Best form of Currency to Keep in case we Survive 2012

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As the time draws closer to Dec 21st and with the current world scenario I cannot discount the fact that maybe something catastrophic will happen around that time. We can either be totally ignorant (nothing is going to happen. We'll all be alive and kicking after Dec. 2012) and be totally taken by shock and face it or we can be prepared in a small short of way. I am of the latter category.

We have to admit that most of us are working class people with savings to save us and our families during a moment of need. The only problem is that we are all dependent upon paper currency which ultimately is just paper with a value on it placed upon upon by politics, economy and other factors of which we have very little control. Say something were to happen during December 2012 like in jessicacaracciolo.wordpress.com... and there is a large scale disruption of the world geography. Lets discuss the worst case scenario of worldwide earthquakes and storms leading to disruption of electricity, telecommunications, internet on an unprecedented scale. The banks will most probably be unoperational and all transactions will be frozen. Ultimately as "anything that goes up must come down" when normalcy returns and some of us survive what do you think will be the right valuable material to trade with. I know it is not easy to think about it but please give it some thought and give a constructive view on what will be the wisest thing to do now before anything has yet started.

A small real incident to help you start thinking because this is very real and possible. In Malaysia there are quite a few Iranian nationals doing their studies in various fields. I know a few families since the last few years. They had all their life's savings in Iran and had a good life here. In the last few months due to the Iran vs America problem and sanctions, their currency has lost it's value very significantly and now all their hard earned "lots of money" has been reduced to "very little. No point in taking out" value. They are clueless as to what to do. Most of them are with little children. Seeing their plight has prompted me to think about the future and the value of cash as we perceive it.

Ultimately we all are working very hard now to have that work translated to something tangible which can be saved now and utilized in the future when we need more and are unable to work for it. Somehow I cannot come to trust any currency in the world because of the simple fact that the value of it is based on factors which I have stated above and on which I have no control. I want to have control on what I have. I welcome suggestions. I was thinking of converting my savings to gold. Will gold have any value later? What is the use of gold for a man stranded on a remote landstrip with a bunch of people who do not know his language but who have abundant food.

Apologies for the long write-up and the very bleak scenario.

Please do not dilute the discussion by taking it to the America vs Iran or any other discussion. Thank you.

The 4 Bs.

Beans, bullets, band-aids, booze.

(obviously not just beans but you get the idea!)

It seems that in the past, people use precious metals as currency. To that end, gold seems to be a way to go. But there is 5 times more gold in the world now than silver due to the fact that silver is being used in stuff like Xrays, photography, printed circuits and other industrial stuff. So really, silver would be a good metal as even though it is rare, people haven't woken up how rare it really is so you can get a better bang for your buck compared to gold when buying some. I started collecting it a year or so ago and now have a couple of hundred ounces as silver coins. Hope this helps

I think there's a possibility in that scenario that knowledge will become a valuable commodity. Most people don't know things like how to build a wind turbine to generate power, or a water wheel, or what crops to plant when and where. In a group that for years have had everything they've wanted sitting on some shelf or other in a shop, the real currency will be the knowledge of how to survive without commercialism. I don't think we'll be in a rush to start up an economy any time soon, considering the trouble we've had from it in the past.

As for valuable items, nicotine and caffeine, there's going to be a lot of people in withdrawal in the first few weeks of roughing it!

reply to post by steve1709


While I agree that some precious metals might be of value, in a post end of the world situation, I would be nervous about gold. I might be wrong, but doesnt gold absorb radiation like a sponge? When/if the lights go out, wont the nuclear reactors of the world rapidly go into meltdown? I believe that gold would act like a radiation vacuum, making it something to be leery of in a post apocalypse situation.

Again, I might be wrong, but it was an officer I served with in the Army that mentioned this to me.

Bullets would probably have immense value, as well as medical supplies and non perishable medicines, imo.

Peace

reply to post by lasertaglover


Nice avatar.

But you make a strong point. Gold maybe a bad thing to have.
It's heavy, you can't eat it or shoot it and it'll only slow you down.
Precious metals are only valuable after a civilization determines the value.
If the SHTF, then the most valuable currency would be useless.
Supplies would definitely be more valuable than any money or currency.
So hoarding gold or silver may be good after things calm down...
But they probably have no value during the hard times.
At least to those trying to survive.

My list goes as follows:
Food.
Water.
Ammo.
Booze.
Medical supplies.
Weapons.
Seeds.
Maybe clothing, or shoes.

That's pretty much all common sense though.
Necessities will take place of all luxuries.

reply to post by drngopal


I believe the most valuable currency in a SHTF scenario will possibly be medical supplies and medicines. If you look back in history the things that killed the vast majority of people were things that are easily controlled now with common medicines and sterile conditions. I would stock up on sterile bandages, aspirin and acetametaphen, peroxide and alcohol, antibiotic ointment, antibiotic capsules (keep in a cool, dry place and rotate as often as able), and either Vics salve or Menthelatum (good for decongestant and keeps forever). These items would be invaluable and worth more than gold in a SHTF situation.

reply to post by havok


Your mention of seeds is really important. Both for personal use, and as a tradeable item. Highly useful, low weight and size equals a very strong trade item.

And just to throw this out there, my old drill sergeant taught me something that I have mentioned a few times in different threads on here that is almost always overlooked, but is a really valuable item.

Socks. I know it sounds crazy, but socks can be used as a tourniquet for first aid to slow bleeding. They can also be used to soak up rain water. A long sock can be used as a silent choking weapon, and most importantly you need them to keep your feet in good shape.

He used to say that the quickest way to die in any situation, is to not be able to walk and run away.

Anyway, your list is a good one.

Peace

Tinned food (and any other non perishable food)
Literature (books of all descriptions)
Herbs and plants (seeds) including Marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Medical supplies
Fabrics and clothing
Bottled Water (or access to a well/spring)
Weaponry
Multi-tools and regular tools

If anything happens (not just on December 21 per se, but any debacle that may occur at any time) I'm going to raid any store I can for cigarettes, or any tobacco items for that matter. It will be a very valuable currency once addicted people are short on it.

reply to post by steve1709


Good idea, mate. Thank you!
Can consider it. Also when SHTF no one is going to kill me for a few coins of silver.

reply to post by lasertaglover


Good thoughts there. Though I am quite surprised about the fact of gold attracting radiation. If true then better to be surrounded by it to let the gold do the absorption and let us survive. Not that its going to matter anyways. If everything crashes then so will hospitals and medical options.

reply to post by khimbar


I agree with your thoughts except the bullets. I prefer bows and arrows. Replenishable ammunition anywhere in the wilderness. Just need some innovative brains and a sharp piece of metal to fashion into a knife and start making arrows. In a case of SHTF we'll not have much time to pack up. Just my thoughts. Thank you.

reply to post by TheIrvy


I have been working on it for the past few years. Medically I am sound as I am a medical doctor. I have very knowledge of mechanical and electrical components too. I keep tinkering with mechanical objects and electrical things. I am a DIY person at home and do almost every small job myself. I also actively see other contributions on ATS and gain up on survival skills.

Its just that the first few days post the incident we need the bargaining power in case we are confronted by violent gangs bent on survival of themselves. Knowledge will take some time to apply. Food cannot be grown in an instant. We need to barter something for it in case our supplies run thin. There is only so much water we can carry on ourselves. And Water is THE most essential thing for survival above all else.

Thank you!

reply to post by havok


Good list there. Valuable thoughts. Thought I wonder what booze does in survival.

Water will top my list with food and some type of self protection and medicines next in the list.

Thank you!

reply to post by littled16


Thats a big list of things. Nevertheless point well taken. These are essential things that surely can be used for trading with food and arms with other people who survive (if we manage to find someone). Else water, food and arms for self defense should be top on the list followed by medicines. I am not sure though if SHTF there may either be catastrophic high temperatures (solar flares, nuclear radiations, high temperatures due to loss of the earths magnetic shield etc), extreme cold temperatures (something like the old ice age) or massive water (flooding due to tsunamis, shifting of poles, shifting of continental plates etc). In all these scenarios the medications may not survive due to destabilization of the compounds. Need to be innovative and start using medications from nature.

reply to post by lasertaglover


Nice thoughts. Yes, I am adding socks to my list. Thought have never thought about this not very important piece of clothing till I read your post. Thank you!
Seeds, yes, I have been thinking about it. But am not sure whether these will come in handy for the simple reason that if SHTF then it may take some time like weeks or months for the weather to come back to normal to allow for seed germination. Also the point of whether there will be good land to plant in. We need to think of instant food. However, I have been trying for the last 6 months or so to gain knowledge on planting seeds. Have succeeded in growing a tomato plant after wasting about 12 seeds (7-8 attempts). But yet to get any tomatoes. Everyday I am learning something new. Slowly realizing that farming is not so easy afterall.

reply to post by blupblup


Wish we can get the time and facility to carry all these stuff with us when catastrophe strikes. Everyone hopes that we'll get warnings before something happens. But I have a gut feeling that we'll all be taken by surprise.

maybe invest in:

Bullets
gold / silver
pocket knives
small liquior shot bottles
small jars and cans of food items that last a long time.
Long lasting MRE's (army meals)
guns
hard candies
Gum
Smokes

All these are things that could easily bartered if the shtf

oh come on the obvious answer is bottle caps. they will be the new currency