Where do you put your personal stuff when visitors stay.

Day6; I have a diary from when the children were small. It was also at the start of my marriage falling apart, so there are things in it that I wouldn't want my kids to read. Looking back on their childhood I tend to think of picnics and bunny rabbits and long summer holiday but, in fact it's full of 'the children argued all day', 'I've ate too much again''I'm really tired' etc etc. Bit of an eye opener, really. Part of me wants to burn it but, somehow, I can't. It doesn't make me happy to read it, just sad that it was so long ago.

I suppose I ought to say that those photos are not online or computer or phone and never will be now.

We had a fireproof safe installed that is reasonably accessible although not obvious. The reason was that, like BlueBelle, we went abroad but my OH decided to put credit cards, bus pass and some keys (anything he didn't want to take with him) in a safe place. And yes, it was nearly 4 months before they turned up again!

My mother was also very nosey, I used to put any post out if sight before she visited. I don't worry about anyone else although, wouldn't leave letters, bills etc., lying about if we went away.

Ooh Alie ?

Good idea Stansgran too late now but I’ll do it in future if it ever turns up or take a photo on my iPad because I take that with me wherever I go.

I have two secret places in my home, keep birth certs and other docs where they will not be moved.

But - I have a few old photos of people, that are meant for no one else to see, only me. Good memories, but yes, naughty.
I must get rid of them!

I keep meaning to buy a fire proof safe to keep in the cupboard under the stairs. For privacy and in case we have to make a quick exit.

Stansgran that made me laugh because after I was burgled the next time I went away I hid what bit of money I had in the house in a great hiding place It was a good one because when I got back I was like a headless chicken trying to remember where I d hidden it I had written myself a coded clue in my diary but that didn’t help at all it was about a week later I went to put a light scarf on and there folded in it was my money ?
I think it’s so sad that people get rid of love letters it’s your history good or bad risqué or boring I hope my kids have a good laugh at some of mine but I reckon they won’t even read them everything will go whoosh into the bin

A locked filing cabinet.
Just hope we never lose the key.

@Morethan2 I've taken to sending myself an email of where I've hidden my valuables when I go on holiday.

Thanks for all the replies. The response seems to reflect the nosiness of visitors and the presence of any really personal letters etc.
An idea I read about many years ago is to stand together with other hslf and burn photos and letters before one of us pops off because the contents are so personal.
For now I have ordered a lockable aluminium case that can be easily transported .

With regret I have to say that one particular family member does like to poke into paperwork, drawers etc. So when they come we do take care to make things a bit less accessible.

I burnt all my old 40+ year old letters from my husband. He was away a lot and the letters he wrote are a bit risqué. I poured the ashes into a big jar and it’s on my bookcase. I do look at the ashes and smile because it’s just me who knows the contents. The important papers are upstairs in an unlocked case. Who’d want to look at deeds, life insurances ect except our close family if we both died unexpectedly. I did hide a very expensive ruby before last years holiday and now I’m unable to find it. Anyone out there with psychic power that can help?

I always put things away when my mother came to stay as she loved to pry, awful as that sounds.
She would read letters and look at bank statements.
When my C had their own homes I told them to do the same when she visited.
I was always very sad and embarrassed about it.
She thought there was nothing wrong with it, she was family and should know everything about us all.

We recently shredded all the old letters we sent to each other before we were married - thought it best before we drop dead or go doolally so the children dont get thir hands on thm. I have to admit I did read them through first but DH wasn't interested enough !

I don’t have anything that I would worry about so any papers would stay just where they are I ve had many many people stay in my home (mature overseas students from literally all ove4 the world ) it never ever entered my head to hide anything away and I ve never ever felt anyone has overstepped any personal boundaries

I do not have any papers of such a private nature that I do not want anybody else to see them. If I did I would destroy them.

I am very aware that I have kept diaries, notes, thoughts, old letters, cuttings etc over the years. Al of them personal to me.

I look back and find it interesting to read how I felt and how I coped with various upsets, joys, family happenings, relationships etc. Lots of my thoughts were written down. I like to unload in writing and now do it to online files, and save my efforts to flash drives.

However, those records are for my eyes alone. I have this stuff in various drawers, piles, baskets etc and recently I have felt I should destroy it. I am not sure it would be a positive legacy. I'd hate for anyone else to read it so no one but me and DC have a key to my home. I really don't want them finding it either.

Anyone else destroyed precious diaries and letters?

A lockable metal box?

Well not the normal gas and electric bill anyway. Just things of a private nature. If no one would be interested and you don't mind them looking then of course you don't hide it.

Personal letters? Love letters? Diaries? Medical records/discharge papers.
I didn't ask where you kept your boring stuff or bills.

I hide the large diamonds in the safe, my Rolexes as well. The private jet goes in the garage and my young escort gets the evening off.
Am embarrassed that I own these things so hide them from most of my friends.

The only people who stay in our house when we are away are our children and their families. All our papers etc are two filing cabinets, deed box and desks in our study surrounded by all books and papers that we use for work and leisure interests

I doubt they would be able to sort out what was what, even if they did manage to find some of them. Anyway, there are no dark secrets hidden and I am not bothered if they discover how much we have in the bank or what we have bought with our credit cards. In fact I do not think I have any documents it would bother me if they saw nor any aspect of my life I wouldn't be happy to talk to them about.

I would keep personal things under lock & key & keep the key somwhere only you know where it is . I don't see it as being distrustful just sensible, your business is yours & yours alone unless you choose otherwise.

If they can find what they're looking for in all that muddle they're welcome. In fact I'd invite them every year!