The other day I'm depositing some cash at my local branch bank and the nice teller cheerfully queried if I'd like to start an IRA.
  I cheerfully replied; After the bursting of the dot com bubble, the housing bubble, and the meltdown of 2 years ago incinerating a huge wealth of IRA's etc, WHAT possible form of insanity could give me impetus to trust that my money would be there later when I wanted/needed it.  
I Ma'm invest in what is known as a "Floor Safe". It may not give an advantage on inflation etc,: but it's not about to be onerously taxed for early (or late) withdrawel. and no matter how shitty the national/world economy is manipulated I KNOW WHAT I GOT, WHERE IT IS, AND HOW TO GET IT!!

FUCK the banks. Fuck Wall Street, Fuck real eastate. The simple form of "HOARDING" seems to work brilliantly!