What if the economy is on the verge of collapse, and how to prepare in case of such problems? I think it's a matter of life and death.
Buy gold. When everyone's starving, they'll certainly give you food in exchange for your bits of yellow metal.
I think you're better off buying cases of handgun ammunition and wine. You can trade them and use them.
I actually have a survivalist friend who keeps a store of Jack Daniels for exactly that reason, and he doesn't even drink. Overall I think he's batsh#@t crazy about the survivalist part, but I can't deny the logic of the JD!
Buy a house in another country that has nothing good to be taken over by others. Buy steady amount of gold coins each month. I am not into camping, so am not going to the boonies, but I am not staying here. Buy Put Options on Indexes, Grains and Meats and Buy some Calls on Financials and lots of Calls on Metals.