Prepare for an Economic Collapse

Depression Breadlines during Economic Collapse

While the mainstream media propagandists continue to push the lie of a robust recovering economy, the fact is, we are in some serious fiscal trouble. Economies around the world are crashing, countries are drowning in record amounts of debt, and governments continue to pile on new debt like there’s no tomorrow.

What is an Economic Collapse?

Economic collapse, in its simplest definition, means a sudden and severe drop in currency value, leading to a financial crisis. It usually happens when the country’s economic activities are mismanaged or when an unexpected event throws the country into chaos. Some examples of such events are terrorist attacks, natural disasters, political upheaval, severe social unrest, financial bubbles , a collapse in government, and pandemics.

A look at Prior Economic Disasters, Depressions and Market Collapses

Throughout the history of the world, there have been many instances where countries have experienced an economic collapse, leading to severe consequences such as hyperinflation, high unemployment rates, and poverty. In extreme cases, economic collapse can even lead to a societal breakdown, with people experiencing shortages, social unrest, and struggling to survive.

The earliest recorded economic collapse occurred in 176 BC when the Roman Republic experienced a severe financial crisis that eventually led to massive inflation and debasement of the currency. The government’s response to this crisis was to issue more coins with decreased silver content, resulting in worsening hyperinflation and a sharp decline in the purchasing power of its citizens. This eventually led to social unrest and political instability, eroding the strength of the Roman Empire over time.

Another significant economic collapse occurred during the Great Depression of the 1930s, triggered by the stock market crash of 1929. During this period, businesses failed, banks collapsed, and unemployment soared to unprecedented levels worldwide. The depression had far-reaching negative consequences, some of which ultimately led to World War II.

In 1997, the Asian Financial Crisis rocked Southeast Asia, causing widespread economic instability and social unrest. The crisis began with the devaluation of the Thai baht, leading to investors withdrawing their capital from other Southeast Asian countries. This, in turn, led to a sharp decline in the value of their currencies and an economic recession. As a result, millions lost their jobs, and poverty rates rose steeply. Some nations recovered relatively quickly, while others, such as Indonesia, suffered profound economic and political upheaval for several years.

The most recent collapse occurred in 2008 when the subprime mortgage crisis shook the global financial markets. The crisis began with predatory lending practices by mortgage lenders, high-risk borrowing by homeowners, and the buying and selling of risky loans between financial institutions. When homeowners began to default on their mortgages, banks and insurance companies suffered huge losses, and trust in the financial system evaporated almost overnight. As a result, governments worldwide were forced to intervene to avoid a total collapse of the financial system.

As history shows, it’s not if but when! Therefore, preparing for an economic collapse is vital to your survival, especially in today’s world, where the global economy is interdependent. Any event, even those in other parts of the world, can have a ripple effect on other countries. This article will provide tips on how to prepare for economic collapse.

Are we heading towards an Economic Collapse?

At some point this debt train is going to come to a screeching halt; when that happens we are going to see panic and chaos like nothing we’ve ever seen before.

As we’ve been covering for some time now, a look at the numbers and data shows we are heading for a potential disaster. From a series of high profile banks going bust to record inflation combined with major supply chain shortages, our economy seems to be heading right off the cliff.

The world, especially the United States, is drowning in debt.

The United States, once the world’s shining example of fiscal security and responsibility, has become shackled by a record amount of debt. We are literally drowning in debt.

Over the next ten years, experts think that debt could balloon to over $50 trillion. While that might seem like an insurmountable amount of debt to recover from, the fact is, we have already surpassed that number many times over.

When factoring in unfunded liabilities like Social Security, Medicare, government pension plans and Obamacare, the true debt number is actually much higher. Estimates put the real number somewhere between $222 trillion to $250 trillion.

But it’s not just the government, people are borrowing at record levels as well.

  • Household debt increased at the fastest pace in 15 years, partially due to huge increases in credit card usage and mortgage balances.
  • Credit card balances rose more than 15% from 2021, the largest annual jump in more than 20 years.
  • Total Consumer Debt is now over $2.36 Trillion, an increase of 7.3 per cent in Q3 2022 compared to last year.

The overall Economic numbers are downright Scary!

What can you expect during a major Economic Collapse?

  • A Run on the Banks: One of the first things you will see is a run on the banks. People are going to be panicking, and they will be doing everything they can to get their hands on cash to buy extra supplies.
  • Chaos in the Streets: Once the banks run dry, you will see people turn desperate. The moment they realize the money is gone is the moment you will see widespread chaos sweep throughout the country. Riots, looting, and widespread violence will break out, making self-defense one of your primary concerns.
  • Martial Law: When things start to go bad, I believe you will see the government declare a state of emergency or Martial Law. When this happens you will see things like travel restrictions, mandatory curfews, and the suspension of Constitutional rights.

So what should you do to prepare for an economic collapse?

  • Are you prepared to survive a total economic collapse?
  • If you haven’t already, it’s time to put together a plan of action. The fact is, the writing has been on the wall for some time now, and we probably don’t have much time left.
  • If and when things go bad, and money starts to become scarce, do you have a plan? What if we suffer a complete meltdown and collapse of the economy?

I devoted an entire section to financial preparedness and the coming collapse of the economy in my book, The Ultimate Situational Survival Guide; because I firmly believe it’s one of the most serious threats we face.

The first thing you need to do is Develop a Plan of Action.

The Ultimate Situational Survival Guide: Self-Reliance Strategies for a Dangerous World

The first step in preparing for an economic collapse is to have a plan. You should have a clear idea of what to do in case of a financial crisis. This plan should include steps you would take to protect yourself and your family.

A good starting point would be to have some emergency savings. These savings should be enough to cover your living expenses for at least six months. This could be in cash, precious metals, or other assets that can hold value during a financial crisis.

Another important aspect of your plan should be to have a source of income not affected by the collapse. This could be through investing in assets that will not lose value during a crisis, such as gold or silver (or good ol beans and bullets!). Alternatively, you could start a side business that provides a steady income stream.

If things go bad, having a plan of action will help increase your chances of surviving the chaos. Check out my list of Essential Preparedness Tips, Skills, and Resources to Prepare for Disasters & Threats.

Start being Smart with your Money

Money

During the 2008 financial collapse, millions of Americans lost their homes, cars and personal possessions because they saddled with debt. Since the so-called COVID pandemic, that trend has begun again with millions of people who now owe more on their property than they are worth, a vehicle repo market that is exploding, and consumer dent that is at record highs.

  • If you can get out of debt, do it now. Start cutting all non-essential expenses, and use that money to pay down your debt. During an economic collapse, the likelihood of losing your home to debt collectors is a very real prospect.
  • Start an Emergency Fund: Just like all areas of preparedness, there are steps you can take to insulate yourself from problems. Having an emergency fund is one way to prepare for financial troubles. It will give you a bit of a cushion during hard times, and can provide you with a fund to buy last minute supplies once things start to go bad.
  • Always have Cash on Hand: Once things start to go bad, there is a very real possibility that the banks may freeze or seize your accounts. Should there be a run on the banks; people are going to be desperate to get their hands on some cash. Even during a total economic collapse, paper currency will still play a major role in how people buy and sell during the initial phases of the crisis – especially if a bank holiday is declared.

Start Prepping for Problems NOW.

OFFGRID SURVIVAL Prepper Resources

Now is the time to really start taking a serious look at your overall level of preparedness. The economy has been teetering on the edge of collapse for quite some time, throw in inflation that has almost doubled the price of staple goods and the growing social unrest that’s sweeping the country and you have yourself a real recipe for disaster.

  • Put together an emergency kit that includes extra food & water, clothing, a portable shelter (tents, tarps, sleeping bags.), and a way to defend yourself.
  • Think about what things are unique to your situation; items like medications, or supplies that you would be hard pressed to live without, should be stockpiled in preparation for economic troubles.
  • For more information on prepping, check out our article on the top ten prepping tips for every SHTF situation. Every one of those tips can help prepare you to deal with an economic crisis.

Start stocking up on Survival Supplies.

Urban Survival Gear

During an economic collapse, supply chain disruptions and shortages of essential supplies are possible. Therefore, it is essential to stockpile some essential supplies to tide you over during the crisis. Now is the time to buy the things you need! I’m not talking about T.Vs or IPads; but instead, long-term supplies that you will need in order to survive in the future.

  • Start stockpiling food and long-term consumables. During any type of crisis, food, water and long-term consumables are going to be worth their weight in gold. During an economic collapse, you will likely see major supply chain shortages and problems, making these types of supplies one of your most important pre-collapse considerations.
  • Put together a Bug Out Bag: Should this country face an economic collapse, chances are pretty good it will be followed by riots, violence and something much uglier than the initial collapse of the economy. You should have a Bugout bag filled with everything you need to survive a prolonged emergency situation.
  • Keep a good supply of First-Aid & Medical Supplies on Hand. Medical and personal hygiene supplies are going to be hard to come by when things go bad. Make sure you have everything you need to deal with medical emergencies.
  • Some of the critical supplies you should consider stockpiling include food, water, medicine, and toiletries. You should also have a backup power source, such as a generator or solar panels, in case of power outages and infrastructure breakdowns.

Be Prepared to Feed Yourself when the Collapse Hits!

Grocery Options that ship right to your Home

Pay Off Debt

Money Burning

One of the biggest challenges during an economic collapse is debt. High levels of debt can be a significant burden during a financial crisis, especially if you lose your source of income.

Therefore, paying off any high-interest debt before a financial crisis hits is essential. This will help reduce your monthly expenses and free up money you can use for other essential things.

If you have a mortgage, it may be wise to consider refinancing to a fixed-rate mortgage, which can provide some stability during the crisis.

Start Stocking up on Survival Knowledge.

Holiday Fishing Gear Guide

Even more important than supplies, is survival knowledge. Knowledge is the key to your survival, and now is the time to get some. During any kind of disaster, including an economic collapse, knowledge is going to be your most powerful ally.

During a crisis, the skills that are in demand may change, and having a wide range of skills can increase your chances of finding employment or starting a new business. Some valuable skills to learn are gardening, carpentry, welding, and plumbing. These skills can help you make repairs or grow your food, saving you money and keeping you self-sufficient during a crisis.

Additionally, learning new skills can also increase your current earning potential, which can help you build your emergency savings or invest in assets that will hold value during a crisis.

To truly be prepared, you need to learn how to be 100% self-sufficient.

Take a serious look at your Self-Defense.

Safe Gun Use

One of the biggest threats you’re going to face during an economic crisis is the threat posed by people. The social unrest and riots we’ve witnessed over the last couple of years are going to pale in comparison to what we’ll see during a full-scale economic collapse.

  • Take a serious look at gun ownership, and learn everything you can about self-defense. When things go bad, you are going to need a way to protect yourself and those you love.
  • Watch for signs of social unrest, and stay alert to what’s going on in your neighborhood and throughout the world.
  • During an economic collapse, problems like home invasions and burglaries are going to become a real problem. Start looking into ways to strengthen your home’s security.

Be Prepared to Defend Yourself

Preparing for an economic collapse can be challenging, but it is essential in today’s uncertain world. By having a plan, diversifying your investments, stockpiling essential supplies, learning new skills, and paying off debt, you can increase your chances of surviving and thriving during a financial crisis.

An economic collapse is a very real threat, one that has far-reaching consequences that you must take seriously. If you haven’t put together a game plan, what are you waiting for?

While nobody here is making any specific predictions, and I certainly can’t tell you that it’s going to happen on this date, in this year; I can tell you that the possibility is very real, and the reality of the situation is our politicians and leaders continue to put policies in place that ensure some very real future problems.

Shirts of Liberty

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93 Comments

  1. all very good advice. I’m 25 now and ever since i was a kid i have felt something major on the horizon causing the collapse of all comforts in North American society as we know it. once food can’t be shipped around to grocery stores on trucks from afar, what are you going to eat? we people in major cities will be forced to return to nature sooner than later so, yes, stock up on supplies and knowledge for change is inevitable and those supplies could very well save your life and the life of others.

    PS. Don’t forget… money will mean nothing in the last days of civilization as we know it but don’t be afraid. Humanity will persevere. If we as a species are to survive we must (and i trust we will) work together.

    • I am pleased to see that I am not the only one who see’s this coming…The last 2 months, I have this feeling, odd vibe in the air… What I’m scared of?? 40 million people’s welfar cut off..

      Talk about crime and saftey?? Forget it.

      • Sept. is the projected month for the collapse, along with a possible asteroid crashing into ocean close to Puerto Rico, and causing a major tsunami which will cause major loss of life. That is the reason millions of body bags were sent to Puerto Rico region.

        It took four days for Katrina to turn into a Mad Max scenario.

        There was a conference recently where Christian ministers discussed what God had revealed to them about the future. one minister told the congregation ” That the fear of death has got to go” and talked about getting saved and that if you do die during this time if you got shot in the head it is only a few seconds you will fell pain then you will cross over to the other side to be with God .

        When in your life have you gone to church and the preachers are talking about this? In fact they told the congregation to really pray to God to protect our military, I began to realize they were implying the unthinkable.

        • Faith,

          I could not agree with you more. I beg people to accept Jesus now before this all happens. I mean listen, what do you have to lose if you are an unbeliever? Wouldn’t it be better to believe and accept Christ into your heart now, then be wrong and it is to late? I pray for America, and for everyone to come to God who only has the best for you now and forever.

          • Cyndi,
            If all this does happen your Jesus wont help you. If Jesus could help you I think he would be saving the 80,000 Africans that will die of starvation every year and that has gone on a long time. good luck and get real

          • the fool has said there is no God,funny why people say God dose not care because man is living in darkness and death and greed,reject God and reject jesus if you are a fool,me,what have I got to loose but eternal life in paradice rather than Hell,jesus is LORD.

        • Ditto. I am not usually a believer in non scientific approaches but I have an unnerving feeling we are on the precipice. I saw someone mentioned Zeitgeist. The creator of that movement has said the world has never faced running out of resources. We are heading to running out of several simultaneously I.e water, oil, food for the masses etc

      • Exactly. People have this attitude, if some one isn’t taking care of me I have a problem. Black lives matter groups will be the first ones to cause a riot

        • It is 2020 it began with Iran / US tensions rising , followed by modern day pandemic then the the protests….your words in fact have come to pass B L M protests ended with some n looting, riots, arson, shootings and total anarchy. The U.S accelerated spending during this time is worrisome and the economy is shaky . Second wave is supposed to happen so it will shake an already shaking economy. Top economist are saying economic collapse within one year. Sometimes, the U.S is skilled and may pull a rabbit out of a hat so we will see what sort of move they will make a new currency will emerge . The best case scenario is get out of debt find a nice small community one hour out of the city, three miles off the highways and have a garden. green house, get some chicken I read this from an highly trained veteran never ever trust anyone that is too friendly or too helpful it is good to be polite, and keep it light but do not trust people that you do not know, no matter what It is good to have neighbors , especially family and good friends close if possible .Some communities will survive without issue because they know how to. the cities will have marital law

    • Its just like the Military, you have to break it down before you can rebuild it. This is going to be a bad one.. I hope I’m wrong……I am in Texas,so I feel More hope for the future! Might have to secede, we would be better off.

      • Yes!! i feel the same way! the United states have gotten so bad that the only way its going to recover in any extent, is to be utterly broken down… We can make it through and rebuild, but the current United States is dying. I think the the reborn united states’ symbol should be a phoenix instead of an eagle: To represent being born again anew from the ashes. I in no mental faculty think that it will be an Utopian U.S. with rainbows and butterflies but i do think it will be better.

        • you guys are right, and the eventual shift is going to happen. Remember to encourage people to protest not panic. And remember the words a “natural law economy” or “resource based economy” they both mean the same, a strategic system of evaluating the earth’s resources, and creating sustainable practices and putting human needs first. If we go back to money after the collapse it will all happen all over again. Money truly is the root of all evil, and it is now obsolete. Technology is at a point where it can feed, clothe, and house every single person on earth for centuries, with clean practice. Good luck everyone!

          • Are you serious? You think the people that are flushing money down the toilet are thinking about our welfare? They are greedy with bad intent. It will end poorly for everyone except for (only some) of the very rich. The very richest, the new and true 2 percenters will be government leaders. That’s it. Wake up.

          • Money is not the root of all evil, it is the “Love” of money that is the root of all evil. Big difference.

          • To Jess Williams, Sir, may I qualify your comment and say that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Money in and of itself is just a tool of exchange no different than any other tool. It is when money becomes one’s god, willing to give our very soul for it that real problems begin, leading to its worship and ultimately damnation.

    • I’m sorry… but you guys think that this will happen SOON? Ha. The UN, IMF, World Bank, and hundreds of NGO’s that the entire world relies on is in the U.S.A.

      We will not falter that easily. Though I believe it is the duty of a responsible citizen to educate themselves on surviving for “war torn” nations etc. to think we are anywhere close to a doomsday scenario is asinine.

      Even if the U.N. Assembly Building was blown up, the IMF was torn apart, the Federal Reserve Banks demolished in napalm (destroying reserve currencies), and Fort Knox was robbed of our gold reserves, it would not be just us going down if that status quo was kept but EVERYONE.

      You see, when WE lose we ensured it to mean ALL lose (The European Union, China, Northern Africa, and even OPEC and Saudi Arabia).

      So people can cede from the U.S. if they wish (and have the incomes of a 3rd world country, go ahead, makes MY money and reserves stronger resources) or they can break this red/communist left-over scare from the 50’s and realize it is no longer that easy for a nation with its hand and money in EVERYTHING to fail.

      Prepare, as I do, all you want, but paranoia is a completely different and uninspiring thing.

      *steps off soap box*

        • now you do realize that Barack Obama is trying to go to war with Syria. he has NO other countries willing to back him up but France. also, are you aware that as of right now there are over 10k troops in Washington DC?! this will not end well. think about it. Obama has no support, and what happens if China decides to cash in on our ever growing Trillions in debt?! we’re completely screwed, and that will be the end of our precious economy, and everyone on welfare? pfft, their money is gone. now im not being racist but think of the type of people on welfare, for the most part. what happens when they can no longer get food, or supplies? theyll start robbing and looting. its going to be bad. if you dont have a way to protect yourself from those kinds of people-gangbangers and the such, then you can kiss your ass goodbye.

          • After viewing a lot of this reactionary piffle
            It is refreshing to see that 1 lady has
            A grip on this direr situation
            For as I see it
            The open hand brigade will show their true
            Worthless colours
            As soon as the hand outs stop
            Then our world will start to turn nasty…

          • Rebecca,
            China can never cash in on the debt. It would be like robbing your own trust fund. Think about it. Ar e we going to give them the state of California.

      • im sorry to tell you irish but you are dead wrong the goverment is controlled by the Banksters (mix banker and gangster look up the word)and fort knox is completely empty there is no gold if there was. the us economy would not have nearly collapse in 2008 but what would be very valuable after the economic collapse is medical supplies you could make penicillin at home and is very valuable.

      • You obviously weren’t paying attention to New Orleans after Katrina. It took less than 4 days for law and order to break down and social order turn into anarchy.

        How many civilizations have risen and fallen in history? What makes us different from them? I’m sure they though they were smarter, harder working, more optimistic, blessed by a higher power….etc… JUST AS MOST AMERICANS ARE THINKING. Did that thinking prevent the fall of their civilizations?

        I hope you are right and we can muddle through hard times but I’m not sure the UN, IMF, world bank, EU or China will save us… they definitely aren’t giving us jobs and easing unemployment.

      • now you do realize that Barack Obama is trying to go to war with Syria. he has NO other countries willing to back him up but France. also, are you aware that as of right now there are over 10k troops in Washington DC?! this will not end well. think about it. Obama has no support, and what happens if China decides to cash in on our ever growing Trillions in debt?! we’re completely screwed, and that will be the end of our precious economy, and everyone on welfare? pfft, their money is gone. now im not being racist but think of the type of people on welfare, for the most part. what happens when they can no longer get food, or supplies? theyll start robbing and looting. its going to be bad. if you dont have a way to protect yourself from those kinds of people-gangbangers and the such, then you can kiss your ass goodbye.

      • I am sorry, but I don’t think you understand that the world does not revolve around US. Plenty off countries have talked about not using dollars as the world currency anymore, switching to Chinas currency. We owe 70 trillion to others, worlds getting fed up with it. We pay debts by printing money… but when you are no longer the world reserve currency, you can no longer do that or you devalue your currency making everything. By how much we owe… how many dollars are out there… if the world says hey lets not use the dollar anymore… THE US taxes will increase dramatically, interest rates skyrocket exponentially meaning people who have mortgages which is a lot, will not be able to afford it and be evicted… normal things as gas, bread, milk will increase dramatically. We will be using dollars bill to heat our fire places. And it is all coming very soon. I say within 2-3 years, PROBS September 2015.

        • It is now June 5 2017 and even tho I believe there will be some kind of tragedy in the future I don’t think it will be as soon as ppl think.

          I hope I am wrong. Thank you

      • You are wrong irish. Dead wrong. It is happening right now and has been getting worse but unfortunately too many people don’t think anything will happen and don’t prepare and those will be the ones that perish. It’s not a matter of if it’s when it will happen and I think by 2015. There is nothing wrong with being prepared. And getting prepared now is good because further down the road prices will be so expensive you won’t be able to afford them anymore.

      • The fact that you think Fort Knox still has gold shows you know nothing…

        Educate yourself–you will be the first wave down.

      • Wow, ignorance is bliss, huh. You do realize the only thing holding our paper money up is that oil is only purchased internationally with the dollar…. I mean used to. China, Russia, Venezuela, chile, Nigeria are already using their own currency to purchase oil now. To think that everyone else will keep playing by the rules n gettin screwed by our overlords purposeful monetary destruction is woefully ignorant. What DOES the koolaid taste like?

        • I agree but when this goes down the government will try to save itself, higher this higher that. The bundy ranch thing could be the start of the money grab. Rumor has it their coming after ur 3 year old kids for your great grandads overpayments like social security back taxes. Eventually ull lose everything due to taxes. Then war hers will break out, aka martial law coming, in order toevict you. People will revolt. We should learn this country belongs to the people our taxes are for the peoples needs not government. Get to know someone with land. Purchase shovels, hoes, bags of fertilizer, garden seeds heirloom brand. Work toward using solar to power esentials not ovens or ac. Just maybe a freezer and well pump for water. Remember stand your ground. The ones who created the collapse is responsible. Ill not bear that cross but ill die fighting with you to end big government. If u cant buy silver or gold purchase copper rounds. Chicken wire boards etc. Post. In mexico any peice of wood is gathered up. Get at least 6 months of food , learn to can. Get cast iron cookware.

          • Your absolutly right. Americans fight together ,reunite , survive! Cause its coming all the signs are there this is our warning! Wake up get prepared and do not rely on government for your needs or protection. We stand together for what we believe in and what our founding fathers believed in.

      • I am always reminded of the Irish Holocaust when church and state colluded and thousands starved to death…because they were caught unprepared for the treachery. As Sinead O’Connor said..”fight the real enemy”. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

    • Go camping, plant a seed to eat the product later, read a book, catch a fish and cook it, have a bonfire, and buy a nice knife.
      Start small. Start easy. Learn.
      Even if nothing happens you will still be a better party person with things to talk about.

        • You are a sheep. After you wake up ull be depending on those who got ready by begging etc. Unfortunately the wild westlaws will become the new america. You cant be fed and u cant be allowed to leave folks areas after u have seen what they have. DEATH is ur reward so dont go pillaging or being nosey. If u have nothing to contribute the u are a liability. I would say all liberals will be exstinct by just a lil while. We the people will over come. We will not be a prisoner to what seems to be your form of government. Go find a hole.

    • I live in Ohio and have basic essentials such as knives stones and knowledge of their use as well as firearms and with my fathers help I can live off the land. Bwing younger people say the government is fine but look at the rise in not only survival games but survival stuff in general. Basic hiking hunting and survival gear is through the roof and 22 9mm and other ammos are just gone. Our government has dug its own grave, not a hole

    • a good book to read is patriots: a tell of survival in the coming collapse fiction, with tips scattered in, specially in defense, and defenses against the government it self

      • Austin I just finished this book and have been trying to get friends and family to read. It is incredible how the author mixes a “what could be real events” story with education along the way. So glad to hear that someone else read it as well. There is no such thing as too much knowledge and being too prepared!

    • And of course, this will all be so much easier after Hillary and Obama use NATO troops to disarm us. No, wait, that action is what will throw us INTO this. We will do better than they did in the late 1700’s… when the King gets carried away, more than 1 in three of us will actually get proactive and help defeat him…

    • I Too have been researching this kind of catastrophe for a couple of years now. and I feel it has to be nearing an end I try and talk to everyone about being prepared but they all laugh at me or become annoyed the thing that upsets me is the govt says its all fine and dandy we’ll just throw some more debt on it and make the rich richer and everyone just goes about there lives living in there little bubbles we really need to wake up

    • I wish I could go back to my early years and started prepping. The sad reality of it all is that it’s too late. If you don’t have guns and ammo, your in trouble, if you don’t have MRE’s (meals ready to eat) your in trouble. If your in debt like 90% of the world is, your in trouble. All I can say is put your seat belt on and wait for the ride to be over. If your alive and your family is alive when it crashes that’s just the beginning. This crash when it happens is going to make the Great Depression look like a skinned knee at the school yard. JUST GET READY AS SOON AS YOU CAN!!!!

      • falce,you can give your life to jesus now and you have Gods word he will see you threw,give jesus your life,read the bible,

    • good to prepare for all things,what about eternity,what if jesus was truly the son of God?what if our soul is eternal?because you do not beleave in these things dose not make them falce,God loves you,beleave in jesus now befor its to late?????

    • never happen,2nd comeing of jesus is near,only he can change the world when he returns,believe in jesus now,please.

  2. Nice article but with all due respect, forget the laptop idea. I say this with the following in mind:
    1. Cost. Speaking from personal experience, nowadays it is possible to get a nice (basic) little netbook for around $300 and a 320GB external hard drive for around $100. In my opinion, your $450 would be better spent elsewhere. A collection of books– namely military training/field manuals, as well as medical, agriculture, etc.– can be had for less than $20. The rest of the money can be put toward silver, food, ammunition, or whatever else you like.
    2. Reliability. A computer is a device that requires maintenance and delicate handling, and unless you have the foresight to stock up on extra fans, replacement keys, and an extra screen or two (more $$$)– as well as the tools and ability to make the repairs– then AT MOST you are looking at a source of information with a 10-15 year shelf life. This also leads me to…
    3. Practicality. In all likelihood, an economic collapse would also result in a complete stoppage of something we all look at as just part of life, something that will always be: utilities. If SHTF, it is safe to assume that PG&E will be non-operational in short order and will not go back online quickly. Unless you are completely solar- and generator-dependent or have somewhere to go that already is, then you likely won’t have access to or be able to find a useful source of constant electrical output. You don’t just switch out computer batteries like you would a flashlight, and in order to charge a computer battery you need electricity.
    4. Ease of use. Flat out, not everybody (seniors and young children) know how to use a computer and many are frankly incapable of grasping even the most basic computer skills, but reading is something that is easily taught, learned, and passed down from adults to as young as toddlers. If going electronic as a means of keeping volumes of literature small and compact is the goal, a better choice would be a Kindle or similar device– just make sure you know how to rewire the thing to standard batteries when the time comes.

    More than having a library of survival manuals or a hard drive full of them, it is important to familiarize yourself with what is actually in them. It’s all fine and great to have a large amount of information at your disposal, but if you don’t know what’s in them or where to find a piece of info in a pinch, then the point is moot. Read up, educate yourself, practice the techniques, and have a plan for implementing the information when it is needed.

    • Computers (or netbooks/pdas/Iphones/etc) are one of those things that we can become over-reliant on.

      You might be saying to yourself, “Self, I’m not over-reliant on technology. Am I?”

      Well, If you can’t tell me what day it is or recite your mother’s phone number without looking at your phone, you’re over-reliant.

      I think technology is great- having the world and all the answers right at our fingertips is awesome! But, if you use it as a crutch to real knowledge and skill, then you are preparing to fail.

      Get a survival laptop. Sure. But don’t rely on it for survival. Use it to supplement your core strengths. You might use it to put on a digital encyclopedia or a number of things that would be impractical to store in hard copy. But, without it, you could survive.

    • especially now with the kindle, you could have a lot of info and the battery life is soooo much longer than a computer. i would definitely have a hard copy of a few really important things though, just in case.

    • I disagree withhim and not you. However considering what you both said this is what I would say. Theco puter idea. They wil, be everywhere. Free for the taking. Just put your ebooks on a smart drive so if ur computer crashes u stillhave the info. Plus id like to add for your stupid uneducated self that the smartdrive can be used to transfer these files which will come with a price. Plus just for the idiots harbor freight sells a solar setup for about 200 dollars to charge a 12 volt battery and all ur gadgets. Its folks like you who willnot be smart enough to survive cause ur thinking shows no latitude or diversification in its app, ication of ideas.

  3. The Dow Jones was down $198 today, looks like the disaster predictors of the past few months are correct. “Off Grid” reallly works for me, I suggest getting Solar Panels and live off the government-corporate grid.

    • Wow. Did you ever get tht wrong. If you had just bought an index fund the day you wrote this, you would be up by 50% or so today!

    • Id like to suggest a 6000 watt inverters 1 in 110 volts the other in 220 charge a battery by solar and ur ready for a lil bit of power. Youll not live as u do now but u can work with this on well pumps and maybe a 5000 btu ac unit in abedroom window if u dare. Just a thought. Inverters like this arent chaep but neccessary in my way of thinking.

  4. I take the collapse seriously, only God can prevent it from happening now. My thoughts have gradually shifted from, can I survive? to, do I really want to survive? Everybody wants to survive, right? Well, almost none of my family or friends are preparing, so when the time comes I know I will have to live with the knowledge that even the young will be overcome with starvation, stealing, murdererers, rapest ect. Okey, I put back everything I need, I manage to survive, but for what? You cant trust anyone, you cant grow a garden or even collect water fron a stream without the threat of constant life threatening danger. The simple pleasures of driving a car, eating at a restaurant, taking in a movie, going to the supermarket, are gone. Every fire you build to warm yourself, cook, make tools, bathe, ect is sending a beacon to others that says, I’m here, come here and take what I have. alright, lets say I plan for all eventualities, I dont particularly want to have to kill men, [possibly women and even worse, young people] on a simi regular basis in order to exist. Survive, possibly, really live, not a chance.

      • You need a get involved with a community of preppers, get involved with your church, move to Utah, and know your neighbors, and talk to people that share same
        concerns. A meet up group is great place.

        I believe when disaster strikes a strong, prepared society should have no issues. But it is the weak links that have the issues.

        We need relationships with others so we can help one another and it will help us survive the hard times.

        That idea I will go it alone is crazy… in that movie Lost, where the lone french lady survives for years alone, but she has kind of lost it from being alone so long. Or where the Hank is stranded on Island with a Wilson soccer ball and starts talking to ” Wilson” could that happen to all of us?

        I think we need God in our life, and strong community to survive hardships.

        We live in a beautiful quiet neighborhood, and I love driving through it makes me feel so happy….and all the neighbors know each other we all go to church together at the neighborhood church. If things got rough we would put up barriers, and have armed guards just like you see in other countries.

        For what it is worth China is not dumb in anyway I think they are prepared they have hedged their bets on metals they told the people there, to start buying as much gold as possible around 2008 and the people did! Let’s see how this plays out, we are holding onto worthless dollars, and the new money comes in that is Gold backed.

    • If you consider the ‘simple pleasures of driving a car, eating at a restaurant, taking in a movie, going to the supermarket’ really living life, you live a sad little life my friend. There is so much more to existence and this planet we live on than what your consumer driven upper class American mind has been warped into enjoying. GO CAMPING, PLANT A GARDEN, GO SWIMMING IN A NATURAL BODY OF WATER, EMBRACE MOTHER EARTH WHILE YOU STILL CAN. Seriously, put down the Ipad and Redbull, drive out about 100 miles in the middle of nowhere and go breath some fresh air.
      On a more serious note, THERE ARE CHILDREN OUT THERE STARVING RIGHT FUCKING NOW! People stealing, murders, people getting raped…all that shit is happening as we speak… What?? …you dont really think about it cause those unfortunate human beings arent the people in your hometown or vicinity? DOESNT CHANGE THE FACT THAT ITS STILL HAPPENING!! So if you just couldnt or wouldnt want to survive in an economic collapse because of those horrific things, you might as well just give up on living your AWESOME LIFE in suburbia. But we all know you won’t. After all, you have those simple pleasures to distract your simple mind from whats happening in the real world. You are the kind of people that should die out first.

    • When it was just my husband and I, I would have agreed with you. I wouldn’t want to kill anyone else, ever, even if it meant my own demise. Now that I have a beautiful four year old daughter, I would happily and without remorse murder with my bare hands anyone who tried to cause her harm. I would want to survive to give her the chance to survive long enough for there to be some semblance of civilization for her to reintegrate into one day.

  5. If you can make it thru one year in a worst case senario then you might make it if you have a vast knowledge of food production and preservation. Almost no one knows how to do that today. Farmers buy their food from grocery stores and have no more idea how to make it than city folk. Older people had grandmothers that knew exactly how much to grow and put up for survival, but we don’t. I’m a farmer and haven’t a clue, but do know how to grow things. I buy at walmart…

    Sam

    • No one? lol actually, there ARE a few of us who pride ourselves on providing for our families by old fashoned ways… and i’m in my mid twenties. Know how is useless without means… and means are useless without know how. But most importantly, that know how must be tested and practiced prior to need.

  6. instead of an laptop i suggest an Ereader like the kobo – it uses far less energy so will be easier to maintain – it only uses power when the page is changed – and with a free program called calibre – E-book management you can bypass the web and put any epub file on it – it also converts pdf’s – would be easier to charge – and is not affected as much as a laptop to heat and grime. it can hold 32000 ebooks and they’re cheap and practically indestructable.

  7. Ok so I’ve looked at so many different “Websites” about S.H.T.F. & Economic collapse. But I run into a huge problem, I’m only 16 & I strongly believe something of that sort of problem I listed above is going to happen, & I can’t prepare because my parents think I’m crazy for thinking so. I understand the characteristics of survival I’ve had experience in such things I know a little over basic weapon skills but that’s the other issue I can’t utilize my knowledge in such matters!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO?

    Thank you.

    • Very similar situation here. I’ll give you a list of what I’m doing
      I have an e-ink Kindle, chainmail, a horde of medieval arms, a few bows and many arrows, a tent, a lawn-chair, a first-aid kit, empty-bottles, survival books, empty backpacks, harmonicas, glasses, notebooks, clothes, and one or two other things that would be useful. I believe such a collapse, if it occurs, would do so after I enter-into college (this fall). If I go to college in Indiana, I’ll only be a couple hours away from a large portion of my family, who live predominantly on farms (and with whom I will leave my horde of arms before attending college). If I go-to college in Florida, I’ll have to make due with starting out sans weapons and without a guarantee of basic needs, which would be a problem.
      My main advice to you is:
      1. Invest in silver. Even if the economy doesn’t crash (99% chance that it will, just a matter of when), you’ll still make large sums of cash from it.
      2. Start / continue working-out.
      3. Prepare a survival kit
      4. Learn to make a weapon out of anything, as well as how to fight.
      5. Learn a very compact instrument (I learnt the recorder and harmonica); this will keep you busy when you have nothing to do.
      6. Be very nice
      7. Aprenda una otra idioma que ingles (learn another language). This will not only help you to communicate with people and trade / negotiate, but it will also give you a spoken code to use with your allies. Din dit majt Spraga Madjin Mej (I’m making my own language). O, lernu Esperanton; if you’re looking for a secret language that is easy to learn, Esperanto is only spoken by 2 million people, but is considered one of the easiest languages to learn in the world. Also, languages can keep you from getting bored (like when you are performing nightime watches with your allies).
      8. Humans naturally have a biphasic sleep-cycle (really, I would argue triphasic), so don’t freak-out if when you go to sleep at sundown you wake-up around midnight before going-back to sleep. Also, in the English language, the first sleep is called “beauty sleep” (although the term’s meaning has been perverted since the invention of electricity).
      9. Make friends. Amigos. Amici. People who will back you up in a fight. Hell, even start a micronation. Have a civilization formed before the collapse. I started my own micronation two years ago. :)
      10. If you live near water, for God’s sake: learn to fish! Make fishing poles from scratch, make a boat from scratch, etc.
      11. Get-over the notion of showering daily. The Norse did it once weekly; the British did it once or twice yearly. There used to be a joke about losing children in dirty bathwater…
      12. In tandem with #11, get used to dirt. Also, get some leather gloves. Oh, and a few pocket knives.
      These are a few things you should be able to do. At the very least, following these steps, you should be able to be at least a well-prepared forager, as well as more in shape than your competition.
      Natural selection,:)

      • me and my dad just started to prepare for an economic collapse. if you are here are the things you will need medicine,water,caned food,an electrical box,a gun,flashlite,batteries,matches,and a radio. good luck :]

        • Let me know where you live. I can come through with my wife and kids and pick up the shit you left behind when you ran like hell in front of the NATO troops Hillary and Obama were using. Yeah, kid, funny shit. Only because it hasn’t happened during YOUR lifetime in YOUR microscopic view of things. But some of us are old enough to remember the LAST TIME a government started talking all this crap. Or we have moms & dads who were there. Fought like hell to end that shit! Now you miopic thumb twiddler smartphone dumbass, you can’t see beyond lunch.. so you think it can’t happen here.

          OUR VETERANS and OUR FAMILIES are the only reasons it hasn’t happened here before now.. and you are just too damn dumb to know it.

          YES IT CAN happen here, IFF WE LET IT.
          Freedom is NOT free. sometimes even YOU have to do something uncomfortable to help yourself stay FREE.

          I suppose it our fault you don’t know any better. shoulda let you do without a little more, so you would appreciate what you have more.

      • If u are a senior or a widow or aged widower I guess it’s death to us that has no training in old fashioned survival .Its frightening I am going to have to rely totally on my Lord That’s all I know He can make a way.
        God bless u all .May God have mercy

  8. this is exactly why me and my husband became consultants to sell freeze dried food and emergency supplies with shelf reliance. not only are we getting our family prepared, were helping others. it never hurts to have extra food around and if something does happen, you cant eat gold and silver! if you dont know how to get started, check out my website. you can get what you need, or find out how you can help others prepare and make some extra money too! thanks!

  9. Hi awake people, I’m in the UK and there seems to be a monopoly on freeze dried food here. There is only one company (listed at the top of google results) who takes it seriously and I ask WHY? is it not bloody obvious what is happening. We are being led up the garden path of debt,government handouts & supermarket/food dependence. When this comes crashing down the scale of mayhem is unimaginable.
    Food is going to be of life/death importance if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail

  10. hello im 14 years old and i no that things have been bad and its not getting better. im old enough to know how to survive and what i need so im saving all my money. theres just a few things i need to know. when shtf i will be ready. if anyone could tell me some of the essencials ill need please let me no. thanks for the time

    • Wow kid, already preparing huh. Listen. To quote the Godfather, “Politics is like a gun. Economics is knowing when to pull the trigger.” Study economics and you wont have to relly on anyone for the truth of how and why the collapse happened. Collect valuable non perishable goods and store them safely. Even if the collapse isnt as bad as people are making it sound, you’ll still have use for things like alcohol, honey, soap etc. Focus on the positives to get you through; one day soon I will become we. Get to know people who’ve lived through hard times before. Once you understand economics, you’ll know that once the dollar is strong its time to buy things you cant afford tomorrow. Familiarize with concepts of inflation/hyperinflation. Don’t confront the government, that never ends well for anyone. The wealthy bears will hybernate through this financial winter by sitting on precious metals and eventually the government will nationalize it from them in exchange for worthless paper currency. Protect yourself, women and children, and God will watch over you too.

  11. “Things like … food … will never lose their value”. But food does lose its value once it becomes inedible; many items, however well stored, will be inedible within six months! Folks, please research food storage and rotation before buying food. If you are starting out, buy imperishable supplies such as tools and learn a trade. Learning to grow food is more important than having food supplies. For the average prepper throwing out food which has not been stored properly is unsustainable from a cost perspective (and completely immoral).

  12. i have been perpairing for the last 20 years. i have tought prepariness in my ward for 15 of those years. and i can not understand what people think. i lived thorught a truckers strike in omaha neb in 1969 and the stores were emptyed in matter of one day. the strike lasted 2 weeks and if you were not prepaired you starved. i lived through 2 strikes where my father worked and saw on food in our house for 3 months and the other one 4 months. the so called union gave us a ham a week and that was all we had. i know what is happening and fore saw it years ago. i try to teach those around me and i get the old story ” ill just share yours” who the heck said i was going to share what i have. i pick who i will help. i gave a class on it not to long ago and was asked why i would not share will all. i told them that my storage would only last 2 weeks if i gave it up. it is for my family and that is that. if a child shows up at your door begging for food whould you help that child. next day a sister shows up with them the next day the father and mother the next day others along with the first group show up. where does the line be drawn and what would you do.
    it bothers me that those around me do not wish to prepair like my church tells us to do. they want toys. they want vid games. they dont think of what is about to hit us like a ton of s#$@ and it is all is well eat drink for tomorrow we die how true that may become. they also tell me the goverment will step in to help. haha look at new york and new jersey and say that again. have no worrys for we will just share but they tell me no if i wish to share their toys.
    for the love of your family prepair prepair prepair and much as you can. time is short and it is about to turn nasty. if you are prepaired you shall not fear. never never never give up. doomer

  13. Start with the basics: physical health, employment, education, finances, emergency preparedness, food storage, gardening…First, get post high school education, so you can support yourself, while avoiding debt. Then get a rare decent job and live well below your income. You need some kind of shelter, so many buy a home but we have learned the pitfalls of homeownership. Before you leap read some books on homebuying, it may not be the right thing to do for a number of reasons. One dilemma is that most jobs are in cities and it you bug out then you have no job and no shelter and most cannot survive long with a backpack of supplies surrounded by nature. So start with surviving unemployment in the city. Get out of debt, have savings, home/food storage. Start with home storage, see foodstoragemadeeasy.net. It can take several years just to get this far. You need to focus on immediate needs first, and then get enough education so you can buy what you need to be self reliant. Think about having a year supply of the basics: food, clothing, shelter: safety, roof, wood burning stove/insert and wood for alternative heat, fuel to cook with…

    • Why would I want to be out of debt if there is an economic collapse? It seems I should get all the debt that I can because it will all be wiped clean.

  14. Oh, and a couple things I don’t see mentioned enough. 1. As for physical health, do the best you can to improve what you have. For instance: consider lasik, once your prescription stabilizes, if it applies to you. You won’t need prescription glasses and sunglasses. Yes, you are likely to need reading glasses over 40, as well as sunglasses but they are easy to come by vs YOUR prescription which if done cheapest, involves a wait. It is best to be able to see, to do the basics to care for yourself. 2. If you buy a home, spend less than YOU are comfortable with so you have funds to keep it in good condition. I know people who removed failing bathroom floor and instead of buying inexpensive remnant bin glue down vinyl, they just let the subfloor rot, which make the eventual fix even more expensive. 3. Good friends/relationships are easy to keep but hard to find and they are most important so make friends, get married and have a family. Note that anything worth doing is going to involve work, including relationships.

    • I agree H, this is the soundest advice so far. Unfortunately “prepping” takes money. I won’t make my family suffer now to survive a possibility later. We are selling our nice suburban house and downsizing to a stable rural community to free up budget enough to start prepping. It is a long process if done properly. Knowledge is always power.

  15. People. Get real. You cannot eat, wear, or live in a laptop. Grow a garden, learn how to preserve food. Stock up on non-perishables and pray!

  16. I’m 14 years old, and I’m just waiting for the crap to hit the fan. I want to be prepared when it does.
    I want to start a survival kit. I’ve saved up enough allowance (can’t get a job yet…) that I can easily do this. But. I have some problems/questions. One is that I don’t have a place for a full-on everything-I-need kit. My parents are pretty much on board, and they even tried putting one together, but that kind of fell through. I need to talk with them about doing it for real, but we still have the space issue. Do we even try to compact it (if so, HOW?), or do we just “suck it up” and find a place?
    Next, how would we get Wi-Fi for the laptop?
    We eat paleo, which is basically hunter-gatherer mentality (look it up). There’s not a wide array of canned or freeze-dried food that’s paleo. Straying isn’t an option as we (especially my mom) get really sick otherwise. My mom doesn’t need to be basically bedridden, the way she was for the first 8 years of my life, in the middle of an economic/governmental collapse. What do we do for food? Do we truly hunt and gather and hope for the best, or is there actually some sort of non-perishable food that’s paleo?
    Finally, as I am a minor, I don’t know if I’m allowed to purchase a gun with the new gun control measures in CO. My dad has a 22 that I can shoot pretty well, and I have a bow and some arrows that I’m fair with, but I’d like a gun of my own if possible.
    Will weapons such as bows and arrows actually be useful, or will they even stand a chance against better armed citizens?
    Sorry I have so many questions. I really just started investigating this, and so I’m pretty new. Please let me know what your thoughts are.
    P.S. Miles, does Latin count as a useful foreign language in your opinion? I’m already learning it, so I was just wondering.

  17. Currency collapse is an inevitability at this point. The math simply will not allow it to do otherwise. We now owe over 16 trillion dollars to bond holders. The fed now purchases 60% of all new debt that is issued. At some point the system will realign itself. The way a huricaine realigns the the excessive build up of ocean tempatures. It will happen in a very similar way. Look at the fundamentals. By the end of the Obama administration the nation will be carring over 20 trillion in debt. We take in 2.2 in taxes and send 3.6 hence the deficet. If the market deamands just 5% to purchase our debt than 1/2 of all current tax reveues will have to go to just pay the interest. There is no way to retire this debt expect through massive and I mean mssive inflation due to the devaluation of the currency. So what does that mean to you and me. That means everything that is imported to this coountry becomes essentially unattainable. Oil coould go to hundreds if not thousands of dollars a barrel. So the price at the pump is now 80$ dollars a gallon making transportation unafordable in a society based on the car. Food prices would similary skyrocket and would become lagely unafordable. The welfare crowd will burn and loot thier own neigborhoods in response to the unaffordability of goods. Basic services start to shut down. Cant get to work cant do work. Cant buy anything with the funds received so why go. It is going to be a hughe mess for quite a while until the storm ends. I guess that is why Homeland Security is buying thousands of assualt vehicals and billions of rounds of ammo. It is not a pretty forecast. When the faith that backs up that paper in your wallet is gone all hell is going to break loose! Good luck folks. Those who prepare for the comming storm will have a much better chance of survival.

    • Man… you are spot on. I’ve never read a blog that was so accurate and clear about the reality of out situation.

      Let me add… when money is worthless no one will go to work ESPECIALLY coal miners. They will not dig it out and send it to power plants and the grid will go down and the lights will go out… AND the wheels of transportation will stop turning. The situation will get very ugyly VERY fast.

      Even if the Government doesn’t embark on a course of canabilizing the citizens, surely they will use the military to “secure” oil supplies for the “friends of Washington” …which most of us are NOT.

      Without fuel and/or electricity AND a working currency society will fall. Law and order will break down. Transport is required to get food to the people. Food is NOT grown where animals are raised. The system is very fragile.

      We had better turn our attention to prepare. What do we do? Get a laptop or notebook? I guess it could help but there are MANY things that are much higher on my priority list.

      First I want to stay alive and take care of my family. Next I want to minimize misery.

      • It is much worse then you know. Yes the economy is collapsed and will be undeniable soon. It has been tens of thousands of years since humans had a genetic bottle neck that nearly meant extinction.
        All Empires of recorded history declined and collapse at some point. But what happens when the current declining empire collapses.
        If we do not rapidly improve and deploy technology while creating a better system.
        We are about to collapse and at just the time we cant afford to. We have 500 poorly designed nuclear power plants with a once in a 50 year solar flare or economic collapse and break down of grid will all end up worse then fukishima. We have anoxia building in the ocean and if we do not have trillions to deal with it there will be a massive die off in 30 to 50 years 96% to 97% of remaining life. Empires always collapse but this time we have a monster house of cards waiting to collapse on us.
        I do believe it is possible to do something about most threats. I also expect there is an alarmingly high probability humans have witnessed there last century.

  18. The more pressing threat will be from Russia and China disabling our information systems through cyber attacks sending us into the dark ages. Technology impacts virtually everything we do.

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