It might be a good time to have cash on hand.

[Swede]

Say $500 stashed under the mattress. Not to mention beans, lentils, and maybe some pasta. This may be a little paranoia on my part. But things are moving at the speed of light.

[617Blue]

1. If they move on the FDIC there will be a bank run and you will have nothing.

Are they that crazy? I think so yes.

[the_liberal_grandpa]

27. Consider moving $ out of the big banks

and into a credit union which is not insured by the FDIC rather by the NCUA.

[dutch777]

30. Also consider pulling cash and just holding it at home. Kind of like a boycott against banks. I know...

...it is a risk and certainly if the interest on that cash is critical to you or you otherwise feel at risk, don't, but it will send a message. We have been considering getting a Swiss or Dutch bank account and maybe that is a good alternative.

[homegirl]

33. Have on hand...

minimum $500. in $20, $10 and $5's. Better $1000 in cash.

A smaller metal garbage can, with as many 25lbs.packages of beans and rice as it will hold, and large jar of beef bullion and protein powder, plus a full supply of prescription and over the counter medications and vitamins.

[AllyCat]

32. Still insured by a government organization. Not sure

that will be safe either way

[BannonsLiver]

36. They've talked about targeting that too.

If something is connected to federal govt in any way it’s a target.

[Alliepoo]

76. But that's still backed by the government and if they

Go after the FDIC they’ll go after the NCUA. I told Mr Poo to go to the credit union and take everything out of our account except a couple hundred dollars. Then if everything somehow turns around we can go and put the $ back in. If things go down the tubes at least we will have our $$ instead of not being able to get it when there’s a run on the banks and credit unions. I found a couple of decent home safes that have good ratings for water and fire damage to use here at home. I don’t think I’m overreacting in wanting to do this.

[mucholderthandirt]

77. My money, such that it is, is in a state employee credit union.

I don't know that it's any safer there than a regular bank, though. Pretty sure it's FDIC.

I hope people with those "online" banks think long and hard about that. I wouldn't trust those thing in good times, much less what's coming.

[TommieMommy]

2. I'm stocking up on stuff that won't go bad. Also some cash on hand.

[Wednesdays]

4. That'll last what, six months? A year?

Then what?


If things go the way the OP suggests, it'll be a DECADE before this shit gets straightened out.

[elocs]

6. The truth is that you can only do what you can do for the time you have.

In practicality, anyone prepping is doing it for a limited amount of time for an emergency or disaster of some kind, not for one lasting years.

[Kaleva]

11. Prepping is for short term emergencies only

Last edited Thu Mar 13, 2025, 12:09 PM - Edit history (1)

Also, most preppers don't take into account extended family members, friends, or neighbors.

[BannonsLiver]

37. The job of the pepper is to be eaten.

[IronLionZion]

40. And spice things up

[Kaleva]

45. Yes and it could be true for preppers!

[Qutzupalotl]

69. Like outrunning a bear...

You don't have to outrun the bear, just outrun your friend who is also running away.

Likewise, you don't have to live longer than the crisis, just longer than your neighbors. Then you can eat them.

Light thoughts for a Thursday afternoon….

[Keepthesoulalive]

58. I live in a rural area

I always try to have a little extra if people need it. You do the best you can in terms of being prepared for a short term disaster. A depression is a whole different story. A couple of cases of bottled water, canned goods, charcoal or propane grill, extra medications, a small electric generator for your cellphone and internet, a weather radio and a source of water to flush toilets. Everyone may not have the financial resources to do all of these things but do what you can and maybe you can help those who need it.

[CanonRay]

28. I'm turning 74

So the country is f'd for the remainder of my life, basically.

[Deuxcents]

34. I just turned 78 and that's how I'm thinking..

My son turns 57 today and he just told me he’s worried about his future and his kids’ future. They’ll never know the country and its promise and he knows it. How we get beyond this for their lives, if we ever do, has him lamenting instead of celebrating his dreams.

[elocs]

61. I'll be 73 this summer. And I thought I would have a nice, quiet retirement.

We took it all for granted, but who ever saw this coming and happening so quickly?
As a nation, I think we were guilty of national pride, believing the idea and ideals of America would ever die, that we weren't like other nations that rose and fell. But too many of us were complacent while the right worked for decades to attain their goals such as with Roe that those of us thought was a done deal, as safe as a Constitutional amendment--wrong!
We held our Founding Fathers with godlike respect which I would bet they would have said was a mistake. There were just things in the future they never could have anticipated.

It was a pretty good country while it lasted though. The first of my family came here from England nearly 400 years ago. I never thought it would be me in my generation that would see the end of a free America.

(I tend to be a pessimist, preparing and anticipating the worst so if something better happens I can be pleasantly surprised.)

[Attilatheblond]

62. Feel for you and understand

Only comfort for me is my husband did not live to see all the mess under Trump beyond April of '17, let alone what is going on now.

The best some of us can do is to try and teach actual history before the fascists completely obscure it from Americans.

[Think. Again.]

3. I was thinking the same thing this morning...

I'm also considering changing my account numbers so it would be harder for anyone with access to I.R.S. records (or anything, really) to access my assets.

[Dan]

8. Sorry, IT thought

Unless you can change your SSN, won't work.

[Upthevibe]

5. Kick. N/T

[multigraincracker]

7. When ever things go South, cash is king.

Just really hard to time it.

[Attilatheblond]

17. Will need LOTS of cash & a wheelbarrow

I remember photos of Germany after WWI. Yeah, I'm old enough to have read history books that still contained such photos.

[Kaleva]

9. What are you going to do after that runs out?

The Great Depression lasted from 1929 to 1941 and it took a world war where millions died to end it

[Silent Type]

10. No one will take gubmint backed greenbacks.

[Kaleva]

12. Very likely true. Money would be worthless.

[Johnny2X2X]

13. I for one am saving money

Forgoing large purchases and a vacation. Now is the time to protect yourself.

If our banking system collapses and the money I have there is gone, the best thing you can own will be guns, to proect yourself from looters.

[S/V Loner]

15. A gun or bow will also...

help you feed yourselves.

[Attilatheblond]

20. Not much help where I live. Another run of hemmoragic fever has killed off the rabbits

Haven't seen a bunny for about 16 months and I live next to a riparian wildlife 'highway' The coyotes are looking gaunt & desperate, now wandering thru big housing tracts in the middle of the day. Poodles, Poms, and Chihuahuas not safe outside along. Coyotes can scale 6 foot walls. It's pretty sad. I live close enough to a 'sky island' that it isn't rare to have young male bears going thru town to get to the next sky island when their mommas run them off and make young males move to different areas to find mates. (Even bears know it's not good to date you sister or cousin). Hunting here would be a real struggle.

The deer & the antelope aren't playin. The drought has all the critters desperate and dying off. Ah.... progress.

[Johnny2X2X]

57. There isn't enough wild life to feed a population of any size

To feed thousands of people, you need herds. We have a lot of deer in my suburban neighborhood, but even if all 50-75 were killed, it wouldn't feed the 20,000 people who live within a mile of me for more than a week.

[Attilatheblond]

60. Too many Americans have NO idea where their food comes from.

Saw a 'man in the street' interviewer asking people in a grocery store 'Where does the meat here in the store come from'.

OK, I could almost cut some little kids slack for not knowing, but teens, middle aged people, even some elderly shoppers thought the store 'makes the meat in the back room'.

Truly terrifying levels of ignorance. And one reason one of the first thing W Bush's administration was to get rid of requirement for 'Country or Origin' labeling on food products. Easy to ignore problems faced by farmers/ranchers is nobody knows where dinner came from. Was glad when that was put back on. But we can't make consumers READ and realize the interdependence nations have in order to feed people

[MissB]

66. veggies even

Last summer, I was walking our house sitter through the veg garden. I've known her for years; she's attended many family functions. So I know what she likes to eat.

I pointed out the arugula to her. I know she eats it. She couldn't identify it. I guess when it isn't in a clear clamshell container....

[CrispyQ]

70. Even fewer are aware how fragile the whole system is.

We're about to find out, I think.

[RobinA]

78. I See Our Government

as a gigantic Jenga game. It's stable under normal conditions because it's huge and can survive a minor collapse here or there. But there a lot of pieces throughout that, removed, can crash the whole thing. So it looks way stronger than it is due to size. However, also due to size, remove the wrong piece and it will be unable to function.

[CrispyQ]

80. Yes, & we've been here before.

Those who will not study history, will repeat it. This time on an even bigger scale.

on edit: Every American should have watched this movie after the financial collapse of 2008. "Inside Job" was most excellent too, if you want a documentary of events.

[Kaleva]

53. People get guns because they intend to kill others with them

In your case, you plan to kill anyone who tries to take some or all of your supplies.

The problem with gun fights is that there's a chance that someone with a bullet or bullets that has your name or the name of loved ones that reside with you on it shows up.

Someone with military training most likely will remain hidden and wait for you to expose yourself and then kill you rather then confronting you directly .

[99MainSt]

14. When the shit hits the fan:

gold becomes the universal currency.

[S/V Loner]

16. I can't imagine people walking around with scales and...

even if they did. The only value they are going to get for the gold is what the buyer wants to pay which will not be anywhere near what it was worth. Not even close… and if you don’t make the deal he has a buddy around the corner to take all of it. Not a world I would want to rely on.

[99MainSt]

43. When society breaks down, the normal conveniences tend to slip away.

[SWinter]

68. So is silver

A friend has been collecting silver Liberty and Morgan coins, pre-1964 half dollars, quarters and dimes (which are 90% silver) for trade or to be sold as silver. He keeps very little cash in the bank—just enough to pay the monthly bills. He’s worried the US will become like Venezuela when they went into hyperinflation and their paper currency was useless.

[erronis]

18. Not sure I'd want to put cans of beans and lentils under my mattress... Remember the Princess and the Pea?

[murielm99]

41. Princess erronis?

Actually, I am with you on the ideas in this post. I told my husband that we should start gardening again. We have not done that since the kids left home. There are only two people here to feed now. He said he did not think we were up to the physical work. I told him we could take it slow and have a smaller garden. He is 80 and I am 76.

I told him he would be glad to have a supper of green beans if that was all we could get. I am beginning to think I should find a place other than the bank to keep a reasonable amount of cash. I would not keep it in the house. Thieves would look for it here if things get bad enough. I live in a red area.

[erronis]

46. That's my sister, Princess Erronia.

But I like your idea of having a small garden. Just like the Brits did during WW-II - Victory Gardens. And green beans are mighty versatile!

I'm not sure how valuable cash will be. Perhaps stockpile rubles or yuan?

[KatyaR]

65. Raised beds all the way.

Limits the bending over.

Check out the book Square Foot Gardening. Perfect for raised beds.

[murielm99]

73. I live in the country.

We can have any size garden we want. We would keep it small because there are only two of us. We would keep it hidden well to the back to discourage thieves, if it came to that. We have a few apple trees, too.

[William769]

19. I'm in hurricane mode.

[twodogsbarking]

21. My dad born in 1919 and died in 1992. He did have concerns that one day you wouldn't be able to get your money out

[Deuxcents]

39. My dad was born in 1925 and he never used a bank, didn't trust and kept his cash in a container under the kitchen sink

I used to laugh about it. Not laughing now

[sweetapogee]

22. semi-prepper here...

there is a lot that could be said about this subject, too much for a brief post. The overall idea is to have the resources to sustain basic functions for 6-12 months. In an emergency, that is how much time it would probably take for things to stabilize.

In general terms, and I will probably leave some things out, but what is needed is shelter, food, water, barter items, self-defense and transportation. It ranges from shelf stable foods and some amount of currency, a safe place to stay, communication, lighting, heat and cooking sources, food/water, fuel, tools and repair supplies and an overall plan if things go sideways.

I always say this to people I know who ask, the absolute best thing we can do to prepare for an event like this is to get rid of debt, consumer debt in particular. While not practical for many, living in a paid for home in a rural area with acreage is one of our biggest assets. We occasionally do a dry run where we kill the electricity for a few days and practice managing our place under those conditions. It is a commitment. It took us about 2 years to gather up all the stuff we think would be most useful to have.

[TommyT139]

48. That's worth a post of it's own

If you have the time and energy.

[padfun]

23. I have $4000 on me at all times.

I have a wallet in one pocket of my cargo pants with $3000 in $100's and a wallet with $1000 in twenties in another pocket. That can vary by a few hundred but twice a month, i fill it back up. I have a third pocket that has about $40-50 that I use at stores.

In the past, I have bought cars and stuff on site when someone is desperate and needs cash, so I like to be prepared.

BTW, I don't go out and walk around dangerous places.

[chia]

24. Liquor and cigarettes. Not for you, unless you want either. For bartering.

[the_liberal_grandpa]

25. Throw a battery operated am/fm radio in the mix

I agreen on keeping some cash around in case the financial shit hits the fan. I also suggest getting cheap am/fm radio should communictions should go down (cell phone, internet) you will need to go old school to get weather and news.

[homegirl]

75. Mine runs on

solar, batteries, plug in and wind up-plus radio and flashlight!

[NNadir]

26. Happily my wife has had emergency food supplies for years.

It's the only way in which she acts like a Mormon.

I used to laugh at her about this, but a few hurricanes, plagues, and nut cases in the White House have disabled me of that idea.

The effects of extreme global heating have left me fairly certain that we may see famines soon enough. If that sounds paranoid, I really don't care. What we are living through now would have seemed paranoid 10 years ago. Crops depend on weather stability and that's disappearing as fast as US power and the value of Tesla stock.

[Hope22]

50. We've had reserves since the days of *.

I have a favorite meat market that has great canned meat. Back in those days I told my husband I wanted to buy several cases of it just to be prepared. He thought it was too expensive and was not interested. Now, he’s a big guy and he loves a meal so I simply reminded him that beans and rice would have to do then and without a complaint! It took about ten seconds for him to see the light. A vat of beans and veggies with a piece of meat seemed more promising I guess! It doesn’t cost anything to set food aside. It will all be eaten. I hope they can turn this thing around before we get to that level of existence!

[dutch777]

29. Not the worst idea. We always have stable food reserves but pulling cash will also hit the national radar. Banks hate.

it when they see an unusual amount of cash withdrawals.

[defacto7]

49. You have to go slow. I've been cashing out several hundred a month for

years. It just looks like a regular habit and like I spend a lot of cash.

[dutch777]

64. Yeah, looking like a drug dealer probably a bad idea. But I want to buy an old truck for a cash discount is plausible

As I have no intent on shielding assets for tax purposes, just want some $$$ in a place that might be less affected by a Trump declared bank holiday or worse. Given the interconnected nature of the world financial market not sure there is anyplace reasonably safe/legal and readily accessible that wouldn't get affected in some way at least in the short term.

[defacto7]

74. I've never really felt anything was safe as far as money is concerned.

But we had a pretty good thing going for a while and it seemed relatively safe to have US dollars in a bank. But things are changing, changing fast. So my contingencies don't seem so far fetched anymore. I'm so diversified, sometimes I forget where I put it.

[Hope22]

31. Canned meat and fruit..

Nuts, raisins and popcorn for luxury. Not too soon to do it!

[TomJulie]

82. We Do This...

We have a couple weeks of Hormel and Dinty Moore large cans of beef stew and chili in our cabinets, We eat some occasionally and replace it with fresh cans. It's not the tastiest stuff in the world but it's edible and it's cheaper than buying MRE's and will last a couple years.

[FB47243]

35. Don't forget

Ammo

Lots of ammo.

[markodochartaigh]

38. There have been reich-wing terrorist attacks on

power stations already. It has been covered in the US news. I think that it is no stretch of the imagination to think that there might be attacks on water utilities as well. We can only go three days without water, generally speaking. I think 5 gallons of water for each person in the household might be good.

I'm fortunate on the food side. Between yuca, mangoes, sapodillas, etc. my five acres produces more than enough to feed me. Of course the mangoes, especially, make me a target of thieves even during the best of times.

[FailureToCommunicate]

42. Not to be Johnny Raincloud, but several world "leaders" have more nukes than sense. Having...

cash on hand for goods and services may be the least of our problems.

[Hotler]

44. It might be a good time to own a firearm also. They have guns, so should we. The 2nd Amendment is for us too. nt

[moonscape]

72. My Texan friend told my 74 yo pacifist

female self on the CA coast that I should get a gun.

I fired a gun once in my early 20’s on a skeet range.

[multigraincracker]

47. I've been practicing foraging for years.

Bought Ewell Gibbions Stalking the Wild Asparagus many years ago. I'm surrounded by lots of forest. I won't starve. I have a 22 single shot rifle and a couple of thousand rounds.
I've had no debt for many years.
All of my hobbies more than pay for themselves. It has not only been fun, it's all been valuable to me just in case.

[Traildogbob]

51. After

Helena hit us here in WNC, we had no power, no net, and no phones for a long time. No money could be withdrawn from banks except a few hundred, and those lines, in drive through only, were longer than gas lines for 10 gallons only. With cash.. Nothing could be purchased at any store or gas station, also limited amount, cash only.
Those same limitation could be unforced nationwide, and power, Cells, and Net could
all be shut down. .
Those few weeks were horrifying. Anger and rage was all over. On a nation wide scale, lunatics will be roaming and taking with deadly force.
Having a wallet or mattress full of cash will do little.
The billionaires will make crypto the only coin of the realm. Walking around with a block of gold and knife to shave off an once here and there, will get ya robbed and stabbed.
The potential for all hell to break out is near, like the end of time clock with only seconds left.
All hell is coming down from one party and Fux er al.
And with a previous election could have all been avoided. And all non participants, (I don’t do politics) will not be immune. Hell, most of em will die without a cell phone. Shoulda voted asses.
I think a whole lot of desperate people will seek revenge on the party and media of smirking assholes. MTG and Vance ranted about people approaching them in restaurants. Just wait!!
Like a crazy drunken red necks last words, “Watch ees”! The instigators of said hell will not be able to hide.
Trump Making it all Great. Red hats will be targets for vengeance.
Not a lot of fun for anyone. Mass graves and diseases, with only Kennedy Jr on emergency broadcasts offering cure remedies. And Fux will broadcast through it all the with press secretary Barbie smirking away, telling you it’s not happening, just some radical left ANTIFA acting up.
Bad news MAGA. NASCAR will not be.
Cheers all, happy early spring.

[defacto7]

52. I surley doesn't hurt to be prepared for anything.

even if it turns out to be nothing. I'm covered in either case, I hope.

[C_U_L8R]

54. I wish I'd sold some in January.

This Trump crash came on fast.

[Figarosmom]

55. Way ahead of you

I started cashing my checks and bringing them home instead of depositing back in Nov.. And always have extre beans dried and canned, tomato products and pasta on hand.

[JanMichael]

56. Lawyers guns and money. And some black beans.

[617Blue]

71. The shit has hit the fan.

[wishstar]

59. Having some cash greatly helped us in WNC after Hurricane Helene

No power for about 3 weeks with most stores and gas stations (if even open) only taking cash while banks and ATM's were shut down.

[BBbats]

63. I'll be 72 soon.

Was hoping to have a decent retirement.
Collect my SS. Have a fun part time job at a small Music store(instruments,CD's,records,etc.).
Still play a couple times a month in an Oldies/Rock band.
Was hoping to get some travel overseas in. Kicked Cancer about 15 months ago & felt liberated.
Now................I Dunno!

[MissB]

67. Really hard to predict if anything will happen. Being able to help out neighbors is important

I have plenty of stuff on hand.

I'm planting more food than normal in the yard/garden this year. I give away a lot of eggs each week. My canning supplies are stocked up for years (extra boxes of new lids, plenty of canning jars). House is paid for.

If things go too far south, none of that particularly matters. In the end, it'd be nice to have America back.

[DFW]

79. I wish we lived somewhere where $500 would last us a while

We try to keep €5000 around, and it still disappears faster than water on a hot Dallas sidewalk in the summer.

[TomJulie]

81. We're Prepared As We Cab Be

My wife & I have always kept at least $1K on hand available. We've done this no matter who the Prez is. Hopefully, we won't need to use it.