What does your emergency fund look like?

When you hear a financial planner talk about having an “emergency fund” they are referring to a savings or checking account that will get you through tough times. We think this is wise but we also feel that the "Prepared Individual" should also plan for dire situations and have a Real Emergency Fund.
If you are on this site then you have probably spent time thinking about long term food storage, how to get fresh water or how to get your family Out of Dodge if the SHTF. If you have already thought about all this stuff, how much time have you spent thinking about your economic well being after a disaster? Any good survival or disaster plan should have an economic component to it as well. Whether it is buying gas for your car, food to feed your family or safe passage through a group of hostile people in a urban survival situation. You will need something to trade and barter with in these survival situations. If you think that your platinum credit card will get you through any disaster then read no further, this article is not for you.
Here @ SurvivalCache we do not get into predicting the future and we do not know what type of disasters the future holds (complete economic collapse, earthquake, global pandemic virus, World War III, TEOTWAWKI, etc). However we do know that good planning can get you and your family through the most difficult times and having a "Real Emergency Fund" along with a food, shelter, water, transportation and protection plan will help you do just that.
If you are living in the United States it comes down to the big four – Gold, Silver, The US Dollar, or Bartering Items (food, watches, fresh water, jewelry, ammo, warm clothes, etc). Like any good financial planner will tell you, diversification is the key to success. This is no different in a survival scenario. For example, let’s say you only keep platinum in your home for an emergency fund because it is your favorite precious metal and your father told you that platinum is always the most valuable metal. That is great for you and your dad but a lot people do not understand the value of platinum or its resale potential. This means that if all you have is platinum, you either might not be able to trade for goods & services or you will get a reduced trade where you receive much less in the way or goods & services for your platinum.
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