To those that are able to buy silver and gold or put away funds I have a stupid question - If things go bad, will people trade or take silver or gold?

Going back in history if the event is long term, paper money will have no value. I do remember the gold rush. I also know that there was a ginseng rush, however this is the only thing that I can find at the moment on the ginseng rush http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/41/v41i06p249-266.pdf

My point being what will be of value and how does a person know?

I think the important thing is to be flexible - not to focus one one scenario to the exclusion of all others. For example, gold / silver. If the SHTF, then how badly has it hit? Is this a short term catastrophe, or is it a permanent shift? If it's short term, like a month or so, then yes, people will accept gold / silver as payment, and chuckle about it, as they know they'll make a profit when things get 'back to normal'. If it's long term, then gold / silver will not be as useful short term, but once things stabilise, their value will return. There is also another scenario - where there is no 'SHTF', in which case gold, and (IMHO to a greater degree,) silver, will continue to increase in value. That means you sell when you're ready, and make a profit, which you then invest into other preps.

WRT things of value, what do YOU value, and what do OTHERS value? Make sure you have plenty of what you value, and as much of what others value as possible as trade items.

For example:
Freeze dried coffee
High-end liquors
Salt (both for eating and preserving meat)
Medicines
Fishhooks
Needles and thread
Axe heads
Hand tools

What do you think nothing of when you take from a supermarket shelf, which would quickly sell out if there is no transport in and out of your area, and which can't easily be made locally? Scarcity is value.

I don't think silver or any currency is going to be the thing to have if SHTF.
Metals are an insurance policy against inflation. They're an easily valued commodity that will hold their value as dollars loose theirs. Stuff that you buy today for $30 may well cost you $100 in a few years. But an ounce of silver will still be able to buy that thing.
You won't "make money" buying silver, you'll just lock in the value of the money you used to buy the silver. OK, silver manipulation may have it's true value suppressed somewhat so it might be a bit of an investment.

I just happen to think that there won't be any SHTF. I do think inflation will be our biggest problem so I concentrate on stuff that has value. Land(especially farmland), food(and the ability to produce it), metals. In that order.
You need a place to live, you gotta eat, and it would be nice to have some insurance.

OK, silver manipulation may have it's true value suppressed somewhat so it might be a bit of an investment.

I do think inflation will be our biggest problem so I concentrate on stuff that has value. Land(especially farmland), food(and the ability to produce it), metals. In that order.

I agree with that. That's why I'm buying as much silver as I can afford. I expect to make a profit, hopefully a serious profit, which I will then invest in further development of my 'home farm'. The goal, as always, is to get as close to complete self sufficiency / stocked up as makes no difference.

I think it is always good to have at least 2000.00 cash in small bills on hand. That is based on having a household of four that is very well prepared already. That would be just for a short term "outage". For a 3-6 month situation a have silver/gold/precious stones. Any situation that is going 6 months+ I expect my metals and stones won't be worth much. I bet that the new forms of currency after that will be alcohol, ammo, storable food and fuel, medicine and items that can create power. How much would a bullet be worth to me if that meant meat for my family for the winter... certainly more then the .75 cents it will cost me today.

On the topic of silver as an investment, I would agree that it is somewhat undervalued right now, but don't be distracted by how overpriced gold is right now. But any precious metal seems to make more sense then a piece of paper backed by nothing but increasing debt.

In the LDS manual they recommend $5000 for every person in the house...I won't sport with anyone over that, as I think most people just plain can't afford that amount per family let alone per person.

I am trying to use cash more and more and get away from the debit card altogether, at least then I will likely have a couple of hundred on hand at any point in time.
I want to slowly build up an amount of cash and valuables, no idea yet how much as I am also trying to get rid of all our debt over the next couple of years...here's crossing my fingers the economy lasts that long 🙄

another reason to keep "your" cash yours.
check out Cypress and their banks that are keeping people's savings locked up while the govt debates on taking
a portion to pay off their debt.

10% for savings over 100k and about 6% for savings under 100k.

scary to think about.

another reason to keep "your" cash yours.
check out Cypress and their banks that are keeping people's savings locked up while the govt debates on taking
a portion to pay off their debt.

10% for savings over 100k and about 6% for savings under 100k.

scary to think about.

If a country doesn't have it's own currency like Cyprus then it is something that has more of a possibility. If you add in bad economic policies...which (hind sight being 20/20) is no surprise about Cyprus so this story is kinda expected. It shouldn't be a surprise either there will be more countries who have to face the reality they've spent more than they have and will have to pay the piper soon. I don't look at this as a bad thing...in fact its a sign that nothing is for free in the world. It's a readjustment. And it will be a painful one for them. If there is a sunny side to this, its that countries like the US that will face there own fiscal crisis within the next 10-20 years, but they are finally talking (well..maybe political fighting and bitching..) and at least acknowledging there is a huge problem on the horizon. Its better to get a plan together now, then the knee jerk reactions we are seeing in Europe...

Federally, Canada is in a pretty good position. And our long term economic planning to balance the books, and open up trade with emerging economies like the BRIC countries, the rest of Latin America, and yes even certain African countries I think will put us in an even more stable position....but....no doubt we are tied to some hazy economies...and some of our provinces seem to be totally oblivious to the realities of fiscal responsibility....and yes..I"m calling out Ontario and Quebec...