Precious metals serve as stored value that survives currency collapse or bank failure. Silver is more practical for daily transactions in a disrupted economy — a silver dime buys a gallon of gas at historical price ratios. Gold is for large value storage. Document what you have, in what denominations, and where it is stored. Diversify storage locations — do not keep all metals in one safe.
In any disruption that lasts more than 72 hours, electronic payments fail before cash does. ATMs go empty. Credit card processors go offline. The question is not whether to hold cash but how much and in what denominations. Small bills are more useful than large — a $100 bill is not useful when the seller has no change. Plan your denomination distribution and refresh your cash reserve regularly as inflation reduces its purchasing power.
Barter operates on need, scarcity, and skill. In a short disruption (1–2 weeks), comfort items and fuel dominate. In a medium disruption (1–6 months), medical supplies, food calories, and tools dominate. In a long disruption (6+ months), production capability — seeds, livestock, skills, and labor — become the primary currency. Build your barter matrix by scenario duration so you know what to stock and what to offer.
In a grid-down scenario, debt does not disappear — it accumulates. Document your fixed obligations: mortgage/rent, vehicle payments, insurance, and recurring subscriptions. Know which are critical to maintain and which can be suspended. Know your total monthly cash obligation and how long your reserves can cover it without income. This section connects directly to VAULT's financial account documentation.
Who manages your finances if you cannot? Your family needs to know where the money is, how to access it, and what the immediate priorities are. This document tells them which accounts exist, how to access emergency funds, who your financial advisor and attorney are, what recurring bills must be paid, and what the financial picture looks like. Store a signed physical copy with your VAULT documents.
Compact inventory of all precious metals with storage locations.
Top barter items by scenario type — laminated field reference.
Formatted letter for family with account and access information.
Denomination breakdown and replenishment schedule.