Cash or no cash?

[PrairieWife]

I can tell you there is signs up in the business that they will not take 100 dollar bills. It would be the same as going out of business as to take fake 100 dollar bills which was happening a lot. (fake money is more worthless...then not selling cause then you are out the goods and the money both!).

NYC has had the SHTF a few times-more then 5 days...believe me it was more then 5 days after 9/11, it was more then 5 days when we had a major black out, and it was more then 5 days after Sandy. And believe me all those were pretty big and they weren't taking 100 dollar bills, they didn't.

Actually during SHTF in NYC people are pretty nice the first few weeks. In fact surprisingly nice. In actuality, I must admit my neighbors in NYC were always more friendly then other places I lived.

OTOH, I agree, not the place to live-you will be stuck because they won't let you off the island for free, and when they can't take your money to get out they make you stay there! And you are stuck where ever you are. During the black out my inlaws were stuck in manhattan, and they lived in Queens. Just couldn't get home till the bridges and tunnels could take money again.

I also agree it's hard to get out when you have kids and a family. Not with out help, cause unless you are some kind of multimillionaire you are living check to check and can't save enough money to get out! We had to freefall into my family. We asked them and planned for 5 years before leaving the city, my family said yes we could come home and live till we needed. So we free fell out of NYC (still had to pay a lot to move, and had to pay a moving fee to our co-op-thousands of dollars-20 grand! And blah blah blah). But, we are just now getting on our feet 3 1/2 years later after leaving NYC. I mean we have been out of my parents house for a while, but still took a while to find stability. My dh job was more stable then most jobs, and now it's not so stable here.... But, I still agree it's safer here...more natural resources if he STHF. They will be gone fast in NYC. If any one knows how to use them! lol haha

 

[DrHenley]

PrairieWife, I think it's a moot point anyhow. In a complete economic breakdown, you won't be able to spend $1 bills at stores in large cities because there won't be any stores, at least not the kind you are used to shopping in.

If we've learned anything from history, it's that when people get desperate, they will gut the stores first, before they resort to robbing other people. They feel less guilt over robbing a store.

 

[PrairieWife]

True that's why I prefaced my first post with not during a REAL SHTF, (although 9/11 was pretty big S...) but for small scale things that could happen to any one in any town it is still a good idea-

Tornado, small attacks, like OKC bombings, black outs, etc those will be times when it's short term and not long term SHTF times that people will need the cash in hand.

 

[Gazrok]

I'm starting to think being in NYC either pre or post shtf is not a good place to be!

When considering any large city during a SHTF event, NYC is probably the WORST one to be in...mostly due to it basically being an island, with limited means off the island. On the flip side though, you can likely expect help quick, if able.

 

[PrairieWife]

Totally Agree about that! That's a major reason for us leaving NYC. Major!

 

[QuietH3art]

I purchase silver and gold from Merit and my broker told me that 80% of his customers are preppers. They usually split their investment between coins and bullion. I only do coins. In a SHTF situation, what business/trader is going to know the value of bullion? I'm kind of worried that they won't know that a mint 1964 Kennedy half dollar is worth about $13.00 right now and could potentially be worth double or triple that if things go downhill.
I think it's advisable to keep a variety of tradable resources on hand - cash of mostly small denominations, plenty of coins in all denominations because even date-current coins may have more value than paper, high value silver and gold coins, jewelry and gemstones, cigarettes, alcohol, dried and freezedried foods, bottled water, antibiotics and other medications, hygiene products - the list is truly endless.