Musings

This is not meant to be a ‘Doomsday’ post, but with the fiat currencies around the world declining in ‘value’ every day, I got to thinking about what might constitute ‘wealth’ in a barter and trade system that could arise during a monetary crisis.

Throughout history, when such crisis occurred, physical gold and silver (coins & bullion) have always been accepted in transactions. However, I’m not sure in this age of diminishing resources that precious metals will be the ultimate store of value. Many humdrum and formerly common items may become worth far more.

In my mind, I pictured an environment of dislocated populations of starving, wretched citizens roaming around, trying to eke out a living and care for their children as central governments and industry collapse, and the modern means of distributing goods breaks down. I will not address the issue of protecting your ‘wealth’ from gangs, militias, and desperate husbands, because it is beyond my ability. I did, however, come up with a list of items I would like to have to trade for things I need.

The following is not meant to be definitive, but rather should stimulate your own thinking, tailored to the culture that you live in:

1. Food seeds and hand-operated wheat grinders
2. Iodine, aspirin, elastic stretch bandages, bleach, tampons, aluminum foil
3. Flint & steel fire starters, matches, Coleman lantern/stove fuel
4. Sleeping bags, backpacks, mosquito netting, and portable tents
5. Whiskey, wine, and cigarettes
6. Duct tape, sewing machine oil, WD-40, knife sharpeners, cooking oil
7. Safety pins, needles, suture needles, thread
8. Bicycle tires and patching kits, air pumps, lamps, candles, and lanterns
9. Ammunition in popular calibers, solar-powered calculators
10. Water purification tablets, fine-mesh screening, toilet paper, beeswax

The foregoing items are fairly inexpensive at present (except for ammunition) and might pay handsome dividends in the future. How much you stock up on really depends on the shelf life of the item, your assessment of the social situation long-term, and your financial means. Certainly, you should think about having some minimum quantity on hand when it appears that there might be a run on stores that supply these items. It is amazing how fast the shelves become bare in a crisis.

Imagine yourself as one of the displaced in hard times. Would you rather be carrying around a bag of gold and silver coins, hoping to sucker someone into giving up a sleeping bag, or seeds for your impromptu garden? It is far better to have these things to trade for what you need. For the most part, all of them are lightweight, easy to store or hide, and could allow you to live with some dignity while others are running around like cavemen.