Should I hide some money under my mattress (or wherever?) I'm

[patricia92243]

dead serious. During the Great Depression, my mother said a person could buy gingham cloth for a penny a yard - but nobody had the penny. I had a aunt that put her money in the bank and a week later the bank closed. My mother said if a person had even just a small amount of money they could survive.

In view of the coming financial disaster, I know some people have changed their money to bonds, etc. I'm afraid my bonds might get to where they are not any good. I wonder what people here think about having a large amount of cash on hand? How much?

[tsuki]

1. Husband is talking about my mason jars. Told him to keep his

hands off. Need them for canning

[cornermouse]

2. I wonder if post-war value of Confederate money is a good analogy?

Alternatively, there's the temptation that a large amount of cash on hand would be for the "baddies". I don't think I would.

[patricia92243]

3. Cash on hand for the "baddies"? I don't quite understand.

[cornermouse]

5. Large amounts of cash in a house tends to be a target

thieves, I believe. I don't think I would do it. Burying paper money in the yard is probably not a good idea either.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. You can do that, or you can invest in the

new democracies king george is creating with sheer will... but whatever you do... DO NOT remove the tag from your mattress, it's under penalty of law don't you know.

[patricia92243]

6. If I hide money under it, can I THEN remove the tag? :)

[HockeyMom]

7. Grandma and Grandpa

Grandpa "invested" a lot of money in the stock market before the crash of 1929. When it crashed, he was left with nothing. Grandma, on the other hand, didn't even trust banks. She hide money away every week in a metal box under the floor boards. She bought and put away gold coins in that box too. If not for that money under the floor boards, they would have been begging in the streets during the Depression that followed.

[Dogmudgeon]

8. Non-Perishables you can trade

Things like razors, toothbrushes, tools, electronic stuff, and so on, can be traded if money becomes "debased" (worthless). You'll need a place to store the stuff, but if you choose wisely, you can find things that are easy to store.

Food processing items should be good, too. And, if you are not opposed to firearms, stocking up on ammunition will be profitable from a trading standpoint. (If you are opposed to firearms, alarm systems that do not depend on electricity may be a better choice.)

But the best investment in tradeables may be in energy-saving items. Low-power lamps, radios, TVs, computers, even ovens and refrigerators exist. Storing aluminum foil or sheeting, or Fresnel lenses, to use for solar collectors, might also be a good strategy.

Gold and silver are also useful if you fear a monetary collapse. In fact, an entire industry of apocalyptically-oriented "gold bugs" has emerged since the first financial scares of the 1970s.

The best "investment" you can make is in yourself. If you have an in-demand skill, one that people need no matter how bad things are, you will be in a fairly good position.

There are many websites dedicated to this topic. The Mormons have made survivalism a part of their doctrine, and many LDS sites dealing with survival can be found. There are a huge number of non-Mormon sites, as well; survivalists of all ideologies are well-represented on the internet. A few hours' surfing should prove educational.

Good luck.

--p!

[patricia92243]

11. Thank you very much. I'll look into this immediately.

[Radio-Active]

9. exchange it for euros or canadian dollars

THEN hide it under the mattress (or preferably in a safety deposit box)

[teryang]

10. Yes

A variety of items with high utility might also come in handy.

It also will help to have a negotiable skill that will be needed whether the financial system is intact or not.

Ideally I would like to have a place to stay that is paid for and the worthless dollars to pay the tax on it. I also believe in having on hand guns, tools, paid for means of transport, cash, some gold, some silver, ammunition, the kinds of things that come at a premium during a war or natural diaster. Canned goods, seeds, fresh water supply. A second property to evacuate to. Tents, camping equipment, alternative fuels for cooking, etc. Chain saws and generators seem to be a hot item.

I don't subscribe to it but it appears that Michael Ruppert on www.copvcia.com has gone survivalist. I'm not a gung ho survivalist but after three hurricanes, there is something to be said for having the materials on hand to get through a difficult period.

I envy those who live in the country.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. My great grandmother

lost a lot in the '29 crash and told me never to invest in the stock market. I have followed her advice. I also wouldn't be hiding those pieces of paper with Franklin's face on them, either, because they have no intrinsic value. As has been said here, invest in things you can use/trade. How much food do you have on hand? Rice and beans can see you through a lot, and they store well, as do canned goods. Seeds are an excellent investment, but please use heirloom seeds, the kind where you can save the seeds of your fruit to plant again next year. Firearms are a worthwhile investment, but if you are not familiar with how to use them and don't want to find out, best to leave them alone.

Pay off debts or pay them down. Learn to live with less, and establish connections with people who can help you out if need be-independent mechanics, carpenters, electricians, etc. If you live in a city, find out if any progressive folks live in the nearby countryside, and cultivate their friendship. I think in the coming times, who you know will be as important, or moreso, than what you have (under the mattress or elsewhere).

[DebJ]

13. Chris Rock says, hide your money in books. LOL