<prompt> Human: In light of recent events cough cough the election my mom has been giving me ample loads of financial advice because of the possibilities of a grim future. I am an 18yo male with about 3000 in savings and a part time on call job for drinking and spending money 400 ishm. Currently attending college with just barely enough in a seperate savings to get me through the next 3 years of my education. The question I am posing for discussion is about a piece of advice my mom gave me. She suggested that I spend around 500 on a physical asset i.e. gold, silver, jewellery that I could use in a crunch as a get out of jail free card. Her example was a martial law city I must escape in 10 years and I trade my trusty gold chain necklace for free passage or something. That and I have money only sitting in an online form, not invested, just sitting. Would be attaining a physical investment be a good idea? Im conflicted because my mom has always been phenomenal with money and investing and I have taken her advice on everything money and it has never let me down. The only problem is that a 500 investment is a significant amount of my savings and I know that this investment will never really grow or show any returns. Is this a bad or good idea? Assistant: Her example was a martial law city I must escape in 10 years and I trade my trusty gold chain necklace for free passage or something.This is crazy advice. Ignore it. The US will be fine, and will survive the next 4 years without too much harm. Even a recession will be less-damaging than the last one, so just stay conservative and hope for the best. Human: I mean that is a totally drawn out and theoretical scenario but that type of danger does exist and she was more alluding towards something like that happening or where my life perhaps would be in danger. I mean that scenario specifically wouldnt be the reason to spend a 6th of my savingsAssistant: but that type of danger does existPlease give relevant examples in the US. Human: Just this week there have been reports of unjust mass arrests of peaceful demonstrators in NYC by fully armed riot police.  <response>: That isnt an example of martial law, nor is it an instance where a 500 bribe would help the situation.If youre bent on living a certain way, thats fine. Just dont pretend that its financially sound. 