I don't think it's going to last long enough to get that bad. A couple months maybe. A couple thousand in cash and smokes and alcohol is really the best thing you can have, and several gallons of gas in reserve. EDIT TO ADD: Learned from Hurricane Sandy.

Collecting precious metals is never a bad idea.

Cigarettes and alcohol, those last a long time and can be easily bartered with people especially if you don't use them yourself :)

If SHTF food is more important than anything

Silver or gold, Silver is just the cheaper option. But if SHTF currency will be basically useless... get things that are tradable like rations and water filtration devices. They will be worth their weight in gold if we go into a very dark time.

Diversify your holdings.

Having cash on hand is never a bad idea.

Silver is good because it retains value like a hard asset but it's more easily traded than gold.

Gold is good because it retains value but it's not as liquid.

Then there's the other two metals to keep: brass and lead... For obvious reasons.

Some land you can farm is better than silver or gold. You can't eat metals.

Get rid of the dollar. It's a tool by the federal reserve and rothschild family to destroy america. Buy ethereum.

It is always good to have some silver stacked.... it is a great inflation fighter. But if some sort of collapse happens, either political or economic - the USD will likely maintain value for one major reason...

there are far more greenbacks OUTSIDE THE US, then there are INSIDE THE US.

Most of Africa, much of South America, much of the developing East, even in much of Russia - all DEMAND THE USD... because those governments collapse all the time or they devalue their currency at the local level... and they RUIN their currency far more often then the US...

The USD is the WORLD CURRENCY right now and will be for our lifetimes... no other government is anywhere near as big or as secure.... and the concept of security is what DRIVES confidence in a currency. ANY MAJOR TRADE done between countries is more expense if the trade is NOT done in USD - due to currency risk. Europe has tried to secure it's regional economy with the EURO, but they spend even more than the US does and that limits their ability to grow confidence vs. the USD.... and international use of the EURO is not close to USD. China's YUAN is a completely fake currency too.. it is backed by a communist Country... the leaders there can alter the value at a whim.

USD is the powerhouse - it is secure - and it is worldwide. (that is one of the reasons the GOv can print INSANE AMOUNTS OF PAPER and the inflation rate stays so low relative to where it should be had some other country printed the same ratios of paperback currency.)

SHTF I would have all my necessities for maybe 3+ months covered, guns, ammo, medicines.

Then personally I'd look at gold and other PMs. Even if it's just momentarily. You could probably make a decent profit from a few spikes.

Like some others have said the Dollar might still be around but inflation will be a bitch and you won't have the purchasing power you once had. The Bankers main goal is to crash all currencies and introduce their digit dollar. I suspect that won't happen until they are absolutely ready.

It’s a tossup. Historically yes, especially if you live somewhere with non-us correct.

Normalcy bias makes me think dollar bills will be better for a medium term collapse. People don’t know how to identify and weigh metals.

If someone came to you with some gold lucking dust or a $10 bill and said they wanted a loaf of bread. Which one would you instinctively want in return. (You’re also more informed then most)

Yes. Dollars are paper with some ink on them, and will be toilet paper within 3 seconds of SHTF kickoff parties.

In my arrogant opinion, the most important part of having precious metals and cyber currency in a portfolio is to have 6 months worth of expenses. Gold, Silver, Bitcoin, and Monero are the easiest non-fiat currencies to trade. Either it's armageddon and you're now a captain of industry, or more likely you won't have to sell your stocks at the worst time when the Democrats inevitably try negative interest rate banking.

Purchase Silver or Gold or both. Have always been better than fiat currency.

Honestly I think gold is a better buy than silver right now. If you just want to divest of dollars and have the cash...look at buying some acreage at a good price.