<prompt> Human: How would you advise going around the notion that there is a possibility of total financial system overhaul leading to extreme value dropping of your saved money? Especially in the sight of possible Eurozone collapse? Not to mention the unpredictable future of the US economy. Is it reasonable to project long term plans in economy which doesnt know what will happen a year in the future? Isnt it more rational to steadily convert ongoing money flow into more value-stable physical goods instead of trying to save it for retirement? The question is: is it rational to save resources for the future if there is significant risk for those resources value in the future? What do you think?  <response>: If the shit hit the fan this badly I dont think having a few gold bricks in a safe somewhere is going to be much help, but the nonsuperficial social connections you form now would be huge. Make friends with a mechanic and a farmer and a carpenter etc instead of hoarding gold and i bet youd come out ahead. 