Written by Bryan Lutz, Editor at Dollarcollapse.com:
It’s Sunday. Glad you’re here!
Every Sunday I share a few thoughts. They’re not random.
They’re for you, and other subscribers at Dollar Collapse.
Sometimes we’ll talk about economics, sometimes recent events, and other times, life.
1. Stocks hit another all-time high this week while consumer sentiment hit its lowest in recorded history. This is what happens during a currency collapse, and what to do.
During a currency collapse, prices increase. Yes, there is inflation, and you feel that at the dinner table, but this other thing also happens…
Stock valuations go up. Like this week, for example, the S&P 500 hit another all-time high. Hard to believe for some, but this is what happens as more money enters the market. More(printed) money floods into the BIGGEST, SAFEST stocks. Valuations go up.
Then some people get excited. They think they’re making huge gains. Yet, their purchasing power is decreasing…
And that’s why you see US Consumer Sentiment Index data come out like this.
It’s fallen to the lowest on record. Times are tough…
So, if you’ve already eliminated debt, here’s where to focus.
BREAKING: US Consumer Sentiment officially falls to its lowest level on record in data going back to 1952, down another -10% last month.
Consumers now see inflation rising to 4.8% over the next 12 months.
This puts the Consumer Sentiment index down -21% since February 2026,… pic.twitter.com/BXccWEPKPJ
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) May 22, 2026
Gold eventually catches up. It lags, yes, but it eventually catches up…
Below is M2 Supply in orange. Gold in blue. Here’s the other thing to do…
The other thing that’s maybe not so visible aside from all the prepping tips out there… is to keep building and stacking skills (that can be sold or traded). It looks like this: Build capacity, save money, and maybe while you’re learning that skill build an audience (just show people what you’re learning).
2. Coffee prices keep going. If you can keep the coffee ritual, live simply, and skip the alcohol purchases, then you’re living the good life.
Coffee prices keep going up, but that hasn’t stopped my wife and I from enjoying life.
I usually drink a cup or two of coffee, about two hours after I wake up(which is around 5-530AM). Then around 7:30am I sit down with the kids for breakfast with an Americano, black. It helps set the direction of my day, and if the kids are acting up, there’s always my coffee and wife to talk to over whatever else is happening.
Anyway, there are things to stop buying too.
For example, alcohol. We’ve stopped buying and drinking alcohol. The thing about people, and why I am reminding you, is that alcohol sales don’t drop during recessions, or “hard times.” They stay steady, or increase, big time.
The stuff will only steal your money, time, and energy (in my opinion) when you could be doing any number of productive activities.
3. If you made some small, conservative Puts on these tech companies you may have made some cash.
We had a few insights in the May 9 Edition of Sunday Morning Thoughts that led to some Option plays(Puts) on several tech stocks. So it was only about two weeks ago that the S&P 500 hit another new all-time high. Google, Amazon, and the skyscraper stock Intel (INTC) shot up.
Here’s Intel(INTC) now:
If you exercised an option, and had your strike at $110, you made some money.
Today’s candidate for a Put play is Cisco (CSCO).
Last week, the company issued their quarterly report, revenue came in at $15.8 billion, up 12% year over year, with EPS of $1.06 beating the $1.04 forecast, and product revenue surged 17% while services slipped 1%. It’s a modest report really considering…
CSCO is up about 51% year to date and roughly 85% over the past year, versus the S&P 500’s 7.4% and 23.3% over the same periods, with both trading near all-time highs.
A conservative option play here is a strike point of $115, or $110 over two weeks. And, just as a reminder, do you own due diligence. Talk to your financial advisor before making any investment decisions. This is not investment advice.
Have an awesome, restful Sunday!
