If we think (and there have been numerous posts here to support this idea) that all major banks are going to fail because of over-investing in derivatives, what should we do if we have money in those banks? Pull it out in cash? Convert it to silver or gold? Put the cash under our mattress? And will cash be worth anything?
So if we have cash in checking or savings with a bank, how can we protect our assets?
Silver is suggested in other replies. That's a good place to put money so that it holds its value (or appreciates, we hope), but,barring the ability to do that, use your cash to buy what you know you (or somebody else for barter purposes) will need--shelf stable food (suggestion in this--don't neglect the fats (ghee (i.e. clarified butter in a jar) is a good shelf-stable option as are any good oils that you know you will use like olive oil, coconut oil, etc). If you don't have a freezer, that's a good place to put some money--a good freezer--and then spend the money to fill it. But use what you buy and just replace what you use as you use it. The freezer option won't work for everybody, but if you can do it, it's a really good use of money. The meat in the freezer doesn't get more expensive with inflation. If you can get a share of a beef cow from a local farmer, that's the most inexpensive and healthy way to fill your freezer.
Do a storage set-up where you can fill it up and just replenish as you use it, then it will be there for you if you suddenly can't get access to replenish it or can't afford to replenish it.
Make sure you have water--that's the big item for people who have city water. Suggestion for that: if you buy drinks in bottles or cans, opt for 2-liter bottles, rinse them, fill them with water. Some people add a drop of bleach to each two-liter bottle, but water is very shelf stable so you likely don't even need to do that.
Don't limit your storage to food items--try to cover everything that you regularly use. That way, in a pinch you can just stay out of the fray at a grocery store. That will help you and everybody who didn't know they needed to prepare too by allowing them to buy what is still at the stores.
Don't forget your pets. And if you have kids or grandkids, keep extras of what you know they'll need.
This isn't going to last for too long, it is said. This will be a great opportunity for all of us who were prepared to help out the people who didn't know to prepare.
Blessings to you and yours.
WATER BARRELS
Doesn't work in Winter but hopefully snow will be available to you. Takes a lot of time to melt and snow reduces in size by x10 times by the time its all water or something like that.
Is there actually such a thing as specialized barrels for collecting water?
Yes
Thanks.
Yes, but food grade barrels can accomplish the same thing. There are big bladders and giant tanks for water collection as well. I use 5 gallon buckets to catch off a shade sail to use in the spring garden when it's real dry here in Zone 10.
Edit: there are also barrels you can connect directly to your downspouts.
Thank you. And I've never heard of downspout barrels either.
How do you calculate rainwater runoff from a roof?
How Much Rain Water Runs Off Your Roof?
Take the dimensions of the footprint of your roof and convert them to inches. (So, a 50′ x 20′ roof is 600″ x 240″.)
Multiply the roof dimensions by the number of inches of rainfall. (In this example, 600″ x 240″ x 1″ = 144,000 cubic inches of water.)
How much rain comes off a roof?
Typically, one rain barrel will fill in just minutes in an average downpour. One inch of rain on a 1000 square foot roof will yield around 600 gallons.
How many gallons of rain come from roof?
Every square foot of roof space collects 6 gallons of water in a 1 inch rainfall.
And blessings to you too. Thanks, all good advice. I've actually done most of this with food, water, consumables, etc. I have a lot of things that will hold value and can be bartered if necessary.