Bartering, local currencies & resource trading
During systemic breakdowns, digital banking, ATMs, and card payments may become unreliable or inaccessible. Cash (especially in small denominations) is useful in short-term outages, but long-term scenarios require alternatives.
Bartering goods (tools, food, medicine, fuel) or services (repair, childcare, teaching) can rebuild localized economies. Community currencies, time-banks, and mutual credit systems are already in use in many resilient local economies.
Build a stash of small, useful items that are valuable in trade: batteries, seeds, hygiene products, lighters.
Supply chain failures & living without modern infrastructure
Just-in-time supply systems are highly vulnerable to shocks: disruption in one area can create cascading global shortages.
Store extra essentials: food, medicine, hygiene items, and fuel, especially in remote or import-dependent regions. Learn how to live more locally: repair instead of replace, grow some of your own food, reuse creatively. Form resource-sharing circles for tools, skills, or transport to reduce dependence on fragile external systems. Prepare for temporary or long-term loss of refrigeration, clean tap water, public transport, and fast internet.
Preparing for systemic breakdown & economic instability
Crisis can come gradually (inflation, job loss, rising prices) or suddenly (climate / economical collapse, cyberattack, war).
Reduce personal financial vulnerability: limit debt, diversify savings, and invest in practical resources and skills. Create “resilience budgets” to prioritize essentials and stockpile during periods of relative stability.
Plan psychologically for instability: expectations of normalcy may prevent decisive action when things deteriorate.
Economic collapse isn’t just about money; it’s about access to the basics. Build pathways that bypass centralized control.