Buy bullets, cigarettes, TP and gold bullion coins that can be melted down... this is what I got from the survivors of the Argentina currency crisis back in the early 2000... all those items can be used as an exchange of goods in the real case of a complete society breakdown...
Thanks. I already have all that plus a hoard of nickels too.
The Nickel Is Worth 5 Cents Again
[snip]
"...around this time last year, a nickel was worth almost a dime! I'm talking about the melt value of the U.S. nickel coin, which is actually made out of 75% copper (and 25% nickel.)"
[snip]
I've seen all the "horror stories" published online about the hardships and dangers during the Argentine crisis of 2000. The problem is that they are mostly exaggerations.
Being an enterprising capitalist I saw opportunity in Argentina at that time and started doing business there. I've shown these stories to some of my contacts in Argentina and they just laugh. They tell me that certainly things were tough during their crises, but nothing like the stores you read online.
In fact, they have serious problems there today - for example bands of robbers that hide along the side of their freeways stopping and robbing cars (their favorite trick for stopping cars is to suspend a small battery under a bridge from a fishing line - when it shatters your windshield it's only natural to stop the vehicle). However, I think these were problems they had before the 2000 crisis.
BTW, that problem with robbers stopping cars along the freeway - *that* is where the US is headed under socialism.