Time and time again, I hear preppers advising people to stock up on gold and silver, but not many of them seem to understand the importance of cash. I know it’s almost Taboo to say anything bad about gold, but in my opinion, during a complete meltdown scenario gold is going to be the last thing most people are worried about.
Yes, I do realize the same can be said about paper currency. During an extreme collapse situation, your cash is going to quickly become useless, but that’s not really what we’re talking about here.
What about during other disaster scenarios? Do you really think the local grocery store is going to take your gold or silver as payment for your goods? I doubt it; a lot of these people have a hard time counting back the change they owe you, so I’m pretty sure you’re going to get some weird looks when you try handing over a chunk of silver.
Natural Disasters: They’re not going to take your gold as Payment
All joking aside, I think we need to look at what happens during most natural disasters. One look at an event like Hurricane Sandy or Katrina will immediately show you the importance of always having cash on hand. During both of these disasters, millions of people found themselves unable to pay for things like food, water, and even gas for their vehicles.
The minute the power grid went down, credit and debit cards became completely useless. As our culture increasingly speeds towards a digital cashless society, people often forget how easily those digital items can be rendered useless. I recommend always having enough cash on hand to be able to make it safely through one of these types of disasters. From paying for gas during an evacuation to paying for hotels, extra food, or last minute supplies, cash will be one of the most important survival items that you can carry.
TOTAL COLLAPSE: Cash Will Still Be King during the initial Phase of the Collapse
Even during a total financial collapse, cash will still play a major role in how people buy and sell during the initial stages of the crisis. Should there be a run on the banks, people will be desperate for cash and will be willing to sell just about anything to get it.
Most people simply don’t understand how quickly a currency can become devalued, and most people will be clamoring for cash in the early stages of an economic collapse. People have been brainwashed into thinking this paper actually has some sort of value; so in the short-term, 99% of the country will still see paper currency as something that still has value.
WHAT TO CARRY: Small Bills are Best
When it comes to carrying cash for a survival situation, make sure you carry smaller bills — nothing larger than a 20. Even during the good times, a lot of stores are reluctant to take larger bills, so carrying smaller bills makes it easier to pay for what you need without worrying whether the business can break the bill. During a survival situation, you want to make things as simple and easy as possible. If you need to stock up on any last-minute supplies, you need to be able to quickly get in and out of the store.
This article clears up its debate with its own writings.
Cash will be King in the beginning of a SHTF scenario. However, Precious Metals and other precious equities will be King near the end of the SHTF scenario.
Like always, your SHTF plan must be prioritized. Precious Metals should be balanced into your Preps because a Preppers Preps are never complete.
gold and silver are for keeping up with inflation. ok, in 1950 an ounce of silver was worth .75 which would back then buy you four loaves of bread. today silver goes for $30.20 an ounce. that will get you ten loaves of good bread. so if you put away a silver dollar as opposed to a paper dollar you keep up with inflation. the experts decided on 20% of your monies should be in precious metals.
Hey Rob, I agree that in a disaster scenario, say at the Katrina level, cash would be a more effective trading medium than gold. In general the survival community tends to undervalue cash and overvalue gold, etc.
One thing not touched on in your article though is inflation. Let’s say you stock up for 20 years before the big one hits. The cash you store will lose value over time, while gold will hold its value. Also, as mentioned above, in tough times gold tends to increase in value, so it will be shooting up in value exactly when you plan to use it. Conversely, cash could lose it’s value in times like these, a la runaway inflation.
But in my opinion, if things get bad enough that cash loses its value, the only thing that will matter is having goods for barter than have direct value now. First the basics- food, water, medicine,weapons etc. Then things with future value- seeds, animals, etc. And finally luxuries like cigarettes, coffee, etc.
Police officer friend told me to get ammo for the coming collapse when people will come to every house starving in search of food! Imagine the day when it’s you and your family over some marauder who will kill you all over a can of tuna! Many people think it’s upon us now! Recently, in the news, in Georgia, the woman unloading her gun into an intruder; folks this is just the beginning! I heard on a talk show a black dude saying that’s what we do when we don’t have no money for Christmas; we go take it! If you think it’s bad now, hold onto your 9mm! You ain’t seen shite yet! Do you have a shovel to bury them? I’m not kidding! Who the Phug you think is coming to pick ’em up for ya! They’ll be stinking drawing animals faster than you can believe! Get some good earth tools; you’re going to need them!
I have given some thought to this situation, for me I live on a back road way out in the county, My plan is to drop some trees over the road so that no one can drive up or down the road. It is sad to say but criminals are not going to put themselves in harms way by getting out of there cars and walking down a road, way to dangerous where I live to do that.
Cash will be used “initially”, for maybe 24 hours. Gold and Solver will be used for all goods and services, nothing else will be accepted, maybe
trading or bartering, fruits for vegetables, eggs for potatoes, etc. Otherwise, you are SOL…
computer cash (your savings account or 401k) is easily confiscated, applied to national debt instantly wiping out trillions of computer dollars making paper cash (the dollar) much more valuable. Is this a likely scenario?
I see several good idea’s here, but most people know with the leadership and failure of our Gov. we will not have much time or money to even pay for most of these needed items. We just barely get by now. Keep each of cash, supplies etc. Work together with family and friends. Just be prepared in the future. Thank all who have given good ideas.
Even if everyone is prepared with ample food, water, medical supplies, guns etc. won’t the government confiscate it all? They have the power to do it so who’s to stop them taking it all away?
What do you mean? “The government” is full of red blooded folks who have their own business to tend to as well. See: Hurricane Katrina, where the police deserted the city.
Emergency Ops folks in the city ops center have their own stash. Why do they need yours?
Gold was confiscated during the great depression and was illegal to own until 1977. Don’t think it won’t happen again. Even the bible states that in the end times people will throw their gold in the street as it will be worthless to them.
I buy silver and barter items. Cash will only be good for a couple of weeks at best but I do keep a few hundred bucks anyway.
In prepping the best policy is to never put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify and have a lot of investments and at least 4 ways to do anything. As for money….sure keep some cash, but also have barter items, silver, etc. Even toilet paper can be a commodity in hard times.
My dad tells stories about the great depression during which he grew up….the one that always sticks with me is that people were eating the glue from their wallpaper to stay alive.
The next depression will be much worse, my family won’t be existing on wallpaper paste. Will yours?
While most everyone talks about Gold & Silver (which I also have), I notice people don’t talk much about other metals such as copper titanium & lead.
These metals have a use beyond trading currency. You can actually use these metals for making repairs, creating spare parts etc…
BTW, it’s been mentioned to stockpile medicines which is a very good idea yet, they expire after a year or two. I suggest storing Poppy seeds, cannabis seeds & a book which instructs you on gathering natural medicines. Depending on the environmental quality, the inner bark of the Willow tree is what they make Aspirin from. Scrape the chalky white soft fiber from the inner bark, dry it and there you go, Aspirin !
How would everyone or anyone know fake coins/bars/ bullion from real ones on the street if it ever came to that? Imagine widespread silver and gold coated fakes circulated and what impact it would have on “real “coins.
Let’s not complicate this. Every man with a wife and children need to prepare NOW. Food and water for 6 months minimum. Do your own calculations to obtain the amount desired. Start a garden and learn to produce nutritious vegetables. Learn to make bread. The items needed to make bread are few, and can be stored long term if you do some simple research. Look up aquaponics. If you don’t know what this is, when you do know, you will feel stupid each day that goes by that you don’t start the aquaponics. And you would be quite irresponsible. You are the men. Your wife and children need and depend on you to provide and protect. Quit talking about what you think, and start doing some research. Guys, we are all in this together and will need each other to beat back what is surely coming. And yes, you need guns and ammo. I’m talking shotgun, AR-15, and 2 handguns. Each weapon should have at least 1000 rounds, except for the AR-15. That should have at least 3000. Learn to can. Learn to store certain dry foods in mylar with heat seals. Get buckets and gamma ray lids. The collapse is coming and it will be too late to begin all of this then. You will end up going to a Fema camp to get your daily mush to feed your precious children. I said “F-no” to those thoughts and took action. You have no time left. You have no time to watch TV or watch a movie. You have no time for anything right now other than getting ready. And if you are blessed, prepare some for your neighbors. That keeps them on your team, not on your watchful eye. For those who want much more detail and guidance, please email me at: snugtyte@hotmail.com. I’m looking for a team.
This author is such a Dumass. Gold and silver are volatile investments just like the stocks in the market, but during the economic collapse, the dollar value could likely lose its value, while gold and silver will still hold some worth. Obviously, the author forgot to mention about diversifying your assets and not placing all your eggs in one basket.
I agree. Diversity is something we would be forced to become familiar with in a worst case scenario. Personally I’m thinking more along the lines of having to be on the move. I don’t think bunking down anywhere is gonna be a long term option for most people should things really get bad. I think having to move around will probably be more relevant for most. In that case I’d rather have a rifle a few thousand rounds of .22 (as opposed to larger heavier ammo)
I can survive with a rifle, and fishing gear.
Whether I’m staying put or if I had to pack up and go those two things would be of most value to me.
Frankly you had me until you said need to stop worrying about gold. That’s a dumb ass damn advice I think I’ve ever heard on the internet ever. You might want to rephrase it to say that prepper should have cash on hand in addition to gold then maybe I’ll pay attention
People are saying “you can’t eat silver” or “who would trade food or water for silver or gold in a SHTF scenario”? I would trade a gallon of water for 2 or 3 ounces of silver if I had 100 gallons stock piled. I would trade a case of can goods for a 1 ounce gold coin if I had 100 cases stock piled. The people who will make out in a SHTF scenario will be the ones who REALLY prepared. Everyone on this blog seems to think there won’t be anyone who doesn’t have supplies to be gotten for the right price. What’s the price of a commodity in a SHTF scenario? Supply and demand baby!
Gold and silver have had and will continue to have value since record keeping of all mankind. Even through the days of ancient Egypt gold and silver were valued by Kings and Queens. People will have provisions to sell when there is nothing to be had anywhere!! The point here is how much is that item worth to the buyer? I personally will have provisions to sell and when society recovers will hopefully have made alot of money along the way. Another consideration: It might take a couple of gold coins to get you across a border. Or, several silver coins (a silver bar)to bribe a police officer!
bottles of hard booze will have more value then silver the stressed out population will need a few hours every night to re-collect and calm down all the examples about these metals are from GOOD/NORMAL OPERATIONAL TIMES th big thing is how bad is the damage?? if very severe only food items and clean water pass a hunk of metal? 1 of my 50 lbs bags of rice for your metal?? NO!!!
Some folks writing here are sadly under thinkers about commodities such as Silver and Gold. To state it simply, when George Soros makes a speech saying that Gold and Siler are useless in the coming crash today, then within two weeks has dumped $264,000,000 dollars for gold to store in vaults, it makes everything anyone of you doubters has said sound like you’ve been drinking the cooliade for far too long. Also, if you have any sense at all, you’ll immediately do a search for how gold and Silver were handled, spent, carried, portioned and hidden (to name a few searches) for the vast majority of the centuries…35 or more of them) since it became the under pinning for all economics and financial transactions developing on the civilized Earth.
A good old fashioned kitchen wood stove will cook your food, keep you warm and heat hot water. Firewood cut , split and dried is also a necessity. a chain saw with extra chain as well as gasoline that is treated. a generator, 50 pound bags of flour, dehydrated vegetables. . dried beans.peas, coconut oil, dried bulk items such as vitamin c etc are all very necessary , land to grow food. guns and anmmo.several vehicles.Tools of all kinds as well as the knowledge to use them. Learn survival skills. Learn all about natural medicine. being debt free. and the list goes on and on.Remember that in nature only the strong survive.
I understand your point, Dave Stanley, but “civilized” is a very big assumption.
A lot of the thinking here makes the assumption that when shtf, some structured and dependable level of civility will remain in place rendering trade with metals viable. That may have been true in most of history, but I’m not sure about now. In the past, many people (maybe even most) were somewhat self-sufficient (world-wide) – because they lived/worked on farms or had family/friends who did and so had a modicum of ability to survive many of us no longer have – and also lived in a time when willingness to help others was a tad more common. Families and extended families and church communities etc all helped each other. Today, millions of people live in crowded cities on small lots or apts and get all supplies from stores and don’t know squat about growing/planting, and their “skills” often revolve around things completely unmarketable in a shtf world. The past civilities that enabled community bartering, and even metals valuations, have weakened substantially just by our current city-life and broken family structures. When shtf, all those crazy thugs currently raising hell in inner cities will be quickly moving out to other areas searching for goods – and I’m guessing they won’t be so civilized. They won’t give two shits about our gold.
As for Soros, he can gamble $265M about like you and I could maybe gamble $10K. It’s a small fraction of his holdings (1% at last report!), and it’s how he made his wealth. He gambles. He doesn’t necessarily know more than anyone else even if he and others think he does. He just wins and loses at a level that makes news. When shtf, his gold will be as worthless as ours until life normalizes somewhat, but he can afford to hold it for ages if necessary, or even sell it to other countries or factories etc if they still exist (which you and I could never accomplish as we do not have the connections).
“Funny” thing is… he is human and will one day die. Then what? :)