve also got the documents emailed to myself so I can access them anywhere.

I am a bit worried about security if one of the USBs gets lost/stolen so I’ve been eyeing up some of the ones that are password protected.

As for what documents I have:

Mortgage documents (annual summary)
House insurance
Chimney sweep certificate (required by house insurance)
Qualifications (GCSE, A level, Degree certs)
BUPA cover details
Pension summary (plus Death in service benefit info)
Student Loan statement
P60
Driving licence
Passport
Birth certificate
Car stuff (insurance, MOT/Service docs)
Financial info (not account numbers etc, just who I have accounts/cards with to make it easier to start calling round!
Particularly Sentimental photos (hard drives have them all on there)

I also have a printed copy of passport, driving licence and home insurance in my grab bag.

I tried to think of and cover everything that would be difficult to remember/replace if the originals were lost (wouldn’t be able to tell you which exam board my GCSEs were with for example, this makes it easier to call up AQA or whoever to get a replacement if needed for a job etc)

All this is more for house fire scenario really rather than expecting the apocalypse - I’m fairly sure I won’t give a shit about my French GCSE when the zombies come for me!

That’s impressive Dyrne.

I am terrible at admin. Maybe I should sort out my pile of filing before worrying about gizmos.

Be careful with some of the waterproof, fireproof boxes as they are so well sealed the paperwork can go mouldy if it is left for any length of time, it put me off getting one.

I am a bit worried about security if one of the USBs gets lost/stolen so I’ve been eyeing up some of the ones that are password protected.

We lost everything on our USB after an operating system update could no longer recognise/access the encrypted disk. So none of my stuff is protected. I'm just very careful about where I keep the drive.

MIL has all their papers in a bank safe/drawer. There was a big fuss when she decided DH should have FIL's key etc in case they died suddenly! In the end they had to sign forms with the bank (or when the did their will?) that he can access if need be.

Very good points here. Hard to reconcile the need for security with the, er, need for security! I will keep pondering.

Im a freelance trainer, so i have lots of course related paperwork etc. I have one set on my laptop (goes on jobs with me) one set on desktop (on my desk at home) spares on data sticks and a back up a emailed to myself.

Hard papercopies of documents i keep at my mothers, originals are in a sealed plastic box at the bottom of the chest freezer