in the event the monetary system collapses, how will you survive and what will you have to trade or

you know there really could be a collapse in the dollar and america, and in that event what would you do?

would gold silver or platinum be worth anything if there was no cash value in the economy?

what would you have that you could use to barter with for goods and services? guns? ammo? food? jewelry?tools? WISDOM?...

ever since ruby ridge and waco ive had time to perfect my own survival skills and methods of barter, but i realize that 90% of america has no clue even where to begin. and its actually pretty scary if you think about what the true essence of chaos and anarchy really is and possibly could be if our captors cant get a grip of reality and put us back on track.

i think that we are going to have to go back in history and reestablish tribes and small town communities the way our forefathers did and trade amongst our selves in small trusted groups to survive. otherwise we will become lambs to the slaughter to more powerful gangs and militias that free range victims for territory and essentials.

in your own personal case situation where would you begin?

reply to post by aliengenes


First I would establish a credit system with my neighbors. 1 credit an hour working for them that we can agree to use to trade items we need. Then I open a business using this system. Think of it as IOU's. You may ask what could I do, and I will find something. I am sure someone needs wood for a fire. Maybe wants some of the rabbits I caught. Maybe babysitting while they run into town, preferring not to take their whole family with them. Pretty much everything legitimate service business does now I will do using a credit system. You may ask what will they give me? If anything they can come help me plant food in a garden, or pull security duty for my house while I sleep. First thing first though. Food and water must be a group effort where possible.

Have my garden, fishing and everything else need can get from the jungle. Along with my skill as a physician trained in both western medicine and tcm. Let it collapse.. Not my problem.. I owe no one

It just sucks that a possibility such as this has become our reality.

Arrest the politicians and bankers already.

Explanation: S&F!

Hey Presto! Out of Thin Air! A magical new currency and economy! (by OmegaLogos) [ATS]

Personal Disclosure: I hope that helps!

reply to post by ExPostFacto


one form of currency failed, now using another form of currency? And then setting up a business? Hmm seems to me you learned nothing........

You trade services for services, it doesnt matter about "currency hours" you come to an agreement "ill do this for you because you need it, if youll do this for me" youre not trading anything other than a skill that another person might not have....

thats how you learn to make a cohesive society, not by making another "market".

One person helping another........I have a strong back and can build things.....maybe im not so great a hunter....Ill provide the shelter, the upkeep and other things we might need, someone else provides the food because they are efficient at hunting........thats how it works.......

Utilize skills, dont put another "monetary" value on that.....keep it in its purest and simplest form.....

I'll have to live in my gold mine, no problemo.
Yes gold is a good investment.
See Ya.
Copper Zinc and all the rest of raw materials are working metals.

Don't forget air and it's components.

We only need to look across the border to see the extent at which "Gangs and sub-Lords" will ravage the people. No one will be "sitting pretty" unless you are worthless and nothing!

I know there is a group of young folks who roll around in the mud who call themselves "Mud People", well sorry dirty people but you are hardly mud people in my eyes because you still exist in Society and most have "silver spoons" to boot! I plan on becoming a true "mud person", a degenerate of such proportions that as I pass others will usher me onward. I plan to eek out my existence in a community of Mud people and we will care and provide for one another without the inclusion of the lost souls who are begging for forgiveness.

If I get shot then I will not fear my passing. If I am beaten I will heal, but nothing I have will ever save "them" and they will perish like the rest of Humanity. I will simply disappear into the Wilds with my people who are also wise!

reply to post by aliengenes


Gold and silver coins have no value after a total economic collapse. A regional collapse, there may be some value a few years later. Anyone taking them would be foolish in thinking they will be "money" ahead.

The real "money" will be ammo (.22 cal), gasoline in containers, and generators.

We're already gardening 11 months out of the year and canning what we grow. Also have small farm with various animals.

The next most important thing I'm doing is buying snake boots and snake leggings so I can go in my swamp and get food. That's where all the animals like to be.

I already go in the swamp but would be easier and faster with proper protection.

I can cook, I know how to find food. I was a stay at home mom for 12 years. I am a school bus driver, taking care of 60 kids at a time - no problem. I know how to clean, disinfect, and stay healthy with nothing more than mother natures help. I am the glue that keeps everything together. I KNOW that everything will be just fine. I am reassurance. I am a guardian when the sun goes down aka you can not sneek in or out of my house with out me knowing. Im priceless No worries here, bring it on.

If things go bad...I mean really bad, then it will be tough going for a while. The only things of value will be guns, ammo, food, alcohol, cigarettes, maybe toilet paper, and writing materials.

I just finished a book... Silk Flags and Cold Steel...about the Civil War in the piedmont region of NC. The economy was blockaded, on the verge of collapse, price gauging, mass inflation on even the most basic of life neccessities. Deserters were hiding from the Home Guard and milittias...both equally as bad and desperate...raiding and raping at will...even people that were their neighbors and even family. Retribution and revenge was handed out by burning down homes...sometimes with the family inside....and shot if they ran out...and even then, hung in the front yard... creating bitter rivalries and fueds that continued long after the war ended.

Flour went from 2.00 a barrel in 1861 prices to 15.00 a barrel, salt-sugar-coffee-flour were non existant, after repeated raids on the farms and warehouses and stores from Union and Confederate raiders ... mass starvation ensued. Parents had their children wander along the road side in hopes of collecting kernels of corn that fell from the supply wagons on the way to the war front. Livestock of any sort had by then been consumed, killed, or "conscripted" into the army. Most families survived on wild game hunted like rabbits, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, etc.

Bartering only worked if you actually had something to barter. The idea of time/labor as a means of currency only works if the other party is trust worthy...if they don't work in return for labor provided..the system breaks down quickly. It was quite shocking to me to see how trusted friends and family quickly turned on each other in severe and harsh circumstances....recorded in news papers and diaries... truly and sadly, in a SHTF scenario...there would be few if any you could trust.

The reason I mention this...it paints an eye opening and stark picture of what life would be like in the event of just such an economic breakdown as so many here paint. Any resources you had would have to be dispersed and hidden and rationed out carefully. Watches/guards would be a neccessity on a 24/7 basis.... any excursion, no matter how brief would have to be in the accompiniment of an arm/weapon. Shelter away from the house would be a neccessity to survival, as the home would be a calling card for bandits, raiders, desperadoes of the worst sort.

I suggest this book and others like it to get a true and dark picture of what society would break down to in the event of economic collapse and martial law.