Quick note about curreny, there are two main forms of currency with a possible third.
1. Is the good old American dollar that's still accepted in the east coast and American occupied settlements.
2. Is scrap, bottlecaps, and any form of metal for the west coast. Because of Chinese occupation and it's rapid expansion and urbanization with Russia's help, the place is still filled with working factories and refineries. So the scrap metal, caps, and parts can be melted down or refined into something far more useful like gun parts, car parts, spare parts, construction material, armor, etc...