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You’re assuming cash will hold value after a so-called economy apocalypse? If the economic credibility of the nation goes, so too does the value of its cash cu

You’re assuming cash will hold value after a so-called economy apocalypse? If the economic credibility of the nation goes, so too does the value of its cash currency. What’s a “more white collar workers than jobs” economy look like? Personally, I’m leaning into useful life skills, like growing food, reconnecting to hunting, low level electronics, rebuilding my car, and home myself with my money now. I’d rather have deep experience in head and hands than a wheelbarrow full of dolla dolla bills y’all with the buying power of East German currency. Not that I have any way to be sure the implosion is coming any time in my remaining years. But still, if we’re talking about how to prepare for such a thing, let’s get real: investments in today’s ephemeral value stores are the worst idea for securing yourself against economic collapse

vidarh 7y ago
Depends what you are preparing for. If you think automation is going to happen but that capitalism will survive, then index funds seems line a good idea. If you think capitalism will be supplanted, it depends on what you think will replace it. If we're looking at a Mad Max style dystopia, then sure, it won't help to have lots of shares. But presumably you'd see signs of that before we get there and be able to start converting your money into harder currency. If we're looking at a benign-ish revolution with redistribution it won't matter much. Personally I think the most realistic medium term risk scenario to protect against is that capitalism will hang in there, but that jobs become more scarce. An outright economic collapse or major social upheaval is likely to take more time. If you start seeing job scarcity hitting, then sure, start converting some of those index funds just in case things accelerate in the wrong direction.
- orpep90nxkfo 7y ago
  I guess I’m assuming “economic apocalypse” means “fall of the nation state concept as we know it.” since that is the lynch pin for economic trade. Business operations as a whole are so reliant on the legal rails, like it or not, they’d have to fail spectacularly to create “economic apocalypse” to my mind. I forget some people see run of the mill loss of wealth status as akin to loss of life. So perhaps apocalypse to them means going from $100 million in wealth to merely $10 million, but the social foundations that support that wealth largely remain intact
golemiprague 7y ago
I invest in guns so I can come and take the food from people like you, maybe also enslave you so you can keep doing all those useful things.
Nasrudith 7y ago
The thing about apocalyptic preparations are it is all scope dependent. If it is local than portable valueables and GTFO as an emmigrant able to pay their way is better than five lifetimes of canned goods. And even then the collapsed area will either reestablish a regeime of some sort or be colonized by intact neighbors. If it is world wide collapse than productive skills may be the best - since even if you have guns you may be outgunned but if you can supply food any remotely smart bandit or warlord would prefer the reliable food stream of a living serf under their protection than just a storehouse's worth. Of course these are all very long odds and preventing a collapse is likely a far better use of resources.

vidarh 7y ago

Depends what you are preparing for. If you think automation is going to happen but that capitalism will survive, then index funds seems line a good idea. If you think capitalism will be supplanted, it depends on what you think will replace it. If we're looking at a Mad Max style dystopia, then sure, it won't help to have lots of shares. But presumably you'd see signs of that before we get there and be able to start converting your money into harder currency. If we're looking at a benign-ish revolution with redistribution it won't matter much. Personally I think the most realistic medium term risk scenario to protect against is that capitalism will hang in there, but that jobs become more scarce. An outright economic collapse or major social upheaval is likely to take more time. If you start seeing job scarcity hitting, then sure, start converting some of those index funds just in case things accelerate in the wrong direction.

orpep90nxkfo 7y ago
I guess I’m assuming “economic apocalypse” means “fall of the nation state concept as we know it.” since that is the lynch pin for economic trade. Business operations as a whole are so reliant on the legal rails, like it or not, they’d have to fail spectacularly to create “economic apocalypse” to my mind. I forget some people see run of the mill loss of wealth status as akin to loss of life. So perhaps apocalypse to them means going from $100 million in wealth to merely $10 million, but the social foundations that support that wealth largely remain intact

golemiprague 7y ago

I invest in guns so I can come and take the food from people like you, maybe also enslave you so you can keep doing all those useful things.

Nasrudith 7y ago

The thing about apocalyptic preparations are it is all scope dependent. If it is local than portable valueables and GTFO as an emmigrant able to pay their way is better than five lifetimes of canned goods. And even then the collapsed area will either reestablish a regeime of some sort or be colonized by intact neighbors. If it is world wide collapse than productive skills may be the best - since even if you have guns you may be outgunned but if you can supply food any remotely smart bandit or warlord would prefer the reliable food stream of a living serf under their protection than just a storehouse's worth. Of course these are all very long odds and preventing a collapse is likely a far better use of resources.