How to Survive Total Economic Collapse

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By WriterGig
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Is total economic collapse just around the corner? As the U.S. dollar weakens and the price of goods such as oil, grain and gold rise, many fear for the economic stability of the country. So how does one survive total economic collapse? The U.S. dollar is weak and it may be too late to save the finances of this debt-driven economy. However, it's not too late to learn some basic survivalist skills. Following are some tips and resources. Here's how to survive a total economic collapse.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

See Resources section, below, for books and resources on economic collapse.

Surviving Economic Collapse

Step 1

Read.

Educate yourself before hand if possible. Read everything you can on how to survive a total economic collapse. Start with "Financial Reckoning Day: Surviving the Soft Depression of the 21st Century" and "Empire of Debt: The Rise of an Epic Financial Crisis", both by William Bonner, for a historical perspective and very well-written analysis of the current situation. Also read "The Great Bust Ahead: The Greatest Depression in American History" by Daniel A. Arnold. (See the Resources section, below.)
Step 2

Plan.

Make a plan for how to survive a total economic collapse. List your debts and assets. How quickly can you pay down your debt, while still purchasing necessary supplies? Your goals should include no debt and the procurement and storage of valuable assets. Your preparation timetable should be as short as possible.
Step 3

Nix debt.

Pay off debt and avoid new debt by paying with cash instead of credit cards. Concentrate on paying off high-interest debt, loans with adjustable rates and unsecured debts first. Sell expensive vehicles that have loans to pay off what you owe, and buy cheaper replacements using cash. In order to survive a total economic collapse, you need to have assets, not liabilities. (Note: storing food and resources are higher priority than paying down debt for families of modest means.)
Step 4

Buy Silver.

Change liquid savings into silver and gold. If the dollar collapses, having precious metals will preserve your money and it can be used as currency or exchanged for a currency with value, such as Swiss francs. As the dollar continues to lose value, silver dollars preserve their value or go up in value, thus protecting your assets in the event of a economic recession, allowing you to financially survive a recession or depression.
Step 5

Invest wisely.

Re-evaluate your stocks and mutual funds. In order to financially survive a total economic collapse, your investments must be secure. Consider putting some of your stocks into gold (GLD) or opening a precious metals IRA. Research stocks that will survive a total economic collapse through sites like Daily Reckoning Day.
Step 6

Store grain.

Purchase goods and valuables such as guns for hunting and personal protection, and basic food supplies such as whole grains and legumes, which are easy to store. Invest in water purification bottles and tablets, and keep some bottled water on hand to meet immediate needs in the event of a shortage. All of these will make it more possible to survive a total economic collapse.
Step 7

First aid.

Prepare a First Aid Kit, sewing kit and other practical necessities of daily life to aid in survival of a total economic collapse. These are good things to have on hand anyway, for regular daily life as well as unforeseen emergencies.
Step 8

Build community.

Get to know your neighbors and build a community wherever you are. In the event of total economic collapse, life will become very local and survival will depend on working together with others, beginning with families.
Step 9

Grow food.

Grow some of your own food and raise animals for meat. Chickens and rabbits are small and easy to tend. Chickens provide eggs as well as meat and are excellent sources of protein and fat, both critical for survival. In economic downturns such as a recession or depression, being able to produce food is a important skill to have.
Step 10

Barter.

Learn how to barter, and stock items to trade. Think about necessities (wool blankets, soap, boots, duct tape, ammunition) as well as luxuries (chocolate, tobacco, alcohol). Useful tools will be more valuable than money if there is a currency collapse. Useful barter items will be helpful to have on hand as you prepare to survive an economic collapse.

Comments

thedeliverer said

Flag This Comment

on 10/18/2009 bunnies are the future . . .

seekyegod said

on 10/1/2009 Plan and prepare. Those who do not will perish. If the economy collapses, your greenbacks will be worthless. There will be no social security check for the elderly and retired. Invest your money in gold and silver. Stock up on food, and be sure to store some out of sight, in a root cellar for instance. And definately water, and a Berkey Water Filter, which will cleanse any contaminated water. A colloidal silver maker will also clean up contaminated water after it is filtered.

usadaveiowa said

on 8/29/2009 I think the most important part of your post is Educate Yourself. The web has a wealth of information at your fingertips. I started in '06 after reading up on bird flu. Watching disaster documentaries it is shown that nearly all that survive an event had a PRIOR plan of action in mind. One final note; an economic/social collapse will probably wipe out up to 50% of the population in a few months. Just in time delivery (food/gas/utilities/MEDICINES/etc.) will dictate this. So yes, guns are going to be very important. I live is central Iowa. The coastal populations will FLOCK here. Distance from the masses may not be enough.

wickwire said

on 8/27/2009 If you want to learn how to survive an economic collapse from someone who has actually survived an actual economic collapse, head over to GrabTheApple(dot)com and read the 'About' page.