SHTF Cash On Hand Should I Change $50 and $100 Bills to 20s?

There is NO one way to prepare for the unknown, so you must prepare for ALL contingencies. There is NO one answer, no one truth. To be truly prepared you must be ready for everything... from asteroids to zombies, and everything in between. That means guns, ammo, water, food, shelter, energy, fuel, tools, medications, knowledge, skills, trade goods, seeds, livestock, etc. That etc. includes cash, gold and silver...among a host of other things.
Many years ago when I was a Confederate re-enactor, I learned to take small bills and change to the re-enactments. This was because by Sunday many of the vendors and sutlers would be unable to make change for large bills. No change means no sale!...unless you wanted to buy more stuff or tell them to keep the change! Remember that merchants are required to accept US currency, but no law can make them give you change when they don't have it to give. I was in retail for 35 years+ and if you throw down a Texas Ten ($100 bill) five minutes after opening or on a Friday afternoon, right after four other guys paid with $100 bills, you are SOL!
In my preps I prefer pre-1965 US silver coins (junk silver or 90%) and US Silver Eagles, because most people are familiar with these. I also have a coin book that has pictures and information on the metal content of US coins, and a test kit to identify gold and silver. For those people that aren't able to wrap their brains around the fact that PMs are real money and worth more than their face value I have a small supply of paper money...hell I'll even offer to write them a personal check! Some folks will not be able to adjust and won't survive. When they die, just pick through their stuff for anything of value, and do something with the body...bury it, burn it, whatever.

 

If you are going to trade ammo trade 30 cal and bigger for rifle and stuff like 45acp 44mag for pistol so hopefully your death will be quick when who you trade the ammo to comes back to take the rest of it.

 

Some good answers. Although I have some silver money put away, I am not a gold bug. My wife and I have our SHTF money put away in $20's and a few $10 and $5's locked in our water and fireproof safe.

Now, before someone jumps on me about paper money having no value if it becomes TEOTWAWKI and how they have a Fort Knox worth of gold squirreled away, our money is more for a situation where there is a natural disaster, or prolonged power outage where the ATM's are down, or credit card readers are out, not the end of society.

Gold or silver might have some use in a post-apocalypse situation where society starts to rebuild, but honestly, I don't see any situation where guys are out bartering "pieces of eight" for food, ammo or medicine. I think if there is bartering to be done...people will be bartering with food, ammo AND medicine.

Our cash is set aside for periods of disruption and natural disaster, not total societal breakdown.

Your mileage may vary, and if you've got a bunch of gold and silver set aside, great!

 

AU & AG is used to hold your wealth ,OUT of the FIAT system .
Those who saw the Argentinian collapse with the cash all over the streets and what was in the back account was fire starter only .
USD is being kicked as the IMF reserve, if that has a Hickup ,, fire starter , crappy toilet paper !!!
But agree with above post ^^^

Sloth

 

During WW1 and WW2 farmers in Europe, but especially Germany, made out like bandits by trading excess food for the prized possessions of wealthy city dwellers (Persian rugs, silverware, china, crystal, tea services, furs, art, etc.). These farmers didn't starve, but they prospered. I have read stories of high class ladies getting rolled in the hay in exchange for food.
In apocalyptic fiction the value of cash, silver and gold are often mentioned; Alas Babylon, Dies the Fire and The World Made By Hand series. Cash, and even personal checks, are accepted at first but soon lose value in relation to precious metals. Silver and gold have retained their value for the last 10,000 years or so, and will continue to do so in the future. Silver and gold will survive ANY man- made or natural disaster, even Y5B! We might not be around, but the silver and gold will be in one form or another...you can't say the same for paper money!

 

you can't say the same for paper money!

or bytecoins , no power or worse !!
Fiat , till its now firestarter ,food heat dry etc.
S

 

By weight, thickness, tone when struck or dropped and magnetic property. Buy a good scale and calibration weight. From the web:

 

I should think that a volume/weight test might be effective.

 

Why not add a couple hundred in ones? It'd stretch your cash considerably if you can't get change for a five, or end up with only larger bills. $200 in well circulated ones is only about an inch thick.

 

As many have said already, big bills can be a bear to exchange. In my small town, no one wants to take anything larger than a $50. $20's are the mainstay large bills with $10's, $5's and $1's respectively. I keep a few hundred dollars in my BOB just in case. It never gets used. The majority of it is in one's, then fives, tens, and twenties. It's easier to accept not getting back change on a one than on a one hundred dollar bill. Just my take on it.

 

Many good suggestions so far. My experience has taught me that a polite word and a hundred dollar bill gets things done. A good mix of $1,$5,$10,$20, and a couple of $100s will suffice in just about any situation. I also put a $10 roll of quarters in every bug out bag I put together. In a personal emergency you will always have at least $10 to get you a couple gallons of gas or a meal just about anywhere on the road or if you find that last phone booth on the planet, you can call for help.

If you have the money to spare sitting around, $1000 is just about the perfect number for emergencies. I have also used my emergency money when I find a smoking deal on a gun when the banks are closed on the weekend or holidays. I've had many of my friends and relatives call me on Friday night offering to sell me a really nice gun or case of ammo at 1/3 the price so they can take their significant other to the casino. I replace it on the following monday, but as many have noted "cash is king".

 

It is likely that cash will be of little value if /when the economy crashes,
The things people will need is food water and medicines.
Being able to trust some one's silver or gold might be a push unless there are means to prove them.
Fuel and machine parts will be hard to come by especially the more complex things are made.
Most of modern cars will be junk with out exact parts to replace what fails.
Those of us with vintage vehicles will still be moving.
Services like transportation will be critical as well as communications .
What can you do without public services?

 

If the stores are open for business then you could use a credit/debit card for those purchases, and save your cash. However, most businesses will be closed during any disruptions to the grid. Years ago, the business I worked for made plans to remain open in the event of an ice-storm or tornado. We had propane for heat, and an inverter to power lights, cash register, and credit card machine (because the phone lines were underground).
I know what you mean about pharmacies being temporarily out of medication...I've been there, but I talked to my Doctor and she increased my dosage slightly so that I can build up a couple of months reserve. Now I need to do something about getting some insulin for my nieces.

 

cash will be instrumental in the early part of a serious SHTF of ANY KIND >>> good chance the electronic monetary system goes down entirely - $$$$$$ or nothing
$$$$ will stand up as long as there is enough normalcy to matter - goods to buy will run out and/or looting/rioting will flare up to end any normalcy ....
have as much small bill cash $$$ on hand as you can manage >>> you'll be topping off the gas tank and filling some cans while the sheeple are waving their VISA cards ....

 

Always SMALL bills , 4X 5 =20 and plus , if you need to add with fingers , don't worry . you'll pass ..
Always Small,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, DUH , NEVER Show your hand .
Kids !!
Sloth

 

I've got $1000 put away in cash in case ATM's are closed since I don't keep much cash on me normally. Mix of $20's. 10's, 5's and $1 bills. If you think about it and power is out, you may be able to buy something, BUT maybe not get change. So, if you want $10.50 worth of goods, would you rather give them a $20 or $11 assuming you don't have change?

I do have some pre-1964 silver, but that was inherited. My dad used to take every piece out of his cash drawer at his gas station.

For those who advocate silver or gold for barter, I don't think that way. If US currency has "failed" then it could be a dog eat dog world, and food and ammo are gonna be better barter items. I honestly can't see someone sitting down cutting off pieces of eight in this country, ever.

Someone with ammo is going to get all the gold and silver he/she wants (and anything else) from those who don't have ammo. Hope we never get to that point, but that is the whole point of being ready.

 

Totally agree with you on the first few days and if Electronic Monetary System goes down. I'm planning to get more smaller cash this week.

 

I have around $650 on hand but will make it $1000 now.

 

I think I have about 34K around here and there....For the ''Sporting Ladies'' you understand !

 

Thats change in my eyes