Your best bet right now would probably be food, depending on how much $$ you are trying to protect. You can probably make some money in the stock market, but it is going to crash at some point - when is the question... so that is fairly risky in my opinion. I do keep some cash on hand (not in a bank), so if I need it quick, I have it here. But the "value" of the dollar is being erased by inflation, so it is not great to hold a bunch of money, but it is good keep enough for a couple months of expenses.

Land is always good, but depending on where you are, it might be very overpriced right now. Here in FL it is outrageous. If you can find a good deal, it might be worth investing in, but then you have to pay yearly taxes, closing costs, etc.

I like the 5 B's.... beans, bullets, bullion, bandaids, and barter.

Converting money into physical gold and silver has always done well for me - you probably won't see the gains you could potentially make in stocks, but it is a good steady hedge against inflation. A silver quarter (90% silver) in the early 60s would buy you a gallon of gas, and today that same silver quarter is worth about $4.50... which will buy you a gallon of gas. The "value" has (roughly) stayed the same over the years, even when the "value" of the dollar has fallen.

IMHO, making sure you have 6-12 months of shelf stable food and a way to purify water (and other life necessities) put away is the smartest investment for your dollar. Food is only going to get more expensive and harder to find over the next few years. It is something you have to have to survive. If you have money left after that I would buy physical gold and silver - and have a secure place to store it in your home - and don't tell anybody you have it!