We never had extra cash to purchase gold or silver. We had to use most of our retirement savings for a life-threatening medical situation for one of our children (after we retired) and haven't (and won't) be able to build it back better (or at all actually).
Sucks, but we can make it - not including debt payments.
Thanks for sharing your post. A lot of us are in the same boat for various reasons. I encourage you to continue to pray and do not lose hope.
Tactically, one possible way to approach this is to continue to service your debt for now--but if the big kablooey happens and the system is really demolished, then you could declare bankruptcy like the rest of us (and probably along with 50+ Million households. Just stop paying on the debt (when those to whom you owe are themselves declaring bankruptcy). When your credit card company for example files for bankruptcy, it will sell its assets to another lender, for pennies on the dollar, but your entire debt transfers to another lender that basically never lent you the money but now gets to own your debt. Send a letter stating that you're bankrupt, that you've filed for bankruptcy, that you have no income, and that you are discontinuing paying on that debt and that the bank/cc company should plan to write it off. Then, ignore any debt collectors. As far as I know, your home cannot be taken from you in bankruptcy. BUT THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL ADVICE... it's just a theoretical approach to consider for yourself.
If you're like me, you have some integrity and the above approach feels awful. But here's my justification: I paid into the bailouts with my taxes. I've suffered like the rest of us under this corrupt system. And I have continued to service my debt. But if these big banks fail AGAIN because of their corruption, then I do not think that my integrity will be jeopardized because I don't continue to pay them, especially if some other bank acquires my debt at barely any risk to them--my contract was with the company that lent me money. That's as far as I go.
So, I'll keep an eye on the companies to which I owe something. If they go down, so do I. Beforehand I will get as much cash as I can out of the system and use it purchase needed assets before the cash diminishes too far in value due to hyperinflation. And I'll make sure that I am prepped with food, water and protection (already am, actually), form relationships with others whom I trust so that I can contact them if I'm in a pinch and need something. Trade is good.
Get through this painful moment. The Q Plan will be free of all of this bullshit after this multi-variable Precipice. That is what I believe.