Precious metals when the SHTF

[Dave]

As probably already mentioned, things like salt, pepper, various spices really. Alcohol too.
Badger

He who controls the Spice, controls the universe!

[ChunkyMonkey]

I anticipate this, Argentina is a recent example, and for these kinds of economic events nothing is better than ammo, gold/silver, and other things you can trade or sell. I doubt society will breakdown to the point where gold/silver are not immediately relevant.

Remember, if you can't stand over it with your AR you do not own it.

Yep.. my parents had to fly out of Jakarta, Indonesia during the 1997 riot in Indonesia. The currency dropped 500% overnight, and banking system shut down. They used silver to bribe themselves out of there and for the tickets.

[roberth]

Yep.. my parents had to fly out of Jakarta, Indonesia during the 1997 riot in Indonesia. The currency dropped 500% overnight, and banking system shut down. They used silver to bribe themselves out of there and for the tickets.

Your family has had first hand experience, most of us only have decades of investing in paper created by Wall Street.

The money in our pockets now, those 1s, 5s, 20s, etc., is not backed by anything physical at all, except the force of government. Those bills only hold their value on the government's say-so, and the government can change it anytime they want.

[BushMasterBoy]

If Washington DC got nuked, it could be possible that the US dollar could be worthless. I'd rather have $20,000 in silver bullion than $20,000 of Federal Reserve Notes.

[Great-Kazoo]

If Washington DC got nuked, it could be possible that the US dollar could be worthless. I'd rather have $20,000 in silver bullion than $20,000 of Federal Reserve Notes.

IF, key word IF a scenario like that happened. The repercussions of counter strikes would mean most of us would be dead within 6 month's from fallout / radiation sickness. The rest wouldn't give a shit how much silver, gold, food or water you have. Either join a group of like minded folks, try to survive as a sheepdog, or fall victim to the predators.

I had listed this book as a should read. They have now grouped books 1-3 in to 1 reader. I just noticed #5 is out. A different EOTW scenario than 1 sec after or Lights Out. But just as possible.
http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-War...d_sim_kstore_8

[ChunkyMonkey]

If Washington DC got nuked, it could be possible that the US dollar could be worthless. I'd rather have $20,000 in silver bullion than $20,000 of Federal Reserve Notes.

Japanese insolvency is 100x more likely to happen than that and the result is the same. Gold, Silver, OIl will skyrocket.. paper money will tumble. Japan's debt is @ 230% of GDP.. its aging population's retirement funds are cashing out on the bonds.. they are net seller now. It's not a matter of if anymore.. Scary stuffs once you get into the numbers.

[electronman1729]

Another great barter item would be condoms!

[hatidua]

Yep.. my parents had to fly out of Jakarta, Indonesia during the 1997 riot in Indonesia.

-sounds nice....I spent the same period of time in the hospital with a prolonged case of malaria/typhoid in Indonesia. The flight out sounds more fun.

[zteknik]

Another great barter item would be condoms!

And don't forget the cigarettes!!!

[roberth]

Japanese insolvency is 100x more likely to happen than that and the result is the same. Gold, Silver, OIl will skyrocket.. paper money will tumble. Japan's debt is @ 230% of GDP.. its aging population's retirement funds are cashing out on the bonds.. they are net seller now. It's not a matter of if anymore.. Scary stuffs once you get into the numbers.

You're watching that too, I don't pay a lot of attention but it is on my radar. Japan is an interesting situation.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesgru...-crisis-nears/

From my uneducated POV there is too much information in the article to quote a high point, only to say that Japan is in deep trouble.

Don't forget about Cyprus and the haircut that large depositors took, then there is the Greek problem, and Spain, and Italy.

If you don't think the USG is working on a plan to tax your 401K/Roth/tax-fee whatever then you're living in la-la land. The USG is broke and they need money for the Free Shit Army.