Let’s start with a little bit of history before we tie this all together with today and something to prepare for.
Almost a half-century ago now, the American dollar was on the gold standard. This meant that our currency was backed by a fixed asset—gold.
This system provided a self-regulating and stabilizing effect on the economy as the government was only able to print as much money as there was gold in our country.
This gold standard worked well until the Great Depression hit.
According to Mental Floss, during the early 1930s, the US government discovered it could do little to stimulate the economy. Due to the devaluation of the American dollar, people were turning in their cash for blocks of gold.
The only way to deter people from cashing in their dollar bills and depleting the gold supply was to place hefty interest rates on bank loans.
In return, this made it difficult for businesses to borrow money and thrive, causing further deterioration of the market.
To fix this issue, President Franklin D. Roosevelt cut the dollar’s ties with gold, allowing the government to put money back into the economy and lower interest rates.
Starting in 1971, our country officially adopted a fiat system.
The US dollar is 100% legal tender; however, it’s no longer backed by a physical commodity, such as gold.
Instead, our currency is now valued based on the relationship of supply and demand.
For the most part, this system has worked for our country.
But a fiat system does have its faults and is susceptible to disasters.
If our banking systems were to shut down or someone were to mess with our supply-and-demand chain, we’d be in big trouble.
With all the stories of Internet hacking and credit card or personal financial information that has been stolen in recent years, it’s not far-fetched that our banking systems could be frozen or seized.
As you know by reading our Survival Scouts, we believe it’s always important to be prepared and have a backup system in place for any type of disaster. That includes your money.
Here are a few ways you can ensure you’re prepared in case the unthinkable happens…
Money Prepping Tip #1: Keep a Cash Supply at Home
Having access to cash to purchase necessities during a crisis can be a lifesaver.
However, with more and more people using debit cards and credit cards, fewer people carry cash.
A recent report from CreditCards.com states that there are over 364 million open credit card accounts in the United States.
It’s no surprise that a large majority of American citizens rely on bank cards to purchase goods and services.
This is fine as long as our banking systems are up and running.
But what happens if something occurs that causes our financial institutions to freeze?
Suddenly, you’re left with the inability to get the cash you need to purchase necessities such as…
- Food.
- Water.
- Gas.
- Protection.
- Shelter.
To avoid this type of disaster from affecting your family, we suggest keeping a cash supply safely locked away somewhere in your home.
Better yet, spread that supply across several locations to deter theft of all you have.
You can do this by…
- Keeping a locked safe at a trusted family member’s house.
- Hiding money on a piece of property you own.
- Storing money in various places inside your home (e.g., bedroom closet, basement, or pantry) so it can’t all be found in one place.
Purchase a fireproof safe, and keep it in a secure location in your house, stocked with enough funds to provide yourself and your family with all the necessities.
Money Prepping Tip #2: Invest Your Money in Various Mediums
Any good investor knows that it’s not smart to place all your money in one investment portfolio. When you prepare, you are creating a backup plan.
The same is true with everyday cash.
If you place all your money in a savings account and the US dollar suddenly becomes worthless, you can literally go from having a secure future to having nothing overnight.
We have a few recommendations as to how you can distribute your money. However, before we share those, it’s important to remind you that we are not financial experts.
It’s your responsibility to do research. Talk with experts in your community to decide the best solutions for wisely investing your hard-earned money.
The following recommendations are simply suggestions. It’s our hope that you’ll take the info provided and make educated investments with the resources you have available to you.
Here are a few ideas...
First: Invest in Gold or Silver
Gold and silver are tangible assets that possess value. No matter how poorly the US dollar is doing, these assets will be worth something.
They always have throughout history. They likely always will.
In the event of a real emergency, gold and silver can be traded for cash or for goods and services. Our country was built on trade and barter. During a financial collapse, we may need to resort back to that type of system.
There are many places online where you can safely purchase these precious materials.
Do some research online to discover what option is best for you.
Second: Invest in a Cryptocurrency System
This one pops in and out of conversation lately. It seems the world is moving towards it.
Cryptocurrency is a type of digital currency that only exists online.
Unlike using a debit card at a bank, exchanges with cryptocurrencies occur between people.
There is no middleman banking system.
Once a transaction occurs, it is recorded on a digital public ledger, which is called a “blockchain.” The transaction data is then encrypted using cryptography.
At first, this type of system might seem a little bit confusing. But purchasing cryptocurrencies, such as investing in bitcoins, is actually quite easy.
The best part…
This type of online currency system is decentralized. That means it is NOT controlled by a central government.
For this reason, your money would likely be safe and maintain its value, even in the event of a government catastrophe.
There are many types of cryptocurrencies on the market. Once again, we recommend that you speak with a cryptocurrency expert that can advise you on the best places to invest.
Third: Invest in Technology or Tools That Allow You to Become Self-Sufficient
This one might seem a little obscure, but it’s incredibly important.
In the event of a real emergency, money isn’t going to do you much good.
The reality is that there are things like electricity and fresh water that are far more important than having a few dollar bills stashed under your mattress.
If you have the funds, we recommend that you invest in equipment and technology that will enable you to survive “off the grid” so to speak.
For instance…
- Investing in solar panels for your house will equip you with the ability to power your home, even if a power grid gets knocked out.
- Investing in rain barrels and a gravity-powered water filtration system will help you collect fresh water in the event that your water supply gets shut off.
- Investing in hunting or fishing equipment will allow you to forage for food if grocery stores are no longer accessible.
Not only will these items help you in the event of an emergency. They can also help you save money each month that you can invest elsewhere.
Money Prepping Tip #3: Invest Your Money in Lifesaving Food Sources
The most important commodity next to cash is food.
If you don’t have a food source in the event of an emergency, you only have about 3 weeks (or less) to live.
We recommend that people invest at least 10% of their food budget in freeze-dried foods and heirloom seeds in the event that the US dollar becomes worthless and food becomes unpurchasable.
Patriot gardens were common in the 1930s and 1940s. They make sense today to have with rising food costs. They certainly would make sense in the future again should a major disaster strike.
Having a solid supply of food will ensure your family can sustain itself, even in the worst of circumstances.
While investing in food won’t provide you with an immediate financial return on investment, it will give you the security you need to feed your family if a disaster were to strike.
If nothing happens and it’s twenty years later, then eat your emergency food supply! You’ll realize the savings then in your investment.
It’s never too late to prepare for your future. I wish you all the best as you consider what investment options are right for yourself and your family.
Have a safe holiday weekend. And stay alert!
In liberty,
Elizabeth Anderson
Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply
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