|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
It depends on your SHTF scenario and planning. If you're planning to hunker down and ride it out, you'd probably be better off with excess canned goods, toilet paper etc that you could barter off at exorbitant prices than pieces of eight. However if your scenario includes having the means to travel from you local into "friendly lands" to start life anew, then having some precious metals to start over would be well advised.
My wife's Grandparents fled Stalinist Russia when they'd been warned they were going to be shot (they were land owners and hence enemies of the state) They fled into Persia and started life anew, and of what little they could carry on their backs was some jewelry which helped them start over from scratch. After the natives provided not so friendly once they became prosperous (this rag heads hating Christians isn't exactly a new thing) led them to traveling to Australia and staring anew again.
I'd certainly take the physical asset of gold and silver over numbers on paper in a bank or investment account in a SHTF scenario, as those numbers on paper won't be worth a thing.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,969
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,969 |
I would go with something internationally recognized and legal tender, like the Canadian Maple Leaf, which is available in fractionals down to 1/20th oz.
Least desirable would be bullion bars.
Last edited by ruffcutt; 03/04/15.
"I was born in the log cabin I helped my grandfather build"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,593
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,593 |
Go ahead and squirrel away tens of thousands of dollars worth of gold. Then, when things get really bad, you can trade all of it for a can of beans.
I've never bought into the old wheeze that gold will always be valuable. If the economy collapses, gold is too heavy to move, and useless for any practical application. Dead weight, in other words. Seems outlandish that anyone with an ounce of gold would neglect to put some beans back for a rainy day. And... Just how heavy is that ounce of gold?
"Chances Will Be Taken"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,759
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,759 |
I've got 70,000 of pinto beans, wanna buy some to hoard?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000 |
It depends on your SHTF scenario and planning. If you're planning to hunker down and ride it out, you'd probably be better off with excess canned goods, toilet paper etc that you could barter off at exorbitant prices than pieces of eight. However if your scenario includes having the means to travel from you local into "friendly lands" to start life anew, then having some precious metals to start over would be well advised.
My wife's Grandparents fled Stalinist Russia when they'd been warned they were going to be shot (they were land owners and hence enemies of the state) They fled into Persia and started life anew, and of what little they could carry on their backs was some jewelry which helped them start over from scratch. After the natives provided not so friendly once they became prosperous (this rag heads hating Christians isn't exactly a new thing) led them to traveling to Australia and staring anew again.
I'd certainly take the physical asset of gold and silver over numbers on paper in a bank or investment account in a SHTF scenario, as those numbers on paper won't be worth a thing. i good tell a smilar story about croatia/serbia/etc. In the early 1900's ownership of the turf and currencies changed every few years. It was only prudent to have some assets internationally valued to take with you, sewn in the hem of your wife's dress. Gold doesn't really appreciate in value, it maintains value. I think of this everytime i see a snickers bar for sale at the grocery store, and think of that nickel when i was a kid buying the same thing. I would call it an excellent insurance policy.
THE BIRTH PLACE OF GERONIMO
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000 |
Go ahead and squirrel away tens of thousands of dollars worth of gold. Then, when things get really bad, you can trade all of it for a can of beans.
I've never bought into the old wheeze that gold will always be valuable. If the economy collapses, gold is too heavy to move, and useless for any practical application. Dead weight, in other words. Seems outlandish that anyone with an ounce of gold would neglect to put some beans back for a rainy day. And... Just how heavy is that ounce of gold? I was gonna say, different income bracket than me if you have to worry about gold being to heavy to move. I was born and raised in arizona, got the beans covered. In the depression my mom was on a farm raising pinto beans. She said she could exchange them for anything she needed.
Last edited by RoninPhx; 03/04/15.
THE BIRTH PLACE OF GERONIMO
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 14,704
Campfire Outfitter
|
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 14,704 |
A couple hundred pounds of RICE would do you a lot better! It's gonna be kinda tuff to schitt that gold and silver when the trucks stop running!!
Even birds know not to land downwind!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,121
Campfire Regular
|
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,121 |
Some interesting commits and views,The SHTF scenario is always a possibility and one should look at it.
The most likely advent would be a Katrina type or something similar to the flooding we had along the front range a couple of years ago. I already have a 10 to 15 day evac Bag and needed paper work ready to grab and go with some cash and I'm planning on adding some coinage to the kit.
Having small increment of gold when I go abroad (out of the con US) has been advised to me by several sources. if you've never been to a 3rd world county this mite be hard to understand.
But for now I'm building a stash for short term economic disruption.
I have most of the staples but knowing that I have some real bartering power goes a long way if the need arise.
If you cann't stand my spelling use the ingore feature.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121
Campfire Oracle
|
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 |
Never hurts to have several avenues.
The single best thing for 'shtf' scenarios that many like to talk about is to not live in a city.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 14,040
Campfire Outfitter
|
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 14,040 |
Collecting copper and lead actually.......... this ^^^^^ and wine. all good for barter.
the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded. Robert E Lee
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
|
|
|
|
|
127 members (2500HD, 300_savage, 1973cb450, 338reddog, 204guy, 20 invisible),
1,736
guests, and
1,060
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,191,623
Posts18,474,051
Members73,941
| |
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|
