The Walking Dead, Survival Rule Of The Week: The Old Rules Don’t Apply

Does money have value in an apocalypse?

One of the first things we saw in this week’s episode of The Walking Dead was Daryl stumbling on the body of a man in a suit, a bullet hole in his head, his left arm crudely amputated, with the lower half still cuffed to a suitcase filled with money. Beyond a few bills used simply as note paper, the rest of the stockpile was untouched.

The message was clear: Money is useless as a currency in a world without a government to back it. Sure, coins can still be used in a zombie apocalypse as mini screwdrivers, or for their base metals, but money as money? No, sir.

Honestly, what would you do with it? If you’re trying to exchange bills for food, ammo, supplies, anything, what’s their value to the other person? Kindling? A person could just as easily use dry leaves, tumbleweeds, hay, practically anything they can grab from any bit of wilderness they find.

So…what else is it worth? Nothing.

But, there’s something else being said in Daryl finding that mutilated man: Having money means nothing in the apocalypse, too.

This leads me to…